It is my week for the Moda Blockheads quilt block and I am feeling a little sentimental that this is all wrapping up soon. I have had such a good time! Last year I sewed the sampler but was not one of the block designers. This year, the excitement of sharing blocks I've envisioned has been a highlight to my months. The connection through online communities and sewing has been more important than ever with the changes we have all been going thorough with quarantines and working from home. In weeks that have blurred into other weeks, one thing has been steady...the fun and creativity of Wednesday block releases for Moda Blockheads. Thank you all for being a part of this quilt journey and community! I hope you are excited with your evolving quilts. And for this week's addition, block 53 is "Bear Cubs Round the Campfire." I've been enjoying some projects with Bear Paw blocks and liked the idea of a simpler corner with a small paw. With all four corners surrounding a center block, it felt like smaller bears, or little bear cubs, sitting around the fire pit or campfire. I have actually been camping when a big, tall bear came into our campsite. He/she smelled the food cooking and we banged the pots and pans to scare the bear away. For this quilt block, I envision these bears to be smaller and so much more friendly! I took the opportunity to put my little farmhouse from Solana into the center square on my print version. Greens with a little pop of blue is my theme and the farmhouse is warmed up with some happy sunflowers. For my all-Thatched version, I've got greens from Painted Meadow, Solana and Abby Rose, along with the original basics Pine and Chartreuse. I used the flip side of the Solana light green to get the lightest outer shades. Speaking of Thatched...I recently announced that Moda is releasing another 25 colors into the basics line! It will be shipping either this month or February. I am thrilled to have more colors to play with and can't wait to experiment with more color combinations. Check back to my blog in the next few days because I will be releasing a NEW FREE mini quilt pattern that uses a Mini Charm. I'll have it as a download on my blog. I've got it shown in the new Thatched colors and I am loving the spicy warm colors and new periwinkle/cornflower blues. But lets get on to the COLOR STUDIES! And of course the pattern and then, please enter to win a layer cake of SOLANA (enter on the Facebook Moda Blockheads page on my announcement post with the picture of my sewn blocks). The pattern is here - just click the gray bar right below this paragraph. But to see mockups and learn more about the GIVEAWAY, keep reading... When first planning this block, I had a red center square for the "fire" but as I played with it and realized it was going to live in my green row of the quilt, I switched out center colors and added more subtle bands of color in the middle of the sides. I also liked looking at this with warm colors on a dark background, and again tried those bands in a different value of the lighter brown. ![]() Next I tried emphasizing the squares in the middle, either through light and dark or a highlighted color. On the last one I dropped out the corners on the inner box so it reads like a big chunky plus sign. The facets of cut glass? 70's supergraphics? More continuation of color from piece to piece and the illusions of lines turning corners. It is exciting that this doesn't resemble a bear paw any more. ![]() And finally, a little rainbow love with a color wheel of color showing up in those corners. I like these as a pair with the light and the dark background. So of course I had to stay up late and make these! I didn't have good enough light to photograph last night so I added these to the post later. I did these as 12" blocks (my green ones are 8") and I think that adding some extra borders would increase the size to nice pillow covers. I've used some of the new Thatched colors in these. The background below is so fun to try out! It is called Chalkboard Scribbles and is basically the reverse of Heather from the first group (grey lines on white). There is a crisper white on white called Blizzard and deep and dramatic tonal Soft Black. Thank you for all your lovely comments about the color studies over the weeks! I have greatly enjoyed doing them and sharing the mockups. GIVEAWAY INFO: I'll be drawing a person to win a Layer Cake of SOLANA fabric. Please enter by commenting on my post in the Moda Blockheads FACEBOOK group (my post with the photo of these green blocks, not the color study one) and tell me what flowers you would like to see me do on a future fabric collection. I'll be picking a winner next Tuesday the 19th. Thank you all for sewing along and may 2021 bring health and happiness to everyone!
51 Comments
Deborah
1/13/2021 04:00:49 am
I would love to see Camellias.
