Here are my 6 new blocks for the week. I went on a bit of a pink bender, as you can see. :) And my blocks continue to be QUITE busy.
This block is kind of a "thrifty" block. I only had 16 squares of the small pink polka dot fabric, but I REALLY wanted to use them, so I substituted in two blocks of a large pink polka dot fabric to fill in the holes. It's my little testement to "making do"...and in the mix of the whole quilt it shouldn't stick out too much.
Here are all the blocks I have made so far playing together. I like it quite a lot!
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Have you ever fancied yourself a fabric designer? Did you see that Connecting Threads is holding a fabric design contest? My husband has been telling me for years that I should turn some of my drawings into fabric. I'm not sure if I have the guts to put my stuff out there, but I'm thinking about trying to work something up. (you know, it all my spare time, ha!) Maybe you need the nudge to do the same? Just thought I'd put that out there for those of you who may be interested!
Happy Monday to you!
I love your blocks. I don't have a blog but I am making one of these quilts and I am using batiks. They are so much fun to make.
ReplyDeleteI've made 4... I really really really like 2" squares too!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is definitely inspiring me to make one of my own in the future! :) I love it.
ReplyDeleteAll those little squares look great!
ReplyDeleteI've been sewing strips of fabric all morning. They put a major smile on my face. What a good idea to include 16 of a favorite fabric! I may have a similar block or two...
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt... too cool! Definitely on my "to make" list...
ReplyDeleteAnd you should definitely enter the Connecting Threads design contest.... how exciting is that?
Oh, I love it! Your quilt is turning out fantastic. I think I will make a few more blocks before I start playing with arrangement. I have made 8 so far. I am sort of experimenting with color on this quilt. Here's what I have this week: http://creatinganaturallife.blogspot.com/2011/07/36-patch-quilt-along-week-3.html
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to make more! Thank you for hosting this quilt-along, Amanda.
It's week three already? crap. I haven't even started.
ReplyDeleteAll your blocks look great together! I like the scrappy little eyes in the red block... it would be funny if you made a little mouth to go under it. :D
ReplyDeleteLove the polka dot block! Very cute. I think you should definitely go for the fabric design contest. I'll bet you'ld do very well in that. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteTotally enjoy this one. Makes me all inspired and feel sorta sidetracked. Warmly and with kindness, *karendianne.
ReplyDeleteYour blocks look great! I have 9 done already. Once I get on a roll, I can get a number of them done in what seems a small amount of time : ) I am apparently having way to much fun!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I decided to jump in. I love how my blocks are turning out. I have a ton of floral fabric (some that I inherited when my mother passed away) and I have been looking for a good project to use them. I made 6 blocks over the weekend and was a little scared that they would be too busy or "old-fashioned" but they turned out great. Hope to post a picture soon. Thanks so much for all of your encouragement.
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are fabulous! I like the quirkiness of big dots vs small dots. So cute! I hope you enter the design contest. That'll be great fun! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love watching all the progress you are making. I did not join in this one since I'm so far behind already but can't wait to start this sometime in the future. Happy Monday to you too!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty and fun! So proud of you for "going with it"...it's not always easy (at least not for me!). Smiles~Beth
ReplyDeleteI say you should definitely go for the fabric design contest, I would love to see these drawings of yours.
ReplyDeleteIf you need more persuading, just look at all that you have achieved with your blog, imagine if you had never given that a go..
Your blocks are looking PERFECT but then I knew they would...you got the knack girl!
Found your site today, and while I may not join the quilt along (so many things going on), I'm going to follow along and see if I can resist...and for how long. Saw the king size quilt (older post) that you rebound, and such a lovely difference. I am currently trying to get motivated to bind my king sized quilt--wish I had your "affection" for binding! You've a lovely web site--thanks for letting me watch!
ReplyDeleteGood Afternoon,
ReplyDeleteI love how your blocks are coming out.
In looking at your picture I think one of the blocks is turned slightly (2nd row, 3rd block). . because it starts with a light block.
But it could just be my eyes.
I haven't started my blocks yet. . .I have to get my basement back in order from a flood before I can sew; but I am having fun watching your progress.
I love this so much! Those little squares are just so simple and wonderful. Wish I had time to quilt along, but just can't squeeze it in right now. But, I'll be storing the idea away for "someday"!
ReplyDeleteFun! I still haven't taken the plunge but it's on my mind!
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is looking great--so cheery. And I know how beautifully you piece, so I'm sure it's even more impressive close up.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you included the two oddball polka dot squares. (I use "oddball" fondly...) I just inherited some quilt blocks from my grandmother, the beginnings of a quilt she was not able to finish. The block I love most has a couple of make-do patches in it. That will make it ever more dear to me.
