I love starting something new, so while I’m supposed to be finishing up a big pile of WIPs, I couldn’t help signing up to The Great Pillow Fight Swap. A few weeks back I pulled some fabrics for my partner…
Then I spent a few weeks thinking about design. I really love the Aerial Grove quilt in Carolyn Friedlander’s new book “Savor Each Stitch”. I love the simplicity of her quilt and the bright pops of graduated colour in a low volume background. The pops of colour come from hand appliqued circles. I’ve never really done hand applique before so it’s not something I feel happy doing for my swap partner. Instead I decided to do a patchwork block that would evoke the same kind of feel, small blocks of colour on a light background. But what exactly!? I played with flying geese and half square triangles but they didn’t seem quite right. Then, inspired by the sweet X’s in the Cotton and Steel XOXO basics print, I decided to play with small crosses. I made a few blocks and I thought they looked kind of cute.
My partner seemed happy so I made a few more.
I quilted some straight lines through the diagonals. I love how the lines formed little crosses in between the blocks. Then I found the perfect backing in my stash.
Now it’s ready to post to my partner. I love finishing things too!
Edited to add: I’ve written a tutorial for this block, you can find it here Raspberry Kiss Block Tutorial
25 thoughts to “Starting something new…”
Yay, welcome to blogland Rachel
Fantastic finish!! Love the colors and your inspiration.
I love your pillow … but no wonder – I love everything of your work 🙂
Welcome in Blogger Land
Aylin xo
so excited to see your blog ! such a gorgeous pillow – lucky partner !
This pillow is super fantastic! Great job 🙂
yay! first blog post 🙂 and of course I love your pillow!
I love that you have a creative diary now.
Your pillow is absolutely adorable. I love the colours you chose and the little crosses.
Can't wait to see more over here.
such a lovely cushion!
Your first blog post…and such gorgeous work to show!
tinkingalong
such lovely colour choices!
Such a gorgeous pillow Rachel! And welcome to the blogverse, looking forward to seeing lots more!
It is fab! Love it! I could just drool over the first pic 🙂
Hello Rachel – congratulations on your first blog post, hopefully of many. I love this cushion, and I really enjoyed reading your design process. Looking forward to lots more posts!
Congrats on the new blog! Gorgeous pillow. Love the colours.
Hope to see more of your work here 🙂 Welcome . I'm already a follower on flickr 😉
And the pillow is gorgeous !
Hello, beautiful pillow and new blog!
I am sooo excited you are blogging!! Now i can hear the stories behind your beautiful work!
Found this through Flickr, this beautiful cushion is going straight to Pinterest!
Good luck with your blog. 🙂
you started a blog – yay!! Such a beautiful cushion – as always you get the perfect mix of colour and low volume 🙂
I am so happy that you started a blog- I've loved each & every things that you make on Flickr- but I think this pillow is the top of the list!!
I too, ADORE all of your work! You are very gifted! I enjoyed reading about your thought process here….I have such a HARD time combining my fabrics and colors! You are genius! XO
Love that pillow so much!!
Congrats on starting a blog, I added it to my feedly blogreader!
It's fabulous! I am so glad that you started blogging so I can get some insight into your brilliance!!
Yay! Welcome to blogland!
I'm so happy to read you finally!!!!! Welcome to blogland!!!! Of course I follow you now, how could I not?! Back in the day when I only had Flickr I asked you if you had a blog and you replied you did not have time! I sort of wept! Now I'm a happy happy girl! By the way, I love your pillow! And the tutorial is excellent!