Summer Road Trip

After sharing my Homage quilt finish just a couple of weeks ago, it's almost inconceivable that I have another long-term finish to show already, but it's true! About the time I started in on quilting Homage, I sent my Summer Sampler quilt top off to be long-arm quilted. Wasn't that clever of me?

The Summer Sampler Road Trip hosted by Lee/Freshly Pieced, Faith/Fresh Lemons Quilts, and Katie/Swim Bike Quilt was announced back in April of last year, but the sewalong didn't actually start until mid-May, and then we sewed through September. [See links to all of my blocks at the end of this post.] You may remember that I was on the Design Team, and created the Milan block, inspired by the view from atop the Milan Cathedral during a trip to Milan, Italy.

For my blocks, I used a mix of prints from Carolyn Friedlander's collections, along with some Gleaned coordinating solids. For the filler blocks, I combined Kona Titanium, Pewter, Iron, Silver, and Shadow, following the original Summer Sampler plan for Hourglass blocks. Finally, come November, I had a finished quilt top!

Soooo. When it came time for quilting - remember I also had the Homage quilt to quilt - I decided to do myself a favor and get a little help. I delivered the 72" x 72" top, batt, and backing - a gray widescreen by Carolyn Friedlander - to Cindy Krafft of Cascadia Quilts.

The backing was an easy and obvious choice, since I had used so many of Carolyn's prints in my quilt blocks. Cindy was a member of Seattle MQG, and I had heard nice things about her quilting.

I really wanted the feature blocks of the quilt 'framed' and Cindy did that with some absolutely lovely straight-line quilting in the gray hourglass filler blocks. So as not to detract from the feature block designs, Cindy suggested stitch-in-the-ditch for them. The density contrast definitely is emphasized between the feature blocks and the filler blocks, which ended up resulting in a fairly supple quilt.

Two solid fabrics were used for the binding - primarily Kona Iron, with a length of Kona Shadow for a little contrast.

So my Summer Road Trip is complete! Sewing the blocks, being inspired by exotic places, was really alot of fun. And I'm super pleased with the finish. Can't ask for more than that!

Summer Road Trip

#summersampler2018 #aqtsummersampler

Week 18: Fish Rack   Week 17: Chrysler Building   Week 16: Moais

Week 15: Petra  Week 14: Pantheon   Week 13: Pisa

Week 12: Milan   Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower  Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda  Week 8: Castillo   Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles  Week 5: Points  Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway  Week 2: Shenzhen  Week 1: Water Well

This project was on my 2019 Finish-A-Long Q1 List!
Linking up with the Finish-A-Long Q1 Finishes Link Up!

When Summer Runs Into Fall

It's been exactly two months since I stitched up the last road trip block for my Summer Sampler. And then.... the blocks just sat. It wasn't fair to them at all, as I so enjoyed making every one of them.



Then finally, avoiding another project, I dug into making the filler blocks. Using Kona Titanium, Pewter, Iron, Silver, Shadow, I followed the original Summer Sampler plan for Hourglass blocks.



So now the top is done - all 72" x 72" of it. And what comes next is anyone's guess....

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Fish Rack

It's Week 18 of the Summer Sampler, and that means the last travel-themed block of the quilt along. It's hard to believe we've been at this for over four months and very soon it's time to start putting our quilts together! This week, Daisy Aschehoug of Warm Folk shares a block she calls "Fish Rack," inspired by a Norwegian rack for drying fish. Specifically, Daisy says, "The Fish Rack is based on the nomadic art project by architect Sami Rintala called 'SALT.' The series of large structures currently overlooks the Oslo Opera House and is modeled after the fish racks along the coast where, traditionally, fish were dried in the harsh winds before winter."

Funny thing (not) was I had no trouble with the paper-piecing itself this go-round. In fact, the matching went flawlessly. But. I messed up - twice - getting those side triangles on. Gee whiz. No worries, though, as it still came together pretty quickly and I'm more than pleased with the finish. What a striking block design.

