ástərisk

ástərisk measures 31"X36"

Last month was plumb full of special projects and a vacation to boot. Arriving home a few days ago, I knew I was cutting it more than close to even consider entering the Modern Metallic challenge sponsored by Quilt! Knit! Stitch!™ this August. No, I hadn't started already, and no, I had no ideas. But really now. Our guild, one of just 9 invited to share their modern quilts in this exhibit, had been given lovely stacks of fabrics, courtesy of Robert Kaufman ~ Quilter's Tussah and Quilter's Linen Metallic.

So I got started, inspired in the beginning by these wonky triangle log cabin blocks by sewtakeahike. I added in some Timeless Treasures Dream (thanks, Marci!) and Michael Miller Mirror Ball Dots, and made several blocks, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Putting them up on the design wall, I initially thought I'd place them kind of tumbling down, but when I rearranged them more like an asterisk, I liked them even better.

Nothing in the stash was quite right for a background, so a quick outing yielded some {totally out of my comfort zone} metallic Hoffman Fabrics Asuka. It was a bit of a puzzle piecing the center of the main quilt top, but it eventually evolved. Taking a critical step back, I liked it but. Something was missing.

I decided it needed a flange. I consulted Jaybird Quilts' Binding Flange Tutorial, though I made the flange to play the part of a skinny border, rather than an accent to the binding. (Just fyi, I cut my flange fabric 1 1/2" wide.) To that I added borders, mitering the corners to imitate the look of a frame, using my go-to tutorial for mitering by Amy's Creative Side.

Whew! Time to quilt! After debating (and a bit of unpicking) I went with something I both liked and enjoyed doing - wonky spirals. When picking up that background fabric, I had also found the most awesome Aurifil 50wt #2975 ("brass" - love it! What else can I use it on??) for the background, and after a quick Ig poll, decided on #4060 (a variegated called "Silver Moon") in the triangles. Totally happy with both those choices!

With time running out, I opted for a faced binding to keep up the 'framed' look. And for that, I always refer to OPQuilt's tutorial over at she can quilt. Yes, I can't believe I mitered 2 features on this project. But isn't a miter a strange and wonderful thing?

In case you're wondering about the guy I'm standing by in the top photo, that would be The Hammering Man. He's a permanent (and tall!) feature outside the Seattle Art Museum. (Random fact: I had no idea he has siblings till I wrote this post!)

After a photo tour around the city today, and submitting my Modern Metallics registration, I'm breathing a sigh of relief. And pleased to have taken on a challenge once again.

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.

Bee Blocks and A Finish

Bee blocks for October and November are all on their way to their respective owners, so I thought I'd do them a little farewell post. 

In the Modern Blocks Bee, Susan/thehistoryquilter asked for this lovely Parisian Star, done up in osnaburg and voile. The texture of this quilt will be amazing. This star pattern by Leanne Cohen, goes together so quick, and as Susan confirms, is great in just about any fabric.

Diamond Ripples, by Lara Finlayson, was requested by Toni/HoosierToni.

Like many others in our bee, I was curious how a quilt's-worth of these blocks would look together! Leanne/shecanquilt put together a mosaic so we could all see. Isn't it really interesting and surprising? I can't wait to see Toni's quilt put together!

On to the Always Bee Learning bee. In October, Marci/Marci Girl Designs had us make a Y-Seam Hexagon Block (Modern Baby Quilt) from the book "Fresh Quilts" by Malka Dubrawsky. This looked kind of difficult, but it was really fun to put together and made such a pretty block. This is another quilt I can't wait to see completed!

Thanks to Leanne/shecanquilt, we all got to dabble in improv this month. She asked for asterisks and plus blocks or any other symbol. I couldn't resist making a pound sign block, reminiscent of QWERTY. I really do enjoy these blocks. I bet another wonky cross or asterisk quilt is in my future.

FAITH Circle of do.Good Stitches took a break in October for a little reorg. Here's a mock-up of the quilt we made blocks for this month, designed by Debbie/Blue.Ridge.Girl:

I made this teal and gray Ribbon Star. The pattern is from Lee at Freshly Pieced, and she shares her easy to follow tutorial here.

And then we were all asked to make a Modified Irish Chain block as well.

So I'm all caught up right now, and as a reward of sorts (or so it seems) - Kelsey of Kelsey Creates posted her completed FAITH Circle Ohio Star quilt today! Here are the blocks I made for the quilt . . .

And here is the finished quilt!

It's always so fun to see one of the quilts I've contributed to come together! Guess that inspiration is part of what keeps all of us doing it!