This year's LibraryPalooza included a bagpiper (who lives up the block from me--it's grand to hear him practice) and two Victorian ladies (portrayed by two of our teen-aged patrons, one of whom is my next-door neightbor). Cha-Cha, the tree frog mascot from Rainforest Cafe, also paid us a visit. Saturday evening DH and I enjoyed an evening out at the Capitol Steps performance at the College of Lake County. We've seen the CS several times. We love the satirical parodies!
Though my evening meetings didn't allow much quilting time, I did finish the bookshelf wallhanging pictured in my post last week -- finish #28 for 2013!Several years ago I coordinated an apple block swap with the BlockSwappers. About the same time I was given a large bag of scraps that included lots of 19th century reproductions. I cut those into triangles and paired them with a cinnamon/cheddar Jo Morton print. (Trust me, squaring up all those HSTs was quite a chore!) These blocks resulted. I have had it in mind that the apples and the 16-patches could be combined. I put them up on the design wall. I'm not convinced yet. What would make the design work -- sashing and cornerstones? Another border? I have more of the cinnamon/cheddar....
Your opinion is welcome this Design Wall Monday! 
The last photo is very promising! I like it!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you will need two more apple blocks and some kind of inner border to be a coping strip to get everything to set together. Maybe that's the place for the extra Jo Morton cinnamon? I don't care for the placement of three darkest burgundy apples being so clumped together, but what about using something that is that dark to become the coping strip and the final border?
I love the pattern and all. Am thinking that I might try it with sashing (cinnamon?) and cornerstones - and I agree about maybe moving some of the dark apples around a bit - kind of spreading the yumminess! Keep the outside border, but I like the idea also of maybe a narrow border between the outside one and the center.
ReplyDeleteI think the issue is some of the apples are too bright or at least their background fabric is. Perhaps a nice tea dye bath would help tone them down. And, I'd use colors from the cinnamon/cheddar for the background and apples for the extra blocks you need. Coping borders in those muted colors would also help. I think the real issue is how jarring some of the apples are compared to the outside border. You can solve those issues though. Should be nice when done.
ReplyDeleteI love the bottom photo. One more column of apples should even things out a bit. No sashing needed. That would be too busy, I think. I love the 16 patch blocks for a border. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI immediately thought of fried apples and my mouth is watering. I guess I know what I am going to have for my mid-morning break. I love these blocks together, it really is apple pie. Great idea and use of "scraps."
ReplyDeleteLove your apple blocks. The two blocks loo great together and I'm a fan of the bright apples mixed in. Try a green inner border. I think I will make an apple crisp today.
ReplyDeleteIf it was up to me.... I'd make two quilts. I love those apple blocks! And HST's are a lot of work, but well worth it!
ReplyDeleteI really like the two sets of blocks together Nann! Perhaps pull some of the apple colors out into another border? Or a tiny sashing of the cheddar between the apples? If you have a good borders book, dig it out and play with some different layouts maybe!
ReplyDeleteMy eye goes up to the upper left... unless you're telling a 'green to ripe' kind of story I would mix the apples up a bit more. I don't mind the combination of the two types of blocks the way they are set. It says autumn to me. I don't know if I'd use an inner border or not. Try it and see what YOU think!
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