Friday 18 January 2013

Any Suggestions?

After the euphoria of finishing a quilt so early in the new year, my mind turned to starting something new.  Perhaps using these...


...my 24 FQs of Anna Maria Horner's Field Study.  I bought one of the colourways in the sale from Pink Castle (I think) just before Christmas and my mum bought me another colourway for Christmas. I love AMH's designs and saturated colours and these fabrics make me very very happy.

Perhaps you can help with what to do with them and what solid would work well with them...if I was indeed to use a solid.  I like the idea of just letting the fabric sing, so perhaps simple squares or strips, clamshells or a plus quilt or a swoon...I have had the pattern for ages but done nothing with it? If I do use a solid, it won't be white. So what do you think?

Since returning to Morocco, I have been working on my bee blocks and I still have a few to do.

This month,  Nicole in the Sew Euro Bee An bee asked for 2 X and Plus blocks using grey and black fabrics with an accent colour - red in one...


...and orange in the other


In the mystery round robin bee, Stitch Tease, Hadley asked for a 10"x 60" strip of rectangles and squares in aqua, green, teal, orange and grey with some white for the eye to rest on.  I can only show you a pixelated version as these quilts won't be revealed until April. That's 6 strips down, just 2 to go!


Now the next bee block is very embarrasing.  The EEEEP EPP Bee, an English paper piecing bee, is a very relaxed bee (perhaps too relaxed) with a 2 month trunaround for blocks and back in September Helen requested 2 HST blocks which turned out to be cursed as far as I was concerned.  First, Helen's templates and Kona snow got lost in the post and having no Kona snow I ordered some. Then I was half way through the block and spilled coffe over it. Then there was Christmas and so finally I got to make the first block again (no coffee this time) and it's too big and I'm running out of Kona snow! Gah.


Thank you to Helen who has been so incredibly patient. So next up is trying this block again and trying to get it the right size!

28 comments:

Run Quilt Knit Write said...

No stress....I'm totally behind on the Stitch Tease bee, so don't feel guilty or I'll have to feel guilty too!

Pat Merkle said...

Such pretty colors in those AMH FQs. I think maybe a dark grey or dark teal would be nice. I also agree a very simple design would be nice, to let all those yummy fabric shine.

dutchcomfort said...

Simple squares will be wonderful for the gorgeous AMH fabrics. I love them but never got to buy them. Or maybe a quilt made of bigger triangles? I think a light jade or turquoise solid will add to the beauty of the fabrics, but I think you can’t go wrong with any solid colour.

Lucy | Charm About You said...

such lovely bee blocks!
I ADORE the AMH and agree something simple is in order but not sure what - Swoon is nice but I'm not sure it would make the most of those fabrics. More prints and less solid/background would be really cool. I think a grey or a navy would work well - nothing bright or distracting from the gorgeous colours of the prints. I would be inclined to forget solids and go with a simple square patchwork or clamshells (which I have never done but utterly love!!) x

Catherine said...

Love your bee blocks-looks like they have been keeping you busy

Isisjem said...

Something simple like a D9P could work or a plus quilt? Or maybe something that uses random sized squares and rectangles. That way you can show case your favourite prints and it'll enhance the way Field Study almost looks like a random set of fabric that sort of work together.

Charlotte said...

I'm drooling over the field study! I have no suggestions, apart from to throw it on the floor and roll around all over it ;-)

Susan said...

I love and envy your stash of AMH Field Study. I was going to suggest small amounts of gold colored solid but not sure what design I would make. It's so pretty, maybe just look at it a little longer.....

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

AMH big squares or the Swoon - maybe with a crossweave/Sketch instead of a solid?
Thank you in advance for my block ;)

Canadian Abroad said...

Im with Susan, if you use a solid I would go with a dark golden yellow. Love that stack of fabrics and well done on all the bee blocks.

Anonymous said...

you've been busy, I love your AMH fabrics - can't wait to see what you decide to do.

Jenelle said...

I'm still pondering what to do with my Field Study, but my friend Marta just finished a simple patchwork top in this collection and it's stunning. Here's the link in case you'd like to check it out:
http://frommartawithlove.com/field-study-patchwork/

Leanne said...

I have been trying to pick patterns for fabrics with large prints lately too, none picked so far. I love that bundle of fabrics. Your blocks are lovely, the internet is making those x and + blocks, I am trying very hard to resist. And last night I made a bee block too small. Luckily I had the same fabrics and could make it over. Maybe there is something in the air?

Katy Cameron said...

I think your EPP is cursed ;o) On the plus side, if it's too big, you can then just use the same fabric and smaller templates if you unpick again...

Those giant stars show off big fabric well ;o) Or maybe an improv quilt with different sized rectangles showing off the different prints kind of like a picture wall. Or... um, yeah, that's it, sorry!

Kirsten said...

Love those X and + and the Field Study is just beautiful too! I think the prints would be lovely in a Swoon quilt, maybe with a darker background!

Sheila said...

That pic of AMH fabric is so sumptious. I was thinking something like Sketch too instead of a solid - this bundle has your nae all over it!
Sorry about the EPP block, and I thought EPP was meant to be relaxing.

elsy said...

how about a large strip log cabin with kona coal (grey)

Yon Quilting Wife said...

I love your new stash but sadly have no useful sugestions. I really like your black, white and red blocks. I wish I was that talented.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

These fabrics deserve a pattern with big chunks of the fabric. It is such a beautiful line. I haven't decided what to do with mine yet, but it's going to be fabulous because of the gorgeous fabrics and so will yours.

Strawberry Patch said...

Oh yum yum yum field study! It's one of those lines I'm not going to get due to lack of funds then I will lament it when it becomes unavaliable....cannot wait to see how you use it. Sorry for the lack of suggestions, I'm into very busy crazy quilts right now!

Nat at Made in Home said...

Love the field study, cream/oat solid colour? Great blocks!

Sarah said...

I think the quilt design you choose needs to have large pieces in it, coz some of the fabric is large scale prints. I'm thinking a giant star or plus quilt, like Jeni Baker has shown on her blog, in colour order. For a solid it depends n what colours you love and loathe. Grey would be an obvious choice. I would choose a beautiful emerald green that is featured in one of the fabrics in the lower right of the pic, or a jewel blue that is a highlight colour in a couple of the fabrics in the top left of the pic. Hope this helps!

Chez Roo said...

I love the EPP block - even if it is the wrong size! I have been lusting over this Field Study quilt, I plan to be a total copycat and make one exactly the same, I think it is a perfect compliment to the fabric: http://blueelephantstitches.blogspot.ca/2012/10/field-study-triangles.html?m=1

Cindy said...

I would find a big block quilt pattern for your beautiful AMH fabric bundle. Your bee blocks are great. I'm sure Helen will love your EPP block.

Unknown said...

I really love the swoon pattern (although I haven't made it, nor do I own it!). I think that pattern really makes the fabrics shine.

As for a solid, I would stay away from anything in the white, cream, or grey families. Maybe a nice aqua?

I would check out free spirit solids. They do an excellent job of creating muted solids that don't look like baby pastels. And they are soft to boot!
(Plus AMH prints through Free Spirit, I think? Color match would probably be dead on!)

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

I agree with everyone's suggestion of big blocks. It's such lovely fabric it's nice to see the prints. Maybe even big squares without a solid and you'd have some over to put with a solid in another quilt :)

Prof. S (the enchanted bobbin) said...

So much loveliness...can't wait to see what you'll do with Field Study! xx

heart of charnwood said...

It looks like a lovely block anyway, better luck next time, and once it's done and gone you'll feel loads better about it! : )