Diatom Quilt Top Finishes

 

They are finished just in time for the link up for the Diatom Linkup Party over at Quilting Jetgirl!  I have been following along with Yvonne since the start of the quilt along.  I managed to keep up with writing about my progress until two months ago and then I did the thing I do, I fell off the face of the blogging world...but I'm back and ready to share.

When I started the quilt along I wanted to make the twin size version of the quilts in blue.  After a trip to the store and not much luck finding blue fabrics, I settled on purple...that's close to blue.

I'll admit, I wasn't in love with my fabric pull, but decided they would work.  Once the quilt along started I realized I bought the wrong fabric amounts...I used the throw size.  So, off to a different store for dun dun dun...blue fabric.

Now I'm cooking!  I'm ready!  And two quilts it is!  Then I pieced my first block.

I'm sad to say I just wasn't digging my color contrast choices.  A few fabric pulls later, on both color ways, I was back in business and loving what I pulled.

Absolutely no regrets.  I love that pop of peach with the blues and the dramatic contrast the light gray gives the purples. 

For now, these two beauties will join all the other stacks of UFO floating around in the back room.  I keep swearing that I'm going to start quilting and ground myself from piecing.  So hopefully, sooner than later I can share my ideas for quilting these babies.

Just Two Charm Packs--Star Rays times 2

 

When I heard that Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs was coming out with a follow up book to her Just One Charm Pack book I was a little more than excited.  I LOVE pre cuts!

When I participated in the hop for the release of the first book, I chose to make a pattern called Star Surround.  (You can read more about it here)

When I saw the pattern for Star Rays, I instantly knew I had to make it. Actually, I knew I would make two.   

For my first quilt, I used charm packs from Moda'a Country Rose by Lella Boutique.

This pattern is perfect for beginners as well as fun for a seasoned pro.  All of the star points are perfect for showing off all the fun prints in a fabric line.  It truly pieces up like a dream.

For the second quilt, I chose to work with a layer cake of Strength in Pink by Riley Blake.

I began by chopping up the fabric into the 5 inch squares.  

The best part is now I have enough to make a second quilt.  With help from my supervisor my second quilt pieced up super quickly.

My head is spinning with all kinds of ideas for the quilting.  I wish I had time to quilt them before the hop, but I was so in love with the patterns in the book, I made a total of four quilts, in three different patterns!  

I even bought mini charm packs in Moda's Sunwashed by Coriander Quilts to make a smaller version of Star Rays.  All of the patterns in the Just Two Charm Packs book are easily converted into a larger or smaller sizes, after a bit of quilty math, to incorporate layer cakes and mini charm packs.  Technically, you are getting even more bang for your buck.

Make sure to check in each day with Cheryl to see all of the different versions of the quilts.  Each day she will feature a different quilt (or two) from the book and show all of the different versions we came up with.  I've even heard there are several opportunities to win a copy of what is my new favorite book.  I hope to see you next week when I share with you the two other quilts I've pieced.