Happy Blockheads Wednesday! I squeezed a few flying geese in here or there while I was doing other sewing this week. I love the balance and movement in this Crossroads block from Betsy Chutchian. You can get the pattern by visiting her blog here:

This week I am playing with ORANGES and it is such a lively color. Orange and purple, orange and green, orange and yellow, orange and pink...these are all ways I love to see orange pair up with other colors. I've used a mix of Abby Rose and Dandi Annie and Thatched on my mixed print block. Before I show more pictures of those, would you like to see some COLOR PLAY with this block design?

I liked the idea of the flying geese changing color as they moved closer to the square in the center. The top two image have darker geese on the outer perimeter with colors getting lighter as they march towards the center. The one on the left also mimics the dark to light movement with the triangles in the corners of the geese units as well, with a very dark background moving to a dark to medium pinks for the geese backgrounds. On the row right under that, its fun to see how the large corner blocks all becoming that same dark background makes the outer geese look like horns blowing out in all four directions. My next one was just color play to see the blocks in all different colors. Then on the bottom row I tried mixed colors within the geese, keeping my rows in a more pinky horizontal row and more purple vertical row, with a pop of orange for the center. The white large squares keeps all the focus on those flying geese rows. The very last image feels like 3 vertical columns with orange, red and gold reading in a stronger vertically banded composition.

Since my overall quilt plan is to go from darker blocks on the left to lighter blocks on the right, I thought I would  borrrow from this last color study idea. My Thatched-only block has the Tangerine color to the left large squares and I'm envisioning the light movement by making my right squares the lighter Apricot color. I think I'm going to have to fix that seam on the left or replace that upper left block to give myself a better seam allowance when I join these together. But that is for another day... 

I also used the idea of the dark perimeter geese moving into the lighter/more yellow colors as we get to the center. I feel like it is pointing to the sunshine!

On another note, I'll be sharing a new fabric line coming in a few weeks! I'm busy sewing and so excited to share so I hope you check back in. Till next week, happy sewing everyone!
​Robin

Kyoto Steps quilt pattern was launched with Painted Meadow fabric and we were just cutting some more kits in the studio last week. My kits do use the coneflowers and bees in the Painted Meadow fabrics and are available in both Twin and Lap size in the red and blue/green colorways. I did a little video to show my Kyoto Steps quilts on my youtube channel. I hope you will check out other videos on my channel!

I've included information under each image to list the Abby Rose fabrics used in the mockup. I've listed the name, color and SKU number in case you want to order fabric from your local shops. The first mockups play with orange and pink and pink and green colors. Pretty, springy quilts in light and sweet colors.

How would it look to use a background with more color and with dark shades? I tried Thatched in Cranberry and Burgundy to offset a pink and orange mix and I love the deeper feeling of these.

Greens and Blues? Abby Rose has a soft seafoam blue that mixes nicely with the fresh green. The darker blue is called Night in Abby Rose and is the same Thatched color as Marine 89. I like the crisp feeling of this darker blue against the cream background. I also like using the lighter seafoam blues with Night as a background.

If you are looking for kits using Painted Meadow, visit my shop at www.robinpickensinc.com. You can also see more details of the Painted Meadow quilts on my youtube channel. For Abby Rose, check with your local quilt shops and have a great time sewing!

 Hello and happy Wednesday! I hope you are all having a good time sewing with Moda Blockheads. I know for me, the sewing has been a really therapeutic time of my day with all that is going on. The hum of the machine, the focus on creating something, the calming energy of sewing and quilting...these have been a needed thing lately. Therefore I am especially happy to be providing a NEW BLOCK this week!

UPDATE: I apologize that we've had an issue with connecting with the server for the pattern. Its back up now! Click the link in the gray box to get it from Moda. OR I've uploaded a PDF directly to my site and that is the BLUE "DOWNLOAD FILE" directly below this paragraph. I'm sorry for any problems you've had with getting the pattern  (and keep reading for some color ideas):

Meet BLOOMING LOVE. This block can be done in so many ways. We just had Saint Patrick's Day and couldn't you see this as a four leaf clover? Or a simple pinwheel? This block was born from my Picket quilt and the 18" block I designed "Full Bloom."  I had a great time using the simple stitch and flip corners to make the picket fence or pointed ends to the sections. More info about stitch and flip is below. But for now, lets talk about how you can play with the block.

