Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop

Hi everyone.  Welcome to my stop on the Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop. For this challenge, Paintbrush Studio generously donated fat quarters of fabric in Daydream, Midnight, Bordeaux, White, Coral, and Peach.  I loved working with the fabrics, they have a great feel to them and were easy to sew.  So thanks, Paintbrush Studio and Chery of Meadow Mist, Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl, and Stephanie of Late Night Quilter,  for hosting the blog hop - it has been great fun to make the square, and I can't wait to see everyone else's work!

 Here is my block for the hop.  I’m calling it Sunset Bubbles. 

I really enjoyed making this block, although I must admit that it took me a long while to come up with a design.  I'm not sure why, really - I think because maybe the darks are so dark and the lights are so much lighter, but who knows?  It just could been that I've been unable to get my creative groove on because I've been working so much on other projects lately.   But I love a challenge, you know.  And I’m pleased with this simple (I said SIMPLE, not necessarily easy) design as I think there is potential for a lot of fun with this block.  

Also, I usually go for white as my background, but this time I decided to use the daydream color as the background.  I think it ties it together quite nicely. 

Following is the tutorial for how to make Sunset Bubbles.

First you will need half-circle templates in the following sizes.  

• 8.5 inch
• 7.5 inch 
• 6.5 inch
• 5.5 inch
• 4.5 inch
• 3.5 inch

Notes:  

1. I have two different circle template sets, which I will show you. 

One is the Easy Circle Cut by Sharon Hultgren (I got it free in the goody bag at the first Quiltcon and it is a serious prize!).  It works really well for making both circles and half circles. 

The second set is made by Martelli. 

 These are actually quarter circles, which you use on folded fabrics (One fold for half-circles and two folds for full circles.  These are also quite fabulous as you can place the template on the fabric and move it as you cut and the fabric doesn’t shift under the template, so you can cut slowly and make fewer mistakes.  I highly recommend these templates as well.

If you do not have circle templates, you can kick it old style and use a protractor and cardstock to make your own templates.  The inches refer to the diameter or distance across the middle of the circle. Before I had these templates I used a protractor all the time and it's kind of fun and satisfying to do so, in my opinion.      

2. Another thing to note is that you will be using bias, so a good starching and ironing before you cut will save you a lot of grief.

3. The third note is that for each half-circle you cut out of the four colors, you will use the template that is one inch smaller to cut out the background for that half-circle out of the daydream.  For example, the 8.5 inch midnight half-circle will be sewn into the 7.5 in hole in the daydream rectangle, and so on.

Cutting Instructions for Sunset Bubbles

Daydream (light blue)

Cut 1 - 5.5 inch x 14 inch rectangle

Cut 2  - 4.5  inch x 14 inch rectangle

Cut 1 - 4 x 14 inch rectangle

Cut 1 -  1.5  x 14 inch strip

White Fabric

Cut 1 - 1  x width of fabric strip

Midnight (dark blue)

Cut 1 - 8.5 inch half-circle

Bordeaux

Cut 1 - 6.5 inch half-circle

Coral

Cut 1- 5.5 inch half-circle

 Peach

Cut 1 - 4.5 in half-circle

Assembling the block:

1.  Take the 5.5 x 14 inch daydream rectangle. Fold in half and mark the center.  Using the 7.5 circle template and making sure it is centered, cut a half-circle out of the daydream rectangle. Take the 8.5 inch midnight half-circle.  Right sides together, pin 

and sew slowly and carefully, with the circle side up. You may need to hold the bottom fabric to keep the edges together.  Iron flat and set aside. (You may want to clip the curves on the back as well, although I didn't find it necessary for these circles.)

2. Take a 4.5 x 14 inch daydream rectangle.  Fold in half and mark the center.  Using the 5.5 inch template and making sure it is centered, cut a half-circle out of the daydream rectangle. Right sides together, pin the 6.5 inch bordeaux half- circle to the daydream rectangle, matching the centers, and sew as in Step 1.  Iron flat and set aside.  

3. Take the other 4.5 x 14 inch daydream rectangle. Fold in half and mark the center.  Using the 4.5 inch circle template and making sure it is centered, cut a half-circle out of the daydream rectangle. Take the 5.5 inch coral half-circle.  Right sides together, pin and sew slowly and carefully with the circle up. You may need to hold the bottom fabric to keep the edges together.  Iron flat and set aside.

4. Take the the 4 x 14 inch daydream rectangle.  Fold in half and mark the center.  Making sure it is centered, cut a 3.5 half-circle out of the daydream rectangle. Take the 4.5 inch peach half circle.  Right sides together, pin and sew slowly and carefully with the circle up. You may need to hold the bottom fabric to keep the edges together.  Iron flat and set aside.

