Whimsy and Onyx—a fabric blender dynamic duo

Whimsy and Onyx. Sound like names of comic strip characters, don't they? 

In the quilting world, Whimsy and Onyx are two blender collections from P&B Textiles. And I'm using this dynamic duo for the 100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 sew-along.

Fat quarter bundles of Onyx (far left) and Whimsy from P&B Textiles.

What's to like about Whimsy and Onyx

When Whimsy was first introduced as a P&B basic, I was immediately drawn to it because:

• it covers the full color spectrum without being overwhelming—there are 50 pieces in the collection.
• the collection includes a range of grays—with both cool and warm grays.
• there is a variety of prints with a 21st century aesthetic—ditzies, florals, and geometrics.
• these small-scale prints are well-suited for "supporting cast members" to coordinate with larger scale designs and other focal prints.
• however... the designs are unique enough to stand on their own!

Onyx is a tonal black-on-black basic that also offers a variety of designs—dots, lines, bursts, grids, geometric and organic patterns. This collection definitely provides a contrast and counterpoint to the colorful Whimsy.

Onyx is a black-on-black blender collection from P&B Textiles.

In addition to the 12 different designs, other characteristics of Onyx are:

• the base cloth is dyed black—check the "wrong side" of this fabric! There won't be any white threads or whiskers showing when cutting, piecing, doing fusible appliqué, embellishing, or quilting by hand or machine.
• because it's black throughout, you can use the back side of Onyx if you're in need of a solid black.
• the collection's versatile designs. This blender can be used in traditional quilts, contemporary/modern quilts, college and T-shirt quilts,  and "guy" quilts. Several of the designs are geometric or gender-neutral.
• and who doesn't love an accent of black—or black and white—to add sparkle and zing to a quilt???

Not having used much tonal black-on-black fabrics as a major part of a quilt, incorporating Onyx into the 100 Days 100 Blocks project this year is a challenge I set for myself. (So far, it's going well.)

Making 100 blocks with Whimsy and Onyx

The 100 Days 100 Blocks sew-along started August 1 (but anyone can jump in at any time!). My first blocks were pieced with the cool colors from the Whimsy line with accents of Onyx. 

Whimsy and Onyx blenders with Bloc Loc half-square triangle and flying geese rulers.

A sampling of the cool color blocks on the design wall...

33 patchwork blocks of the Kinship Sampler quilt. Blocks are 8.5" square and 4.5 x 8.5" (unfinished).
Whimsy and Onyx fabrics from P&B Textiles.

As I approached cutting pieces for Block 50—the halfway point—I dipped into the warmer hues of Whimsy.

Warm yellows and oranges from Whimsy and black-on-black Onyx.

A sampling of the warm color blocks...

Several blocks using the warmer hues of Whimsy.

Batch processing

For efficiency, I create the blocks in batches—ahead of the posting schedule. I cut a bunch of blocks... piece that batch... photograph that batch... and format the photos for the Instagram posts. Then I post the block on its appropriate day.

This is an example of a stack of blocks ready for piecing.

Batch cutting the blocks.

There is a 100 Days 100 Blocks tracker available for the program. I haven't kept up with filling in the "post" column, but it's fun to color in the other activities as I do my batching processes.

100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 event tracker.

Make it your own—throw in a little Onyx

The Kinship Sampler pattern is shown in three shades of blue + white to give a sense of the patchwork. Sometimes I follow the value [lightness or darkness of a fabric] placement provided in the pattern... sometimes I don't. 

Sometimes I use leftover pieces (or mis-cuts) from previous blocks. And sometimes I remind myself, "Hey, throw in a patch of Onyx!"      Zing!

Onyx (top) and Whimsy blenders from P&B Textiles.

Whether these 100 blocks make it into a single quilt, two or more smaller quilts, or something else... the Whimsy and Onyx blenders from P&B Textiles are producing dynamic patchwork results for my Kinship sampler blocks. 

Ask YLQS [your local quilt shop] for these fabric collections. They should be on everyone's color wall and in every quilter's stash.

I’m in! The 100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 starts August 1

Are you ready for the 100 Days 100 Blocks 2022 sew-along? It’s my 5th year participating!

