Rainbow Scrap Quilt 2.0

Another 2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt has reached completion!  

I was inspired by Cathy Tomm's Greek Square blocks and dug through my scraps each month to add more blocks to my challenge pile.

I planned from the beginning to give this quilt to one of my nieces.  I found out her favorite color was red, so it was a no-brainer choosing a red batik for the border.  I'm so accustomed to not pre-washing fabrics, it didn't even occur to me the red batik might not be colorfast.  I didn't think about it until it was too late to pre-wash, so I did a test on some scraps.  They didn't bleed, so I think it will be OK.  I do plan to do a quick washing with LOTS of Color Catchers!

My local long-arm quilter, Cindy Braiwick, did the quilting.  She used a wonderful fleur de lis based design that really looks great with the Greek Square blocks.

Here's another look at the quilting from the back.  She used gold thread to help pull all the crazy colors together.

I'm still experimenting with what type of label I like best.  For this quilt I did a simple, triangular label.

As always, many thanks to Angela of soscrappy for the inspiration and to all the other Rainbow Scrap quilters for their weekly words of encouragement!

Slow Sunday Playtime

Today has unintentionally turned into a quilting play day.  I have two projects that are now clamoring for my attention, but they're still in the planning stages.

My husband's niece is expecting her first baby in March.  I had always intended to make a baby quilt, but yesterday I finally got info from her mom about nursery colors, decorating ideas, etc.  Her color choices and design element (owls) reminded me I had some Tula Pink Hushabye fabric stashed for future baby quilts.  I have more colors than pictured above - go here if you want to see all the different colorways.  So sad this fabric is no longer in stores!

I thought I might make a baby-size version of this quilt by Roslyn Mirrington of Bloom.

But Kim Brackett's Picnic quilt from Scrap Basket Sensations would look really cool in the Hushabye fabric, too!

Then I got an email from my LQS announcing Kate Spain would be visiting and promoting her latest fabric line.  And oh, by the way, she designed a free pattern.  Hmm, couldn't I substitute a pieced owl for the bee in her pattern?

At the same time all those ideas are bubbling around in my head, I'm trying to decide what layout to use for my next set of Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks from last year.  These Greek Square blocks were fun to make and they used up lots of scraps!

I played with various arrangements and snapped quick pictures with my iPad.  A straight-up grid might work, IF I could find the right fabric for sashing.  I tried white and some colorful prints on a white background, but it's just too blah.  Maybe some Kaffe Fassett Paperweight fabric?

Colorblock layout?  Narrow dark colored border followed by Kaffe Fassett Paperweight?

I think turning the blocks on the diagonal is much more visually appealing.  Not sure what fabric to use for the  end and corner triangles, though!

I think this is my favorite, although I need to tweak the color arrangement a little.  If only I could figure out what fabric to use for the corners and ends.  I tried a few black prints, but that's too overwhelming.  I guess that means a fabric shopping trip is in the future!

Have you stuck with me this long?  If so, please feel free to share your thoughts on your favorite baby quilt pattern and/or Greek Square layout.

As for me, I need to settle my brain!  I'm going to go claim my favorite chair and do some hand quilting.  This little quilt is is begging for completion before Valentine's Day.  I'll be joining up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, another source of inspiration!

Juiced on Orange

Did I mention I have been feeling smitten with the color orange?  That orange and white color combination has been calling my name all week.  I scooped up all my orange fabrics and scraps, along with a nice chunk of white fabric and have been cutting pieces in preparation for an orange and white quilt.  Nothing to show yet, but I'll give you a taste of more of the oranges in my stash.

Orange Greek square #1

Orange Greek square #2

The fabric in the outer corners is a pale pumpkin color - yummy!

I love each of these fabrics!  Can't wait to see them in the orange and white quilt!

As I've been working through the orange fabrics, I've also been cutting leader-ender pieces for Bonnie Hunter's latest L-E project:  Spoolin' Around.  I've always wanted to make a spool quilt, and thought this was a great way to get one made.  Who else is playing along?

Don't forget to stop by SoScrappy's blog to see more orangey inspiration!

Sunday Night Wrap Up

Random thoughts at the end of the week:

My day started at 5 AM when all the dogs decided it was time to get up.  Being kind to DH, I got up and took care of everyone's needs (we currently have 2 dogs, one puppy and one cat).  At that point, returning to sleep was out of the question, so I switched on the Olympics and finished the binding on the cow quilt.  It was kind of appropriate that I was watching the Women's Marathon as I finished stitching down the binding on that huge quilt!

Next on the agenda was assembling the binding for another quilt.  I have been making memory quilts from my father's shirts and two of them are sitting in the binding queue.  I didn't have big enough pieces of fabric to create continuous bias binding and I don't like cutting bias strips and sewing them together.  So, I (gasp!) just cut lengthwise strips and sewed them together for the binding.  The Quilt Police might be rolling over in their graves, but I'm not worried about it.  This quilt will be more decorative than utilitarian, so I don't think the binding is in danger of wearing out before the quilt.

My local longarm quilter Cindy Braiwick did the quilting on this one.  My dad was an amateur musician, and this quilt honors that memory.  You can read more about this quilt here - scroll down to the second featured quilt.

