penny-studionotes-2

I wrote here about the baby quilt I made where most fabrics were white and one color.  The twins were born on August 17, and the quilts are now on their way to them.  I made quilts a while back for another set of twins, doing similar patterns but different colors.  This time I used the same fabrics, but different patterns.  I did put a different color striped binding on each--yellow on the rectangles and gray on the quarter-circles.  Here are the two side by side: I did simple straight-stitching for the quilting on the first one, but on the rectangles, I did free-motion quilting.  Not generally my forté, but I do like how this one came out. And here's the top with the rows horizontal (which is how I composed it) instead of vertical (as in the photo above).

I sometimes leave the YMCA at sunset time, and enjoy the view to the west of the facility.  But last week, I was awed by the color in the clouds of the eastern sky, opposite a nice but not unusual sunset in the west. The clouds were lit, making beautiful mixtures of pinks, lavenders, and blues. Here are several of the photos I took, made large for your viewing pleasure. I've printed out copies to make into cards. I'm also wondering if the photo could be repeated and manipulated in a way to make an interesting design for fabric. I'm doing a Photoshop course online that includes guidance on the process, so I may give it a try.

For a couple of years now, I've been buying fabric that is white with just one other color, in a range of "other colors"; the bin above shows much of it. I started out thinking that I would make simple nine-patch blocks with the fabrics alternating with white, and made up some sample blocks, but wasn't thrilled. I kept my eye open for other possibilities, and finally landed on this quilt by Kate Conklin that uses a variable-sized rectangles spaced with white.  I made up a sample with my fabrics, adding an occasional solid color to replace a white spacer. Then, before I got going on this, I was looking for something to make into an applique project that I could easily carry around when travelling. Since most of the fabrics have dominant white background, I could precut a simple shape, baste it to a square, and only have to bring white thread with me, rather than trying to match all the colors.  I started with variations on a square shape, but didn't like any of th...