TG- that is beautiful! I would never know that it was two separate rounds since it all flows so nicely together. Nice job

Travelinggramma, I love your on point setting!

I'm making good progress, hope to be done tomorrow with my row and pictures. Knee and back say it's time for a break.

I'll tell you guys my quilting mistakes and let you see and judge my workmanship, but I am not going to let you see my horri-bad penmanship! Reba has included a journal to go along with her project and my next step will be document processing an insert about me and my row... so even if the block is done I'm still a week or so back from being ready to mail or receive.

Bugaroo--Those cactus are fun! I can't wait to see how you finish the round. :) Thanks!!

Travelinggramma--great addition to jaba's center!!

It's gorgeous, TG.

Bugaroo, that's true about the padded FR envelopes. You have to order them from the postal service, online. They are free, and the shipping to you is free. Doesn't take too long to get them, either.

TG, that is just beautiful! How you mixed and pieced the blues... I never would have guessed that 2 people, separately were involved. And ya'll are so right. It is wonderful to see your starting point blossom not knowing what shape or form the final result will be.

Sewbizgirl, I ordered 5 of padded, paper, and boxes. Several years ago when they started this, I had forgotten, my son ordered several of each to be delivered to us. Back then you had the option to order a case or a pallet. Guess which he ordered? The Pallets -- 2 or 3 of each!! The post man delivered one and said our order was so large that he would have to deliver a pallet a day. I went to the post office to explain and let them keep all the pallets.

Carriem, I have the sides done but am trying to figure out what I want to do for the corners.

TG, You decided on keeping it blue! Keeping the stars! Looks nice.
Bug, Coming along. :-)
I'm still waiting to get the center block. Maybe it will come on Monday.

Sorry you are still waiting, Giv. I know weekends are your only time to sew.

Bug, how about some purple cabbages in the corners?

Here we go -- as already mentioned when I opened the box and saw Reba's center I went Squeee! Shiny!! And then I saw that she had included quite a bit of fabric and the next thought was "I want to play with the silver fabric". And "stars I see stars".

I tried some bigger stars, too clunky next to the center. I tried some fancier stars, they did not play nicely. So I settled on this size. Originally I was going to place them flat, but everything I tried either the silver tried to take over (btw, it plays very nicely with the hot iron and other fabrics) or it was too rigid and structured and the inner star was yearning to be freed.

Going diagonally meant I had to increase the original 15" center to 18", while I could have floated it, I wanted to acknowledge that original block with the cornerstones. I really tried to stay within the 6" total and will be mindful in future rounds. Current finished dimension is 30" square.

I only added two of my own fabrics, the pink stars are from a companion fabric in the same line as the greens provided by Reba on either side, and the darker "tealy" blue -- I think I used to know a name for that shade but it is a bit off from standard colors.

I really like working with metallic fabrics and was surprised to find so many of my friends didn't. The center stars are all non-embellished fabrics to transition out that way -- or there is still a lot more of the shiny stuff to play with, It's a fun package!

Oh! In things I missed while I was missing, was I supposed to include a label?

I don't typically label my own quilts but I think everyone deserves some recognition, and I can certainly get one caught up with my initial square.

Iceblossom, it looks great. Really like the darker shade of blue you used. Such a bright stunning quilt beginning!

That's a very pretty addition, Iceblossom. I didn't realize her background fabric was metallic. I agree, it can be tricky getting the "scale" of what you add to be just right for the center. I have some 'frogs' lying around to prove it!

Anyone else have a picture of what they are working on?

IceBlossom . - wowser. thanks for the walk thru on how you came up with this. I also do so many takes. I use my phone to take many pictures so I can debate and review all the ideas and whittle them down. I haven't worked with metallic - and sure glad I don't have to follow you!!

IceBlossom, Your round matches so nicely! It looks very 'girly', doesn't it? :-)

very pretty block Ice! I like the light pink background used to help tone down but complement the shiny!

Iceblossom! It's beautiful! I just got home having been gone most of the weekend. I will put on my thinking cap for your center tomorrow.

As for the label, I think that is an optional thing. If you would like me to start one for your quilt, I will be glad to do it.

I know what I'm doing for the border, just auditioning fabrics to make it happen.

Were you in my stash???

Haha, I just got done with a quilt with all these colors.

Mary, you should feel no pressure there are weeks to go and I didn't give you much to go on for a creative spark... just know/trust that I will be thrilled with whatever you come up with. Express your personality and have some fun, each row of mine can be very different.

