This little block is a fun and cheery way to start the year. This is the first of the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge, from Patterns by Jen. I love that Jen used birds as the inspiration for her colors and thought about the goldfinches flitting about in the yard as I was making these.
I had a little trouble – all of my own making. I am using some 10″ squares and some 6″ strips of Boundless Florals that I bought from Bluprint*. This is their fabric line and the deal was too great to pass up and worked perfectly.
Anyway, back to the story. I misread/calculated the pieces and cut way too many of the light pieces and had none with me in Maine. Well, none was in Massachusetts either when I got back; I had to switch up the pattern. My background is dark (which isn’t very dark) rather than light because that’s what I had fabric for.
If you are making this, remember that sometimes webbing is your friend. This isn’t a perfect picture, but it is when you lay out your pieces in as they will appear in the block; turn the 2nd piece onto the 1st in each row, and stitch, then add the 3rd piece, etc until the blocks are sewn together in a row (like above)but the rows are not sewn together. Then sew your rows together. Sherry has a great tutorial, so check it out if this is not clear!
I did a little closet reorganization too, the other day. First up is the old system. Every time I wanted scraps in the shoeboxes, I would have to move a whole bunch of stuff.
Here is what I have now. Elfa is on sale at the Container Store, and so it was a pretty easy sell. I even put it together myself (not expertly) but enough for it to work for me!
My goals this week include making the top for the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge. I decided on grey rather than black strips; the black just felt too bleak to me. I may or may not make the parade of quilts on the 15th; it wasn’t on my radar until a few days ago, so we’ll see if things cooperate tomorrow. Other things this week will include my design and project and for the Winters Blues Hop. I will be working hard to come up with something fun for you and me!
Coming Up:
Tutorial on Converting Picture to Mosaic in EQ8 (1/22)
Swap Mob Bag (1/17)
The Winter Blues (1/20)
2020 Monthly Color Block
Linking Up:
Patterns by Jen
What I Made Monday
I haven’t finished my 2019 Color Challenge top either; I keep waffling between Jen’s sashing design and doing my own thing (whatever that is). I have two other deadlines looming, so the finish may have to take a back seat. I haven’t done my January 2020 block yet either. It’s on my to-do list, though!
You will. I am doing it fast and easy as it will be a benefit quilt. In fact, I will start sewing right now!!!! Meanwhile, I am waiting for the muse to strike concerning a winter blues project. It will, it is is just taking its good old time!
The quilting I am working on now could use the webbing. In fact, last night I was thinking about the video tutorial Gail posted on webbing and how much time i could save in construction. Then I read your post here so it must be kismet.
It surely is the way to go. It does help with not reversing/switching up things which I always think I won’t do but I do!