Snowy days - a work in progress-

There are angels, old linen and new linen

...and music chords

...and roses and scribbles

...and comic figures

...and much, much more

Snowy days - a new low volume quilt

A while back when I finished my first 'On my travels' quilt I felt a real loss when I finished it because I loved the process but above all I loved the low volume fabrics so much. So I went straight into planning the next quilt but this time in a much larger size and not hand stitched.

I cut up all the remaining low volume fabric I had and whilst I had every intention of piecing it right away a few things came in between and I only managed to do a quick cushion. But this week I finally found some time to start piecing and I can't wait to have it on my bed.

The red diamond

I have been contemplating a new minimalist quilt for weeks now, in fact I started thinking about it right when I finished 'Tuscan Hills'. I had in mind to make a quilt that uses only whites and creams in all sorts of shades and textures. Right at the beginning of my quilting I made 'Double Cream' which is still one of my favorite quilts (sorry for the bad quality images) and ever since I wanted to make another quilt with a similar colour palette.

Then came along our LMQG challenge for May and an exhibition. John Lewis have offered us to exhibit 12" mini quilts in their Bistro at their flagship store on Oxford Street. How cool is that !

And that got me thinking that I could make a mini quilt in creams as a little study to the actual bigger quilt I am planning to do.

So I started thinking what modern or contemporary quilting actually  means to me. I think in the main it means a total freedom of colour, fabric, form and texture and with that in mind I started planning for which I used for a change EQ7. I bought the software several months ago but it took me rather a long, no actually a very long time to get used to it. But I will write about my EQ7 experience another time in more detail.

And while I was planning my favorite red fabric ('Cranberry' Oakshott used here and here) caught my eye and I thought I could use a splash of it in this little quilt. And so came about this mini quilt 'The Red Diamond'. I created a paper piecing template for the 3 inch squares with the red corner and went about cutting and piecing.

A few hours later my entry to the first LMQG exhibition at John Lewis London was done ! I can't tell you how happy I am about it and of course it got my little brain into overdrive about the bigger version of it.

Let's hope it will be in the selection.

A story in red and white - {advice needed}

... is what  I will be calling my Sampler quilt that has been created by the Brit Bee Ladies.

I have now received all blocks and also added my own.

These two blocks are from the lovely Terri who gave them to me when we met at the Festival of Quilts last weeks. Terri forgot to take photos of them so I am doing it for her. Isn't this one utterly cute ?

Brit Bee block from Terri

2nd Brit Bee block from Terri

The next two bocks are my own.  These were very much driven by scraps as I wanted to make good use of all the scraps and left over fabric the Ladies returned to me. Also I felt the quilt needed another good dollop of red.
This first block is actually a collaboration between Terri and me, though unintentionally. Terri returned eight HSTs and I thought I  could make these into diamonds surround by more red.

 

 And this second block is actually my first paper pieced block !!! I used the 'Rocky Road to Kansas' block from the Summer Sampler Series.  Isn't this gorgeous !

What I learned about paper piecing is that it wastes a lot of fabric which is something really hate and that you get the most accurate piecing done which is something I absolutely love.  Not sure how I am going to merry these two......

 

Then I did another layout test and wasn't happy at all as I find it way way to long.

So I made another block. This time with some leftovers from Trudi  and some scraps.

 

And then changed the layout to square which I think works much much better.

Now it's decision time. I need to decide which sashing to use (I think no sashing is not an option as the quilt will look to busy). The above layout images show one in white sashing and the other in red. I really would appreciate your input and there is also the question of the back. Normally I am never lost for ideas but in this case I am somewhat. I kind of want to stick to the red/white scheme and was thinking to just do a four-patch of very large white and red squares with the siggy blocks scattered around. But maybe I am wearing red and white glasses at the moment. Any ideas ?

Previous post can be found here and here.

And before I close I'd like to show you the two blocks I made for our lovely August Queen Bee who is Sarah from Narcoleptic in a cupboard. Sarah send us stunning fabric in all sorts of blues and some rather daring black plus chocolate, music and a super sweet pulverised drink. And after consuming all of that I was ready for some improve style blocks. She didn't want anything traditional so I went for the wonky and modern instead.