Monday, May 23, 2022

Arkansas Snowflake - The Reveal!

It's time for the big REVEAL of my Arkansas Snowflake Block Re-Mix challenge! 

This was a super fun block to re-mix and the possibilities were so many that I had a hard time narrowing down the final version to share with you. 

 



So I ended up arranging the blocks into a 4 x 4 horizontal layout and used a new block version that was a combination of my Sneak Peek #1 and Sneak Peek #2.     I love the secondary patterns that emerged!  

The next step was adjusting the colors.  I stayed true to the fall colorway in the fat quarter bundle I selected for my inital fabric pull.  The color placement really enhanced the secondary patterns. 

In case you didn't see it, here are the fabrics I pulled for this month's block. 



Here's the link to purchase the bundle that I have shown. It is available in my Etsy shop.   

12 Fat Quarter Bundle of Fall / Autumn Fabrics



I truly love the opportunity to play and experiment with different blocks as part of the REMIX challenge.  Stay tuned for next month's post when the designers work on another new block. 

Each Monday, the participating designers are sharing about the challenge on their Instagram feeds.  Some of us are adding other social media too.   If you don't already follow me on Instagram, I'm @masterpiecequilting 

Here is the list of Instagram handles of the participating designers.  Each of us are sharing our reveals this week.   

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio

@patchworkbreeze

@jennykaequilts

@debbiewendtquilting

@evapaigequilts

@masterpiecequilting

@deb.quiltblox


An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

Hashtags:

#ArkansasSnowflakeblockchallenge

#ArkansasSnowflakequiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#Mayblockchallenge

#Maydesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks


I can't wait to see what everyone is revealing this week and I hope that you will take a look too! Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge.


If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 


Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Contempo Collection by Kate Colleran

What is better than a fresh new fabric collection to play with?  

Today I'm playing with Island Batik's Contempo collection by Kathy Engle for Kate Colleran of Kate Colleran Designs.  This collection is bright and bold with some really cool geometric influenced tonal patterns.   



If this collection is calling your name like it called mine, the best part is that it is currently shipping to quilt shops :)  Be sure to stop by your favorite shop, either in person or online, and order some today! 

Reworking my best-selling Peacock Proud quilt in a brighter colorway has been on my list for quite a while and this is the perfect collection for giving it an updated more summery look.   Let me know in the comments which version you like better. 

Here's the original version in another Island Batik collection from a few years ago. 


And here is the version using the Contempo collection.  Are you as smitten as I am? I love the contrast between the darker, bolder colors and the white.  


If you don't already have my Peacock Proud pattern, links to purchase are below.  The pattern calls for one roll of precut 2-/2" strips plus coordinating yardage.  

Link to PDF Pattern

Link to Print Pattern


I invite you to join Kate and the rest of the amazing quilt pattern designers who are posting about this collection in a blog hop on Instagram.   By the way, I'm @masterpiecequilting in case you don't already follow me.  The hop starts on Wednesday May 18th at 8:00 a.m. MT.   You can start with any of the designers listed and hop from one to another :) 

@katecollerandesigns

@island_batik

@masterpiecequilting

@patchworkbreeze 

@deb.quiltbox

@tamarinis

@swanamity

@poorhousequilts

@swirlygirlsdesign

@quiltinggail

@southwind_quilts


On her blog, Kate is giving away 2 FQ bundles of Contempo. This link will take you directly to her blog for your chance to enter.  


If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Monday, May 16, 2022

Arkansas Snowflake Block ReMix - Sneak Peek #2

It's time for Sneak Peek #2 of my Arkansas Snowflake Block.   

I am really liking the version that I came up with last week for Sneak Peek #1.  If you missed it, here is the link

As I thought about what to try next, I thought I would play with some curves.  I added some orange-peel-esque arcs to the outer corners of the block and a simple applique dot in the center.  Ya know, just in case the center point doesn't turn out perfect, it can be covered up :) 

When I imaged that into the four-block layout, it was just too much!  So back to the drawing board - literally and figuratively.  I decided to pull in the "points" of the snowflake so it would be so dominate and give a bit more background to show. 




