Design Wall Monday

I haven't had much of a chance to sew "just because" lately and I've been missing that. It's been a bit crazy around here since the beginning of June when I spent a wonderful time with my awesome sisters at Burr Oak, came home and co-hosted another Old Bags Day Sew-In, and then Jack and I went to Toronto for four nights and three days.

Last week I posted the quilt-in-progress I was making for the Milan Library. These blocks were all painted by youngsters in the summer reading program and I was in the process of laying them out and beginning the quilt-as-you-go technique. (This was a bit of a challenge because some of these squares had multiple layers of thick paint and of course many of them had paint and writing that extended past the penciled seam line. It was challenging, but fun!)

Well that quilt is complete and has found it's home in the children's reading room at the newly renovated Milan Library. 

 

Jack and I went to the grand re-opening on Saturday afternoon and it was wonderful to see the large turnout, despite the rainy weather.

 

 

 



It was even more fun to see some of the kids and their parents checking out the quilt and searching for the block they painted.

Since that project is done and I don't have much time before we head to Tennessee, I pulled out the quilt I was working on during the Sisters' Weekend. If you are a regular reader, you'll probably remember when I asked you to vote for your favorite layout of these blocks. Well the votes were counted and layout #1 was the favorite but I hadn't had a chance to begin sewing the blocks together.

Wanting to do some quick piecing, I placed these blocks on the design wall and started sewing the rows together. This is what I've done so far. Ahhhhhh, it sure felt good to sew!!! I love the sound of a sewing machine's motor.  :-)

These are the bottom four rows and they are all sewn together. The top four rows are sewn, but not sewn together. I'm pretty sure I have the blocks in the same order as I pictured earlier, but I' not sure. Since the first picture was taken at an odd angle, it wasn't easy to see the fabrics well. It's close and I like how it's laid out now, so it works for me.

I don't think this will be done before we leave, but it's a good start. I not going to border this. I'm afraid that a border will take away from the block layout and subdue the design too much. I think I'll just do an all-over quilting design and then bind it. It's a decent size (about 60" x 80") and I can live with that. I've already been playing with a second quilt made using these blocks, and the layout will be similar to option 2 (the loser in the earlier voting) with some minor tweaking.

Realistically, I don't see that next quilt being made for at least a month because I have others with deadlines to finish first. I also have a number of classes that I'll be teaching this Summer and I want to begin preparing for my Fall classes soon. Then again, I may just get excited about it and work on that before anything else. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.
Be prepared to be amazed and inspired!
Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times.