Thursday, October 20, 2011

Big Girl Panties!

While I'm on a roll of challenging myself, I "put on my big girl panties" and put my 45 crumb blocks (from Jo's Crumb Quilt Along) on the design wall. Take a deep breath...


I was surprised that I actually like the effect of my random colour play!
Here are some of my thoughts:
*the star blocks don't fit in. They draw the attention to themselves and don't look right anywhere. The colours are too contrasty, and not blendy enough. I want to remake them.
*I really like the flying geese blocks and want to make more of those in different colours.
*there seem to be 3 colour groupings: orange/pink, blue/green, and rust/gold. I would like to make a few more blocks blending the 3 colour groupings.
What are your thoughts? I would love to hear your creative ideas on layouts, sashings or not, borders or not, etc.

26 comments:

Cathy said...

I love what you have going, so far. Adding blocks that would blend one colour to another would add the finishing touch, almost like a colour wash quilt, using crumbs. Keep going, please. And does getting out you IOP count as one of your challenges?

Janet O. said...

These look so good!! I love how the colors blend across the quilt.
I think the stars could be the sparkle factor in the quilt if you wanted, by placing them randomly where they are purposely going to contrast. But if you prefer not, just put them on the back.

Mary said...

My only suggestion is to use the FG blocks you want to make as the outer edge of blocks piecing them with the shading accordingly. I like the randomness idea too. You are right the 3 on the bottom would scream at you in this quilt.

AnnieO said...

Looking great! I think if you make some more contrasty type flying geese and spread them around, maybe the stars won't bother you as much. I like the stars because they move the eye around the quilt. Your idea to blend your three colorways sounds great for some transition.

Béa said...

Wonderful ! I like AnnieO's idea for star border. XO

Tonya Ricucci said...

really beautiful. I love the colors. love the flying geese. and I love the stars too - I think they'd fit in there somehow as the quilt gets bigger. maybe with a few transition blocks...

Vicky F said...

Don't start editing yet! Everything looks great. You need to make more stars in all the colorways and then everything will "go".
Vicky F

Quiltdivajulie said...

What about the stars as the four corner blocks (you need one more) with those colors used elsewhere in whatever border blocks you choose to make . . .

OR include the stars in your pieced backing . . .

Love what you have so far!

Jan said...

I like what you've done. I'd say only make more if you want it bigger. I love pieced backs and I'd put the star block on the back.

Michele, a distracted quilter said...

My first instinct is to remove what doesn't work - but I've also learned that sometimes it doesn't need less but more. I like some of the suggestions you've received about piecing some more high-contrast blocks which would act as transtitions or blenders.

Diane said...

ohhh I love it! I would play with them-I'd start with the lightest ones in the center and try to work out to darker at outside that might work or not but fun playing (yes, I should work in the 3 yr old room of a daycare and play with building blocks all day)--oh wait I did have that job! it was the best! except the teachers always made us clean up before we were done building our city. grrrrr.
Oh and if you make some transition blocks with the 3 colors you might find a place for the star ones.
Have fun and take some pictures for us!!

scraphappy said...

OH, I really like the layout you've started with. The pink/red in the upper left corner is great, maybe you could mirror it by clustering the brown blocks in the lower right corner? That would leave the blues and purples as a nice slash of color in the middle. I do like the star blocks, though I agree that they stand out. There are already three,how would they look as cornerstones for a nice simple border to tie everything together? I think the color balance and mix of blocks is great! If you need more for size, some slight transition blocks with pink/purple or brown/green would make it less striped looking.

Jacqui's Quilts said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Kathy!! Love the colours....I think I'd sprinkle the stars in the middle of the quilt randomly and probably make a few more with less contrast? Like pink star with a lighter pink background (or darker). How about a zippy solid navy blue border? That'll make those colours stand out LOL

Lucky Duck Dreams said...

I like the star block. I think you should move it to the edge.

Kate said...

Wow! I love how the colors seem to bleed and change from corner to corner they way you have them laid out.

LuAnn said...

I love it. Like the way you've blended the colors from top left to the bottom. I don't think I'd add sashing. I like it just like it is.

Jo said...

LOVE it....and you were afraid. How about adding the star blocks for the border? Or sneak them into the backing fabric. Super cute.

Merilyn said...

wow! These blocks look stunning!!! I don't think you need sashing or a border, I love the way you have them laid out as it is!!!!

Coloradolady said...

This is super fantastic!! I could not wait to see this one together and you did not disappoint!!! I love how you have them now...so incredible beautiful. Have a great weekend...I'm off to read all your comments now!!

Terri said...

Your crumbs are YUMMY!

Deb A said...

Great blocks! I'd put the stars on the back. No sashing or border (if you like the size, otherwise make some more blocks...). I might play with the colors and go from orange to pink to green/blue to the browns ...like a rainbow effect. Any way you put it...it will be beautiful! Can't wait to see what you decide.

Kathryn D. Duke said...

W O W and WONDERFUL !!!!!
these are fantastic!!

Ulla said...

You have the most beautiful crumbs! They look lovely together, and I would make more stars and your other favourite blocks for the outer border so your stars would blend in there. Love your fabrics.

Elaine M said...

Wonderful blocks. Love all the color, full of life and happiness.

Jean said...

I love these! Maybe if you had a few more definitely green ones, you could bridge from the orange/pinks to the greens. Most of your blue/greens are primarily blue. I love these blocks, you can't leave them out! :)

Sarah said...

I love what you are doing. I would like to see a photo using the star blocks but I think you would have to encorporate a bit more of those colours into some more blended blocks possible. But to be honest I still love exactly what you've done!!!
Very exciting.