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Sewcialites free block #17 Simplicity with Color Studies

2/22/2023

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Ah, "Simplicity" for a nice happy week on the Sewcialites sampler. This block is from Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique. Vanessa can make simplicity so very charming and elegant! Lets take a look at some color play!
Sewcialites block 17 in Robin Pickens Color Studies
As I was experimenting with the angles and center vertical band, a nose started to appear to me. I could not resist adding a couple more triangles for ears and bringing a little lioness friend for a visit! For my sewn block I stayed with the more geometric play and I liked how the lower left one resembled a plus symbol or cross with interesting faceted bands from the quarter square triangles. 

​Here is my sewn version:
Sewcialites block 17 in Wild Blossoms and Thatched
Next week is my block and I'm excited to share! Stop back to see what I'm planning for my little 3" blocks. Till then, happy sewing!
Sewcialites block 17 in Wild Blossoms and Thatched
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Sewcialites free block #16 Crazy Christmas Star and Color Studies

2/17/2023

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Sewcialites free quilt block in thatched from Robin Pickens
Block 16 from Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts has lots of pieces to play with. I enjoyed trying the center as a white bloom (like a white Poinsettia) with green leaves or red package ribbons cut with pretty ends. Play up the diamonds by using more background white or emphasize the X angles. This block is similar to Flourish from a couple weeks ago with an added twist on the inner flying geese to make that extra little square. I did my color studies in red and green to go with Corey's Christmas name and it is lively in those combinations.
Sewcialites free quilt block color studies from Robin Pickens
I've used some spicy warmer reds and orange for my block instead of red, based on where I want this to coordinate with my rainbow WOF print of Wild Blossoms. I find that making the 3" blocks can be a challenge for getting my seams to lay flat when pressing. I like to use a tailors clapper of wood to help after pressing. I'll let this sit overnight to reinforce the flat pressed-open seams. 
Sewcialites free quilt block in thatched from Robin Pickens
These tiny little scissors are just the most precious! They are made by Cohana and are a pretty little treat for snipping threads. And they are a sweet size to go with these little blocks!
Hope you are all having a wonderful time with your Sewcialites blocks through the Fat Quarter Shop!
Sewcialites free quilt block in thatched from Robin Pickens with Cohana Seki scissors
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Sewcialites Free Quilt Block 15 and 8...All Caught Up!

2/9/2023

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Sewcialites block 15 Brighten in Wild Blossoms
Brighten up your day with a little sewing! Here is "Brighten" from Minki Kim for this week's Sewcialites free block from the Fat Quarter Shop. What an interesting interlocking shape of rectangles. I love it! For color studies, the suggested layout then playing with those squares and rectangles a little to make a geometric layering of transparent squares in the center. Emphasize across the diagonal, have a pixelated "H" or a cut out rectangle that our eye is drawn into with it's dark center.
Sewcialites block 15 Brighten in Robin Pickens color studies
I stayed with the recommended layout since I liked the simplicity and movement of the shapes. I love this little red print in Wild Blossoms. It has all kinds of little blooming things with tiny bees buzzing about. It still shows some of the images in these small 3" blocks. 

I also had one more block to do to catch up..."Interwoven" from Shereece Nicole of Sew Hooked on Treasures.  
Sewcialites block 15 and 8 in Robin Pickens Wild Blossoms
This block took some concentration and careful following of directions. I love the outcome and how the ribbons have a continuous woven interlocking look. 
Sewcialites block 15 and 8 in Robin Pickens Wild Blossoms
If you are also catching up, here are a couple ideas in the color studies for the Interwoven block. The outer flying geese background can fill in more of a large "plus" shape. Center triangles can pop out as a pinwheel. The star points can be emphasized as their own element and we can also create a large X shape with fun motion.
Sewcialites block 8 Interwoven in Robin Pickens color studies
Sewcialites block 15 and 8 in Robin Pickens Wild Blossoms
Now I am all caught up and can go back to one block a week! My block will be coming up next month and I'm so excited to share!
I hope you all have a fun Valentines (or Galentines) Day next week! 
​Happy sewing!
Sewcialites block 15 Brighten in Wild Blossoms
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Sewcialites Blocks 14, 11, 10 and 7 with Color Studies

2/3/2023

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Sewcialites Enchant block and catch up blockswith color studies from Robin Pickens
Hello Enchant! I breathed a sigh of relief for a slightly easier block this week since I'm also continuing my catching up on past blocks. I enjoyed this charming block from April Rosenthal of Prairie Grass Patterns on the Sewcialites Sewalong from the Fat Quarter Shop. 

