Going Neutral

This year I opted for 4 different RSC projects.  All of the colours to date have worked well with the blocks but light neutrals will be a challenge.  Here's what I found in my stash.

Not much variety and some of the fabrics have been around for at least twenty years.  I just may use some of them up this month.  I will use the wrong side of one of the fabrics to give it a lighter look.

Before putting the blue blocks into the project bins I put all the blocks up on the design wall to check them out.

The Cracker blocks were my first choice for a project.  

The blues add a lovely spark to the layout.  

I'm not sure how the light neutrals will play with the rest of these blocks.

My second project is nine patches with alternate hourglass blocks.  

The hourglass blocks are low contrast white and cream.  

My fear is that the light neutral nine patches will be lost with the alternate blocks.

Now when I look at the H blocks I think the light neutrals will work with the yellow ones to create some lighter areas in the layout.  Bonus!

My last project is the tumbling blocks.  

If you look at the neutrals photo you'll spot the white and grey pieces on one of the neutrals.  

I think using the wrong side of the fabric will work.

Before putting the blues away I made a few little monkeys.  These little guys will join the others to make a grand total of 50 little monkeys.  How many will I need to make a lap quilt?  I'll have to do some math to figure that out.
Linking up with Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Bye Bye Blues

The Row by Row challenge from 2015 is getting closer to completion.  Two more blocks were added to the waterfall and beach chairs. First up is the offering from The Quilt Place:

I love the silhouetted image of the blue heron scouting for his supper.  

The second was from the Hobby Horse and offered one of the styles that the shop is known for and that I tried for the first time.  Clearly if I'm to make other blocks like this I'll need a workshop to figure how to layer the colours.  It's a crayoned row and not quite finished.  The flower tops and outline embroidery are missing - a job for a handwork day.

                                                                          

The "H"blocks in blue are among my favourite this month.  I love the intensity of these bright blues.

The nine patches are cut and waiting to be pieced.  Last night I prepped the English paper piecing tumbling blocks.  Lots of handwork left to bring blue to finish and only three days left. The last minute dash for a July finish is on. 

How did your blue July finish up?  Linking up with SOSCRAPPY and looking forward to reading about your blues.

Blue Skies shining on me

Since the blue colour was announced for July we've had beautiful blue skies up our way.  It's been wonderful working in the garden, dining outdoors and taking an evening stroll.

My goal has been to finish the 2015 Row by Row blocks and I am happy to say another one has made the design wall.  This is a cute little beach scene that proved to be quite popular with Row by Row enthusiasts.  So here it is cool sands, blue water and fair skies.

This is a 9.5 by 36.5 row that will join the others in a quilt or stand alone as a wall hanging.  

Three of  my RSC projects were prepped early in the week and one was crossed off the list. 

The blue Cracker blocks came together nicely.

Linking in with Soscrappy and looking forward to see what  other RSC work has been completed in beautiful cool blues.

The last of the yellow

I must thank two fellow bloggers for their inspiration to finishing off the week with yellow.  Last week Kathy posted her little sprouts and shared the link.  I followed and used up a few of my 2.5 inch squares.  I think I must have been anticipating blue for July.  Love the little pops  of blue in some of the scraps.  This may just be the start of something.  They were fun and quick to make .

The second blogger, also a Cathy at Cathy's Crazy by Design, suggested making the pineapple.  It used up 1.5 inch bits and I may just make a few more for a sunny tablerunner.



These two blocks round out my yellow work and as I said I must have been anticipating blue because I pulled out this Row by Row Experience project from 2 years ago and started to put  it together.  The theme two years ago was Water.  Just love this cascading waterfall.


My last little project is one I picked up on this year's Row by Row Experience. A skinny little runner with the cutest message.

And now I'm off to celebrate Canada Day 150.  Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadian bloggers.  Don't let the showers stop you from celebrating Canada's 150th birthday.

Hopping over to Soscrappy later today to see how everyone else wrapped up Yellow.  

Wrapping up the Yellow

I can't believe I've got all the yellow projects finished with a few days to spare.  Usually I'm scrambling on the last day and there have been months where the English paper piecing didn't get finished but this month not only did I finish the yellow but I also finished the multi coloured and green English paper pieced tumbling  blocks.  






A few monkeys got finished  up this week too; I'm now at 42 little monkeys hanging out on the design wall.  These little blocks are so bright and colourful; they just make me smile.  Linking up with Soscrappy and the rainbow scrap challenge.

Monkeying Around

Well my iris finally opened up and she's a beauty. (Pardon the weeds in the photo, I was waiting for another bag of mulch to be delivered before getting rid of all the weeds in this part of the garden.)

Within two days, the rest of the buds on this iris and the others also were open.  They added a lovely sunny touch to this corner of the garden.

Now on to quilty things.  The nine patch/hourglass combinations are finished in yellow.

I used up a few 1.5 inch strips to make these but had to cut into a bigger scrap to finish the required12 blocks for the quilt I plan to make.

And then it was time to let the monkeys loose again.  I am having too much fun playing around with the possibilities.  I discovered a bin full of strips tucked in a corner last week and took time on Monday to cut them into either the 2.5 or 1.5 inch strips.  I now have so much to choose from but one thing remains constant - that yellow centre square.

The dotty green fabric just makes me smile.

On Wednesday a group of quilty friends and I went to CQA and I'd like to share a few scrappy quilts with you.

Slab triangles put together to create this interesting design.

This Colour Wheel piece was so interesting.  The centre section was completed like Celtic Knots.

And how is this for scrappy.  I liked the use of neutral grey sashing and white in the blocks.

Now this one  took some thought to get the transition blocks just right.

By the way, thought you might to like to see Best in Show -------

The embroidery, bead work and other embellishment on this piece was incredible.  

That's all from me this week. Hopping over to visit with scrappy quilters over at Angela's blog link up

English Paper Piecing

What do you do when it's too hot to do much of anything on a hot, humid Sunday afternoon?  Pull out the English Paper pieced tumbling blocks and find a quiet spot  in the shade.

Oh my,  I really do have to get in for a manicure next week.

Multicoloured blocks are pieced, now on to the green and yellow.