I like Structure

I don't know about you, but as much as I like freedom of choice and self expression, I also crave deadlines and guidelines. So, this week, when our Pack Patch Mini QAL prompts were to choose our own themes I was at a loss for a while. While I'm happy with what I chose, I don't think they're the most clever themes of all time.

I ended up finding inspiration for one block in an odd place. I've become obsessed with knit fabrics, and came across the Harmony Art Jersey Let It Grow Grey print. I loved how the description said 'the balance of circles within squares' inspires the artist. Although this looks nothing like that knit fabric, it was inspired by that idea of circles within squares.

The Balance of Circles Within Squares

The second block I made was inspired by the Cheddar block we made. I figured if we'd already done a color study, and the color was cheddar, it was only fitting I'd do a color study green block too (see blog title). Besides being my middle name (and Mom's maiden), it represents my youth on a farm, hiking in the woods, rolling hills of grass, finances that guide our lifes choices. So many things! I attempted to capture some of these themes within the block, you'll be able to see for yourself how successful I was (or wasn't!)

Color Study in Green

This wraps up the sew along. It's been a fun little journey in experimentation, and I think I'm going to need to work on continuing this type of thing somehow. It's oddly liberating getting pushed outside your creative box.

If you had to choose a prompt for one of these blocks, what would you choose? 

Lightning Bug Pincushion

My local quilt shop (Brooklyn General) has a crafty contest each summer. This year the challenge was to honor the bug. All entries have to be 5" or less, and the have to be 3-D. I had this contest in the back of my mind for a little while, and then inspiration struck like a bold of lightening:

Lightening Bug! 

I made a design for a 5" square, traditionally pieced lightning bug. I may enlarge the pattern into a pillow size and share with you later. This small one is awfully fiddly. Suffice it to say, all these teenie tiny pieces were hard to get an accurate seam allowance on, but they are so cute that it doesn't matter (to me)! I ended up adding some hand embroidered embellishments because the wings looked a little odd without definition, and buggy needed some legs and antennae. This is maybe my second time embroidering, and I used 4 different stitches! One of my favorite parts of the pincushion are the sides and bottom in the neon yellow stripe. I got it as a remnant, and am not even sure what kind of fabric it is, but it fit in with the theme perfectly!

Here are a few close ups, pardon the cat hairs!

Head shot. Antennae were stitched using backstitch and french knots. 

Close up of the 'lights' with some mosquito stitching embellishment. 

Here's how he looks as a functioning pincushion. 

Back side of my label. The other side is my initials and the year. 

There's still time to enter the contest, and everyone is welcome to participate (just mail in submissions if you're out of town). They're accepting submissions until July 15th. Everyone can enter up to 3 bugs. I've got an idea for another one, just not sure if I'll be motivated to finish in time! 

Buggy got back!

Linking up to Finish it up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts. 

Liberty in Colorado

Last week I showed the paper pieced Crested Butte block that I'm turning into a cushion for my sister, this week I'm sharing what will become the other side of the cushion: Colorado blocks!

My favorite color combo!

I had to use my leftover Liberty fabric from my Liberty Trip quilt, but I really wasn't feeling it. I know that many Liberty fanatics won't believe that, but I'm sure many people know the feeling: you've worked with something so many times you just can't stand to look at it again. I was initially going to just do a random patchwork design, but it was too jumbled, too unfocused for me. I had already been planning the Colorado Block side of the pillow for my sister, and I realized I could turn all those 2.5" squares into HSTs for the block. I grouped my left over Liberty squares by colors (loosly), and I used the last of my Architextures Topograph in navy as the contrasting color in each block. They came together really quickly, and I fell back in love with the fabrics. Now I think I'm going to have a hard time giving them up!

The start of my Liberty in Colorado cushion cover. 

I'm thinking of giving away the rest of my Liberty Scraps. They are all quilting weight cottons from the Bloomsbury and Stile collections, although just a selection of the prints. I've been looking at them too long, it's time to move on! If I decide to go this route I'll provide more information on what I've got and announce it via blogpost, so you'll be the first to know!

Linking up to WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.