Tuesday, March 29, 2016

March Quilty365

This past month I just treaded water with circles. Despite completing thirty more, I'm still a month behind.

112 Quilty365 Circles 

But I have many more circles cut. I still plan to catch up. Hope springs eternal!

Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts laid out her plaids and solids to help decide what to do next. They are gorgeous and colorful. Seems like a good plan; I have enough to lay out and capture a sense of the style. Hmm. Not sure what my style is. Perhaps I should focus on adding more greens and yellows.

Circles and background squares cut for Quilty365

Circle quilts are catching my eye everywhere. Here are my latest inspirations.
  1. Odette Tolksdorf, a South African textile artist, made a series title Breathe and Breathing. Grounded on checkerboards, the floating organza has a circular shape. 
  2. Sally Scott created Towards Infinity, a stunning quilt with circles... and fabulous borders. She also includes a photo of another Tolksdorf quilt that I can't find on Odette's blog.
  3. Harmony Within by Sue McCarty of Utah won the Handi Quilter Best of Show at the 2011 IQF. It's a gorgeous Japanese-inspired design but I added it here because of the background. She thread-quilted circles on point with very narrow sashing. Great layout for our circles and the only example of this layout I've found.
Enjoy the day, Ann

34 comments:

Mary Marcotte said...

Thanks for the mention, Ann. It definitely helped me to see that the whole thing is very busy. Of course, I have yet to sew a solid on solid since the revelation! I love that you are sewing two or more circles on some blocks. Those are my favorites but all of them are beautiful. Such variety and color and still, not so busy. I want to slow down and look at each one individually. Thanks for the links, I really want to check out what others are doing with circles, so I'm going there in just a minute.

Monica said...

Or, alternatively, you could just stick with what appeals to you each day, and discover where that takes you. Maybe it won't make sense until you're done.

No matter what, you're doing a great job keeping up! I can't do the same thing all month, let alone all year, so I admire everyone who is participating in this challenge. :D

audrey said...

I can't get a true sense of where or what I want my circle quilt to look like when the year is over. The 'on point' layout is the one I keep coming back to in my mind though. Love the idea of very narrow sashing! Your aqua backgrounds make for a stunning batch of circles already.:)

Lara B. said...

Don't think of it as being 30 circles behind Ann. Just go with your own flow and bob happily along. Your circles made my eyes light up - all those wonderful colors against the mostly dusky and aqua backgrounds look wonderful! I like the blocks with a few multiple circles too. It's so fun seeing how differently every makes theirs. I loved Mary's solids and plaids too. Sue's thread quilted circles with narrow sashing are amazing as well.

Sue said...

Yes, I agree with Monica and Lara, just float along and see what happens. I always love your busy-ness and colorful piecing and I see Ann in this collection. I know you will know what to do when the circles have landed and are ready for a rest. And thank you for sending me down the internet rabbit-hole for QUITE SOME TIME this morning, looking at the links you provided. Now it is time for me to resume my work on my improv doodle. Cheers!

liniecat said...

Love your circles so far! I've fallen behind too but that's part of the process surely?
Some days we do and some days we don't, that's exactly how life is after all!

Doris Perlhuhn said...

I love your colors - the red holds it together and gives it a harmony. It makes me happy to look at it.
Since two weeks I´m falling behind too. I´m concentrating on another project at the moment. I made some realy dull circles - but that´s life - sometimes realy dull. :-) I forced myself not to embellish it.
Your finished piece will be an eye candy - I´m sure.

Susan said...

Wow - you did thirty and you're behind? What you've got looks gorgeous! Wish I had taken part in this as I've seen some really terrific quilts evolving from this project. Can't wait to see your finish!

Mystic Quilter said...

You have a lovely colourful quilt in the making there Ann and thanks for sharing those links - wonderful.

Cathy said...

They all blend together so well. Lovely collection of fabrics on fabrics. I get such a peaceful feeling staring at them all together.

Thanks for the research. It's fun to see what can be done with circles.

Ann said...

Thanks for showing progress, Mary. Seeing your group was very interesting; they look so different individually and together. It helps me to start thinking of way to make a quilt out of these blocks.

Ann said...

Well, I think I'll cut some yellows and greens... when I can find them. But then it will still be a toss up if I choose those from the prepped pile. :-)
I've never participated in a sew-along before. I'm rather surprised I've stuck with it as well as this.

Ann said...

I agree, Audrey. I keep wondering how to use all these blocks. Like you, I like the on point... perhaps because it's the only example I've found. It's also the only one with narrow sashing; something else to consider.

Ann said...

You're so right, Lara. I never thought there were so many ways to interpret these simple circles. When I look at each person's work I am amazed and wish I'd thought of something that clever and beautiful. Such smarties!

Ann said...

I am going to drift for a while, Sue. But I do wonder how these will work out. You're welcome, says the White Rabbit. I always like rabbit-holes, especially when they've been curated. Can't wait to see what you're up to next. It's always fun.

Ann said...

Yes, that's exactly how I feel. But it's still hard to be so far behind. Why am I worrying? I'm further behind on other projects. And so glad to know I'm in good company.

Ann said...

Thanks, Doris. Red is one of my favorite colors, too, and always makes me happy. Like you, I have several dull fabrics cut for circles. They make a nice contrast. A few of mine are novelty prints; some people have a fabulous collection of prints for each day. Isn't it fun to see how differently these simple circles are interpreted by everyone?
And I shouldn't worry about being behind. We'll either get there eventually or may be a resident of another planet - one with a shorter solar year! (Ha. I hadn't considered that before. We could be aliens from Venus. Then we wouldn't have to make so many.)

Ann said...

I got about a month behind and although I sewed a month's worth, I didn't close the gap. You can join this project any time. But I know we frequently overcommit.

Ann said...

Everyone has fabulous work so far. Thanks, Maureen. I hope you enjoy the links.

Ann said...

Thanks, Cathy, it is fun to start pondering how these can be made into a quilt. And we have loads of time to ponder. ;-)

Stephie said...

This is coming along so beautifully Ann, so cohesive with the reds and blues. I think I have a lot to learn from you!

Ann said...

Thanks, Stephie but you circles are my absolute favorite.

shellysquilts said...

Your circles are fabulous! I'm going to have to do some that are pieced myself. You've inspired me!

Marly said...

Great circles; I don't think you need to know where you're going with this. I'm taking it day by day, and while I have a basic idea of what my layout will be, I'm not letting that dictate my choices at present. There's plenty of time for inspiration, and mind changing!

Bonnie said...

I do love the colors and the fact you are using different sizes of circles!

Ann said...

It is fun to piece some. Several people are doing this; I just copied their idea. It is a nice variation.

Ann said...

You're right, Marly. I'm still not half way through. But I'm starting to think about what to make with them.

Sandi said...

Love your blue/Aqua backgrounds, makes me think of the circles floating on the water and then there is the unexpected peachy red surprise.

They are looking lovely. Having fun making mine.

Quilting Babcia said...

The blue background for your circles is what keeps drawing me in. There's such a restful and lovely softness to the mix - love it!

Ann said...

Thanks, Bonnie. These are bits from projects I've been working on so they are "my" colors. Glad you like them, too.

Ann said...

Thanks, Sandi. I like these medium blues. Hadn't thought of them as floating on water. It's more fun to be back actively working on them again. Yours are charming!

Ann said...

Thanks. I love seeing how many different ways people can make these, don't you? And I think mine are restful, too.

Nifty Quilts said...

Your circle blocks are looking so good all together. It's fun to see your inspirations too.

Ann said...

Thanks, LeeAnn.