Friday, December 2, 2011

New Beginnings

I've started 3 new projects and I'm sharing them here today.

First, a special Christmas gift for a dear friend of the family.
Can't tell you who it is yet as it is a secret....ssshhhh

Here are the blocks.  They are a simple square in a square.  These are Jay McCarroll's fabrics.  You remember he was the first winner of Project Runway.


Here is the layout in progress.  I just finished the top and will share it next time - I love these colors for a man.


Here are stars that I'm english paper piecing.  I was inspired by an antique quilt I saw at the New England quilt museum.

I have one more finished, and another started.   They are addictive!




I'm trying to push myself to use interesting colors and patterns.  I'm always so inspired by the women in Australia and they inspired my color choices.

And finally, a first look at half of my Hawaiian quilt project.

The clover white pen worked great on this!  It's very fine and removes with the iron.   This is a test block which I'll probably make into a doll quilt.



I will send a surprise to the first person who can guess correctly what other color fabric I'm using for my Hawaiian.

I'm hoping to Deck the Halls this weekend and do a little sewing too.

Have fun!

32 comments:

Mayleen said...

You've been busy! The second star is my favorite of the three so far. I'm inspired by Australian quilts too and am nudging myself into different color choices too. As for the Hawaiian quilt, I'm guessing its not white because that's too obvious (maybe!). So, I'll guess that you're going to use green.

regan said...

My guess is yellow!

Remember when they went to Jay's home on the Runway show, and Tim walked in and all you could see was STASH! Yay! Yep....he was a quilter! lol

Sujata Shah said...

Love all your projects. I agree, that combo of colors for men is just too perfect! Your antique reproduction has left me drooling! Trying new things is something you do so well. I can;t wait to see more blocks from that quilt.
And lastly, the Hawaiian quilt...Mayleen is right, White is too obvious, Green for me is too obvious too. I just finished my corduroy quilt with red and brown with Lavender. I liked that combination... I am going to say, Brown?

Lori said...

What a fun way to start my day! While looking at your stars I was thinking they had the Australian influence- so pretty!!
Your first quilt is fun and looks perfect for a guy.
I have to go with the obvious- red and white Hawaiian quilt. It's going to be fantastic no matter what color!!

regan said...

Dang! I forgot to say how great the squares quilt is, and I'm totally loving those stars! They do remind me of all my Australian bloggers friends and those wild fabrics and combos they are so good at putting together! I wish I had that stash, and talent! Way to go!

Jan said...

Love those stars! (Is MP making one too?) I totally agree about being inspired by the Australian quilters. They really have developed quite a distinct look, haven't they?
I'm going with hot pink for your Hawaiian quilt!

NeverBored said...

The star blocks have got me thinking about doing more English piecing. I love how yours are turning out. Each one is so interesting. As far as the Hawaiian applique goes...I'm guessing hot pink! I don't know why, it's just the first color that came to mind. Crazy!

Donna~~ said...

Love your stars and the colors are interesting--I like to look at the Australian quilts too--they just have a different look to them! I'm guessing you are going to use a yellow--brighter to gold in color!

Shelley said...

Love love love your stars and how well you used your fabrics in them! Not that I would ever attempt them. When they are done, will you applique them to backgrounds or will they be joined together?

Karen said...

I would guess white but Lori beat me to it.

Dawn said...

Great quilt - that will be an awesome gift.
Your stars are beautiful - you made beautiful fabric selections. The applique is very pretty - I would guess yellow but that's taken - so maybe green for the holidays?

Karen said...

My first guess is green, but maybe purple??

Janet said...

Fun new projects! I love the stars - I can't wait to see more! I'm impressed you're going to make a Hawaiian quilt. I'm going to guess deep blue like the ocean in Hawaii. (wish I was there)

Anonymous said...

Hi Barb - my guess for the Hawaiian quilt is ORANGE ! There does seem to be a pattern of orange popping up in your quilts...
Adore the paper pieced stars - they are gorgeous and I totally agree - quite addictive. EPP makes you look at fabrics in a whole new light; drilling down to how you could fussy cut to create secondary patterns - so much fun...
Groovy squares quilt, love the diagonal arrangement.

