Paper Piecing Monday

Well after much thinking and pondering and trawling through my stash I have decided that my next Paper Piecing Monday Sampler quilt is going have a bit more variety in colour, and a bit more variety in patterns.  To start this new sampler off I have chosen a  fabulous FREE pattern from Julie at 627handworks.

bright modern paper pieced block

This is the first of Julie’s series Block Rock’n paper piecing patterns.  It is called Bowie and can be found here.    All the patterns so far have been easy to follow and lots of fun.    Bowie is 56 pieces and despite a couple of mis-steps on my behalf, was quick to make.

paper piecing block pieces

I am now off to enjoy the last of the long weekend with my hubby.  The weather is miserable so a movie may be in order.

 

A very Pink wip Wednesday

This week I have been working my way through a friend’s copy of  Tula Pink’s “100 Modern Quilt Blocks” .  It has been a lot of fun.

I started by pulling some soft, pretty fabrics. It was the name, Tula Pink that made me want to go with this palette.  I pulled soft pinks, reds and greys including a handful of solids.

pile of fabric

Then I  worked my way through some of the patterns I had flagged.  One by one I selected the fabric, cut it, then sewed the block together.  It was a slow, deliberate process and I loved every minute of it.  I definitely do not have as much done as I would pre-cutting my fabric and working with just one pattern but this is a refreshing change of pace.

my work spaceMy work space is little more hectic as well, but I found a great use for my cookbook holder….

At the end of yesterday I had a nice little pile of blocks…

block pileHere are some of my favorite so far, using the books numbering system to name them.

Tula Pink 100 Modern Quilt blocks

Block 72

Tula Pink's 100 modern quilt block

Block 79

Tula Pink's 100 modern quilt block

Block 96

Tula Pink's 100 modern quilt block

Block 36

Block 12

Block 12

Tula Pink's 100 modern quilt block

Block 32

I have about 40 more blocks to go… this is another “on going project” that may take a while!

Paper Piecing Monday – Tardis edition

After finally finishing my epic red/aqua compass star blocks, I was set to launch my latest “sampler” selection for Paper Piecing Monday.  Then I found a silly pattern on-line and just had to do it.

I do not usually do novelty or “object” paper piecing but when I found a Tardis pattern on Fandom Stitches I just had to give it a try.  The pattern is a little confusing (some of the colour coding is not quite right and some of the pieces are not quite big enough) but I stumbled around and made it work.

For those of you that do not know what the Tardis is Wikipedia states:     The TARDIS[nb 1][1] (/ˈtɑːdɪs/ (Time and Relative Dimension in Space)[nb 2] is a time machine and spacecraft in the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who and its associated spin-offs.

Tardis quilt block

This block is 6 1/2 inches square and contains some of the smallest bits of fabric I have ever paper pieced with.  I decided to make this block in a moment of insanity.  It was the same insanity that said “use prints not solids”.

When I showed my husband he said “great, now you only have to make another 99”.  I can confidently say that is not going to happen. My next Tardis related quilt adventure, when it happens,  will be an adaptation of this strange plastic thing I made at a recent trip to a kids science museum.

Tardis 2I think it will make a great template for a quilt… using 4 inch squares and not tiny bits of fabric!

A day of play – wip Wednesday

I have been having some fun over the last couple of days, playing with my quilting.  The other day while out walking around my neighborhood with my husband I took this photo.

red poppy photo

This beautiful flower inspired me to make a modern improv quilt.  I worked for a couple of hours last night and so far this is what I have…

improv poppy quiltI will keep going and hope to have the top finished by Friday.   I had made a deal with myself NOT to start any more quilts until I had finished some, but when the inspiration grabs you, just go with it…. right?

The other playing I did yesterday was looking at how I want  to finish up my Paper Piecing Monday quilt.  After getting some great suggestions I worked with a couple of colours…. here are my top picks, in no particular order.

navy sashing on paper pieced star sampler quilt

ONE – Navy blue

TWO

TWO – Red

THREE

THREE – White

FOUR

FOUR – Red & white dot

Then there is the no sashing option…

Work in progress paper piecing star sampler quilt.

Let me know what you think?  What is your favorite?

 

Paper piecing Monday… finally

I have just finished the last block for my aqua and red star quilt.  It took a while to decide what I wanted to do for the last block but I finally ended up with this…

paper pieced star block

I went with the Oregon Star from Carol Doak’s “50 Fabulous Paper Pieced Stars“.  It seemed fitting to do the state star from where I live.  I amended the pattern a little, making it a 60 piece star.

paper piecing star pieces

I am now going to spend the rest of the day playing with sashing.  I am still not sure whether I want to sash or not and have no idea what colour to use, so playing will be a necessity.  I looking forward to seeing how it all comes together.

paper pieced stars

What do you think?  All suggestions, hints and advice greatly appreciated.