So this is where the fun begins! As I'm designing, I always like to layout the block into a quilt-like arrangement just to see what secondary patterns emerge.  Sometimes the secondary patterns will then drive the direction the block design is going.  What do you think?  Is it too much?  I'm concerned that the arcs have become the focal point.  I played with the color a bit and I'm still not totally smitten with it.  Maybe a border would help. 


And yes, even though it is May, I'm already starting to think fall ... because it will probably take me all summer to get some fall quilts made ... so I grabbed a bundle of fall / autumn fat quarters for this month's fabric pull.  

If your fall fabric stash is looking a bit low, I can help you out.  I have several fat quarter bundles available in my Etsy shop.   

12 Fat Quarter Bundle of Fall / Autumn Fabrics



I truly love the opportunity to play and experiment with different blocks as part of the REMIX challenge.  The fun begins as I start to re-work this block.  Be sure to stay tuned for the big reveal next week. 

Each Monday, the participating designers are sharing about the challenge on their Instagram feeds.  Some of us are adding other social media too.   If you don't already follow me on Instagram, I'm @masterpiecequilting 

Here is the list of Instagram handles of the participating designers.  Each of us are sharing the second peeks at our designs this week.   

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio

@patchworkbreeze

@jennykaequilts

@debbiewendtquilting

@evapaigequilts

@masterpiecequilting

@deb.quiltblox


An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

Hashtags:

#ArkansasSnowflakeblockchallenge

#ArkansasSnowflakequiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#Mayblockchallenge

#Maydesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks


I can't wait to see how everyone is re-mixing this block and I hope you will take a look too! Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge.


If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Sisterhood Quilt Along - Block 25 Rea - May 12th

Today I'm sharing about the Sisterhood Quilt Along by Tammy Silvers (aka Tamarinis) and Kate Colleran of Kate Colleran Designs.  Their newest Block of the Month pattern features 30 different star blocks, each named after an influential women in their lives.

As part of the quilt along, they have invited a number of fellow designers on the journey with them to make one of the blocks as well as to tell a story about an important women in our lives.

I excited to share my version of Block 25, the Rea block, as part of the Sisterhood Quilt Along.  I’m dedicating my version of the block to my Grandmother, Lena Lamle Scott, as she is the person who taught me to quilt when I was a young child and her heavenly birthday is coming up on May 16th!  Grandma always expected her birthday to be celebrated and I can't think of a better way to remember and recognize her than with this block dedication.

Grandma was an avid quilter and I didn’t realize how good she was until after she passed and I was having some of her quilts appraised and the quality of her hand quilting was noted by each appraiser. I’m fortunate to have a few of the quilts she made including a catherdral windows quilt that was completely handstitched and included remnants of from our dresses in this photo.




For my version of Block 25, I opted for a fall-ish colorway with some rich greens, deep reds and gold. If you follow me, you know my fall fabric stash bin is always overflowing, so I pulled from it for this block.


I love how this color combination of lights and darks really makes the block pop. For fun, I decided to photograph it "on-point" and I absolutely love it! Wouldn't this be so fun to have an entire quilt made from this block. Oh what fun it would be to create secondary patterns with just the color placement!



Be sure to check out all the posts about the Sisterhood Quilt Along by using these hashtags.

#sisterhoodquiltpattern
#sisterhoodqal
#sisterhoodquilt


If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Monday, May 9, 2022

Arkansas Snowflake Block ReMIX Challenge - Sneak Peek #1

It's time for Sneak Peek #1 of my Arkansas Snowflake Block.   

As I thought about the possibilities for this block, I wanted to play up the snowflake aspect of it and give the center of the block more "umph"!   I know that is not a technical term but it just needed more pizzazz, it needed to be the focal point of the block. 

