Orange Opulence

Another row is complete. Thanks to Mari at Academic Quilter, I now have nine rows done for my Classic Stitches BOM quilt. This is, as you probably know since I have explained it many a time, my project for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge that Angela sponsors each year at So Scrappy. It is pretty nice having all of this spelled out for me each month. Angela dictates the color and Mari gives me a block. No decision making on my part except for what scraps to use and what size to make the blocks. Easy peasy.

Orange has never been my favorite color. However, with a bit of on-line research using a very intellectual website, Signology.org, I found out that I do (should?) have a significant connection to the color orange.  It seems that, according to the Thai solar calendar, Thursday is associated with the color orange. Accordingly, people born on Thursdays may adopt orange as their primary color (whatever that means – does one have to wear only orange, live in an orange house, eat lots of citrus?) Guess what day I was born on all those many years ago? Yep, Thursday. It concerns me since this isn’t a color I associate myself with, nor am I a particularly huge fan of it. This whole Thursday thing has been a problem from the beginning…. remember the poem, Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace?  Well, Thursday’s child has “far to go”. That’s not fair.  Talk about creating issues for a kid right from the get-go.  Yikes. The color orange and all of those obstacles in life that cause me to have “far to go”.  Like Charlie Brown, I’m doomed.

Enough negativity.  I love this row of bright orange blocks. See what you think.

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It really is a pretty row. These blocks were such a breeze to make. Until yesterday that is.  For whatever reason, I had sewn one of the flying geese blocks in upside down. I ripped it out and then repeated the error. More ripping and more sewing…  I don’t know what the deal was. Finally worked it out and the row is finished. Here it is with it’s other mates.

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At this point, most of the rows consist of 6″ blocks. The light blue and the gray rows are 7 1/2″ blocks. I am thinking of doing a small row next month, maybe a row of 5″ blocks? Just for variation. Of course if Mari springs some sort of complicated monster of a block on me next month, that may change.  🙂

For now, I am pleased with the quilt. It is going to be a fun one, once it is all stitched together. I am going to sash the rows because my blocks are not entirely precise and won’t line up well if I sew them row on row.  Not to mention the difference in size with the light blue and the gray rows.  Of course, that begs the question, what do I sash them with??? The background color on each row is made of scraps of cream and/or off-white fabric. I had a load of it and wanted to use it up.  What if I find some sort of miniscule polka dot? Could I sash with something like that?

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In closing, and because you are probably dying to know this, it rained a little bit yesterday. Every single person in Northern California could be seen dancing a happy dance. It was heavenly. Hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!

Linking to Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts and Angela at So Scrappy.

33 thoughts on “Orange Opulence

  1. JanineMarie

    Your strips look so happy hanging on the fence. But yikes! 9 rows done already. Where is this year going??? You certainly don’t have “far to go” to get this quilt done.

    Reply
  2. Mari

    Your rows look great! Going to be a great quilt. I love the orange row. What is it about orange that makes me feel so happy?

    Don’t worry, the next row is easy, and will look great ina smaller block!

    Have a great weekend!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Good to hear Mari. I am thinking it would be fun to make a small row for contrast. Looking forward to reading about it in a few weeks. Enjoy your weekend!

      Reply
  3. Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

    So glad for the rain! Orange has grown on me a lot in the past few years. I went to the University of Tennessee, and I called that “going hunting / don’t shoot me” orange. It is nice to use I and like it. Your row looks great, and good job getting the one errant block pointing in the correct direction. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Ha ha… “Don’t Shoot Me Orange” You could name your first fabric line that. 🙂
      I am also glad for the bit of rain we got. I suspect you got more down your way than we did but hey, I’ll take what I can get.

      Enjoy the weekend!
      Bernie

      Reply
  4. Claudia

    I happened upon your blog through Crazy Mom Quilts, I’m so happy I did! Your strips are so cute and you led me on a journey of finding out what my birth day color is. It’s Yellow…for Friday. That was fun. I also wanted to say that I am native Californian and yes, I did a happy dance for each drop of rain that fell on my beloved state. (I guess I like rain so much, I moved to Washington this year.) Not really, it was an economical move, so I could retire early and play with fabrics!
    Nice to meet you! I can’t wait to see how your strips come together!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Claudia,
      So nice to meet you too. I love having a new reader to talk to. 🙂
      What part of CA were you living in before you retired? What could be better than an early retirement and more time in the sewing room? (Ummm… Nothing could be better!!)hope
      So, do you like yellow? Have you found yourself using it very often in your projects?
      Welcome to Needle and Foot and I hope we chat again soon.

      Take care,
      Bernie

      Reply
      1. Claudia

        Hi Bernie! I lived on the coast just below San Francisco. I loved it there, but it was so expensive. I miss the family and friends I left behind, but one daughter already lived here and I brought another with me.
        I love yellow, not as much as purple, but it is a close second. Funny thing about yellow being my birth day color…when we looked at houses up here to but, the one I picked is chock full of bright yellows inside! I never would have thought that I would be able to live in a house with this many bright colors, but it turned out being a very happy house for me. I am sure that will be even more evident when winter is upon us.
        I look forward to following your adventures on your blog!

        Reply
        1. Bernie Post author

          Ooooh…. we love that part of the coastline. Specifically, Stinson Beach and Bodega Bay. We try to go there each year.
          I’m glad you found a bright happy space. I am getting ready to paint the main interior section of my house and struggling with color decisions. Choices, choices!

          Reply
  5. Kristi

    My son (9 years old) LOVES orange. So I’ve quilted quite a bit in orange. The rainbow strips are looking fabulous.

    Reply
  6. Angela

    The oranges make a great addition to your row collection. I have never been drawn to orange either, but it makes a nice addition to a rainbow collection.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I agree – it adds a vibrancy to the quilt for sure. Looking forward to finding out the next color. Do we have two colors left? October and November??

      Reply
  7. Tina Iaquinto

    I love all the rows!!! The orange one is great, I didn’t think I was such a fan of orange either, but it sure came out looking gorgeous!!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thanks Tina. If I had to guess, I am betting the color for October will be brown. I need to find some vibrant brown scraps – maybe browns mixed with color? Can’t wait to see you in a few days!!!!!!

      Reply
  8. Julie in GA

    Your row quilt is going to be amazing! The orange row might be my favorite.
    I would definitely keep the sashing light like your backgrounds.

    Reply
  9. Linda

    Lol on Charlie Brown and the whole Thursday’s child thing. 🙂
    Your orange flying geese are very attractive to me! I like orange when it’s mixed with another color and have touches of it in my sewing room from a pitcher and a plate my Mom gave me. It wasn’t ever a color I would choose but I’ve actually grown quite fond of it.
    Love the way your quilt is growing and how beautiful all the rows look together. I’ll look forward to seeing what you choose for sashing.

    Reply
  10. Magpie Sue

    I love your orange row! Actually, I love the idea of a row a month for me for next year’s RSC. I recently had a day when even the simplest step in my project gave me grief. Good to know I’m not the only one!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thank you! I am enjoying it myself. I am starting to wonder what October holds in store as far as color and the block.

      Take care,
      Bernie

      Reply

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