Bravo!
As many of you know I spend hours of my life on Instagram, it's literally the best invention after chocolate, and quilt fabric, ooooooo and David Beckham! It was on one such "research" mission that I came across a post from the super fab Pat Bravo, (if you don't know who she is, Pat design delicious fabrics for Art Gallery Fabrics ) where she basically said 'I have designed two new lines of fabric, I want to give them to you and let you make pretty things, who wants to play?' Uuuuuuuumm me! So I put myself forward along with a large amount of others and kept my fingers crossed.
And as I'm sure you've guessed by the title of this post I was chosen, whoop whoop! In total there are 30 people from around the world who were sent a selection of fat eighths from Dare to be Bold predominantly navy and shades of blue the designs to me look like a modern take on the theme of geometric electro pop, whilst Essenials II in Blush has a much more feminine, soft vibe to it. You can read all about Pat's idea behind The Mini Tour here.
I practically pounced on the poor Postman every day until my fabrics arrived and I was thrilled to ribbons when I opened the wrapping and found these....
I have to admit that for the first few days I just wandered in an out of my studio stroking them, well come on look how pretty they are!! I wanted to make something that showed off the various designs of the fabric, which in itself was a challenge for me as "modern" is very outside of my comfort zone, I had look in several of the quilt books I have and picked out a few blocks that I thought could work with what I had in mind. I started with the blues and geometrics of Dare but it wasn't going well and just didn't work at all!! I had had an idea for a repeat block that I'd been doodling, so I thought why not try and make this happen?? I got out my graph paper and set about drawing it out, I am a bit old school that way I can't just go straight to the computer but I get there in the end and a few hours later I had Bravo!
I'm not sure if I've mentioned that paper piecing/ foundation piecing is my most favourite thing, bit it is and that was the method I chose to create this mini quilt in.
There are a couple of points that don't quite match exactly and a few other little niggles I need to work on, but overall I really pleased with how my first ever original block design has worked out.
There are endless possibilities with this block depending on fabric choices and placement, the size of them and the repeat options that can be created, I am really excited about trying these out but for now I am very happy with my little Bravo! who measures 12" square when finished. I added on a border, log cabin style just to finish it off and the backing is simply three panels of prettiness.
I have had such a wonderful time being a part of this Mini Blog Tour, there have been so many talented people involved and such gorgeous things made. If you have missed any of it the full line up is listed at the end of this post, be sure to check them all out and prepared to be inspired.
Happy Quilting
Kerry xx
Monday April 25
Laura Piland
Courtney Zadik
Tuesday April 26
Katie Skoog
Stacey Gibson
Wednesday April 27
Amanda Woodruff
Jessica Stewart
Wednesday April 28
Erin Cox
Anjeanette Klinder
Friday April 29
Aimee Leptick
Sharla Krenzel
Monday May 2
Christine Blessing
Cat Noonan
Tuesday May 3
Sarah Overton
Wednesday May 4
Faith Essenburg
Lesley Storts
Thursday May 5
Ellen Ault
Friday May 6
Kate Basti
Kate Lyons
Monday May 9
Cindy Guch
Name: Lucy
Tuesday May 10
Marija Vujcic
Isabel Kelly
Lamb and Wolfie
Wednesday May 11
Samantha Green
Tara J Curtis
Thursday May 12
Samantha Dorn
Maja Wlusek
Friday May 13
Jemima Flendt
Kerry Smith
Thats Sew Kerry
your mini is lovely. I love the fabrics you chose to put together.
ReplyDeletequilting dash lady at comcast dot net
Lovely design - love the pinks!!!
ReplyDeleteYour block is great! It is dynamic as a chuck Norhara block. I saw from one of your older blogs that you were making some of her blocks. She has so many wonderful pieced blocks that would be perfect for paper piecing and which are so unique and one of a kind.
ReplyDeleteI am making her blocks also. My color palette is composed of subtle aquas, peaches, butters, and mints-not the usual colors. In your previous post you said you wanted to hear from others making Chucks blocks and you can see mine at:
pamspaintboc.blogspot.com