It is the end of the month and I scrambled to get a few things done for April. Seems the April came to a close much sooner than it was supposed to as I wasn’t really ready.
Yesterday was a housecleaning day. The obscure chores just get pushed back until finally the oven stinks whenever it is heating up and there is no choice but to clean it. That was not a fun chore but it is done and the oven is all ready to go again! I also had to give some of my houseplants a bath. The larger ones get dusty and it is easiest to take them on the back deck and just hose them off, let them dry and bring them back in. Yikes they look so much better now.
After that nonsense, I managed to finish the RSC blocks for April. I used three very different shades of blue for these blocks. The diamond blocks are fun to make and not at all difficult. They finish at 6″ x 12″. I have been pre-cutting the neutral background triangles making it simple to put them together (making one wonder why I would wait until the end of each month??) Sigh.
Here are a few of the colors put together. I am sure I will need more than three of each color (which is what I am currently making). Seems best I make a few more pink, yellow and green blocks so I won’t have to do it all in the fall. But will I??? We all know the answer to that. Motivate me. Tell me how happy I will be come October, if I have the right number of blocks made. Tell me how it will make it so much easier to assemble the quilt and if I don’t have the right number of blocks made, I will likely put this in a project bag and let it languish. Tell me, ok???
In the meanwhile, I have also been working on a panel challenge hosted over at Prairie Moon Quilts. A while back, Shelly challenged quilters to use one of the panels in their stash and make something with it. Too many times, the panels in shops attract a quilter and are purchased without a real plan how it might be used. Panels are so fun and can be used in any number of ways. To see a few of my favorites, check my Pinterest board.
I chose to use this beautiful panel from Northcott’s Covent Garden Line. I do have it in the shop if you love it as much as I do! It measures 28″ x 42″. The colors are amazing. It was designed by Deborah Edwards.
When I first got this panel in the shop I wanted to just quilt it as a whole cloth and hang it somewhere. But as time went on, I was less convinced this was the right choice. When Shelly presented her challenge, I decided to cut it up and piece it.
Next decision was how much to cut?? Not much was the answer I came up with. So I sliced it into columns. The center measures 9″ wide and moving out from there the size decreases. The next strip was cut at four inches, followed by three inches and the narrow outside strip was 2 1/2 inches wide.
For the first border, I used a piece of fabric from PB Textiles. I liked the rusty tones with the flowers. It was just about square at this point and my brain felt like it should be a rectangle. Adding a four inch floral strip at top and bottom made this happen and my brain was much more content. Shelly will be showing all of the quilts made for this challenge and will have it open for viewers to vote. I hope you will hop over there on Monday to look at all the different projects everyone has made. I am looking forward to it!
What a huge difference this made – There are so many ways to use this columnar method with a panel. Some quilters will move the panel pieces up and down so the picture is not totally lined up. This looks great with panels showing pretty landscape scenes. I also love when a panel is cut and made with attic window blocks. One idea that attracted me was seeing a quilt where part of the panel was cut and appliquéd to the quilt. The design looked wonderful. To see the panels I have in the shop, click here.
Thanks to Shelly for motivating me to play with this panel. Now it is time to baste and quilt it. I have a few quilt tops lined up to be finished. I think I will baste one this weekend to begin that process. What are your plans for the weekend? It is going to be rather warm here and there is plenty to do out in the yard during the cool of the morning and then in the sewing room in the afternoon.
Linking with my usuals. Check them out at the top of the page, under Link Ups.
You really do need to finish those diamond blocks – they are so fun! Maybe do one or two a day, or something like that. Before you know it, they will be done. Great idea for that panel, too! It will be fun to see all the different panels that come up for the challenge!
I will finish the diamond blocks – I think they will be so fun to put together.
I started quilting the panel yesterday. As I was stitching in the ditch, I decided I want to play with a little bit of thread sketching on some of the flowers. So I won’t finish it this weekend but I think it will look really pretty. Wish me luck!
Your blocks are so pretty! Please don’t let them languish! I’ve never done anything with a panel but I sure like what you have done with yours.
