Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt {Sew Along Months 4 - 11}

Been crazy busy with quilts and travels so I've neglected sharing my SVBAQ monthly blocks. 

I was going to do a post about each individual block, but I think for the sake of time and space I'm going to share each of the blocks here. 

Month 4 - Star of the East

Star of the East was a quick and easy block to stitch together. 

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Macaw

Flowers: True Colors - Making Waves in Sienna & 

Lady Bug in Mustard by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Leaves: Elizabeth - Bats in the Belfry in Tart by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Stem: Elizabeth - Bats in the Belfry in Tart by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Month 5- Yellow/Pink Tulip

For the Yellow/Pink Tulip I chose to leave out the yellow and focus on the pink. My original intention was to fussy cut the center of the tulips so that the Queen Elizabeth's hair would be the base of the center portion of tulip, but I mixed up the tips of the center piece when I ironed the wash away paper to the fabric. It turned out nice despite my plans mess up.  This was another quick and easy block. 

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Sky

Flowers: True Colors - Daisy Buds in Fuchsia by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics & 

Elizabeth - 16th Centry Selfie by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Leaves & Stems: Elizabeth - Chain Mail in Plum by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Month 6 Tree of Liberty of the United States

As I studied this block I found the layout of the branches a bit odd, so I changed the layout of the branches so that at least to me it seemed a little more natural. For this block I made all my circles using a large washer I got at Home Depot. My only problem was that my circles were bigger than the original circles and I couldn't follow the original layout. I had to find a way to spread the branches and circles out more than I had planned on doing. With Aunt Reen's advice I used tiny applique pins to hold each circle in place until I had everything right where I wanted it and could glue it all in place. This has become one of my favorite blocks. If you look closely you'll see some bats and an owl hiding out.

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Orchid

Flowers:Variety of fabrics from the Elizabeth and True Colors Collections by Tula Pink for 

Free Spirit Fabrics
Limbs & Trunk: True Colors - making Waves in Olive by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Month 7 - Tiger Lily

The orange in the block is almost too perfect for the Tiger Lily block.

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Orchid

Flowers: Elizabeth - Ship Shape in Plum by Tula Pink For Free Spirit Fabrics &

True Colors - Lady Bug in Mustard by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Leaves: True Colors - Daisy Buds in Grass by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Stem: True Colors - Mini Owl in Mint Julep by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Month 8 - Bouquet

For the Bouquet block I decided to use a variety of fabrics to bring together a wide variety of the Elizabeth and True Colors collections I'm using the quilt. The only thing I wish I had done was to have threaded the stems of the flowers through the ribbon so that it would appear as though it were tied around all of them. It would have taken a little more effort to accomplish this type of layering than I was up to doing when I was working on this block.

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Orchid

Flowers, Stems & Vase: Variety of fabrics from the Elizabeth and 

True Colors Collections by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics 

Bow: Yellow Solid Scrap from Fabric Stash

Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Month 9 - Sunflower

This has become another of my favorite blocks! Instead of making individual points around the sunflower, upon the advice of another quilter, I divided the points/petals into two separate pieces. On one was the points on the other the rounded petals. By doing this it gave me more room to manipulate the fabric around each of the points and petals. I was concerned that the green in the leaves was going to be close to the background green, but this one turned out to be a perfect contrast. Love this one.

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Olive

Flowers: Elizabeth -Tudor Windows in Sky by Tula Pink For Free Spirit Fabrics &

True Colors - Lazy Stripe in Amber by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics & 

Solid Yellow scrap from my stash
Leaves & Stem: True Colors - Making Waves in Olive by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Month 10 - Moolon Lily

Definitely among my favorite blocks.

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Thistle

Flowers: Elizabeth - Bats in the Belfry in Plum and in Sky by Tula Pink For Free Spirit Fabrics &

True Colors - Lady Bug in Abyss and in Lava by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Leaves: Elizabeth - Bats in the Belfry in Tart by Tula Pink For Free Spirit Fabrics
Stem: Elizabeth - Pearls of Wisdom in Tart by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Month 11 - Yellow Tulip

On the original block there was a green piece was laid between the petals and the center section leaving the green showing. I preferred the layout of the yellow/pink tulip from month 5 to this layout so I made that small adjustment when I made the applique pieces and kept the green piece as the base behind each flower.