Half square triangles point to the center of the block with stitch and flip pointed ends extending from each one. A square is in each corner. These are some studies of how the block could look with different color play. For my block I was sewing I wanted to separate one section with a darker red to emphasize the heart within the pieces. I enjoy how it can look like both a flower and a heart, thus the name Blooming Love. Or what if you had two hearts, reflecting each other? In my mind, I originally thought of the pieces showing slight variations of color, either in scrappy mixes or light and dark hues. In the second row above, the 4 hearts meet at their points. Or, If you keep one side of the heart as a solid color and break the other side into two colors, and repeat and rotate that arrangement, it makes a pinwheel. The first two images on the third row show a gradation of colors that move around a wheel from light to dark. This could be really fun to try with some ombre fabrics. In fact, I'm updating this post to add some new pictures of one that I DID try with Ombre Confetti just today (Wednesday)! I made this one in the smaller, 6" size and used Thatched Burgundy for the background. On the last row you can see how it looks if you play with the corner blocks too or create some optical illusion with white center sides and dark corners.

If you haven't made stitch and flip blocks before, its pretty easy. A smaller square is added on a corner (right sides together) with a line drawn corner to corner, diagonally. Sew on that line. I sometimes just do a finger-press to crease the line into the fabric vs drawing it. After sewing, trim the corner off. I like to save those corners if they are big enough to use as half square triangles on other projects. If I'm saving them I will sew an additional seam 1/2" away from the first one (parallel the first seam), and then cut the corner off, leaving me with my little extra HSTs, already sewn. Since I'm making the 8" blocks for this project, the small stitch and flip corners are too little for me to make those extra blocks. I just throw the cut corners away or put them into my fabric cuttings that get donated for pet beds. 

After cutting the corner off, make sure you press the flipped corner open before adding the other corner, just as you would when making flying geese. I've forgotten and had to rip out the top part before. ​

For the half square triangles in the center part of this block (the D pieces on the instructions) I increase the measurement 1/8th of an inch over what the directions say so my blocks are a little bigger when I make them, then I trim up my blocks. I like to use Bloc-Loc rulers to trim my half square triangles.  I press the seam of my half square triangle to the dark side. Then the Bloc-Loc ruler ridge nestles up to the seam when you have the logo on the light side of the fabric. The ridge in the ruler helps it stay in place and aligned for you to trim the block. 

You also might need to trim up corners on the stitch and flip pieces. Any ruler works fine for this. After trimming all the pieces up you can join into rows, then join the rows and TA DA...your Blooming Love block is ready to share some cheer!

If you've been following me these weeks, you have seen I've been making my blocks in both all Thatched fabrics for a more modern, solid look, and in Thatched mixed with scrappier mixes of fabrics. I've used fabrics from Abby Rose on this one to bring in my pink tones. 

Here is the Picket quilt that was my original inspiration! It was lots of fun to design!

Thanks so much for the community and the energy of sewing along! I hope you have a great time with this block! Visit the other Moda designers to see their approach to this block:
Corey Yoder - https://corianderquilts.com/
Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
Betsy Chutchian - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Jan Patek - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
Brigitte Heitland - https://www.brigitteheitland.de/blog
Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/
Laurie Simpson - http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
Vanessa Goertzen - https://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/
Stacy Iest Hsu - https://www.stacyiesthsu.com/blog/
(Me) Robin Pickens - https://www.robinpickens.com/
Janet Clare - http://janetclare.co.uk/blog/
Jen Kingwell - www.jenkingwelldesigns.com/blog
Joanna Figueroa - https://blog.figtreeandcompany.com/

Thanks so much and happy sewing!
​Robin

The Taos pattern by Vannesa Goertzen can be found on her blog at https://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/   It is a fun mix of half square triangles and blocks, with a nice patchwork center that can emphasize the structure or provide a strong chained diagonal through the block.