Nancy said...

Nice use of those fabrics in the square-quilt. And I love the stars! I like you... you start lots of projects, too. The color in your Hawaiian quilt? I'm going to say fuchsia.

Jan said...

More great projects! Love those stars, but I fear paper piecing. I'm afraid that my stitches would show. Guess I need to give it a try.
Hawaiian applique, hmmm. Maybe the other color is indeed pink, but I've been beaten to that. I will guess lime green.

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Your Hawaiin quilt is going to be so cool. I am going to guess a goldish color, though my first guess was white.
I love how you styled the shot of your stars next to the Featherweight!
Very much "man" colors and a great one at that!

Meredith said...

Do you mind me asking with the stars what thread you are using? How well is teh thread working out (I guess great due to the three blocks),thanks

Meredith said...

Sorry forgot, guessing game, since it is you I would skip white and goto ORANGE!

Nifty Quilts said...

What fun projects. Love your stars and your "man" quilt. I'll look forward to finding out the mystery on the Hawaiian.

QuiltSue said...

I love the "man" quilt - the colours are great.

The star with the pink centre is really beautiful, I love the movement it seems to have.

I think you are going to use black as your other colour for the Hawaiian quilt.

Thimbleanna said...

OhMyGosh! I'm hyperventilating over those stars!!! I SOOO want to make a star quilt -- if I could just sit down and plan one. I can't WAIT to see yours unfold -- how exciting. Did you buy precut diamond pieces or cut your own?

Hmmmm. I'm going with the default. White. For Christmas! ;-D

Rachaeldaisy said...

Fantastic Jay C quilt!! I really like the circles combined with squares. How could anyone not swoon when they see those stars!! I hadn't thought about us Aussies having a different style but then I'm working on a block with little fussy cut scissors at the moment, how funny is that! Lol! my first thought for your Hawaiian was green, I guess I'm in a Christmassy mood, but others have said that so for fun I'll say red/ white polka dots!!

Pat said...

Your pieced stars are fabulous...love the way you placed the pink in the center - everything radiates out.

A friend of mine just finished her Hawaiian applique project - classic red and white and the echo quilting showed up so nicely too. Just sayin' :o)

terry said...

Love the star pieces - I'm also drawn to the Australian quilts and am beginning to loosen up on my color combinations. I quess cheddar. Although, green or white would be the pick for the holidays.

Terry

Anonymous said...

I am going to guess turquoise...no idea why but it just spoke to me.

Love the stars and especially the one with the pink center.

Jay Mc Carroll has great fabrics and here's proof they translate into a great man's quilt! I loved Jay on Project Runway. He grew up about 10 miles from me.He really does come from a family of quilter's /sewers, and it shows in the inspiration for his designs, both clothing and fabric designs.

Shirl~PA

Maureen said...

Three new projects - great way to get the creative juices flowing! I really love the paper pieced stars.
I'm late in this guessing game. Did someone already guess correctly? I don't see purple so I'll go with that as my guess.

Sandra Henderson said...

"Orange" you glad i came by to guess?!?!,,
I have no idea if amyone else has guessed it, tired from orgamizing my fabrics today. 1/3 done, made two trips for storage bins, feels so good! :)
Hope i guessed it, never know with you! Thats a compliment...love you
PRojects!

Linda in NC said...

Love, love, love the stars! They are coming along fabulously. Hm, influenced by my current project's color combo, I'll say chartreuse for the Hawaiian quilt background. Or maybe a nice, neutral gray?

Anonymous said...

Oooooo those stars!!! Fantastic!!!

Lynda said...

The mix of fabrics on your stras is fabulous! I'm in awe of how you've used that Kaffe Fassett - his fabrics don't often play nicely!

MEK said...

Love your English pieced stars Barb! Any tips you'd like to share -I'd love to give them a whirl!