Island Paradise & Singer 15-91

Island Paradise

I don't live in a tropical area but I certainly love tropical flowers. This large hibiscus fabric is bright and cheerful, so I chose complimentary prints in colors to match. Luscious melon, bright lemon and fuchsia, soothing green and black are bracketed with cream.

I laid out the design in EQ8, moving colors around for balance. I repeated the layout on my design board, sewing the squares, rectangles and quarter square units into strips. After I finished all the strips, I sewed them together for the center section. I added a green 1” border, then featured the large print as a wide border, plus backing/binding.

I quilted the center on our newly restored Singer 15-91, and boy does he sew a pretty straight stitch. I followed a ruler to space long rows 1½” apart, using pale gray thread. On the borders I switched back to Janome to ruler quilt a braided design. Island Paradise finished out at 60” square.

Dies used: 

Blue Wren 6015 1½” strips
Accuquilt
55160 Rectangle 4½” x 8½”
55018 Square 4½”
55047 Quarter Square Triangles 4½”
55488 Strip 6”


NOW, the Singer: I found him on Facebook Marketplace for $50, in a basic cabinet. We already had a 15, but needed parts, so off to Kentucky we went. Turns out this one was in better shape, so Jerold tackled it first. The cabinet lid hinge was broken off, likely because the swing-arm support didn't work. While waiting for new hinge, he took apart the motor, cleaned, lubed, oiled everything. No other adjustments needed, timing was perfect.

Check out the shine! 

Born in November 1948, this Singer has lovely trefoil decals. The few dings and scratches give him character. We cleaned, polished and waxed machine and cabinet, added an LED light and fixed swing-arm. We named him Woodrow, after Captain Call in Lonesome Dove.

Water And Sun

Seaside

Shades of aqua and yellow remind me of water and sun, the beach, and tropical paradise. My two newest quilts feature these colors.

The first, Seaside, is my version of the Speedwell pattern. Light shades of yellow, aqua, gray and white blend beautifully for a cool refreshing twin bedspread. The design reminds me of Mediterranean tile. I love the way the blocks spill over into the border in slightly darker colors. 

The center is quilted in straight channels. Borders have three serpentine rows, intersecting at the corners. I added an extra border to make the final size 78” square.

Seaside

Almost Square is a brighter quilt using large hot yellow and intense aqua squares and rectangles, split by contrasting white strips. Fabric from my new stash in chevrons, dots, prints and checks give this one a more modern feel. It's quilted with an overall scalloped stitch.  Finished size of 44” x 54” is good for a throw, child's quilt, or wall hanging.

Almost Square

I'm using both in my spare bedroom, along with newly stitched white linen curtain panels. Now I have a beachy retreat for a quiet read or a restful nap. Sounds good, but I have too much sewing lined up to nap. Maybe I'll just sit in there and brainstorm my next design. 

 

We dream in colors

borrowed from the sea.

Tropical Dash

All this warm weather in winter has given me some tropical inspiration. Back in January, I paired brilliant turquoise and coral fabric prints into churn dash blocks set in rows of three to make a colorful, cheery quilt.

For quilting, it seemed right to use bright coral thread in a scallop pattern that looks like waves. The back is one long row of scrap strips, set off center in dark turquoise.  

Finished size is 43” square, perfect for a wall hanging or table topper.

Tropical Dash

Instead of hot chocolate, this 2017 winter calls for coconut rum on the rocks. Hmmm, maybe that's another quilt idea. 

 

True living is

finding paradise

wherever you go.

~Unknown

Find things that shine

and move toward them.

~Mia Farrow