ode to the trees {paper obsessed giveaway}

It's my stop on the Paper Obsessed blog tour, and I figured I'd share a little something old and new.  Or, more specifically, something Ode.  You see, when Heather first told me last year about her new line about all things paper, my mind immediately went to the trees... those luscious, leafy green givers of fresh air, shade, the seasons, and of course, paper.

The design started off as a play on a row quilt, with trees both small and tall.  You know, because it is "Ode to the Trees" after all.  But I couldn't help but add in a few doodle blocks, like this one, which I call "scratch":

Then, as I was thinking about today's tour, I decided to test out another hack.  I have to say, no offense to the trees, but "scratch" has quickly become one of my favorite blocks from this design.  It's got such potential for movement, and Heather's line has the perfect range of grays to do the trick (with spot-on pops of color in that black print, I have to say!):

I enlarged the original pattern by 190% (similar to what I did with the trees, but even bigger :: hop on over here for instructions on how to enlarge paper piecing designs using a simple print feature!).

And because I can't make just one, I have big plans to turn this newly enlarged 9.5" x ~23" block into this...

At 190%, this particular layout would finish around 45" x 60".

Because paper's for doodles and chicken scratch too, right?

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you'll follow along here to keep up on my hack progress, and along with the rest of the tour to see some more amazing makes from fellow Paper Obsessed peeps!

July 12 Windham Fabrics :: http://windhamfabrics.wordpress.com

July 13 Heather Givans of Crimson Tate :: https://blog.crimsontate.com/

July 14 Sarah Sharp of {no} hats quilts ::  http://www.nohatsinthehouse.com/

July 15 Janine Vangool of UPPERCASE Magazine ::  http://uppercasemagazine.com/blog/

July 16 Karen LePage of Gentle Clothing :: http://onegirlcircus.com/

July 17 Jenny Leisure / David Barnhouse of Crimson Tate :: https://blog.crimsontate.com/

July 18 Heather Jones of Heather Jones Studio :: http://www.heatherjonesstudio.com/blog

July 19 Eric Lubrick of Eric Lubrick Photography :: http://oartooar.com/

July 20 Annie Unrein of By Annie’s :: http://byanniecom.blogspot.com/

July 21 Amanda Castor of Material Girl Quilts :: https://materialgirlquilts.com/

July 22 Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness :: http://sewsweetness.com/blog

July 23 Giuseppe Ribaudo of Giucy Giuce :: http://www.instagram.com/giucy_giuce

July 24 Karen McTavish of Karen McTavish Quilting Studio :: https://blog.crimsontate.com/

July 25 Kristen Wright of Two Blondes and a Sewing Machine :: https://twoblondesandasewingmachine.wordpress.com

July 26 Heather Givans of Crimson Tate ::  https://blog.crimsontate.com/

And because Heather and Windham are so very generous, there's lots of goodies in store along the way!  For a chance to win some Paper Obsessed FQs, a copy of Ode, and a whole bunch of swag, leave a comment and tell me what *your* current obsession is!  I'll choose a random winner on July 27, after the tour has come full circle ;o)

xo

Sarah

 

summer bling bag {SMS|RK manchester metallics challenge}

....Ohhhhhhh metallics.  If I have a weak spot for anything, it's that little bit of glitzy glam you can only get from a good gold.  Add to that some earthy browns, and I'm in my element, one hundred percent.

Cue Manchester Metallics, a new range from Robert Kaufman fabrics.  So when RK and Sew Mama Sew paired up for a summer bag challenge, I opted for a couple of the golden hues (eggshell up top, bronze on the bottom) to whip up an easy two-toned beach bag...

Plus two Kona charm packs (neutral and brights), you know, for a little extra bling.

I used a half-yard cut of the light metallic for the top, and a fat quarter of the dark for the base.  I just winged it, but I'm happy to sketch out a little tutorial if anyone is interested!

For the gemstones, I used my temporarily-retired-but-soon-to-be-rereleased (here) "Shinebright Birthstone" quilt block pattern to make 9" gemstones (a "sandstone" and an "ocean stone," no doubt).

Thanks so much to Sew Mama Sew and Robert Kaufman Fabrics for arranging this challenge!  And for other metallics inspiration, be sure to check out:

Mo Bedell
Sandy Whitelaw of UpStairs Hobby Room
Michelle Morris of That Black Chic
Kathy Green of Designs by KTGreen
Carrie Federer of carrie bee
Anne Zeitler of AnneZPlace
Sanchia Gair of Red Brolly
Natalie Strand of Vegetablog
Devida Bushrod of The Driftwood Thimble
Sara Johansen of The Sara Project
Sarah Sharp of no hats in the house {you are here!}
Michelle Webster of michellepatterns
Marni Weaver of Haberdashery Fun
Jenny of My Handmade Home

And while you're doing that, I'll be rethinking my decision not to bind or line this carryall.  That, or I'll just line it with beach towels, suntan lotion and sand, and never look back! ;o)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah

@nohatsquilts