Help wanted...

Does anyone know what this fabric is called and who the Designer is? I think its Kaffe Fassett, but I can't find it on the web. It was in a fabric kit for Flower Pots, from Glorious Color, and I bought it last year. The background is black, and the little flowers is red and pink and orange.
It is very useful to the little circles, and I intended to get some more, in different color. So any information would be appreciated.

Camilla

Finally

Hi,
So I finally got around to put everything up on my designwall. First I thought i was going to do the cornerstones in the red background, but now i think i'll just stick with the coloured squares also.
I feel kind of proud of myself to have done everything from my stash, with some quite old fabrics that i don't even like anymore, because i really do like the result.

I'm working on the borderblocks now, but have nothing to show so that will be for next time.

Enjoy whatever you're doing!

Where is everybody?

Nobody's posted since the 18th. Is there anyone out there? Helloooooooooooooooooooo.......................

I've traced my first block for back basting! I'm going to do the bowl of fruit but I'm stumped on what fabric to use for the bowl. Today's mission: raid my stash.

Getting Ready for Flower Pots

I ordered Kim's Flower Pots pattern as soon as I finished Hearts and Flowers--I was hooked and Glorious Applique had a lot to do with that. Thank you, bloggers!
First I had to decide on colors and fabrics. I like dark backgrounds a lot and set out in that direction.
I fell in love with the Philip Jacobs Coleus Leaf in teal, posted by Gisele in September, and that led me to Coleus Leaf in turquoise which was even closer to "my" colors. I went shopping and bought most of these at my LQS, Pennington Quilt Works in Pennington NJ. Coleus Leaf is on the right.
Then I needed a background and the decision was made when I saw this green solid at Fibers in Motion when I was vacationing in Portland OR. It wasn't what I went out looking for, but my heart took over. Obviously my plan had to change. I could keep elements of Coleus Leaf but the fabric itself wasn't enough of a contrast for my background.

















So I did some online ordering and pulled from my shelves and set up a card table:


Aren't they pretty?
Ready to go! I got busy, but was a bit discouraged at how long the prep takes--first I took Kim's pattern to Staples and had it reduced in size--I want a wall-hanging, rather than a bed quilt. Then plastic overlays, templates, cutting, pinning, basting etc. It seemed to take forever.

I also use Julee's method of numbering the paper pattern and the templates, and then laying the pieces on the paper before I pin them to the fabric. I decided I needed to choose fabrics for both the left and right panels before I did any sewing. I know some of you choose ALL the fabrics before sewing--there's no way I would have the patience for that.

I'm a lot happier now that I'm sewing. I am almost done with the applique for the one on the right--which is actually the left hand panel in the pattern. I work better with deadlines: I'm going to promise a photo of the finished panel by next Friday. That will keep me stitching!

The First Pink Corner Block

As part of my journey with breast cancer treatment, I decided to make the four corner blocks of Roseville in pinks. Now I just have to find a way to make them blend with the house panel and subsequent blocks. Repeating the turquoise shot cotton is a step in that direction. This block went so much faster than the house panel, and I loved every stitch!

Roseville House Panel Finished at Last

Technically I began actual cutting on this panel on August 17, but even before then I had been hyperventilating for a few weeks working up my courage to begin. As you can see I am chancing a slightly softer color palette here and still wonder if the dark trees will end up being too strong a contrast. Maybe I can't know that until I get to some of the other blocks and panels, but feel free to offer your thoughts. This panel also represents dozens of experiments based on all your generous process comments--back basting, glue basting, tracing the background or not, Masterpiece thread vs. YLI. Not all of the experiments worked, but at least I have settled into a more comfortable way to work now. My friend Leland reminds me I am not making a show quilt and shouldn't stress too much about beginning lumps and bumps, but I do anyway and keep trying to measure up to Janet's beautiful work, as well as the work of so many of you.

I'm working on corner blocks next, and then I'll tackle another of the panels. I am loving (almost) every stitch I take!

In the Pink

My stash of pink fabrics is thinner than most, but I have decided to take some license and make the four corner blocks of Roseville mostly pink because I will be working on them as I undergo treatment for breast cancer. Quilting is absolutely the best medicine! If others of you have not yet made use of the "More Color" link on the Glorious Color homepage, http://morecloth.com/gloriouscolor/, I want to put in a plug for it here. It was easy for me to find a nice range of pink fabrics by clicking on the bars that looked most promising. Here is the additional stash that arrived yesterday.

Got some fabrics!

I finally have a pic to show. I went to my LQS on Thursday and picked up this group of Kaffe fabrics. They're all fat quarters except for the gorgeous floral in the back-that's the end of a bolt. Sad news-when these bolts are done, they're not ordering any more Kaffe. They've had these bolts for over a year and nobody's bought.(Thank goodness I discovered you all!!) I asked the clerk who does all the cutting and customer work why she thought they didn't sell. She told me that our area is just extremely traditional and they like the "country" colors-like Thimbleberries. Oh well, it's their loss, right?
Personally, I love bright colors and lots of them so onward and upward!

