Next UFO to be Tackled!

It's been a while the Bottled Rainbows quilt blocks have seen the light of day....

....but they're up now!

Two More Blocks

One never seems to accomplish one's lofty goals... and I didn't yesterday.  I had wanted to get four blocks finished but, when I decided on that number, I had forgotten how involved making just one block is.  So I only accomplished half my goal... two blocks completed.

First, the dark pink / raspberry block...

...and then, the cerise block...

I'm trying to move to more triangles but it's hard for me to plan that shape... not sure why.  Maybe I'll find it easier on the orange/gold/yellow blocks.  We'll see...

By the way, I think these would make stunning place mats!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It's warming up slowly but I don't think I'm ready for summer heat yet...  need some transitional Spring weather first with some Spring flowers too!

First “Bottled Rainbows” Blocks

What fun this is… not that I expected it NOT to be… but when I finished with a block, not only does it look cool… it’s already quilted!   

First, I sashed the neutral center.

Then, after making the quilt sandwich, I pinned the sashing before laying out / fiddling with the scraps, trying to make them look good...

Even though I glued the blocks down, I added some straight pins "just in case" and as a way to pin-baste the center.  I used my walking foot because I was sewing through multiple layers... worked like a charm!  I then stitched around the center block... 1/4" from the seam.

Looked good when I finished and de-linted it...

...and the back looked cool!

Today, I’m going to take my Michael’s coupon and get me a pinking rotary cutter.  I have been putting it off but now I have a good reason to get one because I would like my pinked edges to be straighter…  however, I still see a need for my pinking shears.

Just HAD to do another block…  so I did!

Now I kinda have the hang of it, let’s see how many I can get finished today…

The First Bottled Rainbows Block

The red/pink fabrics washed and dried and I am ready to start… so exciting!  Crystal of Sonnet of the Moon asked me which of the colors I was going to start with and I couldn’t answer because I didn’t know.  

I thought about it quite a bit and for some reason I can’t explain, I’m drawn to starting with the ruby block.   Of course, if I don't have enough scraps when I lay them out on the neutral block... then I'll pick another color.

Rachel from Stitched in Color gave finished block sizes so I sat down with a paper, pen, and my handy-dandy calculator (on the computer) and came up with the following:

The neutral block, to finish at 11”x15” needs to be cut 11.5”x 15.5”.  If you cut an 11.5” WOF strip and sub-cut into 15.5” blocks, you’ll get 2.7 blocks.  If you cut a 15.5” WOF strip and then sub-cut blocks, you’ll get 3.65 blocks.

Rachel writes that the blocks have 2.5” sashing… so that will be 3” WOF cuts, yes?

I’ve decided to do QAYG (quilt as you go) because I like the effect of the shapes of the little scraps on the back of the quilt.   So I need to figure out what backing I’m going to use… it may entail a trip to my LQS if I can’t find anything in my stash.  Another thought is to back each color square with the same fabric…  still thinking but decision will be made shortly.

I like the pinked edges on Crystal's quilt blocks... so I'm gonna do that too.

Crystal's "corn yellow" block... love the pinked edges and the use of selvedges!

The Bottled Rainbows Quilt Along measurements all in one place...

Finished quilt size:  64”x80”

Finished block:  16”x20”

Neutral center blocks:  11.5”x15.5”

Rainbow fabric sashings: 3” WOF

Batting for each block:  16”x20”

Backing fabric for each block:  16.5”x20.5”

And away we gooooooooooo…….

The Kona Solids Have Landed!

All but one of the Kona solids (eggplant/plum) I ordered for Bottled Rainbows Quilt Along were waiting on the doorstep for me yesterday afternoon when I got home from work...

,,

So beautiful... I have to agree with Crystal of Sonnet of the Moon that the tangerine is really HUNTER ORANGE... or traffic-cone orange.  It IS bright... but who cares? 

I spread out all the solids on the bed and then started playing with my bottled rainbow scraps...  

I'm leaving after work today to drive to Greensboro for a work-related conference on Friday.  Due to the State budget crisis, which I'm sure is not unique to NC, a conference in Greensboro is deemed "close enough" to drive there and back in one day... so no funds  provided for hotel rooms the night before.  However, I'm driving up tonight because someone is smoking something weird to think that I can:

• get up at 0-dark-hundred, 
• drive two hours to downtown Greensboro, 
• find the parking deck, 
• then find the conference center before 8:30, 
• sit through a day-long conference,
• be reasonably alert at said conference,
  
• make it outta town during rush hour traffic, 
• drive two hours home...  
• and make it back here safely.

This way I can get a good night's rest and not worry so much about being late.

And on Saturday... I can play with fabric!