Big bold prints vs. basics

I just pulled these fabrics for a new quilt and realize how much I love them—small prints, many one or two colors.

Anyone else gravitate towards big, graphic prints on the bolt, then not know what to do with them in a quilt? Sometimes I have this problem.

On one hand, they look fabulous in big pieces and can make for a quick quilt. (Living Large and Living Large 2 are books with some of my favorites, Swoon is another pattern that can work)

On the other hand, I'm starting to realize that many of my favorite quilts or blocks use medium to small scale prints.

I would say it is time for stash enhancement of basics and small prints, but my wallet says otherwise.

Anyways, time to get cutting! Some of those fabrics have been patiently waiting to see the light of day for years. I think there is some Sandy Klop fabric in there from 2003. Funny thing is that I only want one tiny triangle of each fabric for this particular quilt. Don't you think they're just begging to be used in another bigger project too? If only there were more hours in the day.

Swoon blocks: 4 & 5

I had a fabric fiasco. I was going to use the blue/aqua dotty beans for the center of every block. I miscalculated how much yardage I had of it and I only had enough for 8 out of 9 blocks. Aaack! I searched etsy and eBay with no luck. I decided to do 5 of the blocks blue and 4 of the blocks green. I have to say I think I like it. What do you think?

Lots of things have been keeping me busy lately so it took me a while to get to these blocks. Actually, one of them was done a week ago but I didn't have time to blog. One of these days, I need to get a shot of them in better light. The sun is always setting when I finish one. That's because I always finish one during my daughter's afternoon nap. I've got it down to one block per nap. Hopefully I'll finish another 1 or 2 this week.

Swoon block: 3

That took me an hour and a half, but I had all my fabric cut and the 8 half square triangles already sewn. Whew!

Swoon block: 2

I could have gotten a lot more done if we'd just be a little more healthy around here! Until this weekend, I'd never had a raging head cold AND the stomach flu at the same time. Let me tell you, it isn't fun. Hopefully the next few blocks will be getting done a little quicker.

Pin addiction

One of my favorite boards: Quilts!

I'm pretty sure everyone has heard of Pinterest by now. I have to say I LOVE it. I'm finding a way to bookmark all my favorite tutorials, project inspiration, recipes, home decor and fun little tidbits of whatever in a way that works for me. Really, the at a glance with the photo is perfect. The networking aspect of it just makes it all the more fun. It is so much better than my list on the right of my blog, which may disappear or move, depending on time and/or willpower. (You know how that is!)

In case anyone is interested, you can find my boards here.

Please let me know in the comments if you have one! It's great to share inspiration!

Also, how do people make those Pinterest collages that link out? I tried to google it but I ended up with boards of photo collages. <<< Edit: so apparently I live in a fantasy world where I *swear* I saw this. I was probably confusing the collage like this from Flickr with the captions sourcing images from Pinterest like this. Thanks, Melissa!

Triple wrap bracelet

Making this bracelet was so much more fun than watching the Broncos game Saturday night. Not that I don't enjoy watching a football game once in a while, but that was hardly a game. Better luck next year, Tebow and friends.

My best beading friend and neighbor (and Patriots convert--should have waited another year!), Deb, showed me how to make it. It takes a bit of time but it is really easy.

I'll be making more for sure! They would make great birthday/Christmas gifts.

First block for the Swoon quilt

I started doing the Swoon Along and discovered how to construct that block in a way that is much more simple.

In a nutshell, you don't need to make the Swoon block out of so many pieces. The way I did it also allows you to not cut up some of the fabric so much. In my sample block here, you can see I fussy cut many of the pieces.

This is an overview for those that have the pattern: 
You don't make so many half square triangles and flying geese and you will SAVE TIME—yipee! You do use more fabric, but that is a good trade off in my book.*

Start with a big square—the same size as the square at the very center of the block—and sew smaller background and contrast squares off of its corners to start creating the units in step 7 and 8. Those smaller squares are the same size as the small squares used for the flying geese. You only need a 8 half square triangles and 4 flying geese for each Swoon block.

Sorry that I'm not writing this out more clearly. I'm trying to share what I know in a way that doesn't basically re-publish the pattern in the exact same size. 

*WARNING: The big caveat is that you cannot do this block construction with only a fat quarter of the fabric I fussy cut (I'm not talking about fussy cutting—just having enough to make the block in the most efficient way possible). You have to have a half yard of that print. It would be better to have more than a fat quarter of the other print (the one in the center star) although I did the math and it can be done. I think the original pattern also cuts it pretty close, so that if you are a person that pre-washes, you might consider getting more yardage too.

As an interesting aside and inspiration for colors:
As I was looking around, I did find out that the block is a known under a couple different names:
• variation of Carpenter's Wheel
• Rolling Star
• Star of Bethlehem
Here are some vintage examples of similar quilts. Aren't they fun!
LOVE the use of black and quirky block layout  ::  Well loved vintage quilt  ::  Gorgeous vintage version from the 50s out of solids  ::  Burnt Orange from the late 70's  ::   Worn one from the 50's  ::  Not sure the date on this one  ::  My fave: Solids from the 80's  (LOVE the block on the lower left)  ::  The more typical Carpenter's Wheel instructions and a version Marci Girl made with the same instructions (looks just like the block on the Swoon quilt)