Complimentary Blocks

I’ve read many articles by many quilt artists about maintaining a sketchbook.  A lot of them say everyone should keep a sketchbook going,  just to have a place to put all those clippings and random thoughts, creative or not.

Going through some old files I came across some magazine clippings and doodles that go back as far as high school.  I guess I’ve been gathering and keeping the ideas without having a place to put it all together.  Now I do, and am trying to make it work for me creatively as well. (And I’ve pasted into it all that inspiring imagery.)

Wednesday, I found the blue and orange printed fabrics in my stash.  These were fat quarters that appealed to me so I bought one of each, of course not knowing exactly how I’d use them.  (They were on sale after all.)  The epiphany hit, I grabbed my colored pencils, and, after deciding on the squares, pasted in an example in fabric.  Above the sketches is an actual sample block and the orange halves I’ve put together so far.

(Update: Click here for finished quilt)

One of the reasons I chose to make her this quilt was that I had the brainchild of including her other three children in the gift.  I did that by picking three different animals that could be found in three of the “story” squares – a ladybug, a red elephant, and a blue fish.   I then found a pattern for the elephant and made up my own for the other two.  So each big sister or brother has their own “piece” of their new sister’s quilt.

My friend called to say they use the quilt almost every day, not just as a play mat but for making up stories, and wants me to create a similar one for a friend of hers with a new baby and older children.  While I love artsy quilts, it really warms my heart when a quilt is used and makes people happy.

alphabet quilt

I’m so pleased with how my alphabet quilt is turning out.  After many different arrangements of background squares I decided a random look was too much for my comfort zone.  I actually like the grouping by color, especially after I selected and then cut and placed all the letters.  I thoroughly enjoyed the free form cutting of letters. (My art teacher mom, queen of the block letter, would be proud!)

This photo was taken before I began assembly.  It has been challenging to marry all the different types of fabric to the same seam size and thread tension, but it is working out.  I’m enjoying this one every step of the way.