Reveal - 2019 Color Challenge Quilts

I've been teasing you lately with pictures of my completed 2019 Color Challenge quilt blocks and bindings (even more so on social media!), but I'm ready to share the quilts today.

As I have said before, I made two full sets of blocks and just reversed the fabric placement. See THIS post to see what I mean. Even though I toyed with the idea of making one large quilt, I ultimately decided to make two separate quilts, and I'm very happy with my choice.  :-)

I used Jen's awesome Checkered Rainbow setting for the original blocks, and I love how it looks. I loved the look of a black and white border, but I also knew that I didn't want to use a solid black and white. What was a girl to do?  I was thrilled when I found this Wilmington Prints fabric - Bubble Up. 

Isn't it perfect? I paired it with this Zen Chic Spotted Black fabric.

Success!

And just because I love a good side view of a quilt...

Do you see what I mean about how beautifully that Bubble Up fabric works?  

I used the Spotted Black for my backing and while it's difficult to see in pictures, I like how the quilting design shows up on it. 

Jen has great instructions on the Checkered Rainbow option on her blog. Be sure to check it out. I did add an additional small black border (1.5" finished) so I could sew a flange binding and not lose any of my points. 

The Checkered Rainbow border and sashing was somewhat time consuming and labor intensive - but so well worth it! I decided that my second quilt was going to have a very simple border and sashing offering. 

I chose two fabrics - the Spotted Black (can you tell that I really liked this fabric and bought a bunch of it? lol) and Grey Rustic Weave by Moda to frame the blocks. The grey looks slightly brown in this picture, but it is grey.

I framed the blocks, alternating the fabrics with a 1.5" finished frame. Technically, that made the finished block size 15". I then laid out the blocks in the same order as the first quilt. I played around with borders and decided that I needed/wanted to use the Bubble Up fabric because it had so many of the block colors in it. After sewing on that 2" finished border, I decided that I couldn't end with that fabric, so I added a 3" finished border of the Spotted Black. I was still a bit underwhelmed when the top was together, but while I was picking up fabrics to put away, I decided that a scrappy binding made from all the Starlet fabrics (Blank Quilting) that I used for the blocks just might solve the "boring" problem. I think I made the right decision.

Of course, here are the obligatory side view pictures. 

Because these quilts are so colorful (I guess the challenge worked!), I thought it would be fun to photograph them in a park or playground. We are fortunate to have one very close to us, so Jack and I took advantage of the surprisingly good weather and headed to the park. 

Jack actually took most of the pictures this time because he is nursing a sore leg and I didn't want him up on a step stool (which you can see in some of the pictures, but I don't care). When he takes pictures, this is some of what you get.  😄  I guess he hasn't figured out how to delete pictures before handing them over to me.  hahahaha

We had a good time and laughed through much of the picture taking. We tried a lot of different shots, trying to be creative like those other quilters out there. We succeeded in some cases, but failed miserably in others.  lol

We really wanted some good pictures of the two quilts together, just haphazardly hanging side by side. We had good intentions...

And then we thought that we should get some pictures of the bindings and maybe some of the quilting...

Like the Spotted Black, I bought a lot of the Grey Rustic Weave, so I used that for the backing of the second quilt. It shows off the random free motion quilting that I did.  

After we got home, I realized that we didn't get any of the flange binding by itself. Oh well... We did however, get these pictures of the binding. I really like the first picture!

 Even though it doesn't look like it, both quilts measure approximately 60" x 70". I just folded them differently when I was trying to show off the binding.

I am very pleased with these quilts and am looking forward to the 2020 Challenge. Check back tomorrow, because Jen is releasing the first block a day early - December 31st, and I'm blogging about it. Yay!

Color Challenge - December

It's time for the December Color Challenge - the last one for the year! 

To play along, go to Jen's blog for the block pattern and instructions. 

You won't be disappointed!

December - Purple - Crocus

The crocus is one of the first flowers to emerge in the Spring; and it is often referred to as the light bulb flower because it looks like a bright light bulb until the petals open into the cup-shaped flowers. 

Because it brings the landscape alive with color after a long winter, the crocus is often looked at as a symbol of cheerfulness, joy, excitement, and glee.

Crocus can be white, yellow and purple; but it is the purple flowers that are considered one of nature's most precious treats. Historically, purple is a symbol of prestige and royalty, so the purple crocus is the perfect addition to Spring bouquets to celebrate special occasions.  

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Here are my fabrics - a solid light purple from my stash and a fat quarter of Purple Starlet from Blank Quilting. (I've been using fat quarters from the Starlet line for each month and I'm still happy with my choice.) I'm thrilled that I've been able to use stash fabric for my solid fabrics all 12 months! WooHoo!!

I love to see all the units of a block sewn together and ready to be laid out and sewn together to create a finished block. It motivates me to sew. :-) This month is super simple!

The completed block! As usual, I just love how the Starlet fabric looks in these blocks. Just like every other month, I've sewn the original block plus a second block that has the opposite or different fabric placement.  Here's the original block.

And here's the "opposite" block.

As has been the case each month, it's a subtle difference this month, but it can make a big difference in a final quilt layout.

Check out these other bloggers who made blocks this month. Be sure to come back in January to see how we've put the blocks together into awesome quilts! 

Patterns By Jen

the Geeky Bobbin

Two Maker Chicks

Ali & CC

Scrapdash

The Quilted Diary

Color Challenge - November

It's time for the November Color Challenge and just like all the other months, this is a beauty, especially since this flower is one of my absolute favorites!

