Robin Pickens
  • Blog
  • SHOP
  • Errata
  • About/Info
  • Pub./Press
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • COLOR STUDIES
  • PATTERN PLAY

Fractured Rainbow by Stacy Iest Hsu for Moda Blockheads3

9/30/2020

3 Comments

 
Fractured Rainbows by Stacy Iest Hsu with Color Studies from Robin Pickens
Stacy Iest Hsu said this block was inspired by her love for the log cabin block and that the first quilt she made was a log cabin quilt. This makes me smile since my mother loves log cabin blocks and she too made her first quilt using a log cabin design. It was a quilt that was in yellow and green and was for me! I still have it. Who knew that years later, she would still be loving the process of making quilts and that I would be immersed in this world as well. Thank you log cabin blocks!

I've started this week's color study with Stacy's version and in the colors she showed on her instructions. I thought it was a lovely palette! If her block radiated darker colors from the center going outwards, what if I flipped that to light on the inside? And maybe light little corners to make those edges fall away? Or just two color families with a little extra color pop in 2 corners? On the next row it is all about stripes and color on color or color stripes with cream. The bottom looks at changing up the color darkness with a dark single piece offsetting the "L" shape, almost creating more of a pinwheel center. For the very last image I switched up the placement of the blocks. Each week I stay within the exact placement of the pieces with this exception...I just could not resist how rotating the corners of the block quadrants made it looked like shades of boxes within boxes (so a little cheat!).

Have fun sewing and if you need the pattern, hop on over to Stacy's blog for the download. I'm busy sewing with a new fabric collection that I'll be showing very soon! Hopefully I'll catch up on Blockheads soon but for now I am excitedly sewing away at a rather frantic pace to make some videos for Fabric Forecast. Oh, and stay tuned because next week is one of my blocks for Moda Blockheads! 
Fractured Rainbow pattern at Stacy Iest Hsu's blog
3 Comments

Fixer Upper from Vanessa Goertzen for Moda Blockheads

9/23/2020

2 Comments

 
Visit Vanessa's blog for the Fixer Upper block pattern
We are three weeks into September and fall has officially begun. I feel like this year has no regular markings of time and this month has been speeding by!!
Fixer Upper color studies from Robin Pickens
This was such an interesting block to play with. That first image reminds me of the lights around a big celebrity makeup mirror. And the next one emphasizes the center just by nature of the different color. Number three uses negative space to make the center feel like cut ends of a bow in the center. The center shape really gets called to attention in that one. 

In the middle row, the turquoise color starts to become more mixed into the outer border and the dark olive tones make diagonal shapes and transparencies. In the bottom row, the outer corners becoming the background color gives the shape a more rounded feel and more of grouped corner units. 

I'm not sure what I am sewing this week although I am rather drawn to #7.

This is a busy week. I just got my calendar tea towel uploaded for the spoonflower challenge that opens up for voting next week. And this week Friday the sewalong "Sewcialites" starts! And I just might be imagining some Halloween project in my mind...I'm thinking about my "Cardinal's Christmas Wreath" pattern but done in more fall colors with a black crow. Can't wait to get that mocked up.

Happy sewing!! Happy fall!
2 Comments

Broken Dishes from Laurie Simpson for Moda Blockheads

9/16/2020

1 Comment

 
Broken Dishes quilt block color studies from Robin Pickens on Laurie Simpson's block design
Happy Moda Blockheads day!! Time for a few color studies of Laurie Simpson's Broken Dishes block. Started out with simple black and white and shades of gray with dark corners to make an diagonal direction. Then pinwheels and more playing with introducing color to give the feeling of color transparency (can you imagine a transparent film of color over the corners on number 4?). You can play up the diamonds within a bigger diamond or emphasize the middle band as a horizontal pointed shape. In the last row I tried more of a spectrum of colors and love how the very last one becomes an arrow by using the background color to make a couple triangles disappear!
Click this bar to visit Laurie's blog for the pattern!
I've been working on 8" blocks for this project and this week I was busy on another project with smaller blocks. I forgot I was doing the 8" for this and ended up making a 4" one! I'm debating adding a border or remaking it and I'll post the blocks after I do my scrappy one too.
Picture
Did you know it's National Sew A Jelly Roll Day on Saturday?! September 19th get your rolls ready for a day of sewing those long strippy beauties. A couple of my jelly roll patterns that I wanted to share are Definite Plus and Showering Stars. Both quilts can be made large with Jelly Rolls or smaller with Honey Buns. I recently made Definite Plus in Abby Rose and I'm hoping I can get to longarming it on Saturday. That's still working with Jelly Rolls, right? Equalizer is another pattern that works with Layer Cakes or a Jelly Roll and has a clean modern look. Pair your prints with some solids to create that gradated look to lighter color to create the feeling of movement. Whatever you pick for your project for the day, I hope you have fun sewing!
Showering Stars by Robin Pickens Quilt Pattern
Definite Plus Quilt from Robin Pickens Jelly Roll quilt pattern
Equalizer Quilt from Robin Pickens Jelly Roll Quilt Pattern
Picture
1 Comment