Instead of using all squares in the center, I decided to eliminate a few seams and use some rectangles in the square perimeter within the center. That is one of the things I like about this design. You can do a diagonal line of squares going through the center or play with the lights and darks to make other shapes within the patchwork. I decided I wanted a dark green Pine Thatched square to really emphasize that center. 

Don't you love that green Aurifil thread? I love that color of green! It is Aurifil's Light Leaf Green #1147 in Mako 50 weight. And it blends so well with my scrappy/Abby Rose version of the block. I've combined Thatched Chartreuse and Peacock with a small Pine corner square on the inner perimeter with Abby Rose fabrics in green. 

I think if I were choosing fabrics again, I might select something that separates that inner square perimeter more. I used some of the leaves from the roses and the colors are good but I'd like it to have a little more consistency to the overall print. However, I'm very happy with the "tin leaves" on the outer corner and having my little simple bee friend from Painted Meadow on the most center squares. 

I think its interesting to notice how the block looks different with the darker green to the inside of the half square triangles vs the outside (like the all-Thatched version).

I hope you are having fun with this Taos block and doing your own experimenting with the blocks, squares and half square triangles!

Happy Wednesday and Moda Blockheads day!! Laurie Simpson gave us the pattern to a lovely 9 Patch block this week! Check out Laurie's blog post for the pattern or check back with the facebook group on Friday for the pattern.  http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/2020/03/blockheads-3-week-8.html

Since the original pattern was for a 6" or 12" block I made an alteration so mine would fit with my other 8" blocks. For the Abby Rose scrappy version of my block, I made the nine patch in the 6" size and then added a 1" border around the block (1 1/2" cut pieces to make 1" finished size when sewn with other blocks). I wanted to continue the look for the darker squares creating an "x" shape so I finished the corners on the outside border with pink squares. 

If you want to add a border like this, I used the 6" Nine Patch block and added (4) 1 1/2" squares in each corner with (4) 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles, with one to each side of the block.

I love putting the little rose bud in the center of this tiny block. The little leaves, curving lines and rose bud are all from my Abby Rose collection which should be shipping the middle of this month!! The burgundy oval squares are from my Painted Meadow collection.

For the all-Thatched version I made the corners with tiny blocks, the same size as the 4 squares surrounding the center piece. For each of my four outer corners, I assembled (4) 1" squares so they will be 1/2" finished size. I used the same 1 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles I specified above for the outer sides. I like how the little outer squares will mimic those inner squares. They seem so cute! I showed the scale with the thimble below for these squares in the center.

I like to see how the simple block made up with just Thatched looks compared to the one with the Abby Rose fabrics. The Abby Rose material with soft flowing curved lines added into the top, bottom and side squares makes a subtle plus sign within the block. I'm feeling some rosy love for this block this week!

Do you have a feeling of ZEST or a ZESTFUL approach to life? What is zest? I found this in Wikipedia, with Zest described in positive psychology: "Zest is a positive trait reflecting a person's approach to life with anticipation, energy, enthusiasm and excitement." (Peterson, C.; Park, N.; Hall, N.; Seligman, M. E. P. (2009). "Zest and work". Journal of Organizational Behavior. 30 (2): 161–172). That sounds pretty great to me!

How perfect to have a heart to describe this feeling of excitement, energy and positive attitude! I liked the simplicity of this block and thought it would be perfect to add a little patchwork mix of colors into the shape. With Thatched basics I used crimson, fuschia, tangerine, rose and one of the pinks from Abby Rose in 2 1/2" squares (2" finished size). I made the patchwork sides, then added the stitch and flip corners, then joined them together.

The scrappy version has the same Thatched crimson, fuschia, and rose fabrics plus cranberry. I wanted one of the darker shades to offset the dark red in the houndstooth check. And I loved putting in some of this Bonnie and Camille measuring tape fabric. What a fun way to "measure my love" of sewing! The curving lines in the background corner pieces is one of the coordinates of Abby Rose. 

Between Brigitte's (zen chic) LOVE block and this ZEST heart, I'm really feeling the the warmth of good feelings lately!