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Pam Newman
1/13/2021 04:12:10 am
I can’t decide which of your lines I love best!
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JANINE T KREIKEMEIER
1/13/2021 04:29:09 am
Beautiful!
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Rebecca
1/13/2021 04:50:13 am
I would say poppies, but you’ve done that already beautifully. I love calla lillies. I’ve seen pink, green, and white. But you could bring them to life with any color!
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Wendy Clark
1/13/2021 05:17:56 am
I would love a field of pansies. And on another note....I love your Thatched fabrics. Gorgeous. Thank you for all your designs in MBH3 and color studies...loved them. Blessings, Wendy
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Debbie
1/13/2021 05:18:50 am
Beautiful I like green and blue together
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Linda Lomelin
1/13/2021 06:11:02 am
I will be sad when we get to finish the last block. I look forward to these blocks each Wednesday. Seems like we just got started, not like we are almost finished. Thank you and hugs for being our group leader and cheer leader!
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Rhonda LaLonde
1/13/2021 06:40:27 am
I love the sunflowers. I would like to see sweet peas or daisies. I am new to quilting, nice to see your colour ideas.
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Margaret Handlin
1/13/2021 06:41:28 am
What a cute block, I think my favorite is the black/green and grey.. Thank you for the block.
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Pat Hruska
1/13/2021 07:05:07 am
I love this block! Even though I've been a long time sewer and quite a while quilter, I'm STILL learning new/better techniques by doing Blockhead 3! Thanks to all those who designed them for us!
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Judith Osborn
1/13/2021 07:35:40 am
Have you considered cactus flowers as your next floral study?
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Linda Helzer
1/13/2021 07:37:45 am
Thank you, Robin Pickens for your wonderful color ways and blocks! What an experience Blockheads has been for me seeing all the creativity of designers! Will it continue to Blockheads Four?
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Sharon Cirillo
1/13/2021 07:44:50 am
I would love to see Geraniums
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Deb Thompson
1/13/2021 07:51:11 am
I would love to see sunflowers/daisies
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Kelly Bassett
1/13/2021 07:56:36 am
Beautiful. I would like to see wild flowers, popies, forgetmeknots, and daisys. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work and ideas.
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Laura Jacobs
1/13/2021 08:11:01 am
There are so many wonderful flowers it’s hard to pick! I love daisies & Black-eyed Susan, & here in the Pacific Northwest Rhodes & azaleas bloom in a wide variety of color for many months. I have really enjoyed your different color ways for each block.
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Maryln Nelson
1/13/2021 08:34:21 am
Daisy's, my favorite
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Tammie Smith
1/13/2021 08:41:28 am
I absolutely love Solana! I've already made a quilt with it. But winning this layer cake would give me another opportunity to use it.
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Katherine Morvay
1/13/2021 12:21:06 pm
Your "Solana" line is beautiful! I enjoy your color studies, too. What about roses or peonies for your next design?
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Marie
1/13/2021 12:48:10 pm
I would like some irises
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Kathleen Dalecio
1/13/2021 01:26:53 pm
My favorite flowers are Tulips. Crocus and Daffodils rank high with me and my sister too. We grew up where there are REAL winters. I think we favor these bulbs because they sprouted through the snow to let us know that Spring.was on its way!
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Carolyn Moss
1/13/2021 01:38:35 pm
Lilies would be really fun and come in a super array of colors. Love your color play! So many ideas and much talent that you have generously shared with us. Thank you!
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DIANE JOHNSON
1/13/2021 01:48:50 pm
Great fabrics and block patterns
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Elizabeth A Schraeder
1/13/2021 03:02:26 pm
I love this block, and your color studies help me to envision it in my color choices. I'm not doing all of the blocks, just choosing a few to make into a quilt and I think I'm going to use your Bear Cubs around the Campfire to make a lap/throw size.
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Susan Bray
1/13/2021 03:04:38 pm
I have the Solano fabric line. At least quite a few of them. Am just now beginning to create a quiet with this line. I love it so much. I also love the Thatched line.
