#10 Ava
Ava was made with the Kona Solids:
Amethyst, Thistle, and Celery.
The week started off with the assignment of Ava. It just so happens that I had completed Ava when I was at the CJMQG Retreat in November. So I started working on another block in her place so I would keep my position ahead of the crowd. I won’t reveal the name of the block until she is assigned. Later in the week Daffodil was assigned.
#26 Daffodil
Daffodil was made with the Kona Solids:
Celery, Pansy, Wisteria, O. D. Green, and Sweet Pea.
Daffodil From Behind
I was lucky enough to see some examples of Daffodil before I started work on her. There were a few wonderful versions of this block that utilized a greater number of fabrics than the prescribed three. Although I had taken a bit of a pledge to remain true to the number of fabrics called for, I decided to break that promise for Daffodil in order to make her a bit more dimensional. I also decided to make the flower purple. I could have used two very yellowish greens such as the Celery pictured here in the background, but I felt that if I was going to not make the flower yellow that I should make it purposefully not yellow, thus the choice to go with violets.
Daffodil is the first block that I have felt compelled to display on point. This block screams to be displayed on point. And while half of the blocks will eventually be positioned on point for the final quilt, they will not be displayed that way unless they scream for it as Daffodil does.
Daffodil was much harder to make than I anticipated. Here are a few process photographs of Daffodil.
Daffodil is one of those blocks with pieces that must be turned backwards before you pin them to the fabric and cut the fabric. If you don’t do the reversal the pieces will not fit together. If you reverse none of them they will fit together, but the image will be backwards, which is actually not a big deal. However, if you start reversing the pieces you must reverse them all.
I came up with the idea of labeling the colors of the pieces, which also served to remind me to reverse them. If I pinned the piece to the fabric and I could still read the color symbol I had failed to reverse the template. I did this at least three times and actually basted the pieces before I discovered my mistake. I had to do those pieces a second time. I am a slow learner apparently.
I am “attending” the Link Up Party over at Gnome Angel.
I found ya!!! Your blocks look amazing. I don’t know how to EPP but my common sense tells me that it’s got to be slow and precise?!? And I’d also guess that with EPP, the seamstress has to be accurate and from the looks of your perfect blocks, I’d guess that you are very talented!?! Great work. How did you pick your fabrics for this quilt along?
Tracey, I am so pleased that you decided to come look for me. The fact that we can’t give our blog addresses in the Facebook group makes it hard to get people to one’s site. The most you can do is to ask people to look for you via the linkup. At least we have that.
I am happy to see your comments. EPP is definitely slow and precise, but so rewarding mentally. It is like meditation. If you want to try it I would recommend doing one inch hexagons to start because they are so much easier than these blocks. If the Farmer’s Wife Quilt was my introduction to EPP I would have given it up midway through my first block. Take a look at some of my earlier posts to see my hexagon work. I have posted nothing but Farmer’s Wife blocks for a few weeks.
As far as talent goes, I have been devoted to visual arts since I was in first grade. Since then I had wanted to be an art teacher, and that is what I was for 27 years of my life. I retired nearly nine years ago. In my retirement I decided to revive my interest in quilt making. Blogging has been my way of documenting my journey, and if others find it interesting, then I am happy with that.
I was initially going to do the quilt in secondary colors with oranges, greens, and violets. Then our quilt guild had a topic one month where we talked about two color quilts. I was just embarking on the Farmer’s Wife Quilt at the time and it lead me to decide to drop the orange from my pallet.
I looked at my Kona Color chart and ordered a half yard of a great many greens and violets. I have not used them all, and I may not try to incorporate every one, but they are there for me to choose from as I decide on the colors for each block.
My decision to use Hunter Green for my sashing came about when I displayed my October blocks on Hunter Green yardage. It was so well received in the Facebook group, that I decided that I had to go ahead with it. I am happy with that decision, and I plan to try to incorporate some Raisin in the sashing as well.
Every block remains a new selection decision. I find myself feeling as if I am learning a lot about intensity, contrast, and value as I work with these two colors. I am glad I chose to work exclusively in solids because when you get all of those small blocks together the breaking up of the space and the different values and intensities is more than enough interest. I don’t need patterns.
I’d be thrilled if you decide to check in with my progress throughout the year. I will be posting weekly.
I will for sure check up on you and look for you in the FW group. You’re as good with words as you are with EPP!!!