100 Days 100 Blocks 2022: fabric bundles [P&B Textiles] and block tracker

I’ve got:

• three lusciously squishy P&B Textiles fat quarter bundles, 
• my Block-Loc rulers for half-square triangles and flying geese units, 
• the Kinship Sampler pattern on my iPad, and
• the 100 Days 100 Blocks event tracker printed.

I’m ready to go!

Specs and prep for the Kinship Sampler 2022

This year, I’ll be using fabrics from the playful Whimsy basics line from P&B Textiles. Whimsy sports a variety of small texture-like patterns and a full color gamut of warm, cool and neutral hues. 

My Personal Challenge will be experimenting with combining these rainbow hues with black tone-on-tone fabrics—P&B's Onyx basics—rather than using white or light colors for contrast. This will be a new exploration for me in this year’s sew-along. Where's the "spice in life" if you don't mix it up a bit??

I've begun pulling and cutting fabrics for the first few blocks in preparation for the August 1 start date. The sew-along goes through November 8, 2022 and uses the Kinship Sampler pattern (available from Gnome Angel). 

Fabric pull: cool colors from the Whimsy collection and black tone-on-tone fat quarters from Onyx collection [P&B Textiles]. Bloc-Loc rulers for flying geese and half-square triangle units.

The Kinship Sampler is a fun, skill-builder project

There are 50 square blocks that finish at 8”x8” and 50 rectangle blocks 4” x 8” in the Kinship Sampler quilt. Here's why I like it:

• The sampler is appropriate for confident beginners but the two block sizes keep it interesting for advanced quilters.
• Angie at Gnome Angel describes the blocks as "borrowing from the traditional and reflecting the contemporary."
• It’s great practice for perfecting your 1/4” seam.
• You can make it scrappy or plan a controlled color scheme.
• The pattern has suggestions for block layouts, or you can see what others have done using the #100blocks100days or #kinshipsampler hashtags for previous years.
• Doing the 100 Days 100 Blocks sew-along with others is always motivating, encouraging and inspiring. Everyone uses different fabrics and we cheer each other on!

Watch my daily block posts on Instagram [@veronica.fiberantics] and on Facebook.

Wrapping up the 100 Days 100 Blocks 2021 project

The 100 Days 100 Blocks Kinship sampler sew-along is approaching the finish line—next Friday, October 8. Over the last three months, I've been piecing the sampler blocks in batches, using fabrics from several of the fabric companies I rep. Here's a look at the journey...

Blocks from the 2021 100 Days 100 Blocks sew-along.
Fabrics from Dashwood Studio and Simply Primitive batiks from Batik Textiles.

Australian Aboriginal designs

In July, I started the 100 Days 100 Blocks program with Australian aboriginal prints from M&S Textiles Australia. The bold colors and aboriginal designs offer a lot of interest and movement. These prints definitely keep the eyes moving across the fabric. Several of the blocks have made it into the center section of a new quilt top.

Progress on the center section of a quilt top.

Felicity Fabrics bridges traditional and modern styles

The next batch of blocks features prints from the Nightfall Floral collection and basics from Felicity Fabrics. The prints from Felicity are ideal for patchwork—smaller scale prints in contemporary color schemes that maintain their presence even when cut into smaller units. The Felicity basics are familiar, tried-and-true designs that support and coordinate with a range of focal prints.

Fabrics from Felicity Fabrics.

A contemporary European flair from Dashwood Studio 

Next up is a batch of blocks made with fabrics from the UK company, Dashwood Studio. These fabrics are relatively new to US quilt shops. The prints have a continental, contemporary feel and the Twist basic line has a random seed pattern that offers subtle movement with an easy flow.

Blocks made with fabric collections by Dashwood Studio.

Aviary, Hedgerow, Habitat and Twist fabric lines from Dashwood Studio.

Mixing in primitive style batiks from Batik Textiles

The last batch of blocks incorporates prints from Dashwood Studio with the Simply Primitive batik collection from Batik Textiles. These unique batiks have a minimalist design style and a dusty, darker color palette—quite unlike what usually comes to mind when people mention "batik." The sparse designs of the batiks provide a contrast with the more detailed cotton print deisgns from Dashwood Studio. The darker colors shift the focus to the brighter prints and offer a richness and sophistication to the patchwork blocks. 