Coming Together from Lissa Alexander for Moda Blockheads3

9/9/2020

1 Comment

 
Coming Together block Color Studies for Moda Blockheads
Coming Together by Lissa Alexander is a lovely play on Xs and pluses. I played a little with color, two tone color or no color in the center and one color or shades of color moving around on the X sides. For my layout, I'll be putting this to the lighter end of my blue row so I did the white X and kept my color in the background and center plus.
Coming Together block from Lissa Alexander in Solana fabrics
I used my tonal white on cream sunflower seeds for the white X and some of the blue coordinates for the background and center plus. For the Thatched version I used cream and the blue Horizon and Pond blues from the Solana line too.
Coming Together block from Lissa Alexander in Solana fabrics
For the block pattern, visit Lissa's blog and it will be posted in the Moda Blockheads group on Friday and in the Moda archives. Happy sewing!
Modalissa blog
1 Comment

Sewcialites for little bits of big fun!

9/6/2020

4 Comments

 
I am really excited to be a part of the Sewcialites Quilt Along being given by the Fat Quarter Shop! The sew along officially starts on Friday, September 25th, 2020 and goes until Friday June 25th, 2021. A new block from a group of 18 designers will be released by the Fat Quarter Shop each Friday!
Sewcialites
This is a peek at my first block, Devoted, done up in my Thatched basics in gray Heather. There are three sizes of blocks for Sewcialites- 3", 6" or 9" sizes. You can pick whatever size you like. I have never made a sampler quilt with only 3" blocks and I thought this would make a really charming wall quilt so I decided to go for the smallest block size!
Devoted 3
This is a close up with a quarter so you can get a sense of the scale. I must admit that making these little blocks is rather addictive! I did not know that I would enjoy making the little pieces so much. It is really satisfying to use up some of my smaller scraps (because I have a hard time throwing away fabric scraps) AND the small size is a really nice little project to add in to the beginning or end of my day.
Sewcialites plan from Robin Pickens using Thatched in grays with color pops
The Fat Quarter Shop created a layout for the blocks with a center section and corners made from the blocks. There are large half square triangles that surround the center squares and I decided to flip my big HST to make more of a diamond setting for the blocks. I'll be using either a light gray OR I might try some low volume neutral prints in there.  As you can see from my plan, I'll be making my blocks with white (cream Thatched) and two shades of gray. For three of the blocks (one of them- the flower- is my block!) I am highlighting them with color. Flowers, sewing machines and love...well, that deserves a little added notice!
FQS Sewcialites in Thatched grays
Since I will be using all Thatched basics from Moda, I know one thing I can do to add subtle variation is to flip the fabric and also use the backsides. The back side has a more chambray-like look and I can get some lighter shades that blend beautifully with the thatched colors on the front. I've picked Heather and Pebble for the colors and haven't decided yet on the colored squares, although sprig, chartreuse and tangerine might be the flower and turquoise or peacock for the sewing machine.
Sewcialites Quilt Along using Thatched Grays in 3
I hope you will join along since sewing together creates such nice community, especially in times where we are more separated at home. A couple places to check in on a weekly basis on Fridays are the Fat Quarter Shop blog and LANDING PAGE (and this landing page has specs on how much fabric you should have and lots of information) and their youtube channel. There is also a facebook group called the Sewcialites Lounge and I just joined in. I will be posting my progress each week there and on instagram. Speaking of instagram, share your progress there using the hashtag #sewcialitesQAL and you will have a chance to win some prizes each month from sponsors like Moda Fabrics, Aurifil, Martingale Publishing, Creative Grids and more! 
Robin Pickens Devoted block for FQS Sewcialites
See you on Fridays for a little sewing along!! Thanks Fat Quarter Shop for including me in this lovely project!
Sewcialites Quilt Along from Fat Quarter Shop
4 Comments