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Hyacinth

Flowers: True Colors - Lazy Stripe in Amber by Tula Pink For Free Spirit Fabrics &

Solid Yellow Scrap from my Stash
Leaves & Stems: Elizabeth - Ship Shape in Tart by Tula Pink For Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

 Pop on over to the SVBAQ - Sew Along blog HERE to see all that's happening with the Sew Along. It's not too late to join in the fun, while you're there you can pick up the pattern for the quilt and join in the fun. All the proceeds from your pattern purchase benefit the Virginia Quilt Museum.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing in my quilting journey
God Bless & Happy Quilting!
Marcia  

Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt {Sew Along Month 3 - Mountain Laurel Block}

I can't believe we're already on month four of the sew along and I totally missed blogging about about our Month 3 December block - the Mountain Laurel, and I have so much I want to share with you.  I absolutely adore this block, especially the little heart shaped flowers.
They are just so dainty and sweet.  

photo credit - Pamela Wynfield

So far on all the blocks I've used the back basting method for preparing all of my applique pieces. I'm using the Wash-Away Applique paper from C&T Publishing as my base, ironing it onto the wrong side of the fabric and then using water soluble fabric glue to temporarily baste the seam allowance down until I hand stitch it in place.

In the past when I've needed to line up pieces on an applique block I've used the window. Except that I've found the window to be really inconvenient when I'm working with lots of little pieces.  I've also used my clear acrylic sewing machine extension table with a light under it which works great when I'm in my sewing room. But I wanted to hang out with my hubby in the living room watching Andy Griffith or The Twilight Zone and needed a solution that was easy to transport. Sitting right beside me was my clear Art Bin with all the pieces for this Sew Along....light bulb moment!!

photo credit - Pamela Wynfield

Why not use the flashlight app on my phone!?! I could put the phone inside (above photo) the bin and tape the pattern on top of the bin (photo below).  

photo credit - Pamela Wynfield

After finding the center of my fabric block, by folding it in half twice,  I used a water soluble marking pin to mark the center of the fabric.

photo credit - Pamela Wynfield

Then I lined up the center of the fabric with the asterisk marking the center of the pattern and pinned the fabric to the pattern.  Then I could move the light inside the box to see the area I wanted to work on and glue the pieces in place.  

photo credit - Pamela Wynfield

I glued 3-4 pieces to the background fabric at a time, starting with the lowest layers.

I use this same light box method when tracing the shapes onto the Wash-Away paper.  First I number the pieces on the pattern in the order I need to stitch them in place. Then I flip the pattern over and write all the numbers on the back of the pattern.  After rewriting the numbers on the back I leave the pattern facing backside up and tape it to the box and place my light inside the box.  I place a sheet of Wash-Away paper with the rough side (glue side) down so that I can trace the pieces onto the smooth side of the paper. By tracing from the backside of the pattern I've reversed the pattern so that when the paper is ironed to the wrong side of the fabric all the pieces are correct. Once all the pieces are traced onto the Wash-Away paper I remove the pattern from the box and flip it over and re-tape it in place so that the right side of the pattern is now facing up.

photo credit - Pamela Wynfield

Block Details:

Background fabric: Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics in Orchid

Flowers: Elizabeth - Astraea in Tart by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Leaves: True Colors - Daisy Buds in Grass by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Stem: Elizabeth - Bats in the Belfry by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics
Started with a 17-1/2" background square trimmed to 16-1/2" square.
Thread: 50wt. Aurifil

Pop on over to the SVBAQ - Sew Along blog HERE to see all that's happening with the Sew Along. It's not too late to join in the fun, while you're there you can pick up the pattern for the quilt and join in the fun. All the proceeds from your pattern purchase benefit the Virginia Quilt Museum.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing in my quilting journey
God Bless & Happy Quilting!
Marcia

Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt {Sew Along Month 2 - Iris Block}

I'm really enjoying working on the blocks for this quilt each month.  I'm especially enjoying the process of choosing fabrics for each block, finding the coordinates from the Tula Pink collections I'm working with that play well together as well as the colorful background fabrics I've chosen.

