Showing posts with label Stitched in Color. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stitched in Color. Show all posts

Saturday, January 9, 2021

New Beginnings

Me: I hope this year is a new beginning
Paul: All beginnings are new, by definition
Me: Unless it is old wine in a new bottle
Paul: Wine does not get old
Me: It becomes vintage?
Paul: Absolutely
Me: I am going to add some wine to the beef stew
Paul (with anticipation): You are making beef stew?
Me: After I finish writing this blogpost
Paul (naughtily): I can help you finish.
Me: BRAT.  Just help me take pictures of this big quilt top, will you?


When Via (not her real name) a dear friend/co-worker shared that she was going to be a first time grandma (her first grand baby) it was most definitely a new beginning. The baby is due in February 2021.

Sketch Design & Calculations


Boy or girl, I asked.
They chose to not find out, Via replied.

This reminded me of Peter Sagal on one of the episodes of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.

SAGAL: Back in the day, you'd reveal a baby's gender by waiting till it grew up, joined the workforce, and then you see how much it gets paid. But these days, apparently, parents have these gender reveal parties. Some people make a cake that are blue or pink inside. Some people release blue or pink balloons. And one couple used a, quote, "pyrotechnic device" that started a wildfire that is currently burning down most of the forest east of Los Angeles.

Now, what's weird is, after all that, we don't even know what the gender of the baby is. Congratulations, proud parents. It's a disaster.



Although I am glad that Via's son and daughter-in-law avoided fireworks, it would have been helpful (for a quiltmaker) to know whether she should use princess fabric or truck fabric.


Layout



All Blocks Done


So I made a very conscious effort to keep the quilt gender-neutral. No trucks, no fairies but cute animals. Personally I believe that babies don't care about specific colors but bright colors are better for stimulation and cognitive development. So here is my first finish of the year - Hop and Skip.


Hop and Skip at 40" by 40"


Is it too Christmassy?


Avoiding all blues and all pinks I stuck to green and red. I found some cute animal prints on light background. Framed in bright red they would form the perfect stimulation for a baby's eyes. Alternated with calming green 16-patch blocks. Does it look Christmassy?


Ester Bunnies


Cute Cows


Puppies and Snoopy


Cats and Dogs



Giraffes and Monkeys


That Frog is so cute!!!


Tiny Bees, Big Cat


Being in a quilt is such an equalizer. The tiny bees have as much say as the mighty tigers. 
This is a democracy and not the jungle :-D


Cool Cats


I have had this cute winter cats fabric in my stash for a while. It was part of a scrap bag (they really are a mixed bag) and although I like it, it didn't really go well with any other fabric line. Not suitable for fussy cutting either :-(

Pieced Backing


Combined with this leftover picnic plaid from Our Property Values it makes the perfect backing.  I may be just a bit more fond of the backing.


Perfectly Matched



Simple walking foot quilting.  Same bright red binding brings it all together.


Labelled


Cats - Fierce and Cool



Ready to Nap



Rolled



Ready for a Cuddle


I will mail it to Via by the end of the month. And then I will have to wait patiently for the baby pictures. But please don't make me wait for your reactions :-)

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January also marks the beginning of a new Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC).  I have been participating for two years and I am completely hooked to this warm and loving community of scrap happy makers. In the hopes of finding inspiration for 2021 RSC, I started looking and came upon this tutorial by Rachel Hauser of Stitched in Color.  She does gorgeous work and I highly recommend that you check out her blog.

I loved the block for two reasons
1. It does not rely on a background color. The background color can become a challenge when you come to yellow or beige/neutral colors in the RSC. A white background won't work well and using a different/darker background may throw your quilt layout.
2. I could play with values :-) This would be fun.

But something wasn't clicking. I bookmarked the page and went about organizing my scraps and such.
I came across these scraps (came in a scrap bag) and then it clicked.  

Cut from a Panel

Dreami in Process

First Block

Taking Off


I immediately knew what I had to do!!!! This was a huge AHA moment. I dropped everything and made it.
It was a DREAMI!!!  

Blocks on the Design Wall


You can see Leela is languishing by the side while I put these blocks together. 


Leela waits patiently while I chase these animals!!!


Once the flimsy was completed, I quilted and complete Leela.  And then it was time to complete this cute and wild and dreamy quilt.


Finished!!!


Fun Green Backing, Striped Binding



Backing


I chose a bright, kid-friendly green backing. A striped black/white binding works for both the front and the back. 

The floral animals became the focus of the tunnel blocks.  The tunnel block no longer appears like a dead end or a blind alley. There was light at the end of the tunnel, in a manner of speaking.  

Of course you can get in their face - they won't bite :-D

Toucan in Yellow


Bulldog in Orange


I am MILD


I am WILD


Regal in Purple


Red is Royal


I prefer this side


Golden Yellow is my color


I'll be your pet :-)


Wild and Handsome


Fierce in Purple


Orange make me look good!


So here is my second finish of the year - Mild & Wild, because some of these animals can be pets but others definitely belong in the wild. Mild and Wild finished at 39" by 44".

Here are a few more pictures because I am so wildly happy with it.

Labelled


Playing with Values


Cool and Warm


Bold and Bright


My favorite way to show off a finish


Rolled Up



What about the RSC?
Oops!!! In chasing this Dreami, I almost forgot about the RSC.

According to Angela, the RSC color for January is pink. Pink is definitely the color of new beginnings, like newborn puppies :-) Yes, I have cute animals on my mind. I wonder why? 

I do have a good selection of pinks. I am still ruminating over what to make. Do you have any suggestions?


January is PINK!!!


Speaking of RSC, the second (2 of 3) flimsy for the Picket Star Quilt blocks is finished. Leela was first.
With 30 blocks, measuring 17" by 17" + borders, it finished at 88" by 102". 


Dwarfed by the Huge Flimsy


IT. IS. HUGE. So I have sent it to Rebecca of Rebecca Grace Quilting for some longarm quilting love!!! 


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This blogpost won't be complete without my big news. I was chosen to be an Island Batik Ambassador for 2021. I am thrilled although I have a feeling I am going to get my butt kicked. 


Check out all these 2021 Island Batik Ambassadors.


I have received two boxes full of goodies from Island Batik and I am dying to show you the contents. Do return on January 21, 2021 when I post the Unboxing Video.


January Finishes

Two finishes in one month is not new but my ambassadorship with Island Batik is definitely a new beginning :-) What is your new beginning in 2021? 

I will be sharing will my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar) including Angela's and Sandra's (when it goes live). 
















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