Fulfillment from Lisa Bongean for Moda Blockheads

9/2/2020

2 Comments

 
Fulfillment block Color Study
When you have a lot of half square triangles, there is opportunity to play within the angles to show shapes within shapes. I did some background colors that defined the quadrants of the block and also highlighted the white triangles to create diamonds, corners, and compass points. Try squinting to see the shapes more clearly. I also tried making a lighter center with radiating light going out. Also, how about that cute little star in the center? On a few a made them accent colors or warm tan color and others just left them full white. 
Fulfillment block from Lisa Bongean for Moda Blockheads
My Thatched block uses a light purple version that is from the Sweet Pea & Lily group. And that is also the group I used for my scrappy block, with a little flower in the middle! I made the 8" size and was really pleased with the little half square triangles. 
Lisa Bongean's Fulfillment block for Moda Blockheads
Hope you are finding your own fulfillment from this journey! Thank you Lisa Bongean for this rich and beautiful block design. Be sure to check out her blog at https://lisabongean.com/2020/09/02/moda-block-heads-3-block-34-fulfillment/ Happy sewing everyone!
2 Comments
    Picture

    About ROBIN

    Designer of colorful florals for Moda fabrics. Modern to transitional quilt designer. Illustrator, sewist, crafter.

    RSS Feed

    I am proud to be a designer for Moda Fabrics!
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Picture
    Picture

    Shop Robin's Designs

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Follow
    American Patchwork Quilting Pat Sloan interview Robin Pickens
    Check the March 6, 2017 Episode!

    Categories

    All
    100 Blocks
    31 Day Blogging Challenge
    Abby Rose
    Art Licensing
    Art Products
    Backslash
    Blockstep Quilt
    Blushing Peonies Fabric
    Bountiful Sew Along
    Business Tips
    Calendars
    Calendar Tea Towel
    Carolina Lilies
    Charm Pack Quilts
    Christmas
    Coloring Books
    Color Play Quilts
    Color Studies
    Composition Book Cover
    Cottage Bleu
    Cottage Blue
    Creative Grids Rulers
    Criss Cross Kisses
    Curated Quilts Mini
    Curved Block Quilts
    Dandi Annie
    Dandi-Annie
    Dear Mum Fabrics
    Deco Garden
    Definite Plus
    Emilia Quilt
    English Paper Piecing
    Etsy
    Etsy Color And Quilt Shop
    Fabric
    Fair And Square Quilt
    Fat Eighth Patterns
    Fat Quarter Quilts
    FREE Quilt Block Patterns
    Fringe Quilt
    Fruit Veggie Art
    Full Bloom Quilt Block
    Giftware & Home Decor
    Giveaway
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Hopscotch Happy
    Joy And Delight Quilt
    Kinship Fusion Sampler
    Kyoto Steps
    Layer Cake Quilts
    Martingale Publishing
    Mini Quilts
    Moda Blockheads 2
    Moda Blockheads 3
    Moda Blockheads 4
    Moda Designers
    Moda Fabric
    #ModaStitchPink
    Mod Flower Box
    Nutcracker
    Organization
    Painted Meadow
    Pansy's Posies
    Pattern Play
    Poppy Mae Fabric
    Positively Bohemian
    Press
    Project Jelly Roll
    Quilt Books
    Quilt Borders
    Quilting
    Quilt Magazines
    Quilt Market
    Quilt Patterns
    Quilt Patterns Other Fabrics
    Quilt Samplers
    Quilt Settings
    Quilt Shows And Festivals
    Redbubble
    Ring Around The Posies
    Robin Pickens Inc Etsy
    Robin Pickens Shop For Quilt Patterns
    Rulers/templates
    Sampler Spree
    Seize The Day
    Seize The Day Calendars
    Sew Alongs
    Sewcialites
    Sewing Rooms
    SFWeeklyDesigns
    Shipshewana
    SHOPIFY
    #ShowMeTheModa
    Simple Solstice Quilt
    Sliding Shoji Screens
    Solana Sunflower Fabric
    Splendid Fabric
    Spoonflower
    Stickers
    Stitch Pink
    Sugar Skulls
    Sweet Pea & Lily
    Table Runner
    Table Topper
    Tea Towels
    Thatched
    Thatched Basics
    Tokyo Terrace
    Totes
    Towards The Sun
    Town Square Garden
    Trade Shows
    T Shirts And Giftware
    T-shirts And Giftware
    Tulip Tango
    Tutorials
    Village Quilt
    Watercolor Painting
    Wild Blossoms Fabric
    Workshops And Lectures

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    October 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    May 2012
    December 2011

    © Robin Pickens Inc. All rights reserved. No images may be reproduced without permission.
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • SHOP
  • Errata
  • About/Info
  • Pub./Press
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • COLOR STUDIES
  • PATTERN PLAY