November aka Month 2 of the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt Sew Along was the Blue Flag or Iris Block. I was a bit puzzled at when I first saw the name Blue Flag for this block as it appeared to me to be an Iris. I did find it interesting to learn Blue Flag was just another name for Iris. Iris' are one of my favorite flowers in the garden. I was a bit sad to see that there were no Iris anywhere on the property at our new place when we moved in, yet even after two years here I haven't managed to get any planted....too busy quilting I guess, well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I made a couple of changes to the layout of my block from the original. I took the stems for the side shoots and extended them down into the bulb instead of having them come out from the stem so abruptly. I thought it seemed a bit more natural if those additional buds came up from the rhizome. The difference is very subtle and barely noticeable, though I like the change.

Original Blue Flag block

Background Fabric Designer Essential Solids - Hyacinth

Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt - Sew Along Progress

Pop on over to the SVBAQ - Sew Along blog HERE to see more blocks from others participating in the sew along.  While you're there you can pick up the pattern for the quilt and join in the fun. All the proceeds from your pattern purchase benefit the Virginia Quilt Museum.

I'm off to create a label for my son's Graduation Quilt, he'll be impressed that I'll be giving it to him when he comes home for Thanksgiving (only 6 months after he graduated).  Pictures and the story behind the quilt coming soon. 

Thanks  for stopping by and letting me share my quilting adventures with you!
You're invited to visit my online fabric shop at www.littlepinkrose.com where everything is 30% off with the coupon code on the home page.  

God Bless & Happy Quilting!

Marcia

Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt - Sew Along Month 1

October first marked the beginning of the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt Sew Along (SVBAQ) hosted by the Virginia Quilt Museum.  The sale of the pattern helps support the Museum and the beautiful work they are doing.

The full Pattern is available through the SBVAQ - Sew Along Blog HERE.

Two amazing and inspiring quilters, Doreen aka Aunt Reena and Dawn aka Collector With A Needle, will be walking/blogging us through this 23 month Sew Along, their information is below: 

Aunt Reen's Place

http://auntreensplace.blogspot.com

 

Collector With A Needle

http://collectorwithaneedle.blogspot.com

Since I heard about the quilt along I've been contemplating what fabrics I would use for this quilt.  I like modern bright and fun prints and wanted to do something that would be unique and even a bit out of the ordinary.  I chose to use a combination of two of Tula Pink's more recent collections, Elizabeth and True Colors.  For my background fabrics I've chosen to use Designer Essential Solids by Free Spirit Fabrics that coordinate with Tula's collections. 

All of these fabrics are currently available in my online shop at www.littlepinkrose.com.

 I'll be making a couple of changes to my version of the quilt.  First I'm turning the blocks on the top two rows so that they're all right side up.  The other change is that I won't be making the center Rainbow block, it just didn't speak to me, so I've moved the Liberty Tree block to the center position and made a fourth pineapple block to have the requisite 25 blocks.

I made two photo copies of the pattern cover and cut out the blocks that I needed to shift around so I could have an image of how my quilt will be laid out when it's finished.

The new layout for my version.

October 1st Aunt Reen revealed that block one is the three pineapple blocks. Link to that blog post here: http://svbotanicalquilt.blogspot.com/2015/10/pineapple-blocks.html

Here are my four 16" pineapple blocks.

Background fabric Designer Essential Solid - Macaw

Background fabric Designer Essential Solid - Macaw

Background fabric Designer Essential Solid -Aqua

Background fabric Designer Essential Solid -Aqua

I'm having a great time working on this quilt project and already looking forward to November 1st when we find out what which will be the block for month two. I invite you to check out the SVBAQ - Sew Along Blog, order your pattern and join me in this wonderful botanical adventure!

Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my quilting adventures with you!

God Bless & Happy Quilting,

Marcia