It's coming together beautifully. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, fabric design is an excellent idea. I've wondered in the past why you aren't doing it already... so go for it!
Your 36 patches are so awesome. I need to make me one of those quilts! And YES you should send in your drawings for a possible fabric line - I would love to see it.
ReplyDeleteI've got three blocks done and the others in various stages of cut out or sewn. It's going faster than I thought!
ReplyDeleteYou always have great tutorials, and quilt-alongs. Love this checkerboard look!
ReplyDeleteYES I think you should enter the contest. And I think that 'make do' is something all of us should do more! Your quilt is looking great!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! I love how happy and cheerful it is making up.
ReplyDeleteLove the blocks, love the fabrics and love you!:) Those 2 red dots are great! I've made 2, does that count for something???
ReplyDeleteI love it when I have to sew 2 scrap pieces together to make a bigger piece. I feel like I am really quilting old school. We really have it easy with all the beautiful fabrics available to us, though I am a little jealous of the ladies of yesteryear getting free fabric at with their flour and sugar :)
ReplyDeleteWish I could find some time to make a wonderful quilt like yours... I'm completely into paper piecing at the moment but one day I want to make one like that... Already put it on my really really long want-to-do-list... THank you sooooooo much for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteLove Christiane
I love your blog, every time i need help some where in quilting your blog is the first i'll check out. Thank you for that. Please, Never stop blogging!
ReplyDeleteYour 'making do' is awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou really should submit some designs for that fabric contest! What's the worst that could happen? If I were creative in that way, I surely would send in some designs, but I'm not sure anyone would be interested in my stick figures and kindergarten looking flowers! Go for it!
ReplyDeleteLove your blocks!
MGM
OH, I am loving this quilt. Wish I could join in. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI have 7.5 blocks done so far and I am loving it! I don't think I've ever worked with pastels other than baby quilts but I decided I wanted a cheerful cholor scheme for this one so pastels it is! These go together much quicker than I had imagined and I can easily see another in my future! You do need to enter the contest, I would love to see what you come up with! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOh you should totally join the contest! That's really neat! Oh, and I LOVE your quilt! It reminds me of a candy store, love those colors!
ReplyDeleteI made three blocks yesterday (posting on it tomorrow...) and am getting ready to make some more today. When I quit reading blogs, that is. hehe.
ReplyDeleteso...no I have never fancied myself a fabric designer. However, I'm quite sure that I would purchase anything designed by a crazy mom who quilts....
hmmm, the fabric contest is tempting... I have been learning a lot with the graphics program I have been playing with lateley. Not sure I am that good, though.
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are wonderful! I have enjoyed working on my blocks very much. Thanks so much for hosting this Quilt Along!
ReplyDeleteI love your thrifty block. It's just right!
ReplyDeleteAnd do the fabric design contest! I've always wanted to do it but the ideas never make it from my head to paper. Mostly because I can't draw. One of these days... :)
Nudge Nudge! You should totally go for it and enter your ideas into that fabric contest!
ReplyDeleteLove your 36-patch blocks all together so far! I especially love how you pulled that thrifty one together with the mix of polka dots for contrast. Such a cheerful set of blocks so far!
I love your squares!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday to you, too!
Deborah
You are keeping me inspired to keep going. I am only 3 blocks into it, but I am having so much fun picking out fabrics for each block. I have 3 more cut and ready to go. BTW thanks for the helpful info on stitch length. I adjusted mine too and my blocks are looking pretty good. I never thought of this before and I have often struggled to get the blocks to line up properly. And if you design some fabric, I will buy it for sure!!
ReplyDeleteI've made 5 blocks, and the most difficult thing is choosing the fabric. I just love the blocks you've made so far. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteAnd go on - enter the contest. What's the worst that can happen. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
It looks so good! After seeing yours I'm thinking that I want to make one too.
ReplyDeleteI'm so behind with only two blocks made (been out of town and also working on another quilt), but I'm definitly going to get caught up this week.
ReplyDeleteGo for the design contest, because, as they say, if not now -- when?
It is so nice to know that you are feeling better and moving on! I am so happy to see you pumped again! This looks so lovely! I thought about you yesterday at our Monday Quilt Group (the last one for the summer) as we finished our summer project. I think this pattern is really forgiving and a great stash buster as well as this QAL. Please stop by and have a look:
ReplyDeletehttp://coffeebeansdailies.blogspot.com/2011/07/good-day.html
I kept thinking, "gee, I would LOVE to see Amanda Jean's take on this!"
THANK YOU for all that you do for all of us!
