happy flower qal - week 6

Ok.  So, as I pay attention to the original quilt block fabric placements, some have a very "scrappy", "make-it-do" quality, which is just soooo attractive in a vintage quilt and what some quilters find so appealing.  But quilting has evolved from a genuine make-do necessity to what we mostly do today, which is ... you know ... NOT that! (Just ask my credit card.)

Whether Atsuko deliberately chose mismatched fabrics to make her blocks ultra scrappy, or whether she was using original feedsacks and genuinely had to exercise the whole make-do approach, I find myself wanting to copy her.  This makes me laugh.  I kinda almost feel like a fraud, deliberately throwing in weird, arbitrary prints when I have more than enough of any given print to make the block "properly". 

But I think it's fun.  It's actually more work for me to try to make something look both wrong AND good at the same time!  LOL!  Oh this is just so silly.  And I love it.

That said, the jury is out for me on this block.  It definitely looks "wrong", but I'm not convinced that it looks "good".  I'll keep an eye on it.  It might blend in well enough as the quilt grows.  In the meantime, I loved putting the little umbrella bird - courtesy of Miss PamKittyMorning - in the middle. :)

Original Block #11

A little more embroidery this week with a two-toned stem.  Again, easy enough to make it a thicker one with fabric, if embroidery isn't your thing.  I think I should have stitched the second row closer, so they are touching.  But I'm pretty sure I'm not going to fix it.  I'm calling this one DONE!

Original Block #12

Comments

[Judith]

Just put a third row in the middle of your stem...easy fix! Love your blocks.

[Louise]

Your blocks are just perfect! I love your fabrics on block #11, especially the little bird with the umbrella. Your quilt will be beautiful!

[Rosemary]

The cherries block is super cute.
I also like the first block very much.
Very well done Kristyne

[Gsy Anne]

I love your blocks the fussy cut is really cute and your flower stem looks perfect to me xxx

[BillieBee]

What a sweet block.

[fannie jane]

I think you did a good job with your fabric choices. Everything seemed to work together well, and I love the scrappy look it has. I generally will pick and choose and, like many others, will purchase new fabric to go with what I have if needed. Rarely do I just use something just because I have it. Maybe this will be a good way of letting go and just kind of not overthinking. Of course I wouldn't put something that doesn't work at all, but I could definitely not be quite so picky! Oh, what a blessing it would be to use up some of this stash! Fun post, thanks! fannie jane

[Celia]

I am in heaven following this QAL and could literally sit here all day reading and enjoying your wonderful photos. Fabrics are lucious and applique/embroidery so beautifully done. Pieced block is busy and definitely scrappy- in my O, nails it. Keep up the good work and thank you for spreading pure joy to the desks of those with not enough time partake in our beloved hobby.

[BonnieLynn]

I've been a long time fan of yours. I've never commented before because everything has always been perfect. I see one thing that screams at me with the block #11. Since you did follow the sample pretty close, the two left triangle units are switched, top to bottom.. I think that is why the one with two yellow pieces draws your eye up away from the cute little bird.
Keep up the good work.

[Sara]

Two lovely blocks! If you decide not to keep the pieced one, can I have it? I think it's perfect! Really! The bird is sooo cute, too. It's my birthday Sunday, and I can't wait to see what my husband got me ... I gave him some hints (mostly quilty books and fabric), so maybe I'll get some Pam Kitty Morning, too?

When I first started quilting, I made a few real scrap quilts, with fabrics I got from family members, old clothes, scraps, anything I could get my hand on. And they make lovely quilts, I must say. Now I have a very small stash, and I do make a lot of projects with whatever I have handy, simply because I'd rather be sewing than shopping! I can't throw away scraps, so I'm starting to organize my scraps now (there's also bit's and pieces of old much loved, but worn out clothes in my scrap bin), so I'll be able to make more truly scrappy quilts in the future.

[Cindy from Sacramento]

Well call me weird because I like your block 11. I don't know if it's because the prints are familier but the colors are calm as far as I'm concerned. Atsuka's green stands out quite a bit but also on her block it's almost like the left side is heavier than the right, darks on the left lights on the right. Maybe because your block is bigger it's not as noticeable. Whatever...I like it.

I know you're sticking to the book but if the cherry stem (single or double) was chain stitched they might appear thicker. Again, I like your block.