Rush Hour!

It's Blog Hop Time Again!!

Thanks Mdm Samm and Carol for organizing and cheering us on for this wonderful hop. As always, you two ROCK!

Today's list of characters participants 

Wednesday, September 24

Stitchin’ By The Lake

Buzzing and Bumbling

Lixie Makes It

Everyone Deserves a Quilt  (Me!!)

Living With Purpose

Madly Mid Mod

Coral Canyon Quilting

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Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

It seems like all we ever do anymore is rush around!

Well, Rush Hour by Studio e 

gives us good reason to "slow down and enjoy the fabric." 

It is FABULOUS!

Check out these black, gray and white fabrics. I'm not even showing the reds that made their way into the line. 

To see the entire line, click HERE

I've always loved this combination of colors. The contrasts are always stunning and I can't think of a single black, red, white and grey fabric that I've not liked. I have some in my stash and I am very stingy with it. I don't usually offer that to anyone because I love it so much and want to keep it all to myself. 

As soon as this hop was announced, I knew what I was going to make. I had purchased a quilt pattern from Jeni Baker of In Color Order a while ago and was looking for just the right fabric to use. This line fit the bill, so I started looking for a place to buy it. That search took me a while, but I finally found it and was thrilled. 

Since the search took longer than expected, I started getting a bit concerned that I was going to be able to get the envisioned quilt finished before the blog hop. I knew school was starting soon and that my time was going to be limited, so I started thinking about Plan B. (It's always good to have a Plan B!)

I pulled a bunch of black and white fabrics, some red fabric and some old sketches and began work on a project that has been in the "dream state" for quite a long time. I've really been working on finishing UFOs and other "planned but never started" quilts, so this was perfect.

I got this far and realized that I bit off more than I could possibly chew in a short period of time and decided to implement Plan C. 

Plan C was easy because it was simply downsizing Plan B to make a large wall hanging. Plan B is still in the works, but it just wasn't going to get done before this hop. 

 I love how this turned out! 

And to think this is Plan C. :-)

Quilt size: 54" x 54"

This started as a bunch of black and white 2 1/2" squares. I liked it even before I added the red, but oh how that red does wonders! Of course putting it on point helps too.  :-)

Can you see the fire pit in the background? It's on the left. 

This quilt is kind of busy with all those little squares so I thought it went along well with the RUSH HOUR theme. When I saw the fire pit in the background of this photo, I almost cropped it out. But then I decided that I liked how it contrasts with the idea of rushing around. I can't think of many other things that I find more relaxing than sitting by a fire in the evening after a busy and hectic day.

It certainly doesn't hurt if you have the makings for s'mores nearby!  YUMMY!!

    

When I was almost done with this quilt, the Rush Hour fabric arrived and I was thrilled. I still had time to make the original quilt. YIPPEE!

The pattern is Side Braid, by Jeni Baker 

I had the blocks and rows all laid out and ready to sew when I asked my husband what he thought about it. He liked it (LOVED the fabric!), but said he thought the placement the white blocks made this too organized to fit the Rush Hour theme. 

I should have known better, but I asked him what he thought I should do. 

His reply was, "Give me a minute because I have just the thing." 

I went to the kitchen to get a drink and when I returned the design wall was empty! He had taken all the blocks down!

I looked at him with what I can only imagine was a shock and disbelief. He handed me the blocks, looked at the clock and said, "In keeping with the true theme of RUSH HOUR, you have one hour to lay out this quilt. I think that a random placement of the white blocks would look great. You better get started." 

I'm positive it took a few minutes before the task ahead of me completely registered, but then I thought, "What the heck? He's right. Whatever I have in one hour is how it's going to be."

I got to work and here's the result. I didn't even really feel any pressure, unlike some days when I'm struggling to get too many things done in too short of a time frame. 

I hate to admit it, but he was right. I really like how this turned out. I even finished early and had time for that drink I brought in from the kitchen.  :-)

 Since I liked the contrast that occurred when the fire pit showed up in the background of the other quilt picture, I decided I wanted something similar for this quilt.

I wanted to quilt something that would contrast the RUSH HOUR theme and thought of the saying "Stop and Smell the Roses!"

The design isn't really roses, but it is flowers.

I even put a black and white floral on the back and I love that!

I had some difficulty choosing what to use for binding. My first thought was solid black, but I thought that would be kind of expected and even boring. I had enough of the backing fabric to use, but it just didn't work for me. I then went back to my stash and pulled a recently purchased black, white and grey fabric that kind of reminded me of snowflakes. 

The "snowflake" fabric won!  

I threw the quilt over the clothes line to get an outdoor picture but it was too heavy and sagged quite a bit. (I think I need to tighten my line!)

As I was headed to find a better picture location, my phone rang so I just tossed the quilt on the wood pile. That made me think that I think I wanted a fire - and s'mores!
   

Now for the giveaway!

Not only do I love these colors, but I also love to work with stripes. What better way to combine these two loves than with some striped black, red, white and grey fabric!

One lucky person will win 1 yard of this fabric 

"Pear Tree Greeting" by Hoffman California International. 

The winner will be chosen Thursday, October 2nd.

For your chance to win, leave me a comment telling me your favorite quilt color combinations or your favorite thing to do when you realize that you are getting stressed and just need a break. Keep it clean!  :-)

Also, please remember to provide an e-mail address if you are a no-reply blogger. I'd hate for your number to be pulled and then not be able to reach you. 

Thanks again Mdm Samm and Carol!