This quilt is so much fun! I have all sorts of fat quarters I've collected, and they have sat in bins for at least a year, some up to a decade. This is definitely a great idea - my sewing machine is in the shop, but I can't wait to get caught up with your quilt-a-long. Thank you so much for the inspiration! - Lydia
ReplyDeleteOh yes you certainly should design some fabric especially if your husband thinks so. You really are doing 6 blocks a week!!They are really warm and colorful. I'm only on block 3 and 4. Thanks for inspiring.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to designing fabric, have you ever tried spoonflower? I wish I had the drawing skills, but a friend of mine told me about the shop, and I'm in awe of what you can do with that website. I kind of feel silly posting about spoonflower because I'm pretty sure you would know about it, but just in case - I would definitely snatch up your fabric! I love your color choices!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your quilts with us, I appreciate your creativity and style! Your blog is a source of encouragement and quilting inspiration, thank-you!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the thrifty block. I probably would have put the two different ones on opposite corners because although I'm sure it won't stand out when you're completely done...it would drive me nuts and I would see it every time I looked at the quilt. (Ya know, personal preference.) But that's just me. I saw someone else post that it would be funny to do a smile underneath it, and I would agree...that would be a lot of fun. Someday I will try this quilt...quick and easy it seems to be...and that would be my favorite type of quilt to make. It's gotta be quick and easy...okay...not so much quick as easy. I look forward to seeing next week's addition!
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are beautiful! And I am LOVING piecing these from my stash too! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, go for the designer challenge, Aneela Hooey is right, look at all you achieve, why would you stop now? We'll all be here cheering you on and celebrating with you :) Good luck!
This looks so fun!! I have not been sewing these last weeks, and for some days now my mind is on the victims of the Oslo and Utøya massacre. Maybe I could find some comfort playing with these blocks. Wait and see...
ReplyDeleteElin.
your blocks are looking great ,i have made 3 and i love them but the last one turned out slightly smaller :(( about half inch all round.
ReplyDeleteI got a handy dandy 1/4 inch foot with my Juki TL2000 this last spring and have been using it for all m piecing... wow... what a difference. These blocks are coming together so nice so I dug out my Round & Round and worked on it some more as well! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteFirst, you should totally enter the design contest. The worst that could happen is that you lose and then nothing has changed.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I'm glad you have decided to continue blogging. I just found this blog and it is an inspiration.
Third, I have all my fabric for this quilt I just have to get most of washed. I'm a prewasher. But I'm so excited. I thought all quilts had to be difficult to be beautiful but you have proved otherwise. Thanks!
AmandaJean go for the design competition even if you don't win you'll have learned a whole lot about the process and be ready for the next one. You have a great mind and I bet your husband is right!
ReplyDeletethese blocks are just so cute....I wish I could join in but have a few deadlines looming.
Happy Sewing
Your blocks look fantastic, especially once all together! I was away on vaca, so I haven't been reading blogs, but I want to say in regards to your blue, too post: You are an amazing quilt artist! Your blog was one of the first I found, and I went back an read it from the beginning! Please know that you are an inspiration, and I think your quilts are wonderful ;-)
ReplyDeletei am not doing this quilt along... yet! the more i see of your blocks, the more i want to get started. yours are sooo pretty! and about the fabric designs... YES!.. enter your designs. It will be sooo cool if you win!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic quilt you are going to have. Hugs
ReplyDeleteTake the plunge & submit your fabric designs. The Universe is aligned in your favor, juts do it and be on with it!!! So here's my nudge---just do it!!! You have nothing to lose. :)
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Texas
Just wanted to chime in. I love your blog. I love your tutorials. I think it's so wonderful of you to offer free tutorials for quilts. It enables so many to be able to quilt when they might not have been able to with your help. I do hope you continue because you have helped me and I appreciate it so much. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThese blocks are SO addictive! I'm having a lot of fun making these. Yours look great, and you should totally go for it on the fabric design!
ReplyDeleteI'd just like to say that I am so glad you are blogging again (it's been quite a while since your hiatus, I know, but I had a baby 10 months ago, and I'm really just now getting around to catching up on all of my blogs.)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your quilt alongs (haven't participated, but you make it look so easy, and I already have 3 different rooms planned based on them!)
Also, thanks to you, I started and finished my very first quilt (it's a raged squares quilt, and I love it)! Thanks again for coming back!!
I did comment on this before but the more I look at your "make-do" square the more I want to comment again... I really like your quilt but I think the two little squares in a different color stick out too much in one corner... Can't you put them in different corners so they don't "jump" at you when looking at it? Just my opinion and by no means meant as criticism!!! Thank you again for all your efforts on this blog! It's one of my favorites!!