How about a color study? Yep!
Sewcialites Enchant block color studies from Robin Pickens
Outside half square triangles in background white or a color? I liked how the third one looks to me like corners folded in, like a galette with a lemon center. The second one plays on the idea of a churn dash block.  Fourth uses background white to create a diagonal twisted candy and the last one is a color wheel of sides that draws your eye into the dark center.
Sewcialites Enchant block from April Rosenthal with color studies from Robin Pickens
I used number 3 as my inspiration. I think it was the idea of a lemony pastry that got me, and no, I don't have any lemon danishes or pastries here. Sigh. It is not till I look at the photos that I see I have a seam not quite matching but since it is a 3" block, I'm leaving it as is. I did use my seam ripper quite a bit on some of the other blocks I made so this seems minor in comparison to some of the other matching issues I encountered.

​Speaking of the other blocks, I made Flourish by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet.  
Sewcialites Flourish block from Lori Holt with color studies from Robin Pickens
I used my seam ripper on this one a lot. Keep in mind this is a 3" block so each of those sections is only 1/2" finished. I am liking the blue/green combination and look for my smaller prints to use on these tiny-pieces blocks. For color studies, I played with these ideas:
Sewcialites Flourish block from Lori Holt with color studies from Robin Pickens
Lots of pieces means lots of options to pull out the X shape (jumping jacks!), think of corner ribbon ends, play up the sides, or treat the rows like different colored bands. I used number two as my inspiration but it was a toss-up with number three. 
Sewcialites Nurture block from Lissa Alexander with color studies from Robin Pickens
Next was Nuture from Lissa Alexander. Wheels, pointers, plaids and, again, lots of options! This one was really structured for lots of color play. And again, my seam ripper was used a lot on this 3" block.
Sewcialites Nurture block from Lissa Alexander with color studies from Robin Pickens
The last of the catch up blocks for the week was Butterfly Garden by Pat Sloan of The Voice of Quilting. I did not do a color study for this one since I had no desire to see it as anything but a butterfly. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this butterfly come into full formation. 
Sewcialites Butterfly Garden from Pat Sloan in Wild Blossoms Robin Pickens
Here is the group of this week's blocks, all done in different colors and fabrics from the Wild Blossoms collection, which should be shipping in March from Moda Fabrics!
Sewcialites blocks in Wild Blossoms Robin Pickens
Just a reminder, if you want to see past color studies, go to the COLOR STUDIES page listed in the menu and click on an image to go to that blog post. Next week I'll add in the block Interwoven from Shereece Nicole and I think I will be all caught up with past blocks!
Sewcialites blocks in Wild Blossoms Robin Pickens
Last week I mentioned I will be doing the Bountiful quilt along (Bountiful quilt from Corey Yoder) with the Fat Quarter Shop, raising money for Make a Wish! Here is a mock up of the quilt in WILD BLOSSOMS. Since Wild Blossoms is shipping in March, it might be a tiny bit behind on the first block but should be available to catch up and sew on the second in time. For more information about the Bountiful sewalong, and to see the fantastic bundles of Corey's fabric line, coordinating threads and a very charming matching CROSS STITCH, visit the Fat Quarter Shop's Bountiful blog post.
Fat Quarter Shop's Bountiful blog post
Bountiful quilt by Corey Yoder in Robin Pickens Wild Blossoms for Fat Quarter Shop charity sew along
See you next week and until then, happy sewing!!
Sewcialites Enchant block with color studies from Robin Pickens
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    Designer of colorful florals for Moda fabrics. Modern to transitional quilt designer. Illustrator, sewist, crafter.

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