Summertime...

One of the blogs in my favorite quilt blogs list is Sew We Quilt @ Stash Manicure. She recently introduced her readers to Rebecca Barker. (Click here to see her post.-but don't go read it yet.) These are just two of the paintings that Rebecca creates. She's also a quilter, but this lady really can paint, too! This is the link to her website, where you can purchase her designs as notecards or prints. (Oh, and Madame Samm is having a giveaway for some of Rebecca's cards at the end of her post at Sew We Quilt!) Can you imagine having one of her gorgeous pieces hanging in your studio or a room in your home?

These two paintings of Rebecca's really got my attention. I'd been thinking about making my next quilt a red/white/blue, patriotic-themed quilt, but these two cards completely derailed that idea. I've decided, instead, to make my next quilt a Summertime quilt!
I've selected fabrics that are the colors of grass and fresh summertime fruits - a combination of strawberries and watermelons. The pattern I'm going to sew is going to be similar to the one on Rebecca's strawberry card, but not exact.
You can see that I haven't chosen the fabric like the golden color in the photo yet, but I have time. After all, I'm going to have to "do the math" to design my quilt, too. Or, I might just decide to keep that half of the block white.
I'm starting by cutting 2" strips, the width of the fabric. I arranged them by alternating light and dark fabrics and have already begun to sew each row of strips together. I'm taking notes as I do this so that I can keep track of supplies and measurements as I go.

I admit it will be a bit of "trial and error", but I'm hoping to keep the "errors" to a minimum. You know what they say..."Measure twice, cut once". I'm not going to copy Rebecca's exact design, but I do love the way her art makes me think of warm summer days and sweet summer fruit, and I'm going to do my best to duplicate that feeling. I know that my blocks will be larger than hers, so I'll be interested to see how that affects the overall look and feel.

I saw on Rebecca's site that she has published books with quilt patterns in them. After I finish this one, I may purchase one of her books to be able to make some of her other fabulous designs without having to do my own math.

I hope you'll join me as I prepare for summer picnics and s'mores by the campfire with this new piece. I'll keep sharing my Summertime quilt project with you until I've got it finished. Don't you just love starting something new?