Turning over a new leaf

A few months ago, our son and daughter-in-law taught a class at church called Everyday Justice. It was designed to make us think about how the choices we make in the things we purchase make a difference to people around the world. I had never really thought much about it. Sure, I try to recycle as much as I can, but Fair Trade coffee and chocolate? Not so much. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things. Especially the week we talked about clothing and children working in sweatshops to make things we wear.


That week, however, I started doing research on some of the fabrics I purchase to make my quilts. That is where the largest chunk of my discretionary income goes. I was familiar with Daisy Janie fabric but once I read all the information I was so impressed.

I was thrilled when I got a chance to play with Jan DiCintio's new fabric line, New Leaf. t's a beautiful collection made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton (you can read more about that here), and the colors are bright and saturated. Jan asked us to use the thought of "turning over a new leaf" as our inspiration.

There was a sketch of a block on my desk, an older block and I don't recall the name of it. The pattern was for an 8" finished block but  I changed the dimensions to make a 12" block.

But did I take process pictures? Totally forgot....I don't think that will be a problem, however.

The center of the block is a 36-patch, so for that you need:

18 - 1 1/2" squares of white
18 - 1 1/2" squares of print

You could easily strip piece them but since I wanted to use a variety, I sewed them together individually. If I were to make a whole quilt top with this block, I would definitely strip piece them.

For the rest of the block you need:

4 - 6 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangles of white
4 - 3 1/2" squares of white
12 scraps to make the leaves

Piece the center 36-patch.
Sew a 6 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle to two sides of the block.
Sew a 3 1/2" square to each end of the remaining two rectangles of white, and then sew these units to the remaining sides of the 36-patch.

Then make 12 leaf shapes. (I tried to link the leaf template pdf here but did something wrong. It is 3 inches from tip to tip and 1 3/8" at its widest point--sorry--I'll work on figure that pdf thing out).

Using your favorite double-sided fusible (I used Steam a Seam, but I wish I would have used Steam a Seam Lite because the leaves were a little stiff), I made the leaves and then fused them to the block, kind of eyeballing the placement. You will want the tips of the leaves that make the circle to touch each other. Then I used my machine to button stitch around each leaf.

Thanks for stopping by on the blog hop, and thanks to Jan for letting me play along with this beautiful fabric!

Be sure to check out all the other stops along the way:


New Leaf Bee Block Blog Hop Schedule
Mon, 1/14 - Becky Moyer, My Fabric Obsession
Tues, 1/15 - Lynn Harris, The Little Red Hen
Wed, 1/16 - Candy Glendening, Candied Fabrics
Thurs, 1/17 - Holly DeGroot, Bijou Lovely
Fri, 1/18 - Melanie Thornton, Melanie Dramatic

Mon, 1/21 - Emily Cier, Carolina Patchworks
Tues, 1/22 - Rachael Gander, Imagine Gnats
Wed, 1/23 - Maureen Cracknell, Maureen Cracknell Handmade
Thurs, 1/24 - Leanne, She Can Quilt
Fri, 1/25 - Cindy Wiens, Live a Colorful Life

Mon 1/28 - Cheryl Arkison, Dining Room Empire
Tues, 1/29 - Jacquie Gering, Tallgrass Prairie Studio
Wed, 1/30 - Shanna Bailey, Fiber of All Sorts
Thurs, 1/31 - Katy Jones, Monkey Do

And if you are playing along with the FQ word scramble, my letter is I.

Peace Around the Color Wheel

Thanks for stopping by to see my version of Rene's fabulous new quilt pattern!

I was so excited to be part of the group who pattern tested this quilt. And it's even more exciting to see everyone's version!

I made the baby version. Rene's instructions and illustrations are very straightforward, well-written and easy to understand. The best part is that there are very few seams you have to match up.

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I love working with solids. I found my inspiration with some solid scraps and the color wheel that my husband, Mark, keeps in his fused glass studio.

When choosing the colors, I just went around the color wheel, choosing first hue, or the clear colors at the top, then the tint--the color with white added, then skipped down to the bottom to the shades--the color with black added. That gave me enough to go all the way around. For the center spokes I had a rainbow jelly roll of tone-on-tone prints.

Information abounds on color theory, how to make colors work together, which colors look the best together, but I'm often surprised at how Mother Nature works her magic with colors. Surprising, unique and beautiful. And they all get along

Want a little peace in your life? Here is the schedule. I hope you will check out everyone's version and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy for yourself!

Monday, January 21 -  Katie at KT Quilts 

Tuesday, January 22 - Michele at  Nostalgic Cafe 

Wednesday, January 23 - Cindy at  Live a Colorful Life --you're here today!