Simply Primitive batiks mixed with prints from Dashwood Studio.

I'm having a particularly good time choosing and coordinating the colors and textures of the batiks with the Dashwood Studio Habitat collection. 

The Habitat collection features animals from all parts of the world.

This is my fourth year participating in the 100 Days 100 Blocks project. It's always a fun project and it keeps one's patchwork skills finely tuned!

Ask your local quilt shop [YLQS] for these fabric lines and start your own sampler block project.

I've joined the 100 Days 100 Blocks 2021 quilt-along with M&S Textiles Australia

It snuck up on me this year, but I decided to again participate in the “100 Days 100 Blocks” quilt-along. This is my 4th year. 

It’s gonna be a riot of color and pattern... 
     'cause for 2021, I’m using Australian aboriginal fabrics from M&S Textiles Australia. 

Blocks from the 100 Days 100 Blocks Quilt-along 2021.

My Fabric Pull

Classified as a “Go bold or go home!” color story, these are several of my fabric picks.

Fabric Pull for 100 Days 100 Blocks 2021. Fabrics from M&S Textiles Australia.

The Kinship Fusion Sampler

This year, the quilt-along coordinator, Angie at @gnomeangel, has offered a few layouts that use subsets of the 100 blocks to make smaller quilts... or possibly multiple quilts. I have a *tentative* goal to make a quilt top with a subset of my 100—even before I've finished piecing all 100 blocks. (Let's see if this works out...). I saw one layout that uses about 20 blocks that I'm considering. 

I'm having fun doing selective cuts [fussy cuts] from the Aborigianl fabric designs this year. I'm also learning a lot by auditioning my fabric pull... considering which fabric will be a background and which will be the focus. Below is a selection of blocks from the first 25.

Block 1 with a focus cut in the center.

Block 15 with a focus cut center.

Block 17 with focus cut wheels in the center 4-patch.

The blocks in this sampler quilt are alternately 8.5" x 8.5" and 8.5" x 4.5" (unfinished sizes).

Block 24 is 4.5" x 8.5" (unfinished).

With this quilt-along, quilters gain proficiency with sewing a 1/4" seam and learn the value of "spinning the seams" to minimize bulk at intersections. My stitch length is set at 2.2.

Spinning the seams in Block 7 (back view).

100 Blocks Quilt-along time table

The 100 Blocks 100 Days quilt-along goes from July 1 through October 8, 2021. Gnome Angel provides a downloadable Event Tracker to keep participants organized. With 25% completion (today, July 25), it's going by fast and looking' good so far. Perhaps with this being my 4th year, I know what to expect and how to manage the process.

If you haven't tried an online quilt-along, consider this one. You can join in any time.

The Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction

December 21, 2020 is the Winter Solstice and the Great Conjunction. This evening, the two largest planets in our solar system—Jupiter and Saturn—came within .1 degree apart from each other. They nearly overlapped to form a "double planet." In our evening sky just after sundown, it looked like a red star beside a bright white star... which then sank into the horizon.

Blocks from The Farmer's Wife sampler

This astronomical event reminded me of the border fabric I used in this quilt top WIP [work in progress]. The blocks are a subset from my Farmer's Wife sampler quilt I started in 2018.

Astrology quilt top.

With a renewed interest in slow stitching, I'm considering hand stitched motifs in the woven alternate blocks. 

This is one of the corner blocks. It looks like a tree during the winter solstice. This quilt just might become my astrology quilt with each corner block representing a solstice or an equinox. Even the background fabric looks like a starry sky.

Winter tree

The shadows are long on this shortest day of the year. 

Stitching Success Tracker, December 21.

I'm looking forward to more hours of sunlight in the coming days.

Stan Leigh. One of our backyard kitties.

Nearing the finish line for the 100 Days 100 Blocks project

The 100 Days 100 Blocks project for 2020 is coming to an end. The exact date for posting Block 100 is October 8.

Wrapping up the 100 Days 100 Blocks project for 2020.