Progress on block 2

Hi,

I thought I would show you my progress on block number 2.
I still love my red background, but at the same time I start hating it because I find it very hard to sew. Seems it is very coarse and hard. It was purchased at a quiltstore, so it's not that.
So I am thinking what to do. Continue? But quilting it by hand will be ??? And quilting it by machine is absolutely not my cup of tea. Yet anyhow.
And then to think that the red fabric was meant to be the backing of a very beautiful handquilted quilt to be.
Or should i just leave it be. And start another pattern of Kim's.

Hi,
Sorry for the lay-out, i'm not a computercapable person.

The lollipops with the yellow leaves is my first block so far. The blue leaves i managed to prepare to take with me to Birmingham. To my disppointment, no quilts from Kim McLean, a lot of Kaffe Fassett though : quilts, fabric and even the person : tall, smiling, relaxed.
The dark red leaves are my third block. Now i would like very much to have your honest opinion because i am doubting myself very much at this point.

Meanwhile i am stewing over Kims heart quilt in the romance book. I found those background fabrics : 4 almost identical kaki background with pink spots. The layout of the spots is different in each one. With a Kaffe border (once finished), the right hand one probably, and i am thinking with repro's and japanese taupe.And maybe tht at kind of soft orange for the heart. But for the moment just stewing, to much other things going on.

About a week ago i read an entry on the blog from someone (couldn't find it back) who was talking about doing the circles from lollipop without the precut circles preparations. I just want to say i totally agree with her that it is more suitable for this pattern to do them without the templates, because then you have more of the oval shape as on the original pattern. I also think it takes a lot of the possible boredom of sewing that many circles away. I trace my circles from the pattern and then just crease the sewing line between thumb and index. I also crease the sharp points of the leaves.

I do have a question though : how do you put your shapes on the place where they belong, do you eyeball it or is there a method to get them on the right spot?

Could i also ask you, since i have the impression lots of you are using the blue watersoluble pen, to watch out with that : 2 of my quilts i made years ago, after rinsing them in the washing machine, show yellowish lines instead of the former blue ones. So i don't use that pen anymore, unless i can wash the lines out the same day i put them on.
Sorry for the layout again, have no patience now for searching everything out, but i do want to tell you how much i really love this blog.

A finished block

I think I satisfied the need to stitch up one of these blocks now. I chose the same fabric as Kim for the center, it was the need to have orange in there, it was all the chatter about orange I think.

This was my first option for the center but I changed my mind.

I better get back to the other quilt now. You may not have realised unless you followed my blog from way back that I have two of Kim's other patterns in various stages. This is where Princess Feathers is up to. I ran out of omph at border two. I also have twelve of the big Lollypop Tree blocks and some smaller ones sitting around somewhere. I'll have to see if I can find some photos.

I'll slink back to my corner now.

Color.

Here's a little something that may help those struggling with color and fabric selections.  Choose a focus fabric...a fabric that you ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!!  If that particular fabric is going to be included in your quilt, then use that sublime fabric as a jumping off point.  Allow it to help you match colors and make other fabric choices.  Fabric has colored dots along the selvedge edge. Those dots show you what specific colors were used to make that particular piece of fabric.  So...sew, use those colored dots to your advantage!  If you are not going to use that sublime fabric in your quilt, but you do SO love the colors, then let those dots help you choose fabrics and colors that will match and work together in your quilt.

During a class I took with Sally Collins, she said, "Color gets all the glory, but value does all the work." Remember to add a mix of lights, darks and mediums.  This can be done using the value of a color or scale of a print.  If you are unsure what value a color is, photocopy the fabric.  It will copy dark, white or grey...

I don't always make the best choice first time around either.  My 'mistakes' can be used on the back of the quilt or may become a signature patch.  See, I can still use that awesome fabric somewhere!  For me, color and fabric selection are two of the MOST fun aspects of quilting.  I encourage you to just let go! Delight in color and let it make your soul smile and your designs soar.  I BELIEVE in you and your choices!!!

Make your quilt yours!  I use fussy cuts, favorite fabrics and hidden bits in most of the quilts I make...these things make the quilt mine!

I LOVE how this entire fussy cut flower turned out.  What FUN!!!  See that lime green Funky Monkey fabric on the left?  I happen to enjoy the whimsy of sock monkeys and isn't that color FAB?!  It found a place in my pieced border.

That dark fabric, on your right?  I didn't have a piece large enough for this applique shape.  So, I sewed two pieces together.  I bet you would never have known?!  

Can you spot the little hearts, words and pops of black tucked in there?  Those little things help to make a quilt magical!

I encourage you to enjoy your quilt making journey.  Choose colors and fabrics that make YOU happy.  It is my hope that you will LOVE the project you are working on and the process too.  : )

Piecefully, Pam