Going Hawaiian!!

Happy Tuesday!

My friend, Sujata, of The Root Connection guessed right!  Go check out her wonderful Christmas quilt.

I'm using a chocolate brown background for my red Hawaiian quilt.  Here is my small sample that I finished.

I treated myself to a Bella Solids fabric swatch card from Anna of Thimbleanna.  She always has something fun going on.

I can really see what the solids look like.  It is just too hard for me on the computer.

I was really able to study the reds and browns.

I also decided to do a little inventory of my solids.  Well, I guess I don't have to buy red for a while, lol.  Or cheddar for that matter.

It was so fun reading what my readers and friends guessed for the red applique' that I decided to do a little comparative test. I just used a raw edge cut out of the little sample and changed the backgrounds.  It's been dreary here, so I had to use indoor light, not the best, but you get the idea.

Green was guessed by Karen, Dawn, Mayleen and Rachael.

Purple was suggested by Karen and Maureen.

Orange was guessed by Kate, Meredith and Sandra - you ladies know me too well!

White was popular with Lori, Karen & Anna.  Sorry it's fuzzy, it did not want to photograph, it kept coming out almost black.

Rachael guessed this - she is a hoot!!

Blue was Janet's pick.

Yellow/Gold/Cheddar was guessed by Kelly, Terry, Donna & Regan.

Quilt Sue guessed black.

Fuchsia/Hot Pink was guessed by Jan and Never Bored.

Lime Green/chartreuse was suggested by Linda and Jan.

(sorry Shirl, I didn't have turquoise).

This was so fun to study.  It is interesting how the value of the red changes when you change the background.

I think this would make a great quilt, actually.

Thanks for playing with me it was Fun!

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!