With each fussy cut and color pull, I have enjoyed "getting to know" the prints from several fabric collections from Paintbrush Studio Fabrics. These fabrics have a beautifully soft finish and the Painter's Palette collection of solids offers a full color gamut with nuances and shades in all the color families. I have a new appreciation for solids after working through this project.

Block layout options
I have begun auditioning layouts on the design wall. 

Alternate blocks on point.

Alternate blocks with a straight set.

Block groupings...

This could go in several directions... or into several projects.

The Final Five

These are Blocks 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100. 

Blocks 96 - 100 of the "Make the Cut" sampler quilt.

Time will tell what these 100 six-inch blocks will grow into.

How to support your local shops during COVID-19 social distancing

With the uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus, many of us are practicing social distancing and self-quarantine. As quilters, sewers, knitters and makers, we have the skill set (and the supplies, no doubt) to combat this isolation time with the crafts we are passionate about. We got this!

Attending to my Farmer's Wife sampler WIP [work in progress]. Assembling blocks 2 x 2.

Don't forget YLQS (your local quilt shop)!
During this uncertain time, however, I encourage you to not forget about our beloved quilt shops, yarn shops and independent sewing centers. These small businesses still depend on us!

Farmer's Wife blocks. Fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics.
Directory of Shops that carry Art Gallery Fabrics.

How YLQS is managing
Independent quilt, fabric and yarn shops are getting creative with ways to continue to support our quilting/sewing/crafting endeavors—offering curb-side pickup, personal local deliveries, virtual shopping via Facebook Live, Instagram and social media platforms, offering discounts on products and shipping, while figuring out how to use alternative methods to bring us instruction, tutorials and classes—in addition to keeping a sanitized shop and protecting themselves and their staff. It's an enormous feat of juggling and the learning curve for implementing new technology can be steep.

Ways WE can help and support YLQS:
Keep making and crafting!

Assembling rows of 6" bloc

• Go through your stash and revisit those UFOs. You'll likely need borders, sashing, backing or bindings to finish them. Call or contact YLQS and have them ship what you need.
• Visit YLQS on line. Fill the shopping cart and they will ship fabrics and supplies to you.
• Many LQSs are making kits of their shop samples, packaging class/club/BOM projects so you have everything you need to hunker down and craft at home while we get through this time. Buy a kit for yourself or for your kids as a creative outlet from on-line learning. 
• Ask for a personal shopping assistant. I've seen several shops walk through their store via Facebook Live and show new fabrics, kits, notions and products they have that will inspire or help you with your craft. Place an order.
• Purchase gift certificates—for your own future buying needs or for your friends.
• Shops are posting Flash Sales on social media and through e-news blasts. Take advantage of them.
• Fabric companies have opened up the archives of free project patterns for us to access. Be inspired to make something!
• Fabric and pattern designers, brand ambassadors and others are hosting "I-sew-lation" quilt-alongs and sew-alongs. Refresh your stash, buy the kit, pattern or book, and join in.
• Follow, Like and leave comments on social media. The traffic will elevate YLQS's page in on-line rankings... making them get noticed by others with similar interests.
• Post photos of your UFOs, WIPs and Finishes and tag and hashtag YLQS, the fabric and pattern designers and fabric companies. These small things improve on-line rankings. Spread the love!

Adding additional fabrics for a scrappier sampler quilt.

Non-quilters and non-sewers can support too!

• Purchase gift items (books, note pads, greeting cards, jewelry, etc.), gift certificates and finished shop samples and display items. 
• Inquire about and employ a shop's other services such as making T-shirt quilts, making heirloom or commemorative gifts (pillows, etc.), or embroidery services.
• Got a quilt top you've inherited, rescued or purchased? Commission their quilting services. Get that quilt finished so it can be enjoyed.

Completed Farmer'sWife sampler top. Auditioning possible borders.
I have placed an online order with my LQS for two fabrics to audition additional options.

Out of sight but not out of mind
I'm again working on my Farmer's Wife sampler quilt during social distancing. I've ordered two fabrics from one of my quilt shops for possible borders. I hope you revisit your UFOs and order supplies to finish a few of them. Studies have shown that participating in hobbies and crafts during uncertain times relieves stress and calms nerves.

YLQS may be temporarily out of sight... but don't let them be out of mind. They are depending on all of us NOW so when the world gets back to normal, these small businesses will still be afloat!

