Going square-eyed

I know it's been a bit quite around here in the sewing department, but I have been sewing.... I've been working on my master plan. I laid out all of the blocks that I had (done by me and my Eurovision bee buddies), and plotted out how big I wanted the finished quilt to be. After some consulting with H, we decided that it should be big enough for the two of us to cuddle under on the sofa, and could be used on a bed if desired. So, after doing my math based on the block sizes, I realized that a Queen sized quilt was the answer.... gulp! So, I counted up my blocks and realized I was 15 blocks short.

I've found it easiest/quickest, to plan them out in advance so I can cut all the pieces out in advance and then just stitch them together. This way I can get quite a little factory line going of chain pieces bits.

I still have a few blocks to go, and the sashing is on order (Kona Charcoal from here), but already I am loving it. That is a big relief since the thing is gonna be huuuuge!

I've been pondering the quilting plan, and I'm idly pondering whether to hand quilt it... since the winter is almost over (well by the time the top is done the winter will be over!), and hand quilting in the summer is a bit nuts.... I'm wonder if machine quilting is the way to go.

A million shades of Grey

With the big move coming up, I've been pondering what to do with my upcoming unemployed status. While hunting for a new job in my new (old) home, I'm thinking that it's about time I catch up on my Quilting Bee quilts. So, I've been putting together the parts to make sure I can keep myself entertained.

One of the projects I hope to finish up soon, is my Mondrian quilt. The blocks have started coming in so now I have to start thinking about sashing etc.

Here are the first few blocks that I have already recieved from the Eurovision Ladies (well ok, I made 1 ;) ), gorgeous eh!

I already have the back at least partialy planned, it will be in part this fabric which we are going to use as table runners at our wedding reception (assuming our guests don't get too carried away with the red wine!), Paula Prass' Flights of Fancy trellis in Lime.

So now I have to figure out what to do for the front sides sashing. I bust out my Kona colour chart (love it!, best 5$ ever (ok maybe a slight exaggeration, but it's great), to sort which colour to use.

I'm thinking of greys... but I can't decide on which one... Charcoal, Coal, Medium Grey. or Ash.

From the R. kaufman website, I'm thinking of adding one of these greys to my current pallet.

In reality the lightest green is a better match to the other 2 ... the real colours are here:

So, what do you think... which is the best grey.... or do you have any other sugestions, sound off!

Forging a Master

My month for one of my sewing bees is coming up next month, so today I put together the packages for my Mondrian quilt to mail out.

I gathered up my fabrics and my ideas book where I had put down some tentative ideas for the guidelines for the blocks.

As I am basing this quilt on real art, I wanted to make sure:

1. I had the thickness of the black lines correct
2. That I was sending out enough fabric

In order to see if my plan was on the right track, I cut out one set of fabric and then drew out a plan for a block.

Piecing it together was super quick (like crazy quick!) as I pre-cut all of the pieces according to my diagram, and voila...

I love it!

As I want the blocks to be in the style of Mondrian, I am sending them only 3 colours, so that the is a lot of white in the blocks like his art.

For anyone wanting to re-create this type of block, to keep the ratio right, I for a 12" finished block I used 1/2" finished thickness for the black lines.

Feeling Solid

The fabric arrived for my Mondrian quilt. Sigh.... I have some serious fabric love!

fabrics: Kona solids- cyan, lagoon, robin egg, lime, grass and cactus (to be paired with my usual standby, Kona Snow)

I can't wait to get this baby finished started!

Indecisive much?!

I'm not sure what is going on with me, but I've been super indecisive recently... too much wedding planning maybe?!

I am planning the "challenge" I'll be throwing out to the peeps in MMSB and Eurovision quilters.

My months for Eurovision isn't until April, but of course the idea for that block came to me the most easily-- Mondrian (see Mom and Dad, that minor in Art History is paying off!!).

So I had a plan, but which colours to use. I asked H for his 2 cents worth and he said the "real colours"- which I thought might be a bit too wild many colours for our living room. So, in Publisher (I seriously heart publisher!) I whipped some alternative colour combos to convince H that an ode to Mondrian, may be a better choice. The problem was I couldn't choose which I liked the best, so I decided to leave it up to the Eurovision ladies to pick the colours they would work with.

The plan for MMSB has been proving elusive... I've been lying awake at night trying to decide what to do. I know it'll be for a picnic quilt, but what design.... maverick stars or a string quilt

or maybe a bento box or double hourglass.... arg, it's been driving me mental!!

So, in an effort to put myself out of my misery, and because I have to order any necessary fabric ASAP if it will get here before I leave for the holidays, I sat H down tonight to help me make a decision (see... totally uncharacteristically indecisive- I seriously hope it's temporary!)... and I think we did...

No drawing yet (maybe this Sunday?!), but we're thinking food words (ie. apple, spicy, tasty, BBQ...) done in wonky piecing, and double hourglass blocks done in food/kitchen fabrics --- you can see how H's influenced this one, but I guess it's only fair considering he'll be making most of the food we will enjoy on said picnics ;)

So... aaaahhhhh, I hope I can sleep better tonight!