Tropical Punch

Tropical Punch, Useful Remnants 2022

It's a sunny Monday here in Tennessee, but a freeze is due tonight. This week's quilt is meant to chase the chills away.

Eye-catching tropical prints and bright solids combine beautifully in orange peel blocks. Most of the fabrics were gifted to me (Thanks, Mary!) and the rest came from my remnant boxes.

Tropical Punch is 48” square. I enjoyed sewing the curvy pieces and arranging the layout on my design wall. I quilted with white thread in a straight stitch, following the curves to accentuate the design.

Y'all have a good week!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6616 Orange Peel 6”
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

 

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.

Tropical Breeze

Inspiration can come from just one small piece of fabric. This quilt wasn't planned, just a spur of the moment idea on a hot summer afternoon. 

I started with the large scale tropical print, cut into five 8” squares. Then I pulled fabrics of solid yellow and pink paisley to make four Windspinner blocks. Tiny coordinating stripes make a one inch border and binding, framing a 4” marbled aqua border. Tropical Breeze is 32” square.

Creativity continued with the quilting, done in bright yellow thread. I stitched in free motion on the windspinners, using curved lines to echo the fan blades. On the large tropical print, I stitched fairly densely around and inside the leaves and flowers, following the stems and blossoms. 

So much fun...like painting with thread. You can see the detail better on the light yellow back side.  The borders feature serpentine lines, quilted with Elvira ruler.  

I enjoyed this quickie project, especially playing with free motion techniques. I don't think I'll use the dense stitching on a large quilt, but you'll likely see it again on small ones. 

Never stop learning new things!

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6289 Windspinner 8”
6015 Strips 1½”

Accuquilt
55058 Square 8”
55017 Strip 2 ½”
55032 Strip 3 ½”

What inspires you in this life

is what is meant for you.

~Julie Temple

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

Another Excuse To Sew

Summer Garden Paths

During the recent week of 100+ temperatures, I stayed inside as much as possible. I do not like hot weather, at least not that hot. It was a perfect time to indulge my sewing habit. Two new quilts, for wall decor or table runner, are nearly done. I made a pillow from the block I used to experiment with quilting stitches. A couple of new cotton shirts and a breezy summer dress are finished, and I shortened an old but favorite wrap skirt.

I have dozens of quilts, more than enough to cover the beds and walls of my home. I don't need to make new clothes or purses since my closets are already overflowing. I just can't help myself...I love sewing, quilting and creating things out of beautiful pieces of fabric. It's an addiction and I don't want a cure!

Purple Log Stacks & Teal Mixed Squares

Little Garden Square

 “The best thing to do in hot weather is stay inside and play.” –Anonymous

Random Summer Favorites

These are just a few of the things I love about summer. It's a time for being lazy at home, riding around the countryside, and listening to great music. Enjoy and have a safe Memorial Day.

“Saturday in the Park” – Chicago

Icy cold lemonade

Sittin' on the screened porch at dusk watching lightning bugs

“Windy” – Association

Breezy sundresses, sandals, and light cotton camp shirts

A delicious BLT made with Tennessee tomatoes

Fresh home grown veggies right out of the garden

“I'd Rather Ride Around With You” – Reba

Bright tropical island prints and cool sweet pastels 

“Soak Up The Sun” – Sheryl Crow

Juicy sweet watermelon and cantaloupe

Watering flowers in the early morning

“Brandy” – Looking Glass or Kenny Chesney

Reading a romantic novel or a challenging mystery

Homemade ice cream, any flavor

“Summer Rain” – Johnny Rivers

Watching the hummingbirds feed

AIR CONDITIONING!