March CQJP block - Orange Fan

Day of the Dead Round Robin on CQI

On the CQ I Facebook page, I was invited to join this fun Round Robin.  Here is a photo of my naked block.

Here is the work I did on Debbie's block.

Here is my work on Mary's block

CQJP 2015 February Block - Red to Orange Fan

Here is my second fan.  It has been easy to keep up with the project so far, as I am also stitching the Daily Joyful Embellishments on Facebook with Valerie Bothell.  Each fan gets a stitch from JE, i.e., January was Feather Stitch, and February is Herringbone, etc.  

CQJP 2015 - January Block - Red Fan

Virtual Quilt: Fan Crazy Quilt

Here is a virtual version of the basic blocks for the quilt, made with Quilt Pro for Mac.  I still need to piece the corner blocks.  The ones shown are stock blocks from the Quilt Pro Block Library.  

Fan Block 6 A - Purple to Red

This is the final block of the 12 needed for the basic design.  I still need to piece the four fans for the corners.

Block construction progress

One more to go, plus the four corner fans. 

Fan 5A - Blue to Purple

Fan 4A - Green to Blue

Fan 3A - Yellow to Green

Fan 2A - Orange to Yellow

Fan #1A - Red to Orange Transition

Green Fan #4, Blue Fan #5, Purple Fan #6

Since it will take 12 blocks to complete the rainbow pattern, I will make a transitional block to go in between each of the first 6 blocks.  

Orange Fan #2, Yellow Fan #3 and Green Fan #4

Here are the next completed fans and a photo of the three together.

Red Fan #1

I have had a big bag of new silk tie scraps from Robert Talbot for several years. After seeing a beautiful fan quilt on CQMagOnline, I was inspired to start one. I adapted Allie Aller's Curved Appliqué pattern from her Craftsy class to make the fan blades a bit longer.

I have so much of this silk that this project will hardly put a dent in my stash!

French Quilt Block #5 - Avril Girl

I have been reading  a lot about block construction, notably on Gerry's Block Talk.  She says to construct the blocks and do all lace and ribbon afterward. 

I have been debating about whether to include my silkies as a block piece or as an add-on after and I see that both ways are done.  Sharon B's block #28 accommodated this image pretty well, as I only has to slightly lengthen pieces 1 and 2. 

French Quilt - Block #4 - Pavé Sigaut

I wanted to do all curved blocks but I broke down and used this pattern with mostly straight. seams. 

This is my first time using silkies and I am still trying to figure out the best way to do it. I have been using the silkie as piece one and appliquéing over it.  Allie  suggested piecing the block normally and then appliquéing the silkie on top and covering the edges with trim or  ribbon. I will try that next!

French Quilt Block #3 - Lady in Corset

This is the first curved CQ pattern I designed myself.  I love the image, but I am not totally in love with the appliquéd pieces.  It was challenging to draft it so that each piece went on over the previous one, thus ensuring a seam only on one side.  Back to the drawing board!!   I will definitely use this one, however.

French Quilt Block #2 - Upholstery Girl

French Quilt Block # 1 - Eiffel Tower

For this project I decided to do a French themed quilt with vintage "silkies" in the center of each block. 

All the blocks will be curved, using the freezer paper method I learned from Allie Aller. I will use three or four different patterns for the blocks, two from Allie and so far one that I designed myself. I found it challenging to design curved blocks to accommodate the usually rectangular or square silkies,  but I'm getting there. 

I've printed out 16 images, using TAP Artist Paper, but I'll be making the blocks one at a time so I'll have time to pick and choose which silkies to use for each. block. The inaugural block is, of course, the Eiffel Tower!!

Here is the first naked block, appliquéd in a fine zigzag with invisible thread.