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Cat McKenzie
1/13/2021 03:35:06 pm
I love your Solano line and your color studies are one of my favorite parts of Wednesday. I would love to see some magnolias in the future. I can't wait to get to order some of the Thatched fabric, such lovely colors. Thanks for all your work on Blockheads
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SusN Rothbauer
1/13/2021 05:28:09 pm
I love ALL the colorways you made! This block is one of my favorites 😍
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France courteau
1/13/2021 06:03:39 pm
Himalayan blue poppies.
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Nancy Smith
1/13/2021 06:11:13 pm
After seeing the new Thatched colors, I'm seeing Bluebonnets. Those blues are perfect.
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Mary Mairs
1/14/2021 05:55:38 am
It is so hard to choose just one. I love the warm tones of the Oriental Poppies, the cool tones of Irises and the sensuous lines of Calla Lilies.
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1/14/2021 05:56:00 am
Thank you Robin and all the Moda designers for such a great journey this year. I have so enjoyed it and especially when I see all the color combinations that we can use to make our Blocks special.
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1/14/2021 07:27:53 am
I really love your block design! It's a keeper, for sure. The sunflowers and colors of your new line are beautiful!
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Susan R.
1/14/2021 08:29:31 am
Love this block and the colors are great! Thank you for sharing!
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Cari
1/14/2021 01:58:27 pm
Geraniums last the summer and in many colors,and I love their large leaves.
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1/15/2021 06:53:26 am
I have enjoyed making all the blocks for Moda BH 3. I always look at your color ways before I pick the colors for my blocks. I just wanted to thank you for all of your efforts.
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Dani
1/15/2021 09:55:22 pm
I would love to see Frauenschuh-Orchid.
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Shah
1/16/2021 12:59:39 am
Wonderful!
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james sturdivant
1/16/2021 06:07:45 am
Great Design, Have Loved the Bear Paw Pattern Since I was young.
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Susan B
1/16/2021 10:58:15 am
Sunflowers (Le tournesol in French) are my favorite flowers. They always turn to face the sun! Solana is an absolutely lovely collection.
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Kris
1/17/2021 04:48:52 pm
The bear paw is my favorite block. Love this block. Colors are great together. And love the little scene that was fussy cut. Great job.
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Nancy Speakman
1/17/2021 07:46:11 pm
I have enjoyed my Hibiscus blooms the last two summers. Your color combinations are like my Hibiscus blooming!
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Cynthia Sand
1/18/2021 03:14:44 pm
Pansies in Purple and lavenders .Ranunculus in yellow, peach and oranges. Love all of your fabric lines!!
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Rebecca Wilson
1/19/2021 03:51:47 am
Robin, I absolutely loved how you fussy cut that farmhouse out of the Solana collection. I also love the blue/turquoise and green colors in Solana. Please enter me in your giveaway and thank you for sharing your beautiful fabrics and ideas with us.
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Regina Harris
1/19/2021 06:44:15 am
I just love lupines and would love to see how they would look with your creative touch.
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Angie Quistad
1/20/2021 06:36:45 am
Did I miss the free table runner that she said was coming last week
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Barbie Kanta
3/9/2021 06:32:36 am
I have a question about the 4 time triangles in what size to cut them for the bear cubs around the campfire
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Tracy Mayer
6/15/2021 04:01:13 pm
That is lovely, I'm so glad I found your blog.
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6/15/2021 06:13:44 pm
Love all the colors in this Sampler!! I need to expand my quilting and try one of these! 💜💚💙🧡
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Donna Bosomworth
6/16/2021 05:27:40 am
Just discovered you and your designs and now I can’t get enough! Love cottage blue but have to say I’m excited to see Carolina Lillies and can’t wait for it to arrive later this year!
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About ROBINDesigner of colorful florals for Moda fabrics. Modern to transitional quilt designer. Illustrator, sewist, crafter. I am proud to be a designer for Moda Fabrics!
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