Birthday Tree and DONE K. Quilt for Luca

I had a birthday recently, and in addition to a nice gift certificate to a LQS, TOGETHER, we bought a small leafed Linden Tree to celebrate. This area is not kind to trees but we've noticed Linden Trees do well. I wanted to stand next to the tree each year to see how quickly or slowly it will grow.

Sentimental here ... we recently had the front porch railing fabricated and installed that you see behind me, and we put HEARTS in the railing! Is that cute or is that cute for two old fogies? The very talented iron man whipped them up along with the railing.

If you can stand any more Kaleidoscope photos ... here is the last border, in black. I wore myself out, thinking what would be suitable, and finally, with impatience, just started drawing/sewing lines, and this is how it turned out (Control + brings it up larger)-- mostly triangles (a few boxes which would have been great also) and I am very pleased! It is one continuous set of STRAIGHT lines, variegated bright thread - no curves - from start to finish. I will ditch stitch in blue thread between the blue and black border. Below is the back - I didn't have enough of anything, but definitely wanted to use the Bears. And I had a limited amount of another that would be kinda similar, but due to inability to count to 49 ( !!!!! ) ran out of that also, and had to find yet a third dotty fabric that is OK. These squares are cut at 10 1/2 inches and I like this method a LOT. A person could go through a lot of stash and just cut squares for backings.

Yes, there are the extra 4 blocks at the bottom I added to make 49.
DONE - and all quilted in swirls, all going clockwise. I really HATE to give this one away.

Bright Kaleidoscope Quilt

Hah - is this bright or is this bright? I used various fabrics already in my stash, but purchased the white with stars and the border black with dots.

Note - there is NO BLENDING OF VALUES IN THIS EXAMPLE.

This next option (below) has a very pink block in the center that I didn't like very much, at least for a boy. It's going to be an 'extra'. (Funny -- it doesn't look bad in this photo.)

And here is my sloppy inner and border audition, with a lime green and light turquoise corner option. I'm liking it a LOT. You will see the kaleidoscope effect (I hope) when the medium value corners are sewn together.)

While the maker can mix up the wedges from block to block, I kept all 8 wedges together from one strip set. (Notice how I avoided getting confused again with the term strata/stratum!) 8-)

I used 6-7 strips in each set, making the first and last strips wider -- 2 1/2 inches. This gives you some leeway in how you place your ruler. The strip in the middle of your strip set frequently appears circular and stands out.

And I DO have enough wedges left over (you get 9 wedges from each WOF strip set) to actually make another row, including the unloved too-pink block. However, this is for a little guy and he doesn't need it larger. Size is approx. 62" x 62".

Kaleidoscope for Luca

Luca is my a nephew, and will be 1 1/2 years old when he gets this. On the left is my focus fabric, and I pulled the colors to make another Kaleidoscope Quilt. Each block will have the same colors, but in different order - that will be interesting. As is often the case, the focus fabric may not be usable on the front as a border -- I'll have to wait and see -- but will be perfect on the back.

How could any block have more color? This should keep him active! LOL
FYI - Any time one uses 5, or 7, or 9 fabrics (an odd number) the middle fabric (red/orange strip) will almost make a circle in the block, and or become very prominent. However, one can cut blocks for several wedges and mix up the wedges to add more variety.