(If the top and bottom of the rectangles are uneven, trim them straight.  Do not trim the sides, just make the bottom even, if necessary.)  

6. Take the midnight/daydream circle piece.  Using a ruler, trim the top of the square to 1/4 inch above the top of the circle.  Do the same with the bordeaux and coral pieces.  DO NOT TRIM THE PEACH PIECE.

7. Carefully fold each square in half, using the edges of the sewn colored half-circle to determine the half-way point, and cut along the fold lines.

8. Starting with the peach on top, from smallest to largest, sew the left sides of the half-circles together. Then in the same color/size order, sew the right sides of the half-circles together.

9. Take the 1.5 inch x 14 inch strip and cut in half.  Sew it to the bottom of each side.

10. Sew the white 1 x 14 inch strip to the left side squares, then sew the right-side squares to the left, carefully matching the circle lines.  Iron.

11. Trim the square to 12.5 x 12.5 inches.

Your Sunset Bubbles block is now complete!  

 You can, of course do it in different color and size orders to add interest.  For a whole quilt it might be fun to change the directions of some of the bubbles, as well.

I made a practice block (now a pillow) in an alternate color way, too.  

Can't wait to see what everyone else has designed.  Here are the rest of the stops on the blogshop for today:

Host:

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs

Jayne@Twiggy and Opal

Kim @ Leland Avenue Studios

Andrea @ The Sewing Fools

Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life

Stephanie @ Quilt'n Party

Tish @ Tish's Adventrures in Wonderland

Irene @ Patchwork and Pastry

Abby @ Hashtag Quilt

Sarah @ Smiles Too Loudly

Wanda @ Wanda's Life Sampler

Jay

Trying to Keep Up the Good Work

First, I apologize to my readers.  I know I haven't been around - just haven't had time to post lately for many reasons - travel, bronchitis, and other projects have kept me busy.  I haven't had a ton of time to create, either, which we all know is not a zen-making thing (at least not for me - of course it SHOULD be a chance to practice, but we all know I'm zen-challenged.  That's the point.) Anyway, I sincerely hope you will forgive me and continue to read when I do post.  I will try to do better.

One of the reasons I haven't been able to post is that I went to Quiltcon in Pasadena.  As usual, I was really inspired and excited by what I saw.  I know others have posted a lot about it, but I will write a post about my impressions and share some of my faves with you soon.  I met some great fellow quilters, which was also fun.  

That's not to say I haven't sewn at all.  I did manage to make some minis from scraps from another project, kind of inspired by the amazing and adorable Gwen Marsden and the talented Chawne Kimber from Completely Cauchy.  I've never been one for patchwork, but I adore theirs.  

 Haven't quite gotten it down yet but am so inspired that I will keep trying.  I like them, though.  They are bright, cheerful, and fun AND they used up all the scraps from another project, which makes me feel all earth-friendly and superior.  (maybe that's an exaggeration - but it does make me feel better about scraps - I usually consider them guilt-producing nuisances.)  Now I have a whole new respect (use)  for them, after seeing Gwen's and and Chawne's work.  

I've spent a great deal of time on another project, too - and darn it, it's huge.  I say that because as we all know, large quilt tops mean a helluva a lot of quilting.  I like to quilt, really I do, but the large pieces are so goddam never ending.  Still, I'm pretty happy with the piece.  It needs a little tweaking, still, but I'm almost there.

This week, however, there will sadly be no quilting.  Not because I am decreeing it, but because I will be out of town.  Again.  I'm actually tempted to bring my small sewing machine to the hotel with me - think the maids will mind cleaning up scraps and strings?  I wonder if I'll actually have time to use it...well, I can bring it with me and if I do have time/energy to work, then I can.  (Lord are we quilters NUTS or what?)  I know I'm bringing some embroidery projects with me at least.  

I'm also a little miffed to leave at this time because finally the poppies I planted in the fall are starting to bloom and dammit I want to be here to enjoy them.  I sure hope they are still going when I get back.  They are so beautiful - I want to sit on my front porch and stare at them with a glass of wine in my hand.  (I will be here on Saturday, come and join me if you want...)

So please stick with me, readers, as I muddle through this incredibly busy time in my life.  I promise to post more regularly again soon.  And here's a couple of lovely parting shots of Spring, springing, for your enjoyment.

Luckily I won't miss the bluebonnets because the goats got in and ate them a couple of weeks ago, so they will be blooming late.  Never thought I'd be happy for that!

View from the porch: Ahhh - green, green, everywhere!