EQ7 Block of the Month 2011

Electric Quilt is running a Block of the Month for 2011. They provide the EQ7 project file for the block and you can then play with fabrics, choose from your own stash, buy new, whatever, and physically make a block, send in a photo and be entered for a drawing. At the end of the year there will be a layout challenge as well. Well, this sounds up my alley! Not too much making, and lots of fun designing--in EQ7...yes I like to do the design part. Well, the January and February blocks have been published-- http://www.doyoueq.com/blog/?p=1993 you can check it out. This block is called January Jumble. I've created two versions. When I saw the block initially I thought it would be fun to create dimension visually with the use of variegated colors and specific placement. The first uses batiks. This allows some variegation even within the same placement creating a more pleasing visual.

Then I found a fabric from Michael Miller by Paula Prass, 'Summer Soree - Best Friend Black' -  in my EQ stash that had this lovely print that fit just perfectly into the center block. Then fussy cut the grey portion and create a lace effect to the flying geese units. The fabric was released in 2009 but I found some online and just need to figure out if I want to completely make this up or not.

Now, take both blocks and set them in an alternating way and here's what you get. I'm calling it "Irish Violets and Lace". Do you see the illusion of a triple irish chain in the background? There are also stars that eminate in the lighter 'lacey' blocks. Fussy cutting the Best Friend fabric in the 2nd border also provides some additional interest. 

This is the small quilt with the original 6" blocks, but it is also beautiful at 9" and 12" blocks depending upon what size of quilt you'd like to make. Sometimes you need to add another column horizontally to get the size you desire. The 6" blocks makes for fairly small pieces to work with. When you enlarge the block the Best Friend fabric doesn't work the same, but there are still interesting affects created.

Today I sent in my February BOM which is called February Frolic.

Check out other Monday Design Walls indexed on Patchwork Times.

p.s. I am undecided about last week's finished top....should I expand it to a twin size and donate it? or truly keep it for a sample of my quilting. I'm not the keeping quilt kind of person (have made over 200 quilts?), but definitely need some samples to show my work. I have several table runners and wall hangings in my studio, and 2 or 3 quilts folded up for clients to check out. Here is my EQ7 draft if I were to expand it to a twin size. The busy green/white fabric is daisies-same as used in the cornerstones in the center. Needless to say it didn't get quilted --mostly due to my indecision on its purpose.