Sister's Choice Quilts

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Center Medallion Coming Along

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The center medallion is coming along for my BlockHeads 1 quilt setting.  I wanted to do something that had a "primitive" feel and reflected the other appliqué blocks in the quilt top.  I ended up with a pattern by Buttermilk Basin, that I have had around forever.  I love the pumpkin, sunflower, acorn, and little crow.  It was meant to fill an 8 1/2 inch square and was clearly too small for my 13 1/2" block, so I had to add in something to take up some of the extra space.  Is it weird to have a big sunflower looming over everything?

I decided on making some bias stems with my Celtic Bars (also called Bias Bars) and ended up with a rogue sunflower.  I am auditioning it on my design wall for a few days and then I will make a final decision whether or not it is what I want.  It is very "harvesty", which was what I had in mind.  Obviously the leaves would be the same green as the stems.  I just didn't want to waste fabric cutting them out if I wasn't going to use them.

How is your week going?  Did you see the BlockHeads 3 block for this week?  It is paper-pieced letters that spell out "LOVE".  Typically I studiously avoid paper piecing, but this sew along is all about challenges, so I am up for it.

24 responses to “Center Medallion Coming Along”

  1. Once you master paper foundation piecing, you are going to love it. Points come out exactly perfect and this little “love” block is a great way to get started. Do you have an ‘add-a-quarter’ ruler? It can be done without one, but once addicted, you are going to want a 6″ and a 12″.

  2. Once you master paper foundation piecing, you are going to love it. Points come out exactly perfect and this little “love” block is a great way to get started. Do you have an ‘add-a-quarter’ ruler? It can be done without one, but once addicted, you are going to want a 6″ and a 12″.

  3. Once you master paper foundation piecing, you are going to love it. Points come out exactly perfect and this little “love” block is a great way to get started. Do you have an ‘add-a-quarter’ ruler? It can be done without one, but once addicted, you are going to want a 6″ and a 12″.

  10. The center medallion will be a great addition to your blocks. Once you make the leaves in green it’s going to show you it’s perfect for the quilt! 🌻 I saw the LOVE block on a couple blogs yesterday. I’ve never paper pieced but I used to be really good at cutting out paper doll clothes! (Do they even have those anymore??)

  11. The center medallion will be a great addition to your blocks. Once you make the leaves in green it’s going to show you it’s perfect for the quilt! 🌻 I saw the LOVE block on a couple blogs yesterday. I’ve never paper pieced but I used to be really good at cutting out paper doll clothes! (Do they even have those anymore??)

  12. The center medallion will be a great addition to your blocks. Once you make the leaves in green it’s going to show you it’s perfect for the quilt! 🌻 I saw the LOVE block on a couple blogs yesterday. I’ve never paper pieced but I used to be really good at cutting out paper doll clothes! (Do they even have those anymore??)

  16. I also love the block not only for the color, autumn look and the combination of pumpkin, crow and the whimsical sunflower; but also the contrast between the blocks and this center square. I learned a looooong time ago from Jinny Breyer and Nancy Halprin how successful a quilt is with a little bit of “tension”. Take color, quilts that have terrific matched colors are very nice. But when the quilter throws in a fabric that is just a ‘tad bit off’ that helps the quilt change from nice to dynamic.
    Word picture: a group of kids are at the beach playing Tug of War. Yes, there is a drawn line in the sand. Now which is more fun to watch?
    When one team immediately pulls the other team over the line? Or when there is a fun back and forth going on? Everyone is cheering them on. What great fun!
    To me, this subtle, playful tension between your particular pieced blocks and this whimsical center block will end up being perfect. I think it will add just the right subtle tension that those two great teachers were sharing with us. Just my thoughts. And btw, I ❤️ this quilt. Nice job. Congratulations.

  17. I also love the block not only for the color, autumn look and the combination of pumpkin, crow and the whimsical sunflower; but also the contrast between the blocks and this center square. I learned a looooong time ago from Jinny Breyer and Nancy Halprin how successful a quilt is with a little bit of “tension”. Take color, quilts that have terrific matched colors are very nice. But when the quilter throws in a fabric that is just a ‘tad bit off’ that helps the quilt change from nice to dynamic.
    Word picture: a group of kids are at the beach playing Tug of War. Yes, there is a drawn line in the sand. Now which is more fun to watch?
    When one team immediately pulls the other team over the line? Or when there is a fun back and forth going on? Everyone is cheering them on. What great fun!
    To me, this subtle, playful tension between your particular pieced blocks and this whimsical center block will end up being perfect. I think it will add just the right subtle tension that those two great teachers were sharing with us. Just my thoughts. And btw, I ❤️ this quilt. Nice job. Congratulations.

  18. I also love the block not only for the color, autumn look and the combination of pumpkin, crow and the whimsical sunflower; but also the contrast between the blocks and this center square. I learned a looooong time ago from Jinny Breyer and Nancy Halprin how successful a quilt is with a little bit of “tension”. Take color, quilts that have terrific matched colors are very nice. But when the quilter throws in a fabric that is just a ‘tad bit off’ that helps the quilt change from nice to dynamic.
    Word picture: a group of kids are at the beach playing Tug of War. Yes, there is a drawn line in the sand. Now which is more fun to watch?
    When one team immediately pulls the other team over the line? Or when there is a fun back and forth going on? Everyone is cheering them on. What great fun!
    To me, this subtle, playful tension between your particular pieced blocks and this whimsical center block will end up being perfect. I think it will add just the right subtle tension that those two great teachers were sharing with us. Just my thoughts. And btw, I ❤️ this quilt. Nice job. Congratulations.

  22. Just think of real sun flowers, don’t they just tower over everything else. So far this looks like a great center block for your quilt, but you will know if you can live with the proportion by trying it out in the center of your quilt on the design wall. That’s pretty much where I make final decisions. Love the Blockheads quilts, just don’t love tiny pieces – YET!

  23. Just think of real sun flowers, don’t they just tower over everything else. So far this looks like a great center block for your quilt, but you will know if you can live with the proportion by trying it out in the center of your quilt on the design wall. That’s pretty much where I make final decisions. Love the Blockheads quilts, just don’t love tiny pieces – YET!

  24. Just think of real sun flowers, don’t they just tower over everything else. So far this looks like a great center block for your quilt, but you will know if you can live with the proportion by trying it out in the center of your quilt on the design wall. That’s pretty much where I make final decisions. Love the Blockheads quilts, just don’t love tiny pieces – YET!