100 Modern Quilt Blocks

I've been saving this new project for a special occasion! My birthday!

Today I was gifted time in my studio to play with these goodies that I had already bought for myself.

I bought the book online (it's been out for a few years now, so it wasn't in my local quilt shops), and I chose some Tula Pink and Devonstone fabrics from Quilty Desires.

I'm so excited to play with these. And then I notice, once again, they are pink, with a bit of green. Pink and green. 

This is starting to be such a weird pattern in my fabric choices.

So much calm in this project.

This is my happy space.

So relaxing. Cut out a few blocks at a time, then sit down to sew.

These are simple, but effective blocks. I'm so glad Tula came up with these. 

I think it would be fun to create some easy blocks too.

My cutting mat looks like it needs cleaning!

Hello, I am happy!

I am going to make as many blocks as I can from the fabric I bought. I don't plan to make the entire 100 blocks for this quilt.

So satisfying!

A nice easy pattern to follow.

Look at that green background! But, let's change it up on the next one.

The quilting is really clear in the book too. It's been done so meticulously.

Oh my goodness! I love these blocks!

This cube was cute in the book.... but when I actually made it....

that's when I really saw the possibilities of making these with feature fabrics.

Look! A mini French braid!

 

The pink French Braid

Whoever said red hair doesn't go with pink was looking at the wrong pink.

This gorgeous French Braid quilt is hanging on my wall.

Why do I always seem to make things from pink and green? They are colours of the heart. But they're not the number 1 choice for my home decor.

I keep needing to make vignettes and change the colour of the decor from time to time. Especially when I make more quilts!

Do you find that you consistently choose similar fabrics?

 

Eye of The Tiger

I'm enjoying hand quilting Eye Of The Tiger. 

I eyeballed the distance between where I'd stitched and where I wanted to go next.

Would you believe the local quilt shops had no quarter inch quilt marking tape? Maybe people don't often hand quilt anymore?

So I used tape I already had. A double sided tape that I also used to make seam and contour lines on the dressmaking model.

Not as easy as it could've been, if I had the "right" tape. 

Do you know anyone who hand quilts with tape?

 

Back To The Bee

It's feeling a little mundane working on this. 

I am back to it after Christmas, I haven't touched it since about November. There's so much background to do.

Rather than put fusible web behind every piece of fabric (Which would cost me about $300), I cut strips and put around the perimeter of each background shape. This will keep the centre of the shape soft without the stiffness of the glue.

It's starting to become clear.

After these big pieces, I need to add words and small details and layer effects.

I don't think you really understand  how big this bee is.

 

Revisiting stash looking for inspiration.

I am still looking through stash fabric to find a new project, or some inspiration... to see what comes.

Oh these Reese Scannel shot cottons I bought about 10 years ago are still so beautiful.

And this bag of stuff I put aside for an Indian inspired quilt after my second trip in 2010.

Still no idea what to make yet. It might be a bag. Who knows?

Nope. No ideas yet.

 

Christmas Cat boy shirt

I think these might be Louis Wain cats as well! Another bargain buy after Christmas last year....

Guess what? This will be another boy shirt of course.

He loves cats and Christmas... so why not?

I need to buy more interfacing. The woven one is best.

And some press studs too. Spotlight have none left in the same colour. I'm getting a collection, it might be time to look on ebay for some of the press studs. I think more shirts are coming.

My boy has found his style.

 

Have you seen this yet?

I've been making a French Braid, using the Rainbow ruler and pattern by Blue Willow Designs. 

Now it's time for my own twist and variation. How to put this together, using as much of this car fabric as I can. I also have 5 inch squares of the cat fabric. 

I am trying to think of the fabric designer's name. Her designs are very distinctive. I will come back to it. Pieces of gold throughout. 

The beloved loves cats, so I thought it would be suitable for out bed. 

We also need it to be in dark colours, as the children all play in our bed, it's an energy centre of love, I guess.

Once upon a time I made intricate quilts for display on my bed. Not anymore. After children, those ones have to go on the wall.

There's a few of the 5 inch squares on the side to start the border treatment. I want to make this as big as I can, using as much of the fabric as possible.

To be continued....

 

Coming up next

Oh this kantha stitching! I love this Eye of The Tiger quilt, but it's quilting fast, so I am looking in my stash for something else to make next.

Oh I think I need to save this True Colours jelly roll. It's too pretty to be lost with the Monkey Wrench fabric.

This requires more thought.

I've taken photos from the Raven quilt book by Blackbird Designs to send quilting ideas to my Mum. I am excited she is going to start custom quilting my quilt!

It's a big love gift on her behalf, I foresee many hours she will work on it for me. This is indeed an heirloom in the making.

 

Rainbow cat altar cloth

Oh wow, this rainbow cat turned out to be so beautiful. I had an absolute blast stitching this one.

Listed in my Etsy store.

Etsy.com/shop/sewintuitivebyrainey 

 

Playing with fabric

Yes, I have piles of Tula Pink fabrics. Right here I have pulled a Monkey Wrench ten inch square pack, and a True Colours jelly roll.

I am not seeing that these will make an effective quilt. I was hoping to use the Monkey Wrench squares as entire pieces, but after opening them I see that's not really going to work. The strips will lose their interest and contrast if mixed in here as well.

So I am looking through bags and bags of Tula Pink stash fabrics.

Maybe a bit of this, maybe a bit of that. Nothing is jumping out, no decisions yet.

So I will work on an altar cloth instead. This is the Hallowitch of pumpkins.

This one is sold, but there is one more available in my Etsy store.

Etsy.com/shop/sewintuitivebyrainey

 

Eye of The Tiger trial quilting

There's a trial run at the quilting.... it's just so freeing and soft in the hands. I've used the parlan (spelling) from Just Country Quilts once again, as the needle slides through deliciously with the perle thread.

 

Eye of The Tiger is ready to quilt

Eye of The Tiger is a small quilt top. Just over a metre square. 

Eden by Tula Pink charm pack. Surrounded by Anna Maria Horner peacocks, and cornerstones using a fabric from Tula Pink's Spirit Animal range. 

I have been collecting Tula Pink fabrics, and not using them. ..... waiting for some illusive special project. Well not anymore!

This stunning box of wonderfil threads is the colour pallette for the kantha quilting.

All ready to mark out using a Hera marker and ruler. I think diagonal lines will be perfect.

It's mango season, and this is a special dessert I made for the family. 

I love making food pretty too.

 

Which binding?

I am auditioning fabric for binding the Octopus' Garden (Anna Maria Horner fabric freehand raw edge applique).

pink

green

purple

And the answer is: the most unpredictable, the purple one.

I don't know how I had enough of this for binding, but it's perfect. I think I chose it as an interesting piece to create appliqued leaves from.