Friday, October 21, 2016

What's Up?

I know I've been MIA for a while, so I've been going through my camera this morning to see what I can share with you all. I've got some "progress" photos on the last round of the Gwennie Medallion, and my new guild challenge fabrics.

First, though, the autumn colours have been particularly good this year:

Outside, everything is looking beautiful. Inside, well...

The final clue for the Gwennie Medallion is "something fishy." My plan for the fishies has been the same since I read the clue. But, I still haven't started them, because I am wrestling with how to handle the corners.

I thought it would be good to carry the diagonal line of the light/dark log cabin layout into the final corners. I've saved this large triangle of background fabric from the basket block in Month 1. Maybe it could be the start of my corner blocks?

I made some strategic cuts.

The all-blue corner was not too bad. Don't ask me why it's so wide. I'm sure I had a reason.

I paired the blue triangles with some solid red to carry out that diagonal line, and built the block out log cabin style, as I did with the bear claws.

Since the project started my plan has been to have a wide solid red border after the final round. The idea with this corner was to transition the diagonal line out into the solid red.

"If I keep adding strips, eventually it will look right," I thought.

"I have to actually put it up on the wall and see how it all looks together," I thought.

Well, yes, those bloody red triangles were horrible, and no amount of building out would fix them.

Then I thought I would put my initials and the date in the corners instead. I unpicked all the blocks so I could re-use the strips for the letters.

I was happy with that plan, but yesterday I realized that another week had passed, and I still hadn't started. Back to the drawing board!

What I've been doing instead is my new guild challenge project. These three fabrics, from the "Charlotte" collection by Deborah Edwards of Northcott, have to be 50% of the quilt top. It's a small project, with a maximum perimeter of 120", (e.g. 30" x 30" (76 x 76 cm)).

The soft, traditional style has felt like a relaxing contrast to all these Gwennie shenanigans, so I've been spending a lot of time on it. Plus, it's due at the end of February, so there isn't a lot of time for deep thought. Unfortunately, I cannot share any progress photos at all, because it will be blind judging.

So, that's what's up with me, Next week may be a busy one, with a little playing around for AHIQ, the Cardinal Stars finish, and maybe the fishies too!


  1. Looking forward to seeing what you dream up for those gorgeous florals!

  2. There certainly is a contrast between the two sets of fabrics! I hope the soothing break gets the ideas flowing again - or gives you energy for the initials.

    1. Thanks, Jillian! The initials are out, I'm pretty sure. Plan 3 is simpler!

  3. I would have loved to see how those red triangles worked. The concept seems like it should work for a solid red border. But now that the unpicking has been done I'm sure you're just happy to move on. Looking forward to seeing what develops.

    1. No, trust me, it was horrifying. It was all I could do to take photos of these wretched blocks, and I hesitated before I put my name on the photos, too! LOL, ahhh, pride. Hopefully now I'm at the point where I can just get it done! 8 days left.

  4. lovely fall colours. Your blocks are so interesting how you have built them up so unique they will look great when made into the quilt. Liking the floral fabrics they will make a very nice small quilt

  5. I love the florals and can't wait to see what you do with them.

  6. It will be interesting how you eventually figure out the corner. Guild challenges sometime be just that, a challenge, but I'm sure you'll come up with something exciting.

  7. I really like the proportions of the wide log cabin - am tucking that idea away for later. What a shame all that work didn't result in something you liked - I guess it's all part of the process, but it's not the fun part, that's for sure! Your challenge fabrics are very appealing.

  8. I sure enjoyed your Autumn photo. . .I thought those were the best seasonal colors when I was a kid. Maybe you need more yellow in those log cabin blocks since you are using red in the outer border. . .maybe you want a soothing corner to balance the red border? I know what you mean when a week passes and the project is still at the same spot!!!! Best wishes on working that floral up in plenty of time for your challenge!--Terry

    1. Thanks, Terry! Plenty of time? I am usually finishing the binding a couple hours before the meeting. But yes, hope springs eternal!

      Gwennie is looking good now, but I don't know if that will meet the deadline either. I need some rest!



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