Wednesday 7 November 2012

Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop

It's my turn today on the Travellin' Pic Stitch blog hop - the brain child of Katy and Laura who have just returned from their own hop through national parks in the US.  If it's your first time here then welcome - I hope you'll take a look around!

I am a Brit but for the last ten years, I have lived in the Moroccan city of Marrakech in N.Africa. If I'm not sewing then I love to get snapping. Living here is incredibly inspiring and a bit of a sensory overload. You either love it or hate it. Some days I love it...some days I...miss the old country.


Take a look at some of the tile designs I found...you see them everywhere here...see what I mean about the inspiration?


I love those clamshells! That's my son there...when he was aged one and half.

So when Laura and Katy invited me to join them on their blog hop, it was a no brainer. Especially given that I had discovered English Paper Piecing (EPP) in the summer with this project. My 1" aqua, orange and grey hexies.
Aqua, orange and grey hexies
In Marrakech, all the buildings are painted a pinky red colour and it's known as the Red City or Rose City. So I chose this photo I took in a vegetarian restaurant to show you the type of  interior you might find here and the red/pink coloured walls I mentioned. The lantern, ornate railings and low seating are typical.

The Earth Cafe, Marrakech
Using a palette builder at play crafts, I created a palette for an EPP block. Play Crafts is incredibly easy to use.  You simply upload a photo and within seconds you have a palette which can then download it.
After pulling some suitable fabrics, I used some of Lynne's lozenge templates to create the bathroom tile block from the Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters book.


The original block pattern was on point but I think I prefer it this way round.  After appliqueing the block to a square of Kona Regal, I trimmed the corners so that it became an octagon - the shape of many of the tiles you see here in Morocco.  I'm not so sure this looks like a Moroccan tile as the prints are too large - perhaps a 1970s Moroccan tile? I would like to try this block again using smaller geometric patterns.  I think they would look great.




This post is part of the Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop.  

From 1st October - 30th November we are hopping all over the world EPP-ing in some fantastic locations.  Check out the full list here and be sure to check out the other participants.

On 30th November it's over to you to link up for a chance to win these fabulous prizes! You'll need to take a photo, create a palette and do some EPP using it.




Full details of the competition can be found here.

Tomorrow, be sure to hop over to my lovely bloggy friend Sarah at Narcoleptic in a Cupboard. She is a fabulous quilter and lives in the most beautiful part of the world!

38 comments:

cheeky monkey said...

These are amazing pics. I need to go to Morocco one day. It must be stunning.

Quilting In The Cold said...

Beautiful block and stunning photos. Marrakech is such a colourful city and I think you have really captured it with this block

Catherine said...

Your photographs are wonderful and your block is the perfect reflection of them!

Canadian Abroad said...

Oh that is one stunning piece of epp! Love it. And love seeing your photos too.

Dianne Neale said...

YOu certainy do have inspiring colours to choose from. And the block is really beatiful

Susan said...

I hope to get to Morocco one day...In the meantime I will have to be content with your descriptions and wonderful photos! Your block is lovely! That is a design I haven't seen before! And your hexies look like a tiled floor too!

Teje Karjalainen said...

Fantastic! I love your block and also all the hexie flowers on your wip. I'm really fan of tiles and also here in Greece we can find great tiles but you have even better! I see always quilt blocks in tiles.
Wishes from Chania! x Teje

Charlotte said...

that is so gorgeous! The colours are beautiful :-D

Isisjem said...

I think your block is stunning and you're lucky to be living in such a vibrant place so you didnt have to use a drab palette. Oh and I'm envying the warmth that sings through your pictures right now here in the cold!

Camilla said...

Wow, stunning and so inspirational! I'm hanging out to visit Morocco. I have a fantastic Cookbook by a NZ woman named Julie Le Clerc which also has travel details-can't wait!

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

Beautiful, Annabella!! I love the palette and the block. Thanks for sharing this :)

Sunnybec said...

I love looking at where you live Annabella, and your hexies are beautiful. Hugs x

Wendy said...

wow, that's some pretty intricate EPPing! It looks great

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

Your photos are stunning, as always. It must be wonderful to live somewhere so vivd and colourful, although I love my English countryside colours - when the sun is shining! Your block looks great. I'll have to check out that book :)

Leanne said...

It is so colourful where you live! I really love your block.

Run Quilt Knit Write said...

Love your photos and the block too!

Ruth said...

Really pretty. It's now on my list to do.

Anonymous said...

This is a lovely block you made, but wow are your Morocco photos stunning!

Cindy Sharp said...

Oh, so pretty. No need for rose colored glasses there.

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

Oh, I like that EPP shape a lot and you captured your inspiration photo perfectly.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Very pretty xxx

Celtic Thistle said...

Lovely photos so bright and cheerful on a wild and windy day! Love your EPP block too!

Indianna said...

Stunning pink - love how you put it together as a tile.

Kirsten said...

Such an amazing place to live! I really like your pieced block with the pretty pinks.

Jenelle said...

Lovely photos! I really like this block design too and the jewel-toned colors. Those hexies are just too gorgeous! Whatever you have planned for them is going to be spectacular. :)

Kelly said...

You take the most stunning pics! Love the EPP x

Sheila said...

Brilliant post - love all your inspirational photos.x

FleurBleue said...

I love the colours in that block, and the tile photographs were just glorious.

F x

Katy Cameron said...

Love your bathroom tile, and I want to see all the rest of those tiles too!

SIMPLESEW said...

I think it gorgeous.. I am excited about this hop and learning this new way of quilting. I am addicted.

Nicky said...

Love your pics and EPP Annabella -you have that Moroccan feel nailed!

elsy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
elsy said...

brilliant post , really inspiring colours and i always love the blue tiles....

Celine said...

gorgeous pictures, lovely hexie flowers and well done on your lozenge project! Marrakech is such a lovely place...

Needle little Balance said...

Thank you for vitually taking us to Morocco! Love what you came up with!

Laura said...

What gorgeous photos and SUCH an original block! Just awesome. Thanks for sharing (and as always, your little cutie is just a little cutie!)

Amira@littlemushroomcap said...

Beautiful photographs..and that block is lovely.. Love the colour choices too!! Fun hopping here

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Amazing inspiration! I have a weird thing about tiles, a bit like stationary - love it!
Your hexies are gorgeous and the block is fabulous :)