Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 6

Here we are, at the halfway point in the Kaleidoscope Block of the Month! I get so excited every time I finish another block and add it to my collection of finished blocks. That feeling grew when I placed the two blocks from month 6 up on my design wall. I can't wait to finish all of them and play with the layout a bit.

This first block is fun because of the super narrow pinwheel formed in this block. I can't help but love the thin orange lines outlining the pinwheel. I love adding thin lines around elements to really emphasize a feature and make it stand out.

The color combo in the second block this month is really fun and cheery to me. You could have a lot of fun with depth here, using the darkest fabric where the plum is and working out to the lightest fabric to create a 3-D effect.

Download the pattern now on Craftsy and don't forget to check out all of the other blocks below. Be sure to share your creations on Instagram using #KaliedoscopeBOM too.

Check out the previous months too:
Month 5Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 5

Welcome to month five of the Kaleidoscope Block of the Month! I have to say, I'm loving how quick all of these blocks are coming together. An hour or so in my studio and I can have a block done. I love projects like that where I can spend a short amount of time sewing and see great results. With work being extremely busy right now, I need more of those projects in my life.

The first block this month is really fun and different than some of the other blocks we've done. It definitely has a more geometric feel to it than other blocks. Those of you that know my style know that I love some good geometric elements.

The second block for month five is super simple yet dramatic. I'd love to see someone use a great fussy cut print in the dark teal here. It's a larger piece compared to many of the other blocks we've made, so it's perfect for showcasing a fun print. Or, if there's one color that you love and want to highlight, this is the place to do it. There's no coincidence that teal is my favorite color and it's highlighted the most here.

Download the block on Craftsy today to join along. Don't forget to use the hashtag, #kaleidoscopeBOM and share your creations!

Check out the previous months too:
Month 4
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Picchu Boo

Almost a year ago I took a trip of a lifetime to Peru to celebrate graduating from graduate school. One of the most memorable parts of the trip was when I visited Machu Picchu. I took thousands of photos during the ten day trip, but this photo was one of my favorites.

I knew it had to be turned into a quilt, so when we announced the solids challenge in the Boston Modern Quilt Guild, I decided this was my opportunity to make this into a quilt.

Not wanting to do an exact interpretation or make an art quilt, I started cutting a ton of 1" strips out of five different brown fabrics and sewed them together. I ended up making three different groups of these brown strips, one with the strips horizontal, one vertical and one on the diagonal. I varied the width and length of all three as part of my interpretation of the photo.

I decided on a teal background instead of a more natural green that's found in nature. Again, this was my way of modernizing the quilt and avoid looking too much like an art quilt. When it came time to quilt it, I knew I wanted to quilt straight lines opposite the direction of the brown strips. It took me a little while to settle on echoing the brown sections, which ended up giving the quilt a 3-D look.

I used an Art Gallery print from my stash on the backing that I thought went well with the top. I quilted it using gold and teal Aurifil threads. The batting is Quilters Dream Cotton Select. The solids are Michael Miller Cotton Couture.

Overall, I'm pleased with this quilt and it will definitely remind me of my trip to Peru every time I look at it.

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 4

Can you believe that we're 1/3 of the way through the kaleidoscope BOM now? I know I can't. The flowers are starting to bloom here in New England. It also means I can sew with the windows open in my studio, which is exactly what I did when sewing these blocks together.

This first block is fun. It uses a gradation of fabrics from dark to light, outside in, to create depth and movement. I tried making a scrappy version of this block and it created a much different effect. I happen to like the gradation in this block, as I'm getting enough of a scrappy feel with the variation of fabrics in the quilt blocks.

As you can see, we have a theme this month with flying geese. In this block, the geese are going away from the center of the block. You could also make this one scrappy if you wanted that look. Below is the same block in different fabrics. I think I'm going to use the aqua block above because I like the contrast in the aqua and the background more, but I do love the purples and lemon colors together in the block below. This just goes to show you how changing up the fabrics can make a big difference in the final product.

Want to download these blocks and join along? Check out the Craftsy page here. Don't forget to share your work using the hashtag, #kaleidoscopeBOM.


Check out the previous months too:
Month 3
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection

Kaleidoscope BOM - Month 3

Can you believe we're already onto month three of the Kaleidoscope BOM? It feels like New Years 2016 was just the other day. I'm so excited about these two blocks because they start to get a little more detailed, which adds a new layer of dimension to these blocks. 

This first one is so cool to me. I love the way the orange in the middle creates a pinwheel, but it also adds a ton of depth to the lemon star. The plum secondary background adds a cool dimension to this block as well. I love the effect of the kaleidoscope pieces extending into the background as an optical illusion. The quilting could really enhance this when we're done. 

The second block for month three is also so fun. This one has a great out of space vibe to it. Maybe it's the fabric selection or the angles of the center of the star and the star itself, but I feel like I'm on Space Mountain going through the galaxy on a space ship. This just goes to show you how the fabric choice and pattern can really make a block pop. 

If you want to download these blocks and join along in our BOM, hop on over to Craftsy. And remember, if you make any, make sure to share them on social media using #KaleidoscopeBOM

Check out the previous months too:
Month 2
Month 1
Fabric Selection