2016 Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop

Welcome to Day 3 of the 2016 Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop!

Paintbrush Studio generously sponsored the 2016 New Block Blog Hop featuring their new line of solids, Painter’s Palette. The blog hop hosts, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, and Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, curated the “Ocean Sunrise Palette”, and Paintbrush Studio supplied each participant with a fat quarter bundle.  As always, our hosts put in a lot of time and effort and they're so very appreciated by all of the participants.

I had a lot of fun creating this year's block using the Ocean Sunrise Palette.  My husband and I had recently returned from Hawaii and I kept remembering the ocean view from our condo while playing with these beautiful fabrics.  

Bordeaux is such a luscious color that I wanted to use it as a focal point of the block, thus the jumping dolphin.  For a little extra sparkle, I used a metallic silver thread to outline the dolphin and a metallic rainbow thread to outline the cloud. Here's my block, Ocean Fun.

Ocean Fun

Templates

Ocean Fun Block Directions

From Midnight fabric (dark blue) cut 6 ½” x 12 ½”

From Daydream fabric (light blue) cut 6 ½” x 12 ½”

Sew two halves together using ¼” seam allowance.  Square to 12 ½”

Using the templates provided:

Trace dolphin figure on Bordeaux (purple)

Trace octopus figure on Coral (pink)

Trace sun and starfish on Peach

Trace cloud on White

Arrange the figures on the pieced block, affix using your choice of applique adhesive and stitch around the figures as desired.  

I enjoyed adding a smiley face to the octopus and an eye to the dolphin for a little extra character.  Wouldn’t it be fun to create a child’s quilt of all different sea creature blocks? I really like the versatility of this block, one can easily change colors and placement to suit personal tastes.

Please be sure to check out all the other posts to gather each new block pattern from a variety of wonderfully talented quilting bloggers; and don't forget to enter to win the 1/2 yard bundle of the Ocean Sunrise Palette generously sponsored by Paintbrush Studio.

Monday, March 28th

Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

Jess @Quilty Habit

Silvia @A Stranger View

Cristy @Love You Sew

Kelly @Quilting It Out

Renee @Quilts of a Feather

Bernie @Needle and Foot

Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination

Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe

Mary @Quilting is in my Blood

Diana @Red Delicious Life

Sarah @123 Quilt

Tuesday, March 29th

Host: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs

Kim @Leland Ave Studios

Andrea @The Sewing Fools

Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life

Stephanie @Quilt’n Party

Irene @Patchwork and Pastry

Tish @Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland

Abby @Hashtag Quilt

Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly

Carrie @The Zen Quilter

Wanda @Wanda’s Life Sampler

Jayne @Twiggy and Opal

Wednesday, March 30th

Host: Stephanie @Late Night Quilter

Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts

Shelly @The Carpenter’s Daughter Who Quilts

Amy @13 Spools

Geraldine @Living Water Quilter

Jan @The Colorful Fabriholic

Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio

Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter

Kathryn @Kupitis

Jane @Jolly and Delilah

Josi @Avocado Quilts

Deanna @Stitches Quilting

Lori @SewPsyched!

Many of the blocks are on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/twiggyandopal/paintbrush-studio-2016-blocks/  Thanks to Jayne at Twiggy and Opal for coordinating the Pinterest Board again this year!

As last year, all the featured blocks will be assembled into quilts and donated to charity. Many thanks to Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl for coordinating this effort.

Just for fun, here's a picture from our condo lanai:

Kailua Bay Hideaway

2015 Review and 2016 Starts

Wow, where did 2015 go?  It's interesting looking back to see what quilting projects I completed.  I tend to be so focused on my current project that I forget previous finishes. When reviewing my pictures for the year, I grouped my projects in one folder; as I think it's helpful to track progress.  My husband tells me with each finish, he can see the improvement in my work (of course he's my biggest cheerleader, so ya know).

Jin's 2015 projects

Grandkids QAYG quilts.  One was finished in 2014, one in 2015.

Lotsa pillow practice in 2015!

I am so very proud of this quilt, as it is the first I designed.  It's also special because and I made it as a surprise for my mom.

Oh my goodness, the label about drove me over the edge!  It took me two very frustrating days.

Who didn't make a One Hour Fabric Basket last year?  This was my first sewing experience with canvas, very nice!  I can see many of these in my future.

And since I really liked the fabric, why not make a reversible tote for my youngest niece, who graduated from college with her teaching degree?

A reversible tote for my oldest niece, as we celebrated her birthday and BSN graduation.

Fabric Valentine for my hubby.

OK guys, this was my MONSTER project of 2015. My oldest son was the last to have me make a quilt for him.  (The grandkids were first, then my youngest son.)  I really didn't know this was going to such a difficult pattern (for me). I learned so much the hard way - trial and error, googling, begging for help on my blog.  I learned that not all quilt kits are equal and that not all fabric contained within the quilt kit is equal and not all directions are equal. I also learned to never again use a new type of fabric and a new shape (flannel and chevron in this case) for a project I'm working on without guidance.  It took me a year to complete, with just having to walk away and not touch it for several days at a time. I even got to where I dreaded working on it. It's queen size and I stitched in the ditch for the quilting on my Brother VQ-2400.  

Of course, my Heidi cat was always hanging around to "help".

Quilting frame added to my studio, found on Craigslist.

FMQ practice on the frame.


Completed blocks from the Farm Girl Vintage sew along on my design board.  These will be added to the other blocks I make from the book and be made into a quilt for our bed - my husband is so patient!

Some of my 2015 fabric finds...