Two Blocks

One of my goals for the weekend was to work on my monthly commitments. I'll share 2 of them here, and more tomorrow on Scraptastic Tuesday.

First up, and most challenging, was my block for Kari/craft.happy for Bee Sewcial. Kari requested 10"x16" "poster blocks". In addition to a very interesting palette, we were also given this Pinterest board as inspiration. A painting by Louis Reith caught my eye and totally influenced where I went with my block. Kari's palette of "hot reds, corals and pinks with the muted mint, aqua and mustard, with dove gray, cream and black" was so fun to work with and I tried to include every color. I chose Kona Coral as the background in an effort to really give the block some punch.

In an extreme turn in about every way, I also made the first block for a new quilt. Our guild is doing a unique version of block-of-the-month this year, with each of us making our own medallion quilt. I considered all sorts of more modern (and complicated) blocks, but in the end, I went with a double churn dash, using the Skinny Churn Dash tutorial by Toni/Hoosier Toni. I'm thinking of using plenty of low-volume prints in my quilt with colors based on that center square.

So I'm off to a good start getting my 'must-do's' out of the way, which feels really good.

January Bee Blocks

My bee blocks were many and varied this month . . .

Always Bee Learning Bee - Toni asked for a Herringbone block using this tutorial from Holly at Bijou Lovely. I had never made this simple block, and it was straightforward and fun.

With our scraps, we were asked to make an improv block. Mine measures 7 1/2".

 

FAITH Circle of do.Good Stitches - I was really pleased when I saw that RhubarbPatch wanted us to make Sparkle blocks! I had made a quilt with the Sparkle QA last year, and I knew it was one of those blocks that looks innocent enough, but makes for a pretty striking quilt. To make the centers scrappy with solid hsts made them extra fun.

Mid-Century Modern Bee - This is a new bee starting this month, so I am enjoying meeting some new quilters. I admit that when I saw lollyquiltz's request, "Juicy Fruit" Churn Dash blocks, I thought, "wow!" Using Carla's own tutorial, I thoroughly enjoyed making this block, and love how four small blocks made up the one 12 1/2" block. Really can't wait to see this quilt come together.

 

New to me, this bee has decided to include 3 1/2' siggy blocks each month, using this tutorial. 

 

Modern Blocks Bee - Ellebee'squilts asked for "Piece of the Garden" blocks from Modern Blocks. I had never pieced hexagons like this, and was a bit apprehensive, but it went together pretty well. If we were comfortable doing so, we were asked to make different sized blocks, so I did mine at 75% of the template.

That Stash Bee - This is also a brand new bee and Mama Love Quilts started us off with her own tutorial for "Birds in the Air" blocks. Of course, I loved working with these Caribbean colors. Do check out Nicole's blog and see the variety of layouts available with this block.

 

And, this bee is asking for siggy blocks also, this time 5" ones. I used this tutorial.

Whew. As much as I enjoy these bees, it always feels good to get the month's blocks done.

A Journey in Time

Susan of The History Quilter posted today {here} about her most recent podcast, where she talks about signature quilts. I plan on listening to her podcast this weekend, but I also wanted to show you and Susan the signature quilt that I happen to have!

Though obviously this quilt has been in our family for a long time, I didn't know about it until a few years ago when I visited my cousin in southern California, and she was showing me around her home. She ushered me into the guest bedroom and said - "Do you remember this quilt? It was grandma and granddaddy's." Honestly, I had never seen it and had never heard about it.

Then one day a few months later, unexpectedly the quilt arrived at my house!

Every Churn Dash block is embroidered with the names of families, including my grandparents, dad, and uncles.

In the center block is embroidered "Escondido Free Methodist Church." Considering my granddad was a pastor for many many years, I assume this quilt was a gift from his congregation in Escondido CA.

Susan's post, and bringing the quilt out to show has prompted me to write an email to the church and see if by any chance they have any history on the quilt. Alot to hope for, but worth a shot.

Backed in a big floral print framed by a solid green border, it has a fold-from-the-back binding, and is obviously hand quilted. The piecing appears to have been done by machine. The quilt shows some wear, especially along the edges, but overall is in very good condition.

So there you have another fine example of a signature quilt. I'll be sure and report if I hear any more about its history.