After adding the straight lines and more color to the center, the block just didn't seem balanced so I added a similiar triangle wedge to each corner.  I really like this aspect.  It extends the eye to the center of the block which was my goal from the beginning.  Don't ask how I'm piecing those triangle wedges, I honestly don't have that part figured out yet!  I'm just playing with design ideas :)   




So this is where the fun begins! As I'm designing, I always like to layout the block into a quilt-like arrangement just to see what secondary patterns emerge.  Sometimes the secondary patterns will then drive the direction the block design is going.  I'm liking it!  How about you?  What do you think? 




And yes, even though it is May, I'm already starting to think fall ... because it will probably take me all summer to get some fall quilts made ... so I grabbed a bundle of fall / autumn fat quarters for this month's fabric pull.  

If your fall fabric stash is looking a bit low, I can help you out.  I have several fat quarter bundles available in my Etsy shop.   

12 Fat Quarter Bundle of Fall / Autumn Fabrics



I truly love the opportunity to play and experiment with different blocks as part of the REMIX challenge.  The fun begins as I start to re-work this block.  Be sure to stay tuned for Sneak Peek #2 next week. 

Each Monday, the participating designers are sharing about the challenge on their Instagram feeds.  Some of us are adding other social media too.   If you don't already follow me on Instagram, I'm @masterpiecequilting 

Here is the list of Instagram handles of the participating designers.  Each of us are sharing the first peeks at our designs this week.   

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio

@patchworkbreeze

@jennykaequilts

@debbiewendtquilting

@evapaigequilts

@masterpiecequilting

@quiltblox.com


An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

Hashtags:

#ArkansasSnowflakeblockchallenge

#ArkansasSnowflakequiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#Mayblockchallenge

#Maydesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks


I can't wait to see how everyone is re-mixing this block and I hope you will take a look too! Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge.


If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me. 

Monday, May 2, 2022

Arkansas Snowflake Block ReMix Challenge - Fabric Pull

We are kicking off a new month which means a new block for the Block ReMix Challenge.  This month the designers are working with the Arkansas Snowflake block.  

I'm gonna be totally honest here, I did not recognize the name of the block.  When I read it nothing ... absolutely nothing ... came to mind.  So with the help of Mr. Google and a quick search I discovered that I was already familiar with the block, but I just didn't know it's proper name!  Please tell me, I'm not the only one that happens too.  



Even though it is May, I'm already starting to think fall ... because it will probably take me all summer to get some fall quilts made ... so I grabbed a bundle of fall / autumn fat quarters for this month's fabric pull.  

If your fall fabric stash is looking a bit low, I can help you out.  I have several fat quarter bundles available in my Etsy shop.   

12 Fat Quarter Bundle of Fall / Autumn Fabrics



I truly love the opportunity to play and experiment with different blocks as part of the REMIX challenge.  The fun begins as I start to re-work this block.  Be sure to stay tuned for Sneak Peek #1 next week. 

Each Monday, the participating designers are sharing about the challenge on their Instagram feeds.  Some of us are adding other social media too.   If you don't already follow me on Instagram, I'm @masterpiecequilting 

Here is the list of Instagram handles of the participating designers.  Each of us are sharing our fabric pull and / or color scheme this week.   

@tamarinis

@katecollerandesigns

@dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio

@patchworkbreeze

@jennykaequilts

@debbiewendtquilting

@evapaigequilts

@masterpiecequilting


An easy way to find the posts is using the following hashtags.  Just type them into the search box and the posts will show up. 

Hashtags:

#ArkansasSnowflakeblockchallenge

#ArkansasSnowflakequiltblock

#morethanjustablockchallenge

#designerblockchallenge

#Mayblockchallenge

#Maydesignerblockchallenge

#quilt

#quilts

#quiltdesigner

#quiltblock

#quiltblocks


I can't wait to see what everyone is selecting for their fabrics and I hope that you will take a look too! Be sure to follow each of the designers so you don't miss their posts during this fun challenge.


If you would like to see more of my patterns, tips and techniques delivered weekly to your inbox, be sure to sign up for my weekly Masterpiece Quilting Studio News email.  It's free of charge and I promise your email is safe with me.