Playing with Baskets

Yesterday I decided to pull out these basket blocks that I have had for quite a while to THINK about putting this quilt together.  The receipt in the bag with the pattern, my finished blocks, and fabrics says November 2008.  Don't ya think it's time???  

This is a quilt pattern by Lori Smith, From My Heart to Your Hands, called Four Seasons: Spring Blooms.  The blocks are 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" finished. 

 I saw it at my LQS and had to make it.  Here is the photo of the original quilt from the front of the pattern. 

First I started playing around with the layout of my blocks.  Hmmm.. what would they look like without that green sashing? And with the little baskets around the sides, rather than in the middle?  Hmmmm.  I kind of like the busy-ness of this.

Then I cut some sashing strips and put them up on my design wall with the little baskets, like the original pattern.  Hmmmm.  Very soothing.

I have only made 4 of those green leaf appliques for the corners (see pattern photo) and probably will not use them after all. 

What if I added some green setting triangles with the little baskets?  Of course now I would have to make more little baskets. :-)  Green would also be used in the corners.

I even threw the border fabric up on the design wall to take a look...

Seems that I have created a design dilemma for myself...  What do you think?  I always appreciate feedback from my blog friends!

I have continued to quilt the red and white Oak and Reel quilt.  I am really loving hand quilting at night while watching TV.

Just a quarter inch around my design and in the triangles.  Next decision will be how to quilt the borders. 

Decisions, decisions, decisions.. I love it!

Happy Stitching,

Deb

Linking up at Kathy's Quilts on Sunday Slow Stitching. 

Late to the Party - Gwennie Medallion QAL!

I recently saw some wonderful posts about the Gwennie Medallion Quilt Along going on right now - which actually started in May.    This quilt along is a collaboration of 5 quilters who are setting the monthly themes for a medallion quilt inspired by Gwen Marston.  Cool, right? 

So while I have resisted some pretty tempting challenges and quilt alongs... this one I just had to jump into.  Maybe it was the idea of working in a Gwen Martson inspired environment...  think liberated quilting!  However, this meant that I had some catching up to do and I spent part of my holiday weekend playing in my sewing room.  Always fun!  Here is my initial fabric pull.  I tried not to overthink it.

The first month of the quilt along was chosen by Lori over at Humble Quilts blog - Baskets.  This block will be the center medallion.  Love basket blocks!  I was even inspired by Lori's block with a cheddar yellow background.

I based my basket block layout on a design by Lori Smith of From My Heart to Your Hands and the style of the flowers from Piece O Cake Designs.  Also pictured here is Liberated Quiltmaking II by Gwen Marston - the inspiration for the QAL!

I may have even taken some inspiration from the flower pots on my deck....

I had fun over the holiday weekend working on this block.  No time to waste when I have catching up to do!  But the long weekend gave me the time to be creative with this and have fun.  This is one of my favorite spots to stitch.

This is the progress I have made as of today.  Great fun and I can't wait to show you the finished block and move onto the June theme.  I'll catch up with the rest of you!

Happy Stitching!

Deb