Connie and I enjoyed several email conversations about sewing on vintage Singer sewing machines this week.  That inspired me to put one of my favorite vintage machines in the sewing cabinet yesterday.  This is a Singer Model 201K.  The K indicates the machine was made in Great Britain (Scotland to be exact) and the serial number dates it to around 1957.  The Model 201 was considered Singer's finest sewing machine for many years.  I love sewing with it because it's so quiet!

I did one more setting variation with the Greek Square blocks from the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I think this may be my final choice.  I need to finish the aqua blocks in the top row, and add at least another set of 4 blocks on the left.  I'll use the off-white blocks as shown - making a few more to properly round out the setting.  That will leave side and end triangles;  I'm thinking of using Laura Gunn Painter's Canvas or Moda Grunge in a variety of white for these.  

And now to work on stitching down that newly made binding while I flip between the Olympics and the New Orleans Saints pre-season game.  I'm sharing with Kathy's hand stitching link-up - go check out all the slow stitching everyone else is enjoying this evening!

Playing with Greek Squares

I have been looking forward to playing with the color turquoise today.  It's the first Saturday of a new month, ushering in turquoise for everyone enjoying the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I don't have a shortage of turquoise scraps, but not all of them play together nicely!  

I decided to start with the Greek Square blocks, as they use at least four different fabrics and would present the biggest challenge.  I wasn't wrong in my assessment, and only put together two blocks that made me happy.  I guess I'll work on some of my other RSC blocks and return to the Greek Squares later.

Since my design wall was empty, I decided to throw the completed Greek Squares up there and see what type of layout might work for the final quilt.

A random layout - oops! - two pink square right next to each other.  This looks better in the photograph than it does in person.  I think this layout is too busy, although I'll keep an open mind until all the challenge colors are complete.

Color blocking diagonally - better, but still kind of busy.

I was trying to create a Streak o' Lightning effect here.  I'd have to make more blocks and figure out how to deal with the side and end triangles.  The off-white blocks would have to go in a different location, too!

My favorite setting so far.  Squares sewn into groups of 4 and set on the diagonal.  I'd still need to come up with side and corner triangles - maybe that would be a good way to use the off-white blocks.  I'm leaving this up on the design wall for a few days so I can think on it.

It's been a fun day of fabric play.  I'm looking forward to using turquoise in my other Rainbow Scrap blocks...and seeing what everyone else has been up to.  There's a link-up over at Soscrappy's blog so you can check it out too!  

Rainbow Scrap Saturday: Walkin' on Sunshine

The venerable Greek Square provides this week's yellow scrap happiness!

I was thinking of placing these blocks on point for the final quilt.

But when the blocks are placed together, there's an interesting secondary design where the corners meet.  I think I like this arrangement better!

One week of yellow scrappiness left for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Do visit Soscrappy's blog to see what other RSC quilters are up to!

Scrappy Saturday: Wedding Cupcakes

Welcome to another version of scrappy Saturday - where we get to show off our latest efforts for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  Last week's blocks reminded me of Blondies, the brownie-like dessert.  Keeping with that theme, I decided this week's blocks were reminiscent of cupcakes.

It just so happens my friend KC makes amazing wedding cake cupcakes for her bakery, so here are some of hers to drool over!

Greek square blocks with scrappy light neutrals and white.

...and there's more scrappy goodness at Soscrappy's Saturday link-up!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - March Deux

Saturday is Soscrappy's Rainbow Challenge pink-up day.  Yes, I said "pink-up", as there will be links to lots of pink scrappy inspiration!

I put together these pink Greek Square blocks earlier this week.  I had lots of pink scraps in the 3.5" scrap bin, but none as old as some of the scraps I used for last week's 16-patch blocks!  I was tired of taking pictures of blocks on my design wall, so I snapped these in afternoon sunlight on the kitchen table - a nice change of pace!

2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Take Two

I thought I was through with this month's rainbow scrap challenge project.  I made my green blocks last Saturday and figured I'd have to wait a few weeks for next month's color before I made any new blocks.  But yesterday I was hit with new inspiration by Cathy Toms' Greek Square blocks.

I contacted Cathy (thanks Cathy!) and asked about her blocks, then went digging through the scrap bins.  It just so happened I had a huge assortment of already cut 3.5 inch strips in lots of colors and shades.  So by default, my Greek Square blocks were made from 3.5 inch strips and squares.  I pieced 4 green squares and 2 red squares; I've got two more red squares ready to piece during the week.

Mine are a little different from Cathy's in that I used light/dark fabric combinations and she used white for her light fabric.  Since I already had the light/dark fabric strips cut, I decided to use those rather than cut even more fabric!

As I was working on the scrappy rainbow blocks, I realized I could also use this block pattern for one of  my memory quilts.  I already had a big stash of half-square triangles and pieced light/dark squares.  I made a quick block on the design wall and was pleased with the result.  Now I only need to make a couple hundred more half-square triangles for the various memory quilts under construction!

There's lots more inspiration over at the 2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge link up for this week - take a look and see if you don't get inspired!