For me it's circles.
I greatly admire the stunning quilts patchworked in circles made by others, and I love to see new and imaginative ways to use circles in quilting.
But when it comes to actually sewing them, circles become my nemesis!
So you can imagine my gut reaction when my Brit Bee roomy Sarah posted her inspiration mosaic for her month in Brit Bee! YIKES!
Because I love my Brit Bee-ers so much (I think I would pretty much have a go at anything for them!) I smiled sweetly and said I'd have a go!
Yesterday was that day, and this is what I came up with, using the sumptuous reds and purples Sarah had sent me.
There is so much sheen off these fabrics that I've tried photographing them in lots of different locations (except outside, pouring with rain today) and this is the best I could get with my phone camera!
For the circle in this block I used Lucie Summers portholes technique, which I learned at Fat Quarterly Retreat in June.
And for this block, I made my own Drunkard's path templates using this tutorial, and let Ms. Improv. take over!
Despire my curves being a tad wobbly in places I really love these blocks and thoroughly enjoyed making them! They were just the therapeutic distraction I needed this weekend from the stresses and strains going on at the moment.
Thank you Sarah for your creative genius and the faith you have in your fellow Brit Bee-ers not to make a complete horlicks of your blocks!
And this wise and sensitive friend also reminded me this weekend how important it is to take time to notice the beautiful things around us, in nature, in life, and not to let busyness make us short-sighted and miss the wonders that are all around.
So I'm going to try and take some pictures this week of things that I see around me, taking a few extra minutes to just look & ponder!
Feel free to join me! You might be surprised what you start noticing!
You are one brave gal. I would have had a heart attack if asked to make these blocks! Yours are just brilliantly beautiful. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThis is why I love the whole Bee Concept. There are lots of things I might bring myself to try once or twice but not want that huge commitment of making a quilts worth of tricky blocks! Yours look beautiful by the way. Will look forward to seeing what you see around you this week. For the second year I've done the photo a day project. I've taken to doing bits of journalling under the picture. Even though sometimes I am scrabbling around trying to take pictures at the 11th hour I do find throughout the day (when I've no camera to hand) I'm seeing so many possibilities. I even commented the other day that on a short section of street on my walk home there is about 4 months worth of little details to photograph and appreciate!
ReplyDeleteLike you and Cindy my heart would have been a flutter but you did well! You impressed.
ReplyDeleteNot your nemesis any longer by the looks of it.
ReplyDeleteYour blocks look really great.
Mwah ha ha... I'm evil... In truth my dearest, I'm scared of doing my own blocks, circles are tough! But, I knew that if my bee mates were doing it I'll man up too. You've done me proud as I knew you would :-) Big hugs xxx
ReplyDeleteThe. Locks are brilliant! Knew you could do it.
ReplyDeleteI love the blocks! Very wise friend you have too :)
ReplyDeleteGreat blocks.... sometimes just jumping in and giving it a go is the best thing. Enjoy looking for the beautiful things areound you - hunt for the small things..... and perhaps realise, in time, that they are the great things xx
ReplyDeleteThey're brilliant! I try to notice the small changes that happen each day - trees that I walk past each day (with Archie) that now have no leaves and I can see how pretty the branches are, the colour of the sky and how it different it is at just about the same time every teatime, the shape and colour of the moon, etc. Of course, I have more time than many to notice these things as my 'busy' doesn't really cut the mustard compared to other people's 'busy' ;o)
ReplyDeleteCircles fill me with fear so I can only admire your braveness for 'going for it'. The blocks are beautiful. We get on our little treadwheels and we rush from one task to another that we really do miss the beautiful things around us. Di x
ReplyDeleteI think they look fantastic!! I've never attempted circles and, like Di, really admire you for tackling them (and, obviously, for doing it so well!)
ReplyDeleteWell done on these circles, they are amazing!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you went first - I get brave tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteThey are really beautiful and modern Judith - well done you!
ReplyDeleteI think you might have overcome your nemesis, these circles look brill.
ReplyDeleteOh, well done Jude. Double Wow !
ReplyDeleteSo impressed with these circles - what nemesis? Beaten into submission methinks! I hope and pray that you will find beauty amid the busy and space amid the stress, my sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteNemesis or not, these look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteFan Bloomin tastic! I'll get brave soon, promise! Don't forget to stop and take a few moments for you :). Will take some pics for you, thanks for reminding me to,stop too :) x
ReplyDeleteWoot, go you! I've not tackled mine yet...
ReplyDeleteI love the porthole technique - so much easier than curved piecing. Looks like it wasn't your nemesis after all or you have bravely conquered your fears!
ReplyDeleteThose are great blocks, you have owned those circles for sure!
ReplyDelete