So.... now we wait until next Monday for the final posting which will be the finishing directions. I have purchased several grays for the setting blocks, and won't know till I get a few up on the design wall if I like that choice. So stay tuned!

Meanwhile, I've thoroughly enjoyed our trip around the world - just look at all the places we've 'visited'! The theme of this year's sampler - Summer Road Trip - has added such a dimension to this quilt along, and I'm looking forward to seeing the map of blocks all come together.

Week 17: Chrysler Building      Week 16: Moais

Week 15: Petra     Week 14: Pantheon     Week 13: Pisa

Week 12: Milan     Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower     Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda     Week 8: Castillo     Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles     Week 5: Points     Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen     Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018     #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Chrysler Building

The next to last Summer Sampler block was designed by Christopher Thompson of The Tattooed Quilter, inspired by the classic art deco style of the Chrysler Building in New York City.

It was a paper-piecing challenge - very doable yet time-consuming. I'm really fond of that center medallion though!

While not wanting things to end, I'm a little antsy about the upcoming setting squares. The original cool-colored mockup showed a gray-variant palette, and that's what I've been planning on all along. I'm hoping even though my blocks are colored slightly different, the gray will still 'fit'. I guess time will tell....

Week 16: Moais

Week 15: Petra     Week 14: Pantheon     Week 13: Pisa

Week 12: Milan     Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower     Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda     Week 8: Castillo     Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles     Week 5: Points     Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen     Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018     #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Moais

This week's Summer Sampler block is another where I learned something, and it wasn't about sewing. To wit: "Easter Island (Isla de Pascua in Spanish) is a Chilean island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. Easter Island is most famous for its nearly 1,000 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site."

And it was these moais that inspired Carolina Oneto's block design. If you're like me, each one of the QAL blocks has been more interesting yet once I've heard about their inspiration, and I've really enjoyed that!

I've had all of my Summer Sampler blocks up on the design wall lately just to check on the balance of fabrics that I've used. Like this week, I intentionally used a background I'd only used twice before. As we have just two blocks left to do (sad face), I'll be keeping a good eye on that balance going forward.

Week 15: Petra     Week 14: Pantheon     Week 13: Pisa

Week 12: Milan     Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower     Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda     Week 8: Castillo     Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles     Week 5: Points     Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen     Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018     #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Petra

To be honest, I had no idea where or what Petra was, so it was good to learn a little something with this week's Summer Sampler block. Designed by Katie/Swim Bike Quilt, the block clearly represents the Treasury in this ancient Jordanian city.



The block would have been perfectly simple if I had only followed the directions. I totally thought I knew what I was doing starting out, and that plus the unfounded assumption that the block's components were symmetrical, led me astray. My seam ripper being my friend, though, helped everything come together in the end.

Week 14: Pantheon     Week 13: Pisa

Week 12: Milan     Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower     Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda     Week 8: Castillo     Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles     Week 5: Points     Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen     Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018     #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Pantheon

Another stop on the Summer Sampler Road Trip brings us to my favorite site in all of Rome, the Pantheon. A former Roman temple, the Pantheon is the best-preserved building from ancient Rome, and now serves as a Catholic church. 



One of the most unique features of the Pantheon is its oculus, and it was from the surrounding inset stones that Lee/Freshly Pieced took her inspiration for the Pantheon block.

The thing that intrigues me the most in Lee's design is her clever placement of color. And it really surprised me when I received the pattern to find how the corner angles were constructed with half-square triangles. I really thought I'd be facing y-seams.

Anyway, I really enjoyed making this block and remembering back to our visit to the Pantheon. Here, I'll let my friend Rick tell you more...

Week 13: Pisa

Week 12: Milan       Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower      Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda       Week 8: Castillo       Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles      Week 5: Points       Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen       Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018       #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Pisa

The Summer Sampler Road Trip is two-thirds over, and I for one will be sad when it's over. This has been the perfect QAL for this summer and each new block has been a welcome diversion in an otherwise hectic week.



This week's block is Pisa, designed by Faith/Fresh Lemons Quilts, and you'll notice it doesn't lean one bit, but was inspired by detailing in the stonework of the tower.



