Hi, and welcome to my day on the Storm at Sea blog hop! I'm excited to share Petals Provence with you. The Ambassadors are sharing the fabrics in the Surprise wrapping from the July boxes. I love it!
This is such a pretty collection. I do love the crisp blues and clear yellows, but the tjaps (chops) are gorgeous, too. This was designed by Kathy Engle and will be in shops soon, but you may find precuts, now.
I love the delicate florals with vine on the top of this photo from Island Batik, but also, there's a pretty large circular floral. The colors range from pale lemon to darkest navy. and there are dots and petals and so many pretty fabrics. The ambassadors were asked to make a Storm at Sea quilt for this hop, and they have all been outstanding. Please scroll to the end for links to see the others.
This is called Flower in Buttercup.
I've been working on mine, but it's not finished yet. I've had more medical issues and need another surgery, plus the eye surgery didn't work as anticipated and will need to be redone. Medical tests, exams and diagnosis have taken over my life at the moment, but I'm hoping I will be cured after the surgery. If not, radiation or chemo may be needed, but I won't know for another few weeks. Let's just say I'm scared, but hopeful. Mostly, I feel okay, but every once in a while my body tells me it's not fine.
Here's my planned quilt.
I used the sample ideas in EQ8 for their Storm at Sea layouts, and made the blocks 9" so I could use the Accuquilt GO! Storm at Sea BOB die I got a few years ago. If you only do 2 sides of diamonds and small squares, it's 9" but with diamonds surrounding, it's a 12" block. With the yellow and navy, I wanted this to look like a sunny sky, so maybe the day after the storm. It gives me something to look forward to during this medical challenge. I've pieced most of the blocks and have assembled the center row, and parts of the remaining, but need to make 4 more large blocks, and a few more diamonds and small square in a square units. I'm cutting each color as I need, and actually sewing the rows as I go, which is not my usual assembly style (I web the top together in columns and then sew the rows), but because this one has directional blocks (some corner units are different colors) I went with the Get it Done Now plan, lol Here's some of the blocks so far. I do have more, but didn't pin them on for the photo.
It will have 5 rows of 5 main square in a square units, and end with the diamond/small units on the edges. This shows 3 of the 5 rows, and I do have more of the medium blues done. Just need the last corners, and borders. Then I plan to layer it on a royal blue Minkee wide backing and put it on Vanna for a wave or spiral design. I used 18 of the fabrics in the collection, and the White solid that is provided in the Ambassador boxes. The yellow and dark navy in the borders are from the Basics collection, Cornmeal and Marbles Storm. With borders, it will be about 88" square. Of course, I'm using Schmetz microtek needles and Aurifil thread. I have some white Hobb's batting waiting to go, too.
The hardest part was actually deciding on a design. This was my first thought, and then I had about 5 more ideas, and each was good. This won out, because I felt it would showcase the fabric the best, and because the medical challenge happened in the middle of the planning, and I just needed to concentrate on the easiest. I'm sure the other designs will show up here eventually.
I love the movement the straight piecing gives, to make it look like there are curves. It's a fun challenge, and I know there will be more Storm quilts in my future. In the meantime, I'll get this one done soon. Fabrics and thread and the Accuquilt GO! die machine, plus Hobb's batting and Schmetz needles are provided by Island Batik for my use as Ambassador.
Enter to win Island Batik's prize here.
Please follow my Instagram page for more fun inspiration, and follow my blog. I'm working on updating the email list, so please be patient. I'll choose someone who comments to win some Island Batik fabric from me. Do you have something fun planned for the holidays? What's your favorite treat or activity?
Thanks for visiting, and please visit the other Ambassadors. You'll be blown away! Gorgeous projects and designs, and the fabric. Enjoy!
November 8:
Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts
Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter
November 9:
Joanne Hart, Unicorn Harts
Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs
Jennifer Eubank, Archipelago Quilting
November 10:
Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
Janet Yamamoto, Whispers of Yore
November 11:
Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood
Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
November 12:
Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway on the Island Batik blog.
Thanks for visiting!
