Wednesday 13 February 2013

WIP Wednesday - the startitis edition

Apart from more quilting up of quilts for the appeal (which I'm nearly, nearly finished - just need to finish up the binding and quilt up two more little ones), I have been guiltily doing some other sewing in the last week. My boys are back at school, and my wee one has started going to family day care one day a week, so of course I've been madly cleaning the house sewing.

I've been working on blocks for the Fat Quarterly Designer challenge - sneak peak now, you won't get to see the finished thing for a few more months ;o) I'm really happy with how it's coming together though.



Rather than focus on what I should be doing (who, me?) I had a bit of an inspirational moment and started my Emerald Quilt Challenge mini quilt a couple of days ago. Pulling fabric for this was really difficult - I have a decent green stash, but nothing anywhere like the Pantone Emerald colour (which I really think is teal anyway - nothing like my idea of emerald) - most of my greens are more yellow based than blue. So I went with my take on emerald - and pulled a stack of prints for it. But they just weren't gelling for me and I didn't have a good range of values (which I really wanted for this one). So as a last resort I had a look at my Oakshotts, and found perfection. I need to find a better way to photograph these - they are far brighter in real life.



I started by taking a very deep breath, and then cutting a stack of triangles (from the Oakshotts, and some light grey prints), and then randomly sewed them into pairs - there really wasn't a concrete plan until I put them up on the design wall and arranged them. And rearranged them. And then slept on it, and came back and decided on the current design after a few days of pondering ;o)

I just need to join the blocks together and decide on a quilting plan (although there are a few ideas floating around in there...) I'm thinking something along these lines for the rest of my colourbox (which has been sitting untouched for a year waiting for inspiration!) I guess my thinking here was emeralds in the literal sense.


Emerald quilt challenge beginnings

So, once I've completely finished the appeal quilts, I'll be going back to this one! I can't wait to get it put together and quilted up :o)

Linking up this week with Lee at Freshly Pieced.

xx Jess

31 comments:

Kirsten said...

I love all of your blocks - the Emerald ones with the shot cottons are really beautiful!

Kristy @ Quiet Play said...

Oh the emerald blocks are looking lovely so far!

Katy Cameron said...

Oh look, shiny! ;o) All looking very promising though...

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

I am loving your use of texty or low volume prints for backgrounds, they look fantastic! All the blocks look great!

Heather D. said...

The designer challenge blocks are gorgeous Jess!

DeborahGun said...

I love all of it - especially your take on emerald - that is definitely what I call emerald too!

Quilting In The Cold said...

Those emerald blocks are stunning!

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

gorgeous! those oakshotts are perfect!

p.s. I totally agree -- that emerald color is pretty sneaky (since when are emeralds not really green? I feel like I missed something in art class!)

Heidi Staples said...

Oh my gosh, Jess, these are gorgeous! Those challenge blocks are stunning!!

Nati said...

Absolutely adorable! Love the little blocks and the emerald quilt is just going to be amazing!

tartankiwi said...

Love the emerald triangles, just stunning!

Di said...

Ooh. Lovely emerald triangles. Di x

Charlotte said...

eeeeeeeeeeep!!!! That's so gorgeous!!!!!!!!

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

These are looking gorgeous, Jess! Congrats on getting through all those appeal quilts :)

Susan said...

I love all your blocks - both the challenge ones in the mysterious Emerald, and the Fat Quarter ones! Are they a Farmer's Wife- they look familiar somehow?!

MsMidge said...

Gorgeous! The star type blocks are divine :)

Tammy said...

The emerald blocks are looking really good. conn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com

MaterialGirlQuilts said...

These blocks are just gorgeous! Can't wait to see it all done.
Amanda

Patti said...

Love the Oakshott in your Emerald blocks, and your designer blocks are looking great!

Nutsy Coco said...

I love your emerald blocks!

Tiffany said...

I LOVE your Emerald blocks! They really do look like an Emerald. Genius. And I totally agree with you on Pantone's version of Emerald. It's more like a greenish teal.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Stunning Emerald quilt!!!

elnorac said...

Eeeek! Those stars for Fat Quarterly look fantastic! And the Emerald quilt? Marvelous!

Dee said...

Oh. These are just so soothing and loverly!

Kelly said...

Loving the look of both your projects, just gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous... absolutely fabulous.

Kirsty said...

Great choice for your Emeralds!! I love your stars for the designer challenge as well.

Jessica said...

Wow-they are all GORGEOUS. I never fail to be dazzled by your creations, Jess! :)

Claire Jain said...

I love what you've got going on! So pretty. I've got to get some of that Architextures fabric. Love it!

Sharon said...

Looks good. I do like your crossed canoe blocks you started with, too!

Leanne said...

You have some of my favourite blocks here, tippecanoes and kaleidoscopes and in such beautiful fabrics and colours.