Riley Blake Designs is the sponsor of the 3rd annual Modern Quilt Guild members fabric challenge. Several months ago we each received six fabrics, the five you see above in the paper pieced pattern and a solid grey. The challenge was to make anything we wanted with the fabric, as long as it was quilted. We could add any solid colors we wanted, but other prints had to be Riley Blake. The combination of bright colors and prints reminded me of a carnival, and I started thinking about Ferris wheels.
Right away I decided I didn't want to add many fabrics; I wanted to see what I could do with what was given to us. I bought one additional Riley Blake fabric for the front trim and back of the pillow. It's called On The Go, and it's all little cogs — the gears that make the Ferris wheel go. The background on the front is Kaufman's Essex linen.
For the blocks on the front I decided upon this asterisk pattern by Sew Take a Hike, available on Craftsy. At the last minute, I wound up rotating the entire front 90 degrees to the right. What is now the bottom was originally intended to be the right side of the pillow's front.
I fused the front and back pillow pieces to Pellon Fusible Fleece, and quilted the front in a square spiral starting at the center. Finished size is 22".
I wasn't able to make the Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild meeting this past Saturday where everyone presented their work (check it out here on the SMQG blog). Family first. I don't talk much about family here, other than in goofy pictures, but Jason flew to Pennsylvania Friday to be with his parents. His mother has been suffering from advanced stage Alzheimer's for some time, and it was clear she only had a few days left. Jason made it out on time; he was able to be with his father in their home to say good-bye to his mother on Sunday night. Ordinarily, Jason & I do everything together, but in this instance we decided it was best I stay at home with the kids. It was a heart-wrenching decision. As my friend Laura put it, I want to do both jobs, mommy and wife 100%, and at this particular moment I cannot. I've been glued to the phone, waiting. I received the call as I wrote this.
I am so grateful Jason got there in time to say good-bye alongside his father, even though she could probably no longer hear them.
xo Karin
