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Thursday, April 9

Playing with a Design and Sewing Blocks for Friends

Well, I didn't get much sewing accomplished this week, but I did make some blocks for Yvonne's two young friends.  Yvonne - aka Quilting Jetgirl - put out the call on her blog for people to make blocks for two children who tragically lost their Dad.  She is really involving the kids in the process and they are enthusiastic and showing great promise.  Her goal is for them to get a sense of the power of community.  Quite a  few of you are already involved!  Today, on Thankful Thursday, Yvonne showed some of what has come in so far and it looks really great.  If you would like to take part, there is still time to whip up a block or two.  She needs specific sizes and themes.    

For the little girl, Yvonne asked for ocean themed, or boat, or dance blocks.  I did curvy, ocean themed blocks.  This process of cutting and piecing naturally turns out three blocks.



So of course then I had to make three for the little boy too. Yvonne said he is excited about taking piano, so asked for music themed blocks.  I happened to have some really cool jazz fabric and it called out for improv blocks.  Kaja & Ann!  I did my first simple but successful Improv!  It was fun too.  




In other news, I designed another quilt, which I need to make soon.  I found a fabric I adored and decided to use it as a backing and design the whole quilt around it.   The fabric is Rocket Ads from the Rocket Age collection by October Afternoon for Riley Blake.  If you were a kid in the 50's through the 70's and read comic books, this fabric will definitely feel nostalgic to you.  I matched Kona Cottons to the fabric to develop a color palette for the quilt.  


Rocket Ads by October Afternoon for Riley Blake / paired with Kona Cottons

Once again, I found the inspiration for starting a design on Pinterest.  Are you all as cuckoo about Pinterest as I am?  It makes me laugh that someone referred to it "hoarding without the clutter."  

I was looking for computer themed quilts and found the work of Elizabeth Elliott.  She makes incredible quilts with code, using a programming language called Processing.  She uses coding to generate random designs, with simple and traditional quilt blocks.  Then she basically plays with the design until she likes it.  Her quilts are both fun and amazing!  Elizabeth (Libs) has a free pattern: Out of Step available on the Robert Kaufman website.

So. I know nothing about computer programming, but I can be pretty random, LOL, so I took a whack at it.  I love to take simple blocks and play with them.  I chose 5 block designs just like Elizabeth did and used EQ7 to work.  By version seven, I started feeling pretty happy with the design.

Okay, brace yourself!


"Batman Returns" EQ7 mockup


I named the quilt "Batman Returns"... Can you see that one repeated block design that looks like Batman lurking around every corner?  Somehow the front of the quilt feels like it belongs with the comic book themed backing.    

Guidance and suggestions are welcome!  This quilt and Sam's Serenity Now! quilt are real departures for me.  I'm usually more traditional.  It's fun, but also a wee bit daunting to depart from your norm!


Thanks for visiting!
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34 comments:

  1. The blocks are beautiful; thank you so much! I *adore* the Rocket Age line by Riley Blake, and the vintage ads are fabulous. Great color pull for the inspiration, and the quilt design looks really fun. :)

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  2. Lara, your ocean wave blocks are so soothing and serene. And I LOVE the jazz improv blocks!! Your design is great! I love the movement and the asymmetry of the blocks. It will look great with your Rocket Age fabric. Have fun creating it!

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  3. I love your Batman returns quilt! Isn't it fun to step out of the box and do something completely different? I always learn something from it even if it's not something I would do again.
    "hoarding without the clutter", perfect :)

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  4. How neat Lara! I'm off to see if I can learn this neat technique too! Love the backing fabric!

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  5. Ok...I thought this was pretty when I saw the pic...but when I saw your name for it and the cute Batman lurking...ahhh, Adam West :) perfect!!!

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  6. I love your Batman Returns design!! So fun and funky! The colors are reminiscent of his and Robin's outfits in the 1960s TV series. Sweet blocks too - great job on the waves and the improv!

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  7. Thank you for the reminder to get my butt in gear and make a few blocks for Yvonne! Yours look lovely!

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  8. Several things resonated with me while reading your post: "hoarding without the clutter": bahaha, love it; I just pinned a Minecraft design a few minutes ago, as an inspiration for another quilt for Brady, thanks to something he said to me the other night about my placemats...okay now THAT is random connections to get to Pinterest, which I do love!! The gal who uses coding to generate quilt patterns, yes! I heard of or saw her recently and her designs, maybe on the Robert Kaufman site. And finally Batman lurking: I totally saw him immediately! I only read Archie comics and watched Batman and Robin on TV at my cousins' house, so the fabric doesn't "speak" nostalgic thoughts to me. And finally, "fun but a wee bit daunting to depart from your norm" oh yes, the placemats I created this past week were quite a bit like that. And I need to send some blocks to Yvonne asap too!