To play along, go to Jen's blog for the block pattern and instructions. 

You won't be disappointed!

November - Yellow - Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susans are said to symbolize encouragement and motivation. 

So how did this flower become known as "Black Eyed Susan?"

No one knows for sure, but legend has it that it all comes from an Old English poem of the post-Elizabethan era, written by John Gay (1685-1732). 

All in the downs, the fleet was moored,

Banners waving in the wind.

When Black-Eyed Susan came aboard,

and eyed the burly men.

"Tell me ye sailors, tell me true

Does my Sweet William sail with you?"

There are several stanzas, explaining that her William was on board, "high upon the yardarm", and quickly scrambled down for a fond farewell with his lady love. It seems he was off to the high seas, but promised ardently to be safe and true:

Though battle call me from thy arms
Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms
William shall to his Dear return.
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye.

It certain seems like William has motivation to return safely to Susan, and he is encouraging her to be strong in his absence. I like this poem!

While it appears that the British may have appreciated this beautiful flower first, it has become a popular garden flower here "across the pond." Due to its gold and black colors, matching the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, the Black Eyed Susan became Maryland's state flower. 

The flower is still revered today. The winners of the Preakness (an American flat thoroughbred horse race held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland) are awarded a robe of Black Eyed Susans instead of a horseshoe of roses.

War of Will, 2019 Preakness winner
Photo from the Washington Post 6/4/19

Back to the challenge - 

Here are my fabrics - a solid light yellow from my stash and a fat quarter of Sunshine Starlet from Blank Quilting. (I've been using fat quarters from the Starlet line for each month and I'm still happy with my choice.) I'm thrilled that I've been able to use stash fabric for my solid every single month! 

I love to see all the units of a block sewn together and ready to be laid out and sewn together to create a finished block. It motivates me to sew. :-) This month is simple - half square triangles and squares!

The completed block! As usual, I just love how the Starlet fabric sparkles. 

Just like every other month, I've sewn the original block plus a second block that has the opposite or different fabric placement. 

It's a subtle difference this month, but it can make a big difference in a final quilt layout.

Check out these other bloggers who made blocks this month, and be sure to come back to see what we create next month! 

Patterns By Jen

Kathy's Kwilts and more

Tuning My heart Quilts

The Quilted Diary 

Color Challenge - October

It's time for the October Color Challenge and just like all the other months, this is a beauty!

To play along, go to Jen's blog for the block pattern and instructions. 

You won't be disappointed!

October - Rose - Red

One of the most universal of all symbols, the red rose represents true love. They convey deep emotions - be it love, longing or desire. They can also be used to convey respect, admiration, or devotion; and a deep red rose can be used to convey heartfelt regret and sorry. 

Unbeknownst to many, the red rose also has appeared throughout history as both a political and religious symbol. Regarding politics, the red rose has been associated with socialism since the 1880's; and to this day, it is often associated with groups that are searching for social reform. In terms of religion, all roses symbolize God's love at work in the world; but different rose colors are associated with different spiritual concepts. The red rose means passion and sacrifice. 

The red rose is an unmistakable expression of love and the number of red roses has special romantic meanings associated with them. As most of us already know, twelve red roses is the most popular of all, which conveys "Be mine" and "I love you." But, did you know that 22 red roses mean togetherness or luck? To see the meaning of giving specific number of red roses, check out this link. It's kind of fun to read.  :-)

https://www.serenataflowers.com/pollennation/meaning-roses-1-to-100-roses/

Back to the challenge - 

Here are my fabrics - a solid light red (pink) from my stash and a fat quarter of Red Starlet from Blank Quilting. (I've been using fat quarters from the Starlet line for each month and I'm still happy with my choice.) 

I love to see all the units of a block sewn together and ready to be laid out and sewn together to create a finished block. It motivates me to sew. :-) 

The completed block! I love how the Starlet fabric sparkles. 

As I've been doing each month, I sew the original block plus a second block that has the opposite or different fabric placement. 

It never ceases to amaze me how different a block or quilt looks when you change the fabric. 

Check out these other bloggers who made blocks this month and be sure to come back to see what we create next month! I'm having some issues linking to the bloggers, so be sure to go to Jen's blog and link from there. 

-->Patterns By Jen

-->Bear Paw Stitch & Design

-->Two Maker Chicks

-->The Quilted Diary

-->Kentucky Whittaker Creations

-->PamelaQuilts

Design Wall Monday

I've had a pretty crazy couple of weeks and when I finally got home Thursday night, I decided that I wanted/needed to work on something fun and mindless. I went right to some of my prize-winnings from the American Honor Contest and pulled a fat quarter bundle of Starlet.

Isn't this fun! I knew that working with this would make me smile, especially if I made something simple and quick. 

It didn't take long for me to decide that I wanted to make a 20 block - 16 patch quilt. These quilts are easy and don't waste much fabric at all. Within a couple of hours, the fat quarters were all cut and half the blocks were sewn. It felt good to be at the sewing machine! 

I finished the blocks Friday evening and put them up on the design wall and they are still there. 

Grandma duty called Saturday afternoon and evening, and then Sunday was filled with prep work for the upcoming school year (I'm subbing for Ty when the new baby arrives), some pattern development work, and a concert featuring one of our friends.    

I hope to play around with the layout tomorrow and sew this top together. I'll add a small framing border (not sure which fabric yet), and then add a scrappy border using the left over fabrics from the fat quarters. 

What are you working on today?

Check out the eye candy at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and 

Monday Making