You can get the pattern from Lissa Alexander at  http://modalissa.com/2020/02/blockheads-zest.html/ . She also has some sweet pictures of little combinations of the block plus plans for a heart within a heart block. Its precious! Oh, yes, also Lissa is doing a giveaway on her blog so check it out!
​
Visit other Moda Blockheads designers for their take on this week's block!
1.15 - Corey Yoder - https://corianderquilts.com/
1.22 - Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
1.29 - Betsy Chutchian - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
2.5 - Jan Patek - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
2.12 - Brigitte Heitland - https://www.brigitteheitland.de/blog
2.19 - Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
2.26 - Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/
3.4 - Laurie Simpson - http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
3.11 - Vanessa Goertzen - https://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/
3.18 - Stacy Iest Hsu - https://www.stacyiesthsu.com/blog/
3.25 - Robin Pickens - https://www.robinpickens.com/
4.1 - Janet Clare - http://janetclare.co.uk/blog/
4.8 - Jen Kingwell - www.jenkingwelldesigns.com/blog
4.15 - Joanna Figueroa - https://blog.figtreeandcompany.com/
​

Jenelle Kent has a charming new book out with Martingale, Farmhouse Fresh. The projects are absolutely lovely! They use 16" wide toweling, which Jenelle has with Moda Fabrics.

This Rock Pool Toweling in the seafoam color is such a fun combination with Abby Rose! The modern farmhouse look of the toweling works so well with the cabbage roses and pink, green, orange and seafoam colors in Abby Rose.

The ends are made with patchwork squares that add such a nice mixture of colors. My friend Susan, the Felted Pear (@thefeltedpear on IG), had the lovely idea to add some applique and a label and I think it is such a nice touch! Jenelle has numerous applique projects in the book and her needle-turn work looks so good on the toweling. I usually do fusible raw edge applique and I think that works well on this fabric as well.

This cover ends up being a perfect size for my Juki TL2200 sewing machine! Its my main piecing machine so its always out and definitely deserves a pretty cover.

I also like the way this side patchwork looks from the end of my work space.

If you are interested in winning a digital copy of Farmhouse Fresh by Jenelle Kent, head over to my instagram feed and enter! I'll be drawing a winner from people who follow me @robinpickens, Jenelle @piecestotreasure and Martingale @martingaletpp on Instagram and enter on my IG sweepstakes post in my feed. Jenelle will notify winners on February 25th of the IG book tour!

Other IG posting peeps to check out for the IG book tour:
@piecestotreasure
@martingaletpp
@modalissa
@gailpandesigns
@robinpickens
@quiltedmoose
@karenatsomerset
@janeteclare
@helen_stubbings
@debbie_maddy
@justcarrieintexas
@corianderquilts  

​Happy sewing!!

Week 2 with Moda Blockheads 3 and its a fun block from Sherri McConnell! This is SUNSHINE STAR and I'm continuing my all-Thatched and Thatched-scrappy prints blocks. Sherri will have the quilt block instructions at her blog: A Quilting Life - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/

This week I'm working with greens and teals. My Thatched colors are peacock, sprig, chartreuse and seafoam (seafoam is in Abby Rose). The pattern specifies cutting triangles and then joining them (one at a time HST method) but since I was making two blocks and keeping my colors the same through numerous pieces, I decided to use a 4-at-a-time method. I used 3 HST in a color in a quarter of the block then used the extra fourth HST in the second block, making my center a copy of the Thatched grouping from the other block.

For my block mixed with prints I've got a few from Abby Rose which ships to shops in March. The flowing lines in the background fabric, the little leaves on green and seafoam and the line drawings from the cabbage roses are all from this new collection. The teal graphic leaves are from Dear Mum and I like how the teal/aqua shades from that group work with Abby Rose.

Thanks to Sherri for such a cheery star block! I love star blocks. Next week we will have a block from Betsy Chutchian.

