Sunny is the name of the first block of Season 4 of the Color Collective that I have been working on. This Season began November 1st and this block introduced a new to me paper piecing technique.
I don’t usually enjoy paper piecing, it seems so tedious and wasteful however Taras technique was fun and no ripping papers and very little fabric waste. Not only that but as our days become shorter as we get closer to December 21st it was a fantastic palette and block to play with in the moments that I had time to play.
Curved piecing has really been popular these last few years and I was glad to have the glue technique for these blocks!
Fall and winter are especially busy with customer quilts and Christmas coming so my personal piecing time becomes very precious and needed. I decided to focus on Sunny but also accept that the November block most likely wouldn’t be a top until January.
So yesterday with little wind and not too terribly cold weather I laid Sunny over the snow to show you. I am somewhat pondering how I will quilt this top so it might be awhile before I get to that stage.
The second block of this season of the “Color” Collective is called Flock and comes with another fun palette to work with. (designed by Tara Faughnan and organized with Amy Newbold of Sewtopia)
I also added pearl pink into my palette. My new phone camera captured the colours really well considering the picture was taken at night.
I have just begun my flock quilt. The flying geese units are bigger than I usually make and as usual I pulled out my wing clipper ruler for trimming down my units.
These specialty rulers are not necessary as the job can be done with regular quilting rulers. It’s just that along the way in my quilting journey I have accumulated some pretty neat tools.
I was watching Karen Brown of Just Get it Done Quilts on her Q&A you tube, she was talking about cleaning out and organizing rulers.
This brought me to thinking about my collection, as a long time quilter I do have a large collection and at this stage I would not consider parting with any of my rulers.
I keep my most used cutting rulers for piecing close at hand, occasionally I move them as needed for space.
Karen also spoke of getting rid of old worn out cutting mats…the purple one pictured is so well worn however it belonged to a dear friend and I really enjoy using it for quick trims. I find different size and colour mats very useful. My Sunny top is complete and I have been hoping to get a good picture to share, today is looking favourable.
My specialty rulers that I reach for most often are all together and also easily assessable.
I use a lot of bins from the Dollar Store to stay somewhat organized.
Years ago I came across this large board and I have made such good use of it, at one time it sat atop an old dresser and was used as my cutting table. Then at some point and because I needed a large ironing station for customer quilts, I covered it with batting and Teflon ironing fabric. It sits on top of what are meant to be used as laundry room cabinets and is the perfect height for both cutting and pressing.
This space I like to keep just for what I am presently working on. I usually have at least two personal projects on the go at a time. My Long Time Gone is still very close at hand.
Tucked away in the closet are two bins of sometimes used rulers. They are fun to have and I love being able to share with quilting friends who are just starting out on this journey as friends shared and helped me along my way.
I am fortunate that for most of my quilting journey I have had a dedicated space for my quilting and as empty nesters even more space. I do my best to stay somewhat organized, when I am busy with piecing my room can become a little upside down but that’s all part of the fun isn’t it?
Marilyn has been on a stash busting mission for years, her quilts are always so fun and interesting to work on. This latest one was a bit of a walk down memory lane as I recognized many prints.
She told me that she was determined to use up her large floral prints.
I used the pantograph Rhapsody which really flowed beautifully across this quilt adding a lovely floral and leafy dimension.
A nice batik for the backing was a perfect choice and shows of the pretty stitches beautifully
We held a Christmas brunch for the grandkids and family on Sunday it was so fun to watch the kids enjoy each other’s company and open their gifts. The excitement of Christmas is alive and well with the children!
Unfortunately one of the families had had the gastro crud run through their house a week ago and we were sure they were in the clear….we were wrong. Almost everyone came down with it starting on Monday.
I was spared however Liam was not, he rarely gets sick and had never had this. We were both very glad that I could care for him through this. Much to our relief and after sleeping from late Monday night until Wednesday morning with a few wake points he is now back to his happy self. Others are recovering as well.
Liam and I really enjoyed fresh air yesterday
We also made some slime
While he slept I was able to quilt my Moda Blockheads quilt and will work on the binding later today. This is my first personal quilt to be quilted this year!
I first saw this sunshiny backing on a customer quilt and loved it!
Lori has three grandchildren who will be snuggling under some very fun quilts this Christmas.
Our fantastic quilt shop owner Donna of Fuelled by Fabric brought in Grinch fabric which Lori used to make her quilts. She used a layer cake and some yardage.
