Ocean Waves

This one has been on my list for ages. I love it in all it’s variations.

Several weeks ago, I spent a Saturday at Island Quilter with Katie and a great group of quilters that had come for her HST class. One had a copy of the latest Denyse Schmidt book, and Katie suggested we give the Ocean Waves pattern a try.

From home, I had pulled several red and aqua prints with no plan on what I would be making. I also had a bolt of Kona Snow stashed in the trunk of my car (doesn’t everybody?), so I was set. A little re-calculating and I had a block size I could live with (10″ instead of 6″).

I started with the reds, and got about this far during the afternoon:

I finished a few more blocks before Quiltcon, and I even thought at this point I might have a plan (this isn’t it):

It spent several weeks on the wall, and then into a project box while I kept making blocks. 48 blocks, with 12 HST in each.

Which I’m guessing means about 50% of the time in this quilt is trimming squares. Nearly 600 of them.

Yesterday I sewed and pressed the squares for the last 15 blocks. I also cleared the design board of other projects, and put this one back up. I’m betting it’ll go pretty quickly from now on.

I’m anxious to get it finished, especially since I have the backing fabric. This lovely Notting Hill Pristine Poppy from Joel Dewberry is perfect!

I’m already planning the next one. I do think it will be scrappy. Might need more Kona Snow……..

Another day, another scrap quilt

Two sort-of finishes this week, and they couldn’t be more different. The first is this crazy, scrappy Irish Chain:

I started the blocks at retreat in January, but I was late ordering the red for the alternating blocks and didn’t have it with me. I tried, and failed, to make it work with a teal dot. Kona Lipstick was the only thing that would do. I’m so happy with how it came out.

Last Friday I picked up a beautiful Robert Kaufman flannel from Island Quilter for the back (among other things), and I have a plan for the quilting (new pattern boards make me happy!)

Even so, it’ll have to wait a little longer to be really finished. There’s a major pile ahead of it.

One less in the pile today, though. Tumbler is quilted and off the frame.

Still having a debate about whether to square the edges or just do a single binding and leave blocks intact. A little more work, but a lot more fun. So I guess there’s really no debate at all…….

The other thing happening in the studio the past couple weeks is a MAJOR reorganization of the sewing room. I’m not ready for the great unveiling yet, but how about a little sneak peek?

All my fabric is in one place. ALL MY FABRIC IS IN ONE PLACE! I could die of happiness now.

I’m such a organization geek.