Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Are You Ready For Your Audition?

Have you been watching The Voice? This is the first year I've watched it, and I'm enjoying it so far--much better than American Idol the first couple years when I watched that show. For tonight's performances, I thought the gal who did Sting's Roxanne and the guy who did Lenny Kravitz's Are You Going to go my Way just killed it. If you watched, what did you think? One of the reasons I mention the show show is because Soccer Son's Lovely Wife to be Someday told us yesterday that several people recently told Soccer Son he looks like Adam Levine, which is kind of interesting. I never thought about it before, but now I can see a bit of a resemblance. Too bad Soccer Son doesn't have Levine's bank account along with a strong desire to support his mom. He also doesn't have the tattoos.

About the Thimbleberries swap block quilt top I've been working on, many of you commented about how much you liked the look of the blocks and asked what they are. Pat Sloan designed a quilt she named Blueberry Cobbler--if you click on the name, it will take you to a photo of her quilt pattern. The fabrics look much like the tones of the Thimbleberries fabrics, so when our online group wanted to swap blocks several years ago, someone thought the traditional block used by Pat Sloan, known as Anvil, would make a good block, so we found one of the free online block patterns and picked two colorways to use--blue and gold and red and gold. You can find one of the pattern sources HERE. Or HERE. You can also make the block smaller by adjusting the size of the components--we made our blocks finish at 8".

Miss Jean commented and asked that I show you the different border fabric I audition, so I thought I'd try out a couple possibilities--the border fabric will help me decide what to add as a third color if I decide to go that route when I determine what kind of sashings I want to use. So here are three possibilities:


This first print is a little small, but the four-patch blocks measure 16", so almost any pattern is going to look small. This print has both blue and green in it, so I'd have more third color options, and the print isn't seasonal.


I like this print but I tried to use it as a border in another quilt and the pattern looked too repetitive--I'd forgotten about that until I put it up on the wall. Do you agree?


This print concedes that any red and green quilt is going to end up being a Christmas quilt. This is an old Thimbleberries print, and I think I might like it best so far. It is also repetitive but for some reason, it doesn't bug me like the second one does.

What are your thoughts on these border options?

I tried to get my audience's opinion on another fabric matter, but he was feeling much too lazy to be of any real help.


I pulled out the pattern for this month's Schnibbles and looked through my charm packs. I thought It's a Hoot by MoMo would be fun, but what to use as a background fabric? When I auditioned the whites in my stash, nothing seemed quite right. Eventually I pulled out a BasicGrey grunge fabric that I like--a lot!--but I wonder if the other colors would just melt into it? Should I hold out and check the quilt shop for a suitable white fabric when I'm there on Wednesday?


Comments?

12 comments:

JoAnne said...

First the easy part. I like the grunge fabric for your Schnibble. As to the Thimbleberries, I don't like the first border fabric at all. The second one doesn't bother me that the pattern repeats, what I'm not in love with are the colors, but I think it could work, especially with green sashing. I like the last one best. I also have to say that I love the blocks without sashing, but that is just my opinion.

Lastly, thanks so much for the Luna Notte charm pack and pattern. I got them last week while you were on vacation.

Aloha!

Donna said...

I'm going to go way out in left field and say that I don't really care for any of the three choices. But I do love the blocks!

Nonnie said...

I agree with Donna. I don't care for any of the three. However I like the grey grunge

krislovesfabric said...

I agree the blocks without sashing and the bell border would be a great Christmas quilt. And I love the blue grunge with your charms. I won a Hello Luscious FQ bundle earlier this year from a QAL and need to pick a background...white just doesn't look right to me, think I may look for that blue myself!

Heather said...

I love that aqua grunge fabric with those charm squares. I think I may even have it in my stash and this inspires me to get working with it!

Josie McRazie said...

Not sure about the borders. kove the blocks, but none of the borders are me so I would be a bad one to choose.
Well there is your sons problem, the Tattoos make the man! LOL!! Just kidding! (that is coming from a tattooed freak like me!!)

Miss Jean said...

Thanks for showing us the border fabrics. I really would go with something more solid looking that those three choices. That's just me though. I think a pure white would be best rather than the grunge fabric. It would end up looking bright and cheery like the pattern.

However, whatever choice you make, the quilts will turn out awesome as per usual!!!

quiltgrammy said...

Beautiful blocks and I'm kind of drawn to the first fabric.
For the Schnibbles, I would go for a white, I think that would make the charm fabric just pop!!JMHO!!

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

Go with the grunge! I think it makes the whole Schibbles pop!

Anonymous said...

I liked the first choice for the border. My second choice would be the last option with the green sashing. I don't usually use white/white for a background, so I'd go with the grunge fabric that you show. Thanks for sharing.
cindy

Sinta Renee said...

I love BG grunge fabrics. I love your selection of fabrics too. It will be great! You have to show a picture of soccer son to me, because people say that my son looks like him too. Which I hate because I think Adam is cute, so it's just wrong. I am interested to see what fabric wins the audition.

Kristi said...

I love the Voice....I agree with you. Roxanne was wonderful and I liked the lenny kravitz's song. both my favs as well!!!