Citrus Slices Cheer!

Not much time for quilting as the school year ends. However, in the meantime, this quilt is brightening up my sewing studio! Update: Paper-pieced pattern by Kaffe Fassett in book Quilt Romance. The quilt in the book in made in pinks and purples. Fun pattern!

Projects Today

Chester County Criswell Quilt block #28 is in progress. The fabric is pink - made with the same pink used in block #6. When I first saw the original well worn and faded fabrics, some looked pink to me which inspired me to use pink too. I purchased some background fabric so I could proceed with appliqueing the last two blocks. I had the applique designs ready, but no background.

The pieces below are from my Citrus Wedges quilt began in 2010. WOW!! Time flies! I am back to work on it. The colors are so bright and rich I like them soooo much! Very fun!

My other projects today have been washing, ironing, and cutting binding and backings for two other quilts: one that my sis-in-law handed over to me at Christmastime. She asked that I finish it for her as her gift this year. FUN! The other is a small modern baby quilt. More about these projects & photos next time :)

I have decided exactly who the small modern baby quilt will go to now. I am excited to finish it before March 3, 2015 - a VERY important day in my life that was a LONG time coming. More about that later...for now I am happily working away on these projects and listening to library books on my phone. It is a cool, dark, drizzly day and I also have a big pot of homemade veggie beef soup on the stove and another pot of corn chowder going too!
~ ~ ~ Happy Quilting ~ ~ ~

Citrus Wedges Continue: Background

Now it is time to sew on some background pieces...

More Citrus Wedges!

Sew Fun!

I have been working a little at a time on these Citrus Wedges. They are coming along fine! I liked the last photo I posted so much that I was in no hurry to update the blog - LOL.
But, just so you know I have been working...here is the progress. Enjoy!

Pleasure to the eyes: Citrus Slices

The arcs are sewn but the other is just a mock up for your viewing pleasure. It is a pleasure on the eyes too isn't it!

Color palatte expands for Citrus Wedges

More pieces cut for the wedges of the citrus slices. The pieces are coming together nicely! Next posting will include a photo of a few sewn wedges.

You've Got to See this!

I am having so much fun with these blocks. Have been pulling this together for about a month now. First got the book, then gathering the fabrics from the stash and beyond. Then spent several days cutting out pieces. Just a little at a time and now it is coming together. Sewed my first arc 3 days ago - paper piecing and it went just fine. Not like the disaster that I had when trying my first paper piecing of a six inch Christmas exchange block about 2 years ago. After that I thought I hated paper piecing. Not so with these blocks. It is really fun and easy. No problem getting the paper of either. I like it! And the blocks (arcs) are looking SOOOO good!

Thanks to quilter extraordinaire "down under" Mrs. Quiltsalott for the inspiration and encouragement on starting this project! Take a look at her masterpiece "Licorice Alsorts" to see what I mean. My quilt from Kaffe Fassett' Quilt Romance Book is citrus flavored! (orange, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon and lime). How about this catchy name? "Candied Citrus Slices" (AKA "Pickle Dish" according to the name in the book but it looks like a cross between a double wedding ring and pickle dish to me. It is missing the spiky points of the traditional pickle dish.)

These colors are so fun to work with and the quilt is so busy and patterned with design and color that gives it that "Australian" look. It reminds me of older quilts that were made with what was available, older mis-matched type prints with prints that I love! Kind of "blended" too. Very fun angle for me using new and old and unlikely groupings of pattern and color. The paper pieced pattern and bright colors are way outside my traditional quilting style, but I am having fun venturing out! The color was inspired by orange left overs from the Indian Paintbrush. I am inspired by those bright oranges! (Oops, that quilt is still without it's binding :(

The challenge so far for this quilt has been coming up with a background fabric that is patterned, but not overpowering, light orange with infusion of a few other colors to tie it with the overall look. I think Mary at Quilter's Corner has helped me solve this. She gasped when she saw the project (and my fabric palette) and was doubtful that we would find what I needed in her shop. But, right off - there was an "America Jane" that seemed to be what I was looking for. I bought a little to bring home and test out. I think it is perfect! Here is a little sneak preview. Not what you would expect is it? But I think it is perfect!