Bee Sewcial January Block - freeform, transparency, connection

Yesterday I made this block for Karen (@capitolaquilter and she blogs at CapitolaQuilter) for my bee, Bee Sewcial. It is about 19" x 19". Karen asked us for freeform, maximalist style blocks that included transparency and connections. Also she said no pink or purple. Our blocks are always made from solids only.



I started with the transparency concept. I spent a long time looking at images of transparency quilts and transparency artwork on the internet as I have trouble imagining how use opaque fabrics to make you see a transparency. Then I got to work, using improv and no rulers.



I made a number of missteps along the way, but I pushed on, as I wanted to see if I could manage something interesting at least.



I found pinning it on my design wall (ie, a wall with a layer of batting pinned on it) helped.



There is my result. Maybe you can see the three rectangles intersecting only in the one corner in the centre. While I am sure that it is possible to improv a transparency far better than I did, I think that part of the illusion is created by the use of very well defined shapes so next time I try I will use a ruler.

I shared this on instagram and Karen said it looked aquatic an maybe the end was affected by refraction of the water. Well, that comment informed the rest of the day's work.



I definitely wanted to include curves in the overall piece as I love curves in improv. So my thoughts went to water, waves, pods, fish. And while I don't think I turn to pink and purple that often, I sure felt the limit of not including them. I tried to stick to a lot of bright, yummy shades of the colours I used.

For connections, I thought that a dark blue, the deep water so to speak, could make them.



At the top of the post you see the block oriented as I designed it, with the fish or sea life on the bottom. But it looks nice oriented this way too. Adding that bit of yellow to square off the block gives it an alternative horizon line, and we all like to see those. For me, the pods become flames, the curves become the forest, the rest feels somewhat cultural and urban. But really it is what you see it to be, its meant to be pleasing shapes, colours and composition, freeform, with transparency and connections.

It's Family Day in my province today, we are having a long weekend. Enjoy!

Best,

Leanne

Making some stars

In the morning light, I trimmed.



The quarter square triangle units just glow. Oakshott Lipari shot cottons with Essex linen in light grey.



So shiny.



One more picture while the sun was up.



Later I finished sewing. These Ohio stars finish at 3" square.



I need more green ones, but it is late now. I will put them in the sun in the morning and take more pictures. And make more green ones, and then make them into something nice.

I worked hard this week and the lurgy is lurking again so I am taking it easy in the hopes of fighting it off. There were naps and healthy food in between star making. And tea.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Best,

Leanne

And then there were four.

(My process is here, tutorial is here.)

Just a quick post, in case you, like me, were wondering about how this block looked next to some others - pretty excellent!

Best,

Leanne

Second verse, same as the first.

I have now got several projects on the go. I have to say that the quilt alongs I have joined are the best - the projects are divided into manageable portions with time to ponder and think before moving to the next. And the groups are supportive, creative and inspiring. I know you have seen these projects before, but I'll bring you up to date.

Here are my Supernova QAL Blocks so far. I am considering whether or not to make a couple more, I had cut out the fabrics for them so I may do them to see if I like them better. I need to decide my placement order as the sashing instructions will be up soon. Any left over blocks could be a pillow, no loss there.



The way your brain plays with these blocks is rather amazing, they look best from a distance.

I have also managed to piece all my backgrounds into my Party Rings quilt for Lily's Quilts QAL.



Instructions are up for the borders on these blocks and I think I may have figured out the plan for joining the QAYG blocks. I'll post more on that later this week.

And I have been working on more LBSP blocks, I posted about them earlier here. If you want to have a peek at my QAYG progress on the Bloggers Block-a-Palooza blocks, it is here.

Here is the link to WIP Wednesday, this group is inspiring, go have a look.

Best,

Leanne

QAYG - it's pretty fun!

Much of my time is spent quilting these blocks (edited to add: these are my Bloggers Block-a-Palooza blocks, there are earlier posts about them). It is really fun to be able to spin them around and change the angle without a care to how much of the rest of the quilt has to move.



And here is the back.



This one has flying geese.



And one more.



I am hoping to get my nerve up to do some interesting free motion quilting, not just straight lines.

I am reading tutorials about how to join the blocks, I will post links to a bunch of excellent ones when I start the joining process.

There are other interesting projects over at Quilt Story, you should have a look.



Best,

Leanne