Each one a little different and with very snuggly backings.
A minky backing always makes me want one for myselfThis backing felt almost like a velvetThe fleece backing worked perfectly
Not that I am counting but solstice is 5 days away and I will welcome each days added daylight minutes!! These pictures were taken during a very grey foggy afternoon.
I often choose a pantograph such as waterworld for baby quilts. I like this density of quilting as I feel that it will help the quilt to withstand a lot of use.
Update
Check out the binding and finished quilt! This really was such a fun project to work on.
No it isn’t sunny today, our world is really trying to turn white, the winds have truly been winter like. Yesterday was my last clothesline day until spring!
Thankfully Tara Faughnan of the color collective chose a bright happy fun to piece quilt block for the first project of season 4. The first quilt is named Sunny.
The palette, note to self to take a better picture of the December palette.Starting to play
It’s been fun to learn a new to me paper piecing technique and play with colours that I might not have chosen myself.
Longtime Gone is still taking up more than half of the design wall and I am determined to finish that quilt top by the end of the year.
I was asked what the pattern was for the top below. It is by Thimble Blossoms and called Dwell 2. It was a nice project to piece and because I purchased it as a kit there were very few decisions to be made.
Sometimes and in some seasons of life it’s nice to just cut sew and press. I was drawn to this project from quilting one for a customer.
We have had very little rain for months and have enjoyed some really nice weather even into November.
The forecast for tomorrow is for rain 75-100mm for our area and for those further from the lake (Thunder Bay is built on the shore of Lake Superior) will receive the precipitation in snow….and so it begins or so it seems!
I have been enjoying some playtime piecing curves and playing with colour. I had to laugh at myself the other day as I was so absorbed in what I was doing that I made a pretty silly mistake…funny how we don’t always see that what we are doing is wrong…
As soon as I pressed it I knew something was off…had I taken just a little time to stop and look at what I was doing and re think it…
Instead I realized it was late and time to quit for the night. The next morning I was able to quickly take it apart and use the right background.
Well worth the effort!!
I enjoy curved piecing and this project is allowing for a lot of practice.
If you have been a quilter for any length of time you most likely know about the above term and possibly possess one or more or several UFO’s.
I personally prefer to think of them as works in progress. For what ever reason some projects need the next step maybe a new idea, additional fabric or time to complete. Most of mine are waiting to be quilted and because I put customer quilts first that pile grows. One thing that I am careful to do is to choose and purchase backings so that they are ready for quilting. I also have binding fabrics on hand.
I usually do personal long-arming over the Christmas holidays which will be here before I know it. So it’s time to plan.
This was a kit, I purchased it after quilting a customer quilt and just wanted to piece it. It was a fun relaxing project.I love this top and have a quilting plan and backing. Sometimes it is just nice to play with a familiar block and colour. I often piece for relaxation.This one was a kit from Craftsy. I used to really enjoy that site and ordered fabric from them while it was offered.I do have the 12th block pieced, it is from a designers mystery from The Fat-quarter Shop. I stalled on the finishing kit, it’s all neatly packed away in a box that I enjoy pulling out from time to time. It may resurface this coming year, time will tell. I stalled on it as I didn’t enjoy the suggested piecing technique, I now have a new ruler that will make finishing it a breeze.
Oh and there are more, thankfully I believe that they can become leader ender projects this coming year.
My Moda Block Heads top that I recently completed is also on my list for quilting.
It was with all of those projects on my mind that made me really think hard about starting the colour collective!
My Longtime Gone is still in process… I am still really loving that project and will continue to plug away at it it’s at the halfway mark. I completed the court house step blocks last week.
These blocks take more time in the planning stage than piecing.
So why did I decide to jump into a new project? Because piecing and colour play is fun and relaxing and eventually I will get it all done and if not I am having having fun trying!
Oh how I love blue quilts! This one made my heart sing the moment it arrived on my doorstep! I could hardly wait to quilt it however it had to wait its turn. Well that turn arrived and the quilt has gone home.
I love piecing and did check out the Laundry Basket Mystery Quilt and considered for a moment jumping in, however I had a couple projects on the go already and customer quilts in the que.
I chose the pantograph Feather Grande by Bethanne Nemesh and it just danced along on this beautiful quilt. The quilting really shows on the back, again those blues!!
Wendy’s Quilting and Life 