ReplyDeleteWhat have you got to lose? Other than all that free time :)
ReplyDeleteUpdate Tuesday evening: Look at my blog, I've made my first 36 patches! Thank you for inspiration, and a very good tutorial, although the blocks are simple, I love your advices!
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are lovely!
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely enter the contest!
If your husband thinks you should, you should!! At least try :) Sooo many times my husband has encouraged me in things I didn't think I was capable of, and he's been right (sometimes!). And the times that it hasn't worked out, I've never regretted trying. It's incredibly empowering when the person who knows you best is in your corner. Go for it!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely try! Thank you for letting all of us know, too. I am going to check into it, and maybe I will be brave enough...
ReplyDeleteThe blocks are looking so fantastic together!
oh, they look so great! love them.
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering for years why you don't have a fabric line of your own...and a book too!
Amanda, it's looking so great! I have been watching others do this with you and wish so much I could be doing it. I just cannot start anything new right now. I love what you're doing, and I love that "make do" block.
ReplyDeleteYou should totally go for it on the fabric designing. You can do it! My SIL told me about it and said I should try, too. I feel chicken, too.
This is neat. I love your color choices! I have not seen this pattern before so it is intriguing to see all those small squares together...
ReplyDeleteLove your busy/happy squares :D And the two little squares with bigger polka dots? They look like little eyes, peeking through from somewhere!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Hi AmandaJean
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog today and back-read some of your posts.
I too, do not know what happened for you to contemplate giving up blogging but I hope you don't. I've gone through all of your tutorials and they're so straightforward and informative.
I have seen on every blog I read the blogger get hurtful remarks and they always seem to come from people who just want to stir the pot.
Keep your chin up girl!!! I really look forward to future posts!!
Tammi :)
Ok, so I've never made blocks like this before, but I took the plunge :) I have now made 13 since yesterday, lol. I need to make 29 more and I'll be ready to assemble. Thanks for having this quilt-a-long. I'm loving the blocks!
ReplyDeletelooking nice, AJ!
ReplyDeleteHI! i had a juvenile question but anyways here it is; Does it matter or is there a color combination with the 36 patch quilt itself? i just want to add a ton of mis-matchy stuff together??? to use up my stash--ugly bits from early days of collecting...
ReplyDeletemaybe even some random bits of xmas? just a thought please let me knoW!! ps love your blog crazy mom
Your 'thrifty' block reminds me of the early Pennsylvania German piecing tradition of always making one block with one 'wrong' or out of place fabric on purpose; because to strive for perfection was an affront to God.
ReplyDeleteYou really should enter the contest, I think you would do great!! Love the blocks, I really need to get started on mine.
ReplyDeleteLet me just say that I LOVE your blog and though I don't blogsurf much, when I do, I love to be inspired by your BEAUTIFUL quilts. I first found you when I was pregnant with my now 19 month baby boy, and I used your tutorials on binding and the ticker tape quilt to make him a quilt. Thank you for your creativity and showing me how to do it! I finished just days before he was born, and it is gorgeous, in my opinion. I haven't quilted any since then, but I hope to get to that sometime soon...I need to finish the other 2 I started! I've never posted to your blog before, but after your last few posts, I figure it's high time that I thank you for giving generously of your time and talents. Here is the post (with pics) I made back when I was making the quilt just in case you're interested: http://wilkersonfam.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-21T22%3A50%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=6
ReplyDeleteThanks again!!!
i made 7 last night.
ReplyDeletei think your red and white block is my favorite of the bunch so far.
YOU are my favorite blog! Love everything you do! I wishs we were neighbors......:)
ReplyDeleteAmanda, you do such a beautiful job with your blog...your creativity shines through! Please give the fabric designing a try FOR YOU! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of this current QAL and have lots of strips ready to go. I have found through the years that sometimes the shortcuts don't always work as well as I would like. I like your method of breaking up the units. It's the kind of piecing I find very soothing. Thank you for sharing your patterns!!
Enjoy what's important to you and hit "delete" for the rest.
Amandajean, I am having SUCH a lovely time with this QAL! I really wasn't sure I wanted to do another 2"square patchwork (I made 2 of your Round and round quilts!). Sometimes I get bored doing the same thing, but this project is pushing me to play with color and tones, and, best of all, use up the Loulouthi scraps I have from a wedding quilt I'm making. Now I don't feel so guilty buying so much fabric, cuz I'm using it all up!
ReplyDeleteAlso, your tips and techniques are challenging me to be more precise, and it is REALLY paying off. I have really square squares! The shorter stitches is brilliant!
I've been quilting for 15 years, but I LOVE learning new things. You really are an inspiration: a model of diligence, imagination, and joy. Thanks for it all.