still sewing scraps #2

Heaps happening around here
and so exciting, planning something new with Julie from julielou
 . . . pop back Saturday April 1st to hear all about it

Meantime, here is one quilt top I've just finished and a new project I am loving so far.

I have a couple of gift quilts to make
so I started this weekend with these slightly wonky improv blocks . . .

I have made something like this a couple of times before (see here and here ) but I wanted more of a colourful happy mix focused around my latest purchase, 1/2 metre of Amy Butler's 'Double Fault Floral' in this stunning colour called Cherry, part of her latest 'Splendor' Collection. I just love the colours and that interesting pattern . . . Linking up with Beth for 'main crush Monday' here at cookingupquilts

I made a couple of 10" trial blocks and it all just started to grow from there.

It's been a while since I've used solids in my quilts, they called for some careful pressing.

There is a great post on pressing seams here if you are like me and need a little reminder.

I rotated the quilt a few times, just to check it looked balanced from every angle - a little trick I picked up recently from Kaja at sewslowly.

Well this sure brightens up a dull day.

I thought I'd have a go with quilting wavy lines to really add some texture to those -ve space bits. And then bind with a tried & true b & w stripe, yes? Sharing my improv effort with Kaja and Ann over here for this months Ad Hoc Improv Quilter

And up on my design wall this week . . .

 my new scrappy WiP "ebay on point"

- a Kaffe pattern that has always always appealed to me, from his Caravan of Quilts book 

It's great to be using so many of these fabrics from my scrap basket. The pattern is simple, however I'm finding to get that all important 'contrast' thing-y happening, I am having to juggle bits & pieces around until it's just right. And I'm really trying hard "not to analyze the fabric for its beautiful design but rather, consider each only for its colour."

It's taking me awhile, and thank goodness for the design wall, just wish I had heaps of squares all precut, ready to stick up there, reject, replace . . .

. . . which leads me nicely onto . . . scrap sorting

I've also been busy cutting up extra scrap squares, I guess it's a tidy-as-I-go effort too
- a novel approach for me,
but I'll let you know how it does go.

Linking up with Cynthia here for 'oh scrap'