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  9. I love the quilt you designed! So much movemenet. That will be very happy once it's made up.

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  10. I love the pattern you designed! And I see Batman !! And your wave blocks and improv Jazz musician blocks for the children! Well done on all accounts! I should pin more.... to create less hoarding around here!! lol
    Susie

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  11. Departing from your norms is always challenging... in a good way. Yes, I see Batman lurking around building corners. Definitely a good top to go with your very colorful and orangy (shall I say?) fabric. I'm curious to see your design in fabrics!

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  12. Cool design. Great job working with EQ. Can't wait to see it in fabric. micki@2dogsstudio.us

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  13. Oh I love, love your design!! It totally looks like batman lurking around. Gosh I really love the design! Your improv looks great also :) I have EQ7 but have yet to really figure it out. You could come for a visit and teach me...ok, but it's a happy thought!

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  14. Holy quilt blocks! You've got a lot of cool stuff coming out of your sewing machine these days!!! All of these look like fun to create and make.

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  15. I really love your ocean blocks with the curved piecing, beautiful!

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  16. Your blocks are wonderful! Love those curves and those improv blocks are awesome!!

    Love your design and yup, I see batman ;) It is going to be fabulous!

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  17. Oh my goodness Lara! These are lovely. Several "baby steps" really help us learn a new method, don't they. I love your ocean wave blocks and especially love how your eyes saw that in simple curvy seams. And playing with EQ7 to make a new quilt. What a great idea. It inspires me to buy EQ (which I haven't had since the DOS version.)
    It is such fun to play around with new techniques and discover how creative we really are. Congratulations! These are awesome!

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  18. I love your "Batman Returns" quilt, it's so original ... and yes I can see Batman! The blocks for Yvonne, the mockup, all look fabulous, you do such neat work, you are very talented Lara!
    Always fun to visit here. :-)

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  19. Hi Lara. I really love your Batman Returns quilt design and love seeing Batman peaking around the corners!

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  20. I love your ocean blocks. So sweet to send in three of each. And your quilt design is pretty neat. I can see him hiding there.

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  21. Yay Lara! I love your jazz blocks and they are perfect for the theme. Who knows where this might take you next. I'm also quite excited by your quilt based on Rocket Age, which I really like. Using the back as the inspiration for the front is such an interesting way round to do things; I'll have to try it too. There really is no holding you back at the moment!

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  22. So much inspiration and love in the post. I esp. love those wonky jazz blocks!! What a fun addition they will make to a quilt!
    Also comforting to know I"m not the only one who falls in love with a fabric I';ll use for a back..and then plan the quilt around IT!!

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  23. My comment was eaten by blogger so keeping it shorter this time - love the waves and the silhouettes and yes I can see batman in every corner- great design!

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  24. My computer keeps eating my message.lol I can now see pics on your blog, the same said computer wouldn't let any of the pics show up for a couple of days so I am late with this comment. Love the blocks, both the wavy and Wonky and your pattern looks Astec to me,lol, maybe Batman is hiding in there or maybe not! Love your blog

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  25. Nice blocks for Yvonne and your design looks great! I like when back has something to do with front. Sorry to say I see no Batman but interesting design to look at plus pretty cool color combo :)

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  26. Good Morning dear Lara!
    The blocks are so beautiful and I love your design - looks great!

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  27. In Nashville we have a building that reminds us of Batman, so I can truly see your Batman blocks.

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  28. Beautiful blocks for a great cause. I love your new quilt design. The colors are so happy. It is going to be a stunner. The backing fabric is fantastic.

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  29. Lovin' everything about your "Batman" quilt, and yes, I can definitely see him!

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  30. I like your Batman quilt! I also like your puppy. He looks a lot like my dog!

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  31. Your thumbnail on the Freemotion by the River linky drew me in right away. And yup, now that you mention it, I DO see Batman. But I think the colors and the fresh pattern from traditional shapes is what attracted me. Your blocks for Yvonne are wonderful. I love the simplicity and movement in the ocean blocks and the sophisticated vibe of the music blocks.

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  32. Hey, do you know there are Batmans postage stamps out right now, too? You must tapped into that collective thought happening right now! I saw them, and immediately thought of your quilt.

    Julie

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  33. You have been having fun this week, haven't you! Those blocks for Yvonne are perfect, Lara. I am so looking forward to your progress on the Rocket Ads quilt. It is a lot of fun to start with the back of the quilt and work your way over to the front. Love the colours and the design you came up with. Very clever!

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  34. The blocks are beautiful!! Fantastic design with such a fun name :)

    -Soma

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