Thanks for stopping by! Check in with the other Moda Blockheads designers to see their versions of Sunshine Star:
​Corey Yoder - https://corianderquilts.com/
Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
Betsy Chutchian - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Jan Patek - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
Brigitte Heitland - https://www.brigitteheitland.de/blog
Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/
Laurie Simpson - http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/
Vanessa Goertzen - https://lellaboutique.blogspot.com/
Stacy Iest Hsu - https://www.stacyiesthsu.com/blog/
Janet Clare - http://janetclare.co.uk/blog/
Jen Kingwell - www.jenkingwelldesigns.com/blog
Joanna Figueroa - https://blog.figtreeandcompany.com/

Well, at least I'm hoping it is! We are a few days into 2020 and I am not a huge one for making resolutions but I am big on setting some goals when New Years time rolls around. It is a logical starting place for reviewing and resetting and planning what I want to accomplish in the coming year. Wait, that sounds kind of like a resolution, doesn't it? Ah, but for the reviewing...

When I look back at 2019, I've got to admit it was a good year for me. Perhaps one of the biggest things that happened is I had two surgeries to have hip replacements. One in January and one in June. I had no cartilage left at either hip, being bone-on-bone. I couldn't stand up straight and walking was getting unbearable. It is a gradual change, accompanied by a lot of denial, that happens with arthritis. It is hereditary for me so I was very familiar with seeing my mother and sister go through it. But it is still scary to face surgery and change yourself. 

See that hip with the bone smashed up against it? (pic on the left) That is the NO cartilage pic. There were lots of bone spurs. Ouch. And lots of arthritis. More ouch. The pic on the right shows my fabulous bionic hips now! It is hard to express exactly how life-altering or "giving my life back to me" this has been.

As a quilter, before the replacements, I couldn't stand much to even cut fabric at my cutting table. It was hard to manage a suitcase and getting through an airport to go to Quilt Market. My dear husband came to spring market to manage the bags and put up my quilts in my booth. I would not accept offers to travel to teach- it was just too painful. I didn't even want to walk through a grocery store. I had planned to go to Quiltcon as an attendee in February, thinking I'd be better after the first hip, but I had to cancel when I didn't have travel clearance from my doctor yet. After both surgeries and physical therapy, I was thrilled to go to Quilt Market in the fall and be able to STAND STRAIGHT and walk like a normal person. I even danced at the Moda Fabrics customer appreciation party! I feel so fortunate to live in a time where we have the knowledge, experience and ability to improve our lives through medicine and surgery this way. It is hard to fully express how much this has improved my life.

If 2019 was the year of me getting my hips (and life) back, then 2020 needs to be about continued learning about joints and what types of daily behaviors, diets, and practices can help to extend the life of the rest of the cartilage in my body. After eating WHATEVER I wanted, WHENEVER I wanted, over the holidays (which was everything, all the time) I'm back to more structure, eating better and moving/walking more.

2019 was also a fun year for fabric for me, with more blooming color in the house! Painted Meadow debuted at the Spring Market in Kansas City, Thatched was released over the summer, and Abby Rose was my fall Market colletion (for release in early 2020). I haven't shown much of Abby Rose here but will do it in the next couple of posts! I'm very excited for Thatched since I can blend the colors of the basics line into new collections or just go for quilts that are color studies based on the slightly textural solids. 

In 2019 I played along/sewed along in three online sew alongs- 100 Blocks 100 Days presented by Gnome Angel and Skyberries, Bowtie Flower Quilt with Quilters Candy, and Moda Blockheads 2. I attempted to do the Meadowland Quilt sew along from Then Came June but I didn't get too far. She's doing it again this year so maybe I can jump in and try to make some progress on that WIP.

Speaking of SEW ALONGS... in just 11 days MODA BLOCKHEADS 3 starts! Come join the facebook group and get a link on Wednesdays to the blog of the weekly designer, or check out the Moda Cutting Table blog at https://my.modafabrics.com/tags/blockheads on Fridays. One block a week, lots of community, lots of fun. I'm a designer contributing 3 block designs this year so I'm extra excited!

That's all the 2019 big stuff I can think of now. Stay tuned as I'm sure more will pop into my head! 
Happy 2020 and hoping you have lots of sewing fun in the year ahead.