Well, are you all having as much fun as I am with this year's blog hop? I love the idea of all those posts to come nestled like presents under a Christmas tree, just waiting to be opened up. And I don't know about you, but I see gnomes in my future.... Today we have "gifts" from Joy of Days Filled with Joy, and Jan from The Colorful Fabriholic. Can you hear that old Carole King song "Anticipation" in the air?
Here's the line-up once again...
Sunday, July 14th
Monday, July 15th
Tuesday, July 16th
Wednesday, July 17th
Thursday, July 18th
Friday, July 19th
Saturday, July 20th
Sunday, July 21st
Monday, July 22nd
Tuesday, July 23rd
Wednesday, July 24th
Thursday, July 25th
And remember, too, there's a giveaway! FIGO Fabrics has donated a fat quarter bundle of their new Christmas line, Wintertide...
...and one lucky reader will get to take it home! All you have to do is fill in the form below with your full name and email address (don't worry, I won't use it for anything beyond notifying you if you win!). Entries will close on Tuesday, July 30th, and I'll announce the winner here on Wednesday, July 31st - New Year's Eve in July!
Be sure to click "Submit"!!
You get an entry for visiting the stops on the hop, too, so drop by each new day's blog posts, enjoy the post and leave a comment (comments make us happy!), then fill out the entry form on their blog too. If their blog hop post doesn't have an entry form feel free to come back here and leave an entry after checking out their "gift" for you!
So get hopping, folks - then come back here to see today's step for the quilt-along...
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As I mentioned yesterday, the next eight days are going to be pretty repetitive, as we will be working on the remaining eight blocks of the quilt and they all go together in the same manner. For a change of pace I'm sharing the version of this quilt I'm working on today - this one is made with fabrics from Kate Spain's new Christmas line, Aurora. I really like the mix of soft and concentrated colors!
Lay out the next block you want to work on. If you made your center block yesterday, and your block is symmetrical, you will have two different designs to choose from. The corner blocks will all be identical, just oriented differently around the center, and the same for the N-E-S-W blocks. I like to swap them out - make a corner, then a NESW block, then another corner - because I have a short attention span (look, squirrel!). But you may choose to make all four of one kind, then the remaining four. Do whatever works best for you. If you need a refresher course in how to assemble the block, refer back to this post for the complete directions.
I told you yesterday I would be sharing ideas with you about how to make your top larger if you want a lap size quilt instead of a wall hanging. I have been considering that for the one I showed above, as I'd really like to have a lap size.
When I was brainstorming for ideas, I noticed a quilt kit sitting on a shelf in my studio for a medallion quilt, and realized that this motif would make a nice medallion in the center of a larger quilt. So now I am on the lookout for interesting block ideas that would complement the quilt and be small enough to make borders around the sides. Here are some pictures of ideas that I am considering at the moment (please excuse the low-techiness of these - my internet is totally out of whack at the moment and so I was taking pictures with my phone of things I found on my computer when I lost connectivity.)
Cute and fairly simple block...
...and here's another little package that would work well.
I really like these little ornaments, don't you?
And I found several of these sampler quilt pictures that are chock full of ideas. Look at the little row of snowball blocks under the packages - wouldn't that made a great "in-between" border?
I also think this motif might be a good border.
Trees are always fun, and pretty simple - plus the triangles fit right in with the construction of the center.
And speaking of trees I saw this picture and immediately thought "strata trees!" Simple triangle trees would be so cute if they were cut out of green strata - "made" fabric using narrow strips of different green scraps. I may play with that this afternoon...
And this is such a pretty block - it might look nice in the corners, but it may also be too much for this quilt.
I foresee some time with graph paper and pencil in my future!
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I hope you're enjoying the blog hop and quilt-along so far - see you tomorrow!
Hugs!
Sarah
I like your pale block, too. The ornaments blocks are very pretty--the blog hop is fun!
ReplyDeleteLove your beautiful block. I’ve been looking at those package and ornament blocks too
ReplyDeleteSuch GREAT ideas, Sarah!!
ReplyDeleteHi again, Sarah! I am enjoying the blog hop SO much! I've found so many cute and different ideas. EEK! Good thing there is five months to go. I'd like to play along next year. ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteall great ideas to add size. I am intrigued by the thought of strata trees....
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas🎄⛄🎄