Scrappy Trip Around the World and International Exchange Round #2

This is another beautiful quilt that Reneta has made from her scraps.  She followed Bonnie Hunter 's "Scrappy Trip Around the World" free pattern.    For this one Reneta dug into her scrap flannels.  It is amazing how all of the different theme fabrics work together in this format.  In this little section you can see pine cones, flowers, Noah's ark, trees, bugs, fish, plaid.....

All this quilt needed to finish it off was a nice even textured panto.  You can't see if too well on the front, but the Lithe panto is a very nice compliment to this quilt.

If you dig into your flannels and add this many seams, the quilt will feel quite heavy for its size!

March 1st meant it was time for the reveal of out second blocks in our International Exchange with our Australian friends.  The theme this time around was Dredens.  The only requirement was the the floral fabric was used somewhere in the block.  

This is the one I made.  I don't usually go quite so scrappy, and I was excited to find 20 different fabrics to use in the Dresden blades.  I used our focus fabric in the centre.  I had never tried doing a Dresden with points on both ends, so this was fun.

Deseley made this one. I always love when someone does something I could never dream up!

Kathy and I were once again on similar wavelengths!

And Bronwyn used a mix of curved and pointed blades in hers.

Looking forward to our next assignment - Flying Geese!

International Exchange #3

  

It has been a couple of years since Kathy, Desley, Bronwyn and I finished our last Round Robin  exchange.  The concept has been different each time.  The first time was the most traditional where we each started with a center block and took turns working on each others.  You can see those results here.  Our second exchange involved all of us selecting our own focus fabric, then making blocks for each other and another group member putting your top together.  Kathy shares the results here.

This time is more of a block exchange than a round robin.  Everyone has been given yardage of the print you see above.  Every two months we will be given a block style to make.  You can use any fabrics you like as long as you include a piece of the floral print in the block somewhere.  The print has lots of colors to highlight, so we expect lots of interesting blocks.

Our November theme was Log Cabin or a Log Cabin Variation.  I chose to put four offset log cabin blocks together, and added the print in a "10 Minute Block" style center.   Every month we are making 4 identical blocks, one for each participant that we will exchange at the end 5 themes.

This is Bronwyn's take on the log cabin.  I love how the majority of her block is the print.

Desley made this one that is totally different again.

And finally Kathy's block which is the most similar to mine, but still unique.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's versions of a Dresden at the end of February/

International Round Robin #1 QUILTED!

I am so happy with how this turned out I can hardly stand it!!  I love the back just as much as the front!  And the best part is - this one is mine!  It gets to live at my house!

This project was a Round Robin that traveled between Canada and Austrailia.  My contribution was the center square and the quilting. Here is the label I made that shows the progress and includes the names and locations of the other participants.   You can see more about the process here.  

I used Superior's Monopoly on all the colored fabrics.  I didn't want to distract from all the beautiful clear colors, nor did I want to change threads countless times.  It was the perfect solution.  I knew I wanted to do a little more than stitch in the ditch on the piano key border, and after some doodling and playing around with my templates I came up with these curves.  I used a 6" circle.

For all of the quilting on the white fabric I used Invisifil thread with Bottom Line in the bobbin. I used two layers of batting for this one as I wanted to make sure the quilting would pop.  Quilter's Dream Blend on the bottom and Quilter's Dream Puff on the top.  Why that combination? It's what I have on hand! The blend is firm and stable and the puff is very light and lofty.  It is great in this wall hanging but would be too heavy for my taste in a bed quilt.

I was very happy with the pebbles around the feather sprays and the motif in the triangles.

I knew I wanted simple quilting on the center star. ( I'm glad I left some breathing room there.)  I really struggled with what to do in the background spaces behind the star.   I decided to attempt some feather sprays in the style of Bethanne Nemesh.  I just got her book recently, and they seemed to be the perfect thing to tie the other elements of the quilt together.

 I think everyone should take a chance on a fun project like a Round Robin once in their quilting lives.  I have had great results and a lot of fun each time out. If you really want to stack the odds in your favour be sure to surround yourself with extraordinarily talented people!  Thank you Kathy, Desley and Bronwyn - this quilt would not exist without you!

International Round Robin - Round Three

I am very excited to be able to share the results of the third round of the International Round Robin that I am participating in.  For this round we were once again to add blocks to the growing pile.

This time around I got to work on Browyn's blocks.  This is what arrived in the mail.

I decided to make 4 more nine inch blocks as I thought it would be a helpful addition when assembling the quilt top in the next round.  This block was a little more challenging than I normally take on, but I loved the little curve int he center, and how the corners fit in to what else has been made.

Here are the blocks for Browyn's quilt as they stand right now.

These are Desleys block at the end of  the last 

round. 

It was Kathy's turn to add to them this time.  Kathy mad two 6" blocks and two 12" blocks.

These ones are mine to put together as a top for Desley in the next round.  Better put my thinking cap on!

 These were Kathy's blocks at the end of the last round (so happy there is no snow on the ground now!)

Bronwyn added 9" blocks to the group.

These are all of the blocks for Kathy's quilt.

These are the blocks for my quilt at the end of the last round.  I smile every time I look at them!

Desley must have gone shopping for some batiks, as I know that is not really what her stash is made of over in Australia.  She made this lovely set of blocks.

  

And here is the whole pile.  I can't wait to see what the end product will be.  While they are all coming along really nicely - I love mine the most!

International Round Robin - Round 2

The results of Round 2 of the International Round Robin that I am lucky enough to be participating in are here!  Our instructions were to make more blocks to add to what we received.  They could be 6", 9" or 12" and the number of blocks we made went according to a point chart.  We had to include some of the consistent fabric in what we made.

I worked on Kathy's blocks this round.  This is what arrived.

  Those chains at the corners of Kathy's star block looked to me as if they needed to be going somewhere.  I made 4 - 9" blocks that could be used to extend the chain, and two more nine patch blocks to add to the pile.

Here are all of the blocks so far.  It will be interesting to see where they end up in the quilt top!

This is Desley's pile from Round 1.

These are the blocks Bronwyn added.

And here are all of Desley's blocks to date.

Next up are my blocks from Round 1.

Here are the blocks that Kathy made to add to the pile.  I love how she picked up on the little bit of plum I had included and the darker brown really adds depth.  Fun to see a few more variations of the large sawtooth star blocks too.

Here are all my blocks to date.  I can't wait to see what gets added next!

These are Bronwyn's blocks from Round 1.

Desley made four 9" blocks like this one.

Here are all Bronwyn's blocks to date.  I get to add to this collection in the next round.  Hmmm.  What will I do?

This is a lot of fun.  Looking forward to Round 3!