100 Days 100 Blocks 2019 begins July 1

Is anyone doing the 100 Days 100 Blocks quilt-along this year? It starts tomorrow, July 1! I had a blast participating in 2018, so I'm taking up the challenge again in 2019.

My fabric pull for 2019 is a selection of yarn-dyed textured wovens from Diamond Textiles. 

Fabric pull for #100Days100Blocks2019: Tweed Thicket (top) and Nikko III from Diamond Textiles.

The fabrics include the full color gamut of Tweed Thicket and a selection the Nikko III textured wovens. Tweed Thicket is fat quarters and I have yardage in 6 colors of Nikko III. I'm looking forward to making this project all with yarn-dyed textured wovens!

100 Days 100 Blocks pattern
The 2019 pattern is the "Kinship" sampler quilt that was designed specifically for this quilt-along by the quilt-along host, Gnome Angel. How cool is that?!? One of the things that intrigued me about the pattern is the combination of square and rectangular blocks—very interesting. It's geared for beginners and confident sewers and you can get assembly instructions for patchwork, Marti Michell's templates, or English paper piecing [EPP].

Several quilt shops and on-line resources are sponsoring the event with prizes. My friend, Angie, owner of Stitch Morgantown, is again one of the sponsors.

My initial plan is to use Tweed Thicket for the focal areas and Nikko III for the background.

Full color gamut of Tweed Thicket from Diamond Textiles.

However, I reserve the right to change my mind as the quilt-along progresses (#myquiltmyrules).

Nikko III from Diamond Textiles.

There's still time to join in! 
The pattern is available in a digital PDF file for immediate download. Registration, program rules, helpful tools, a coloring sheet and other information is on the Gnome Angel website.

So pull some fabrics and make a sampler quilt... one day at a time.

Nearing completion of The Farmer's Wife sampler blocks

My Farmer's Wife sampler project is coming up on the last mile of the block-making process. I have 93 out of a possible 111 blocks pieced. Below are the latest 30 additions to my ever-growing pile of six-inch patchwork mini compositions.

My latest 30 Farmer's Wife blocks made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

I've infused more Art Gallery fabrics into the original fabric mix. The more, the scrappier, right? And I've also been patchwork-liberated with my new philosophy of #myquiltmyrules—making it possible to modify, simplify and get a little more creative with the construction and the machine piecing of the blocks—as I see fit.

93 of 111 blocks from The Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. 

The plan is to finish the Farmer's Wife blocks by the end of the month to make way for the 2019 "100 Days 100 Blocks" Challenge that starts in July. I have the Kinship pattern and I've got my fabric chosen—a lovely array of Tweed Thicket fat quarters and Nikko III from Diamond Textiles (insert angel choir here).

Tweed Thicket (top) and Nikko III from Diamond Textiles anticipating
#100Days100Blocks2019 Challenge.

Yep, I'm a sucker for a good Challenge. What about you?

Simplifying assembly of Farmer's Wife blocks with strip piecing

You know what it's like when there is a bowl assorted candies... the favorites are the ones that disappear first. This is not unlike doing the Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. The "easy" blocks are the ones that get done first. Then you decide whether to continue with the project... or just say, "'nuff!"

63 completed blocks from the Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. Made with Art Gallery Fabrics.

Well, this project hasn't beaten me yet, but the "fun and easy" blocks are slim-to-none at this point in the game! I've already veered off the straight and narrow when I decided I didn't have to follow the patterns exactly as shown in the book (see this blog post). And now with 63 of the 111 blocks completed, I'm looking at the remaining not-so-easy patterns to see if, or how, I can modify the design or simplify assembly.

Strip piecing
Here is one block, Streak of Lightning, that went together fairly quick once I figured out a strip sequence.

Piecing a strip set.

The strip set was then cut into 6 strips. One for each row in the pattern.

Cutting the strip set into 6 units. One for each row.

Following the color placement, I cut off one end or the other of each strip.

Trimming the ends in order to match the block pattern.

With this method, the block was much easier to assemble and more accurate than piecing individual units.

Upstairs Downstairs.

I'm calling my block "Upstairs Downstairs." There is more than one direction to take for any given block.