Asian GRANADA

For many years now we have been working with 3 1/2" strips of Asian fabrics, all with the gold highlights.  The pattern we have used most was called Madame Butterfly, later renamed by us as What Four, later published on a RoseCard as CHARITY.  I called it What Four because it is constructed using strip sets of four, made into a 4x4 sixteen patch--but you really can't see the 4 Patch in it.  This pattern uses 28 strips to make a throw size.

We've have always strip packs of 28  3 1/2" for the What Four.  And as luck would have it--GRANADA used 28  3 1/2" strips, too.  I was almost shocked how nifty the math worked.  For What Four or CHARITY we used all multi-colored prints--roughly divided 14 light-ish, 12 dark-ish.  For GRANADA, 6 strips are usually a single, tone on tone Asian print.  The remaining 22 are multicolored.  The solid strips are the centers, and it is always fun to pair them with the prints.

GRANADA gave new life to my Asian strips.  I was selling the packs before the quilt was bordered and before the pattern was published.

CATHEDRAL in Rivoli

A lovely new Roll-up from Robert Kaufman's Artisan Batik collection Rivoli is perfect for our CATHEDRAL pattern.  The design requires 2 each of 20 2 1/2" strips--Kaufman Roll-Ups are one of the packs that work.  Actually, this particular roll had 19 pairs, and 2 odd ones.  But, lucky for me--one block gets tossed in this pattern, so I was not forced to make and use a 2-color block. 

For the centers, I shopped through my Kaffe Collective yardage--I love the way their color works with some of the batiks.  I found this wonderful Variegated Leaves by Phillip Jacobs that had all of the colors.  It is big, with lots of variety cut up, but not overpowering.  I loved the look when I picked it out, and loved it when it was finished!

GRANADA Rivoli Nightfall

GRANADA always looks good in batiks.  This very cool Nightfall group from Lunn Studios for Robert Kaufman could just about be made in a night--it's that easy.

Got a New Group?...Get Out the RoseCards

I just got in the new Gallery Fiori by Karen Tusinski/Lilla Rogers Studio for P&B Textiles.  Fabulous painting-style prints in a great mix of colors.  At first glance there were 3 distinct colorways.  Once Grandma Pam and I started playing with them, though, we found that these fabrics cross color lines. 

So I picked a few RoseCard pattern candidates, and set color queen Pam to work picking groups.  Here is what we are thinking about making up into bundles and/or models....

I need to replace my popular model made from Laura Gunn's Poppy--this will do nicely.

A very popular kit, OPENING NIGHT always goes well.  The main print here will look fine sideways for the top and bottom borders.  This also makes a good sized throw at very reasonable price, since we use fabric so efficiently.

This lovely and subtle coloring will be nice in a more tailored design like our SUNSPRITE.  I think I would double up--use 2 6 Fat Quarter packs.  It makes 12 blocks, finishing 54"x60".  Great in a contemporary setting.

This group of 6 was just because it is colorful.  Isn't this fun to play with a new line this way.  Now to get to work.....

OPENING NIGHT in Magnolia Lane

Laura Gunn's Magnolia Lane collection of 8 prints is perfect for our OPENING NIGHT pattern.  The main magnolia print is strong, and looks fine on its side for the top and bottom borders.   Six fascinating prints for the patchwork have strength, but not enough to overpower the main magnolia.  A great brown texture print finishes it off for the binding. 

Laura's prints photograph so well for pattern covers.  People are drawn to them in my booths at the shows, too.  

FREEDOM Scramble

This quilt is made from one of the kits I made from our Community Service stash.  When I make these kits, the goal is usually to pick colors that go together.  It is always a pleasant surprise when the prints work well together, too.

The main thing I like about this version is that the quiltmaker scrambled the 4-patches more than I usually do.  My plan is to make 4-Patches out of 2 fabrics.  However, with only 6 fabrics and 6 blocks,  it happens that colors or lights and darks may clump up in the layout phase.  This quilt has 4 fabrics in each 4-Patch, which gives a scrambled, but more balanced look to the layout.

Variations are such an amazing part of quiltmaking--even something as simple as this pattern.

RED...BLUE Community

RED ROSE and MIDNIGHT BLUE are great quilts for Community Service.  I put together loads of kits for my guilds using their donated fabrics, and this one is the easiest to cut and kit.  If I have a good border fabric, I kit RED ROSE with borders.  Otherwise, the 12 block quilt is still a nice size without borders.  And if I have enough colors that go together, I do the 20 block without border MIDNIGHT BLUE.   Also, 9 blocks makes a great quick baby quilt.

Working from a 5" strip or half strips or scraps is so easy for this quilt.  Usually I start with a center fabric to set the color theme.  A fat quarter will yield 12  5" squares for the centers.  Then it is whatever I like with that center.  One of my guilds has a huge closet full of fabric, which the members have sorted into laundry baskets by color--makes my job easy and fun!