Thank you Kathleen! I am just getting started on the quilting for the panel project. It is going to be a pretty finish. As for my diamond blocks, I do love them so I need to keep it going. Thanks for your encouragement!
Wow, you had a very productive day/week! Cleaning an oven is no joke, but the results and satisfaction the next time it is used is nice. The RSC blocks look great together. As someone who isn’t really drawn to panels, I love seeing creative ways to use them!
Housework is not my thing, if I ever inherit a million dollars, I will hire a housekeeper. There are many other ways I would rather spend my time!
I am having fun quilting this panel project – I think it will finish nicely.
Have a wonderful weekend Yvonne!
I love those long diamonds – looks great! I hate cleaning an oven and glad mine is self cleaning – gets the kitchen hot as can be and has a bit of a smell but rather that then clean it the old way
Thank you Karen. My oven is also self-cleaning but I let it go too long and it was a mess! Mostly I dislike cleaning the racks – that took (what felt like) forever! But it is done and looks so nice and clean.
The long diamond blocks are going to make a cool quilt – I am quite happy with them!!
I have made those diamond blocks several times, kinda fun aren’t they! I like what you did for your panel also.
Thank you Vicki! Have a wonderful weekend.
I love what you did with that panel! It made a great quilt. And your stars are very mid-century modern. Two fun quilts! Enjoy the weekend!
The diamonds look great and you will get to them. The panel is terrific, too. My plans are to keep on quilting – but that means some sewing and a lot of design. 2 blocks are due to be done in 3 days!
How are you progressing?? I know you will get it done – you are a very determined quilter and make soooo many projects!
Today will be a yard work day – if there is time, I have some fabric to cut and prep. Maybe late afternoon. 🙂
It is so much easier to make extra blocks now, while you are in the groove and the pattern is fresh in your mind. It will feel awesome to pull out the finished blocks at the end of the year and have a quilt ready to go in not time flat.
For sure Angela. I will keep on going and make enough of the blocks! Time to break out the red scraps, of which I have many!
All that nonsense haha!! Takes too much time in a day! Those blocks are super cool!! Keep going!! and your panel – neat idea!
Those diamond blocks are really neat, Bernie! I like their unique shape. It was fun to see what you did with the panel, too that’s a neat technique. You’re reminding me that one of these days I should run my oven through its cleaning cycle, too!
Thanks Diann. Sewing is much more enjoyable than housework, that’s for sure!! But I do have a clean oven now. So much so, I don’t want to use it and make it dirty again. Haha.
Wow Bernie – I love what you did with this gorgeous panel. I am always looking for ideas for panels because Jaftex includes one in almost all of their lines. I like making pillowcases out of them to match a quilt if the line is for children. I also just turned one into an apron. So many possibilities, right? You can bet your bottom dollar that I will keep your panel project in my mental file for use at another time! Thank you for the inspiration.
Well, right back at you because I love the idea of a pillowcase and also the apron. Great minds think alike Barb. Panels are a great way to be creative. We don’t have to just add borders around them, right?? I hope you are doing well! Miss you on IG.
Your rainbow diamond blocks sparkle like gem stones! I only purchased a panel once, and it was The Hungry Caterpillar panel from Eric Carle to make a quick baby shower gift for one of my kids’ teachers so I used it right away. I really like how those columnar strips add depth to your floral still life panel.
Ok, I’m telling you, you will be so happy come October if you make more blocks now. I may need this pep talk, too, as I’m finding that the 52 blocks I’m making this year do not a quilt make. Maybe we need to make a pact. Your solution for making your panel bigger is so neat. It really adds depth to the image. I will need to take a look at the others in the challenge, too, as I’m often stumped about how I would use a panel, and have stayed away from them for the most part.
The diamonds will make a striking quilt. And I am curious to see how the panel quilt will turn out.
The diamond blocks are great! I love how they are scrappy but go together so well.
Looks awfully productive to me…who has mostly been writing and driving around town. We’re back in Boston for a bit and I have 2 patterns due. One is done, one on the weekend. I need to have a sewing frenzy! I look forward to seeing that diamond finish – I love them.