Revisiting blush – WIP Wednesday

Posted in Scrap quilts, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

A month or so ago I pulled this stash of fabrics that I thought was lovely, soft and pretty (original post here).

The block I originally made with this fabric pull did not excite me as much as I would have liked. Fast forward a month, and after working on a collection of graphic, bright quilts, I wanted something different. This is where I ended up….

I am loving how this quilt is coming together. It is fabulously easy, fabulously scrappy and fabulously girly.

It is being made almost completely from my scrap bin, and I have only had to cut some of the longer strips so far. I have not been stressing at all about choosing the fabrics – I have full embraced just going with the first strip of fabric that I pull out of my pile. It is very liberating.

There is an “I Spy” element to these blocks which will make for a great baby/kids quilt. I want to finish this one in time for SwimBikeSew’s 100 Quilts for Kids drive which started this week.

29May2013

Gentle blush – wip Wednesday

Posted in Quilt patterns, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

This week I have been trying to get a few projects finished, but keep getting distracted. My first distraction was this selection of fabric I pulled from my stash.

I have accumulated over the last couple of months a selection of apricot fabric, and I have been trying to find other fabrics to work with them. I wanted something modern and fun so I chose a blush pink and a pink/purple, and this is what I decided to do….

I love the colours but may re-think the block. The center where the pieces join is bulky and just a pain in the “you know what”.

The other distraction the last week has been hexagons. I have now made 52 hexie flowers and have been getting quite proficient at the process. My hexie travel kit has been living in handbag and I pull it out when ever I can. Geeky I know but it is working.

And the main thing that these activities have been distracting me from is finishing my pink and olive triangle quilt. It is all cut and waiting sewing. I have decided that today that is all I am going to do – no distractions, no new projects, no excuses.

Wish me luck…. I think I am going to need it.

22May2013

A very Pink wip Wednesday

Posted in Quilt patterns, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

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.

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 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…

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

Block 72

Block 79

Block 96

Block 36

Block 12

Block 32

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

15May2013

A day of play – wip Wednesday

Posted in Scrap quilts, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

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.

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…

I 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 – Red

THREE – White

FOUR – Red & white dot

Then there is the no sashing option…

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

23Apr2013

Cheese & crackers – wip Wednesday

Posted in Quilt patterns, Scrap quilts, WIP Wednesday by wombatquilts

This week I have been playing with a traditional quilt pattern called “crackers”. My first variation is a bright scrappy block, which I think will make a great boys quilt.

The cracker pattern is a simple quilt block made up of patchwork bars with triangles at their ends. I used a paper piecing pattern, but there is some great tutorials on how to piece this block online including at Moda Bake Shop and at Cut to Pieces.

While putting the “cheese” blocks together (this yellow = cheese in my brain for some reason) I had the urge to use the block a little differently. My next approach was again scrappy but not based on colour combinations. The second variation was based on a collection of multicoloured floral fabrics sitting in my stash for ages. I used a some of my collection in the quilt in my blog header and I have been itching to use more. So I made these blocks.

I was not sure at first if this idea would work at all. Tuesday afternoon I tentatively grabbed a fabric, cut it and made a block. Block after block I kept wondering if it would come together. I often make quilt blocks to test out ideas – I do not sketch or play in Photoshop, which would probably be the sensible way to go. It was a relief to finally lay out some of the blocks Tuesday evening and see this.

I think this is going to be a fun quilt when it is finished. I am now looking forward to pulling some more fabrics out of my stash and seeing where it all goes. Wish me luck.