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Lucky for me I have a mom who sews and is willing to tackle a project when visiting. Little did she know when she arrived for my daughter's graduation that she'd be piecing a whole quilt too! But that is the beauty of Sliding Shoji Screens...you really can piece it in a weekend. Thanks Mom!!  Moda's Bella Solids of Amelia Apricot (9900-162) and Persimmon (9900-294) are mixed with Blushing Peonies in warm tones to make a summery quick and easy quilt. Mom wanted to try my new Juki sewing machine and I think they formed a good friendship. (And yes, when I'm working in my studio I just pile things up and drape fabric wherever- it's how I work)   My mom is smiling because finally the slave-driver (me) will let her have a break. She did good. This happy quilt top is off with a long-arm quilter now. Stay tuned for more pics when the grandma-special returns!
Sliding Shoji Screens is available at my etsy shop.
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Color play to visualize new quilts! I wanted to see how Hopscotch Happy might look with some Blushing Peonies fabric (This line will be shipping to stores November 2017). Since I'm still in my summery mode with bright and happy hot colors, I wanted to try the red and gray families of color ways and add a little more of the peonies in the pink/orange colors. For three of the blocks, I liked making the background color a soft apricot to warm it up more.  Too much charcoal gray can start to look like Halloween but a touch just adds contrast and sophistication. But what if you DO want a fun quilt that can look fall-like and transition into October and Halloween? A simple switch of background to black and my quilt now looks ready for cozy times in front of the fireplace and candy corn! Have fun playing with Hopscotch Happy! Available at my etsy shop.  Blockstep is a flexible quilt pattern that is great for precuts like layer cakes and jellyrolls or for using up assorted scraps that are at least 2 1/2" wide. The design is an interplay of chunky square outlines and splitting them and playing with those sides, or brackets, in rotation.  I first started playing with these geometric puzzle pieces when I was taking one of my first surface design classes at Otis College of Design. Repeats with rotation was part of the assignment. I printed out this pattern for some art on my kitchen wall, done in shades of olive green, khaki and some orange. I also have a red color-way print for the Christmas season to put on the wall. I also sell prints of this design at Art.com (under Robin Pickens and Geometric Abstract City Squares). It was my mother who commented that this would make an interesting quilt. I guess that suggestion hung in the back of my mind to finally come to life about 12 years later.  This is the first time I have played with floral prints within the blocks and brackets and I'm really loving the versatility of this framework. It's easily scaled up and down in size and you can simple add more rows either way to move up to a queen or king sized quilt.  One of my favorite experiments with this pattern was to step out into the borders with a square or block on each side. We don't always have to stay in the safe zone and out of the borders! When I had this dark version quilted by the long-arm quilter, Sally Corona of Corona Quiltworks (the white background version was long-arm quilted by Tanya Heldman of Free Range Quilter) she really worked with the geometric structure of the quilt with straight lines done in random spacing horizontally. Then Sally took one section of blocks lined up vertically and quilted them with vertical lines in lime green which add a wonderful contrast to the other gray threads. I love it!!  Step this way, turn that way, have some fun with Blockstep. The pattern will be shipping to stores in November 2017 with my Blushing Peonies fabric from Moda. I've also added these to my etsy shop!  What would Sliding Shoji Screens quilt pattern look like in a new line? I wanted to try it out with my Blushing Peonies prints that will be shipping from Moda Fabrics in November. Here is the original color version of the quilt done in the light version:  And here are two versions of the quilt in new colors and prints! For the first one I wanted to try a punch of citrus orange (this is Bella Solid 161 Amelia Orange). I made the smaller divider strips in Persimmon 294 to add some deeper contrast. I have ordered my fabric and can't wait to get started on this one! It feels so summery and happy to me!  Sliding Shoji Screens in pinks + orange This gray version evokes a calmer, more restful quilt with the pretty color pop of peachy peonies. I wanted to try more light and mid-tone grays and keep my contrast relatively low. I like the added in deep charcoal in the floral pinwheels pattern as my dark color. I don't think it overpowers the other patterns because there is still a lot of light gray in the floral motif.  Sliding Shoji Screens grays
 Blushing Peonies for Moda Fabrics by Robin Pickens My secret to a never ending garden? Blooming fabrics that never wilt! The botanical sketchbook continues with my new fabric line for Moda Fabrics. “Blushing Peonies” have bloomed in a dramatic and colorful fashion. I’m so excited to be able to share this new line that just showed at Quilt Market in St. Louis! When Moda sponsored the Fabric8 contest in 2015 they picked “botanical sketchbook” as the theme. I can’t think of anything lovelier to draw and explore than beautiful, colorful flowers. I’m so happy to keep the theme going and keep the color blooming. These peonies may be blushing, but they certainly are not bashful. I love the romance of peonies as they open. When I was younger, I would see the round bud balls in the garden with ants marching in frenzy on the surface. They were just as eager to see the flowers burst open with full soft petals. Breathtaking in a vase on the table. Colors so pink and pretty and lively with light. Don’t you just love the beauty?  I’m happy to say that the Blushing Peonies line will still coordinate with my Poppy Mae line so have fun mixing your floral favorites. This new group has a larger range of grays to play with along with a warm group that includes a punchy orange to go with the warm pinks. Some solids you may want to mix in with the Peonies are Moda’s Bella Solid Persimmon 294, Cameo 298, Bubble Gum 88, Pesto 233, Chartreuse 188 and Light Lime 100. For light backgrounds I use Eggshell 281 or White Bleached 98. I love love love Moda’s Bella Solid Charcoal 284 for a dark drama and some other lovely grays are Etching Slate 170 and Gray 83. Blushing Peonies will be shipping to Quilt Shops in November. Just in time to make that quilt to snuggle up under and to remember warm days and the sweet scent of pink and white blooms.  |
About ROBINDesigner of colorful florals for Moda fabrics. Modern to transitional quilt designer. Illustrator, sewist, crafter. 
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