Thursday, January 24 - Michelle at  Frustrated Quilter 

Friday, January 25 - Stephanie at Peas in a Pod 

Monday, January 28 - Terri at Terri's Notebook 

Tuesday, January 29 - Doris at Made by a Brunnette 

Wednesday, January 30 - Mary at Mary on Lake Pulaski 

Thursday, January 31 - Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts 

Friday, February 1 - back to Rene' at Rene' Creates

I'd love to know what color combinations you are currently loving. The giveaway will close on Friday, February 1.

Peace!

A year and a half ago, I met Rene' for the first time. It was at a quilting retreat in Minnesota, just a small group, ten of us. I remember Rene' sewing lots of pinwheels. Lots of pinwheels. Well guess what? She has just released her first pattern!

I was part of the lucky group who got to help pattern test. I made the baby size and I can hardly wait to show it.

The blog hop started today. At each stop you will get to see a different version of Rene's pattern, which comes in three sizes, and get a chance to win the pattern. It's one of those wonderful quilts that is easy to put together AND yields stunning results.

You'll want to stop by and check out the reviews and pattern.  Here is the schedule:

• Monday, January 21 -  Katie at KT Quilts (http://ktquilts4fun.blogspot.com)
• Tuesday, January 22 - Michele at  Nostalgic Cafe (http://nostalgiccafe.blogspot.com)
• Wednesday, January 23 - Cindy at  Live a Colorful Life (http://aroundtheblockdesigns.blogspot.com) ME!
• Thursday, January 24 - Michelle at  Frustrated Quilter (http://frustratedquilter.blogspot.com)
• Friday, January 25 - Stephanie at Peas in a Pod (http://peasinapod.typepad.com)     
• Monday, January 28 - Terri at Terri's Notebook (http://terrisnotebook.wordpress.com)
• Tuesday, January 29 - Doris at Made by a Brunnette (http://madebyabrunnette.typepad.com)
• Wednesday, January 30 - Mary at Mary on Lake Pulaski (http://maryonlakepulaski.blogspot.com)
• Thursday, January 31 - Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts (http://www.prairiemoonquilts.com)
• Friday, February 1 - back to Rene' at Rene' Creates (http://www.renecreates.com) for a give away

Here's a little peek.

See you on Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday:Where I show a completed project and then ask for advice on a new one

Happy New Year! 2013? What happened to 2012?!

Mark and I went to our local dinner theater where they were doing Beehive, all-female music from the '60s. It was something we had never done before on New Year's Eve and it was a lot of fun. After the show ended, there was a great band playing Glen Miller-type music until midnight.

I have been away from the computer for the last few weeks. I think it helps to step back sometimes. At least for me, it helps to come back more refreshed and invigorated, and ready to start new projects in the new year.

But first, something completed:

The plan to make a card table playhouse (lots of close-up pictures on the link) for our youngest grandchild had been in my head since last May when I met the pattern designer, Shea Henderson, and then actually won a copy of the pattern! So why, oh why, did I put off actually starting it until two weeks before Christmas? That is a question that will probably never have an answer. I knew it was going to be time consuming. But it was time consuming in a very fun way. Shea gives instructions on making it with quilting cotton, and also has an addendum available in case you would prefer using felt. I used Kona cotton. And yards of Heat 'n Bond. Let's just say that fusibles and I are no longer strangers!

Everything was fused and then edged stitched. Every.single.thing. I decided to customize it by duplicating the colors of our son and daughter-in-law's actual house, including the house number. Their door isn't red, but Christa has always wanted a red door. The mailbox opens and I made a little postcard for all three grandkids.

Here it is from all angles (our card table is really old--the newer ones are a few inches taller because this fits much better on Aaron and Christa's card table--whew!)

The label on the back:

 (and yes, I did buy a half yard of Architextures because the label absolutely needed blueprint fabric!)

And one happy little boy (which made the project worth every.single.minute!)

After Christmas I returned to my Farmer's Wife quilt. All the blocks were put up on the design wall, moved around a little bit, and I had all the rows nearly sewed together when...

...I became distracted by something happening on Instagram: the scrappy trip along. I could not resist the temptation. Seriously. Are you on Instagram? All of a sudden everyone is posting these amazing pictures of their scrappy blocks. I pondered. I looked at my scrap bin. I looked at my stash. And then instead of busting scraps, I actually created more scraps by busting apart a Kona jelly roll.  What??

And now I need some advice. I'm only making nine blocks this time around. Believe me. I will be making this block again, in a scrappy version. But for now, here is Trip Around the Kona Color Card. With three setting options.

Setting 1:

Setting 2:

Setting 3:

I can't decide. I hope you will help me! I can tell you this much--the one I personally was leaning toward has gotten the fewest votes on Instagram...

What are you working on in this new year?

I'm linking up with Lee. It's good to get back into the groove.