RED, Owls, Friendship Stars

RED is done, washed, blocked, and folded and put away.  I'm pleased with how it turned out.  For the last scrappy border, I quilted a separate design in each chunk - for interest and practice.  Some of the designs are not good for entire quilts but I still like to use them, here and there -- good practice for me.  Some worked well, some not so great - oh well.  It gives the viewer something to look closer at (whoops, dangling preposition ...)  The triangles were kept in one consistent configuration.

For the record, this pattern is called Jewel Box, Buckeye Beauty, Blue Ridge Beauty and a few more.  It is among the easiest designs, can be used in a great variety of ways, producing remarkabley different end product.  Even now, I'm thinking it would be wonderful in blue!  It's about 65" x 75".

For Lori, in South Dakota, who asked about what fabrics I used.  I can't say I used anything specific, but do notice most of the reds are small scale, and the lights are creams and whites, some with bits of color in them.  This truly was scrappy - I didn't buy anything for the top.  A couple of the reds do NOT "go" but again, they are what gives the quilt character.



 And, once again, here is one of the screech owls.  I happened to be under one of them when it "erped" up a pellet.  Yes, I was the lucky victim.  We were fearful that the neighborhood fireworks would scare them off, but nope, they are still here.  (It seems that Kodak does not "fix" owl red eye - must be something about their eyes different than human eyes.  LOL) 

Here are some friendship stars our local quilt group is making for a quilt for RSVP, Retired Senior Volunteer Program.  The small bit of fabric in upper right is our focus fabric.  It was GREAT for a focus fabric but no longer looks good as a border.  I think we are making 120, 6 inch blocks, all scrappy. 

RED, top nearly completed

I'm adding the border today - these pieces are only laid down - some of them need  adjustment in length.  I had planned another similar border, but it was getting too large.  This one will be about 63 x 75.  Blocks are 6 inch finished, first light border finishes as 1.5, triangles finish at 3, and last border finishes at 3.  If you are new to triangles for a border, be sure you plan the layout first before sewing them - sometimes those little rascals trick you!

For those of you who struggle with color choices, what fabrics?, will this match,? is that too light?, etc. The only fabric that I had questions about, was a pinky/yellow-y Valentine heart-type fabric and you guessed it, it's the piece that gives the quilt punch and interest.  So, LESSON # 846, don't fuss and fiddle and overthink your fabric choices --  pick a pallette and then JUST GOOOO FOR IT!   IMHO, this quilt BEGS to be scrappy!!!  You simply need lights and darks.

All fabric was from stash.  8-)  This is sometimes called Jewel Box, or Buckeye Beauty, Quiltville has one called Blue Ridge Beauty.  This is a VERY versatile block, so simple, yet design options are endless!  I've used it for a great border.