Lee/Freshly Pieced shared a good tip that really helped those seams nest. Once all the quarters were pieced, I remove the paper, and then repressed the seams on two quarters so they went the opposite way. Worked like a charm. That and sewing the seams first with a 4.0 stitch length to check placement gave me pretty decent results. And a block that I'm gushing over.

Week 12: Milan       Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower      Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda       Week 8: Castillo       Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles      Week 5: Points       Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen       Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018       #aqtsummersampler

Milan Views

fabricbubb

Hands down, one of the best things about putting a pattern out into blogland is seeing what others do with it. So when Milan blocks started showing up, you can bet I was paying attention!

khquilts

I asked some of the Summer Sampler participants if I could share their version of the Milan block. 

mishamakes

Just look at their color choices.... how they tweaked the placement or added a bit of the unexpected.

 takeonshley

Seeing them make Milan their own is just so gratifying.

tooheycohen

So we're on to a new block this week, but I couldn't resist sharing some of the fun we're having on the Summer Sampler Road Trip!

alyson.mosier

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Milan

When hubby and I went to Italy for our 35th anniversary, we really only went to Milan to get home. It was the closest hub at the end of our trip, and it was just a couple of nights, but it turned out to be an enjoyable last stop.



One of the sights we saw was the Milan Cathedral [aka Duomo di Milano], which apparently is the fourth largest church in the world. Now we've been in alot of cathedrals, but never have we been on the roof! Yes, at Milan's cathedral, you can go up on the roof to walk among the spires.



And it was from that vantage point that I got my inspiration for Milan, this week's Summer Sampler block.



Milan offers a break from paper-piecing, and while not a tricky block, the intertwined border surrounding the center 'plus'  requires some careful pinning. So be attentive to matching seams, and you'll be good to go.



It's fun to see where all we've traveled with the Summer Sampler, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how everyone's Milan block fits in with their others!

Week 11: Under the Eiffel Tower       Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda       Week 8: Castillo       Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles      Week 5: Points       Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen       Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018       #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Under the Eiffel Tower

Oh yes! Wouldn't it be great to be under the Eiffel Tower right now, looking up to see the view Rebecca/Bryan House Quilts saw? Indeed. Besides the fact that Paris is a place I'd really like to travel to some day, Rebecca's block is one of my favorites so far. It had some simple curves and the easiest sort of paper-piecing, and I just find it so striking.



It's hard to believe next week we'll be two-thirds of the way through the Summer Sampler! I've been enjoying it SO much!

Week 10: Vatican

Week 9: Pagoda       Week 8: Castillo       Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles      Week 5: Points       Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen       Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018       #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Vatican

Finally! This week's Summer Sampler block is from a place I've actually been! Vatican was designed by Melissa/Polka Dot Chair after a tile floor she saw in the Vatican. I went back through all my Rome photos and didn't see this floor, but it was great to reminisce just the same!

I'm not 100% sure I chose correctly in picking the solid aqua for that large half of the block. It really stands out when all the blocks are together, but I like it alot in the block by itself. It'll all work out. My favorite part though is that dark blue, where the design doesn't match up. Not sure why but I like it! Needless to say, this block was a breeze, and now I'm looking forward to next week!

Week 9: Pagoda       Week 8: Castillo       Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles      Week 5: Points       Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen       Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018       #aqtsummersampler

Summer Sampler 2018 :: Pagoda

The further in we get, the more I love it. This week’s Summer Sampler block, Pagoda, was designed by Lee/Freshly Pieced, inspired by the architecture she saw during a trip to China.



It was nice to have a break from the paper-piecing, though at one block a week, that's totally been doable. Anyway, one little tip - a Hera marker works so good at marking half-square triangles!



Hard to believe we are half-way through making our sampler blocks! I'm hard-pressed to choose a favorite but I really am liking them as a collection.

Week 8: Castillo       Week 7: Half Timber

Week 6: Versailles      Week 5: Points       Week 4: Giza

Week 3: Southwest Highway      Week 2: Shenzhen       Week 1: Water Well

#summersampler2018       #aqtsummersampler