Page Buttons

Monday, September 20, 2021

Face the Sun and Full Spectrum

It's day three of the Scrappy Improv Quilting blog tour, and today we're finishing up the Single Block Beauties section with a couple of my favorite minis from the book.  In fact, when my publisher required a few different quilt options to be sent in advance for cover photography, both of these were included in the mix.

For the background of the Face the Sun quilt, I pieced my green scraps to create lots of texture.  Including the lighter and darker scraps gives lots of depth, and allows the solid sunflower to really pop.  It really looks like a single bloom standing in a field of sun and shadow.

Because they're small, mini quilts are a great place to add detailed quilting, and I had so much fun doing that on this quilt. In fact, if you're looking for a great place to practice some new free-motion designs, mini quilts are just perfect!  The center of the sunflower is Kona Chestnut, and I knew it needed pebbles to give the illusion of seeds.  Kona Sunflower and Corn Yellow were used for the main part of the flower, and I used the quilting lines to give lots of definition to the petals.  The improv background is stippled, which gives some texture, but doesn't compete with the sunflower itself.

I really wanted the binding to disappear on this one, so creating it with scraps of green allows the binding to blend right into the background.  I pulled this sunny, diagonal yellow and white stripe from my stash for the backing, and the quilting shows up so well against it.  

Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts made her own version of the Face the Sun quilt, and you definitely don't want to miss it! 

Today's second quilt is my cover girl!  Y'all know I love a rainbow.  They're just so much fun, and the interesting block design and crisp Kona White backdrop in the Full Spectrum quilt show off the rainbow beautifully.

Once again, I quilted the heck out of this one.  Each improv color section is quilted with a petal shape (I'm not really sure what else to call that design), and organic straight lines echo the block shape to fill the background, which creates awesome contrast with the curvy lines in the scrappy sections.  I probably had the most fun in the center with that flower though.  

I used this awesome black and white crosshatch fabric on the backing, and I love the rainbow on the back created by the quilting stitches, and this black and white polkadot frames this mini so well.  Adding black to a rainbow quilt creates sparkle and makes the colors sing.

Be sure to head over to Twiggy and Opal to see Jayne's version of the Full Spectrum quilt.  I really love the background she chose for hers!

Then come back this Wednesday to see the next two quilts!  We'll be starting the Simple Shapes section. Check out the full schedule below!

Signed copies of Scrappy Improv Quilting are available in my Etsy shop HERE, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  It is also available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers.  
And shop owners, you can get it from any of the major distributors- Checker, Brewer, United Notions, and EE Schenck.  I hope you'll consider adding it to your library or carrying it in your shop!  :) 

Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Tour Schedule-
9/22- PrismaticAnja @ Anja Quilts
           DownpourNancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- FunkytownVasudha @ Storied Quilts
           Cherub WingsMichelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel WindowKris @ Sew Sunshine
           Winter FrostLeanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- HeartstruckRebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
           Star SpangledChristine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a FeatherPreeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
           Fall FoliageSusan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- OrnamentalGail @ Quilting Gail
            Churn, Churn, ChurnCynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset CrossingKate @ Katie Mae Quilts
             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed UpLinda @ Flourishing Palms
             ShockwaveAnne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up (here!) 



5 comments:

  1. Full Spectrum is one of my favorite quilts from your book, Kelly! I think I have to make it next! Or maybe it will be Face the Sun. Tough decision!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, two beautiful quilts, Kelly! I love the quilting on the sunflower.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So fun to follow along with all the lovelies from your book!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the two different melodies - the patchwork colors and the quilting. Both beautiful singing their own songs, together.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Both mini quilts are lovely. The scrappy binding on the sunflower really works well. I like that idea a lot. My favorite so far of all the quilts has to be the rainbow cover quilt. There's just something about a good rainbow of color.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your comment and for visiting! I read and appreciate every single comment, and I reply to each one as soon as I can. If you don't hear back from me, you might be a no-reply blogger. :)

09 10 11 12
Blogging tips