I do have an idea for a label and it's pretty much already there in the box, I'll send a PM.

IceBlossom--great addition!

MonaG--good matches on blues. :)

Mona I like the addition of the purple. Good pop color

Same here... when my quilt makes it to you, there is no need to match what is already there. Also, I made the center kind of like a rainbow wheel, but that does not mean every following row needs to be "rainbow" colors. Just have fun!

Me too, no need to match colors or style on my top. Add black or bown or purple or any color to the mix. Add flowers or geometrics or Kaffe Fassett or civil war or plaid fabrics. Anything goes! Enjoy expressing yourself. :-) I love scrappy.

Just one last thought on the "go ahead" directions for my block. This isn't a double dog dare you, but go ahead and use my rounds to practice something/try something that maybe you always wanted to do but didn't want to commit to for a full quilt -- whatever that may be. Cute, complex, representational, abstract, textural -- is all good!

That's what I did for my center, I had some scraps I wanted to use, and a technique I wanted to use, and the time was now. So if mine comes to you and you want to work in blue or red or beige or whatever it is -- it is going to be great! Contrast as well as coordination is one of our quilter tools, and I think it is one of the most fun things in round robins.

I'm also fine with participants doing what ever they want.

With my first center, I realized I wanted something specific, so I decided to keep that one for myself and make a second that I was happier with "anything goes". I plan on working on my center at the same time as the others, it will give me something to work on in between. I'm down to only needing the last FG border for my red quilt so I'm ready to start working on something else.

Not much sewing going on for a few days, DS is visiting from GA and the extra bed is in the sewing studio. Normally I get up early and sew for an hour before going to work.

I agree with everyone as well. Please have fun with mine. My center was new and an experiment. I've appliqued clothes and crafts but not for a quilt. It was fun and quiet different.

The Weather Channel was talking about how hot our weather will be. But here in the north Georgia mountains, we have been cool for June/July with some days just in the 70's. Its nice.

That goes for my center also, please have fun and challenge yourself.

I too look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with. Never would have thought of cactus or cabbage, but love how it is turning out. :)

I need some help, not sure what to do in the corners or which layout I should go with. I originally was thinking of added some green also but not sure if it would look weird. I do have more purple. Thoughts?

Macybaby, I finally got your center today. Have it laid out and need to look at it for awhile.

Mona--that is great! Sorry I don't have any ideas for the corners, but either layout will be stunning. Hmmmmm...now I can start thinking on my border for this.....

Great additions, Mona! I like those panels turned either way. I'd just pick a 6x6" block I liked and make cornerstones. I like the addition of green. It would be great to add another color, like the green. That quilt still has many rounds to go and will need more colors to get there, IMO. That's just what I think...

Group 1 Round 1

Iceblossom......here is your center. I hope you like it. I also put together your label. I had to do some creative trimming and sewing to get it to lay flat. The first time I put it together....it needed a B cup. Lol...I am a retired bridal seamstress and if something pooched like that did, it usually had a cup in it. Anyway, your center is now ready to move on for the next round.

Mona, Great job on the borders. Perhaps something like a 'spray of rays' like a New York Beauty block would work for the corners.

I've never done one, they scare me. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet.

MonaG, That's reeeally cool! What a treat! I'd go with the second, the plus looking layout, with the line in the center like a spiderweb. People use stars a lot in quilts, and the second layout is so unique that it makes it special. No one in the world has ever done that except you, I'll bet! You could put a green blender in the corners. It doesn't have to be a block. The rest is so nice, a sewn block pattern in the corners could take away from it. Try auditioning just a piece of fabric. Maybe a soft floral with multiple colors?

Mary, your choice to set the squares diagonally is a neat contrast to the squares set straight in the center. Nice choice!

Mona - if you google piano key quilt border it has a number of different ideas for corners that could be used with the 2nd one.

Mary - Great finish. I can see this block going on point at sometime.

Oh! I got a sweet surprise in the mail today! It is LeeAnn's center block. :-)

Mona, it depends on what you put in the corners my initial choice is number 2... but it all depends.

Mary, what a nice start to my project. Your darker tones help my ribbons come out and the pink/brown look more different than I was grumbling to myself about.

Thanks for the label as well :)

Mary, love the border! Love the squares on point, too.

LeeAnn's center is too cute! Glad it finally arrived. Can't wait to see what you do with it, Giv...