Monday, June 1, 2015

What's On My Design Wall Today

Well, on the mainstage of my design wall that is!
Two blocks done of nine!
This is Grande Scrappy Tiles, and it's a pattern I'm testing for Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs.  For the post that describes how I chose the fabrics for this sweet scrappy quilt, go here.  I'm pretty happy so far with how the prints play together, as well as the colours and the values.

There was a fair bit of cutting, and because I went shopping only in my stash, I didn't have just fat quarters, but some leftovers from other projects and some pieces that I had bought together with a future quilt in mind.  So this randomness added to the cutting.  Where I was able, I would cut a fat quarter and stack 2-3 and then cut as per the pattern.  I like that!  Three!  Three pieces in one!  (that will date me for those who know the mints commercial I'm parodying...didja get it?!)

Here is how I kept my pieces organized at first:
Seeing this on my sewing table makes me HAPPY!! Bubbles of quilty possibilities bouncing around in my chest...you know!

Once I had them all cut, which was right after I took the photo, I separated them into stacks of same-size shapes.  (ha, now I see the alliteration there...trying saying that 3 times in a row!)

And let the fun begin!  Here was the first block:

And....that's where I stopped last night because I was doing some um, dumb things which meant some reverse-sewing was in order, and I thought, 'Okay. Time to stop and start fresh tomorrow!'  The second block went together without a hitch.

So now I am building two blocks at a time on the design wall, so I can get the 21 different fabrics distributed evenly.  I can just see with my luck, having 3 or 4 pieces of the same fabric right in the last block or two!  You only use 15 of the 21 fabrics per block, as you can see, so I am going to control, control-freak that I can sometimes be, the scrappiness!
Layout for block #3
You might have noticed a couple of new buttons on my sidebar, one of which is the New Quilt Bloggers group I've joined this year.  This should be fun and informative for me!  Last year I was too shy to join in, had like 3 followers, lol, but through linking up in various linky parties and joining in with (my favourite) Scrap-a-Palooza over the summer, I met some amazing, just amazing and genuinely wonderful people, and have had my quilting life, make that my life, so enriched.  So...here's to a whole bunch more enrichment about to happen, and improvements about to be made.  Hang on to your hats!  I'm hanging on to mine!  I'm off to write my intro to the group right now!

Linking up with DWM at Patchwork Times.  It's always fun and inspirational to see what others are up to.


11 comments:

  1. You will enjoy the New Quilt Bloggers. It is a great way to get to know so many great people. I took part last year or maybe the year before.

    Your block looks great!

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  2. I thought scrappy wasn't supposed to be so controlled. ;) I would probably do the same thing. I arrange things on my design wall so colors and prints are all balanced and then wonder if anyone will even notice.

    I participated in the New Quilt Bloggers hop last year. It was so much fun. You'll love it.

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  3. Hi Just found your blog via moda bake and have spent a lovely few hours reading through past posts, definitely added to my favourites!

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    1. Hey Michelle! You made my day! I really hope you will see this comment because I have no way of reaching you, as you are a "no-reply". Where in Scotland are you? I've been a fan for decades of your country, mostly because of reading a lot of historical fiction, but also because my mum is from northern England, Lancashire to be exact. I'm a huge fan of the Outlanderr books which I read back in the late 90s early 2000s and as each new one comes out!

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  4. Great progress! I too am participating in the 2015 New Quilt Blogger hop. I was happy to see you part of the group and already part of my regular Bloglovin reading! :)

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  5. I do like to plan my layout on the design wall too but always get a few at the end not so evenly distributed! I like to add a bit of colour clumping intentionally as its nice to give the eye a place to rest sometimes!

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  6. Great looking blocks! I too like my scrappy to be very controlled :)

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  7. We are at least close in age. Certs - three, three mints in one!
    Looking forward to working with you in the 2015 new quilt blogger blog hop!

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  8. Looks like a great start to another beautiful quilt. Everything you make is always magnificent! <3

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  9. Hi Sandra!
    How fun that you are doing a test quilt for Cheryl. I'm really looking forward to when her Mystery Quilt begins.
    You are going to do great and be a wonderful asset to the New Quilt Bloggers group!

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I wholeheartedly appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment, as they make my day! I answer every one by personal email. :-) Unless... you are a "no-reply" blogger, which can occur for a few reasons. You can get around that by writing out your email within your comment so that I can answer you.