Block Swaps

A group of individuals sharing quilt blocks with each other

Sixteen of Sixteen: All Done, AP # 65

| Cindy Anderson

The Last One

Believe it or not, we have finally reached the end of this series. I’ve been sharing photos of my recently completed art pieces. Last Tuesday we took a look at number fifteen.  Today’s post features the sixteenth, and final art piece in the collection.

Mixed Emotions

Reaching the end of a project always brings with it a mixed bag of emotions.

  • Sense of Relief: Finishing a project means I can finally move on to other endeavors.
  • Degree of Sadness: I pour so much of myself into each of the projects that it often leaves me drained, and exhausted.
  • Elation: Lastly it’s a chance to shout for joy and acknowledge the awesome accomplishment of successfully achieving a goal.

The completion of this series is no exception. I started out with a desire to tackle my goal head-on with every ounce of energy I could muster. My enthusiasm was as boundless as the stars are in the sky.

As the days and weeks passed I experienced the slow drain accompanied by intense concentration. In spite of my fatigue I managed to press-on.

Even though it is sad to acknowledge that the sixteenth quilt is the end of an era, I am at the same time thrilled to be able to turn my focus in another direction. Before doing so let’s take a look at the sixteenth quilt.

The Inspiration

I’ve titled this last item All Done because it brings to a close my quest to repurpose my orphaned Courthouse Steps remnants.

As you can see from the photo below I approached this miniature quilt differently.

Rather than stitching together random snippets of scraps, to create a center panel, I allowed the three tiny fragments to form a cascading arrangement similar to that of a staircase.

The leftover scraps were originally part of a courthouse steps quilt block. Replicating that design with these pieces seemed only fitting.

The remaining smidgens just happen to be from the same original block and as a result their colors nicely compliment one another.

Finishing Touches

To give the itty bitty squares the focus they deserved I enveloped them in a sea of stark white cotton fabric.

The seams of the border provided natural beginning and ending points for the quilting embellishment.

It Packs A Punch

Even though this small art quilt took very little time to create it carries with it a punch that demands attention.

All Done, AP # 65
All Done, AP # 65

Quilt Details

  • Materials: Fabric top and backing are 100% cotton
  • Batting: Warm & Natural White
  • Dimensions: 8 1/4” L x 4 1/2” W
  • Quilting Stitch: Angled lines using white thread
  • Quilted On: Conventional sewing machine

The Other Fifteen

If you have an interest in reading about and viewing the other fifteen pieces you can find them filed under the category Court House Steps.

Thank you so much for following along on this very long adventure! I hope that you have enjoyed watching.

Don’t Go Away!

I have many more art pieces yet to share so stay connected for the next reveal.

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Fifteen of Sixteen: Court House Surprise, AP # 64

| Cindy Anderson

Fifteen of Sixteen

When I set out to write stories about my sixteen quilts I knew it would be a while before I finished. Now that I’ve finally made it to number fifteen I can’t believe my project is almost over.

Last Thursday we took a look at mini quilt number fourteen.  Today we move on to number fifteen.

Are They Different?

Creating sixteen different quilts takes a lot of imagination. How boring would it be for them all to look the same.

By the time I made it to number fifteen I was getting bored with my project and eager to get it done. Has that ever happened to you?

To keep myself focused on completing the final two art pieces I had to figure out a way to spice them up.

A Framework

Just like the other fourteen, this one has quilt block scraps laced throughout the center panel. Connecting them all together is a woven framework of teal and lavender strips. The added strips are what make this piece unique.

The squares created by their intersecting pathways form small windows. Some of them are starkly white while others are saturated with color. The tick-tack-toe-like pattern provides a pathway for the eye to travel.

On Second Thought

Directly adjacent to the center panel is a grid of borders. Inside those borders are circles of varying sizes.

I am quite fond of the two designs and the fact that they compliment one another very nicely. They do however draw your eye away from what should be the focus of the quilt.

The flaw, which stands out like a sore thumb now, clearly was overlooked during construction.

Since I can’t go back and change my approach, all I can do is move on and learn from my mistakes.

Have you ever had that happen to you? Do you think the circle borders look out of place?

To Wrap It UP

To complete this original art piece I added a simple arrangement of straight-line quilting using a variegated thread.

Variegated threads are one of my favorite items to use. They add a peppy element of surprise. The abrupt changes in color help to add a sparkle much like that of jewelry.

Court House Surprise, AP # 65
Court House Surprise, AP # 64

Quilt Details

  • Materials: Fabric top and backing are 100% cotton
  • Batting: Warm & Natural
  • Dimensions: 10 1/4” L x 6 1/2” W
  • Quilting Stitch: Straight lines using a color coordinated variegated thread
  • Quilted On: Conventional sewing machine

What Next?

With number fifteen finally finished there is only one more to reveal.

Would you like to take another look at the other fourteen? Links to those can be found under the category Courthouse Steps, Block of the Month. Go ahead and check them out! You won’t be disappointed.

I’m always interested in hearing what you think of my work. Please share your thoughts.

We have only one more revelation to see! Don’t miss out!

Thank you for visiting!

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Fourteen of Sixteen: Court House Friends 14, AP # 59

Court House Friends 14 of 14, AP 59
| Cindy Anderson

Fourteen of Sixteen

Fourteen of sixteen what? Well let me explain.

I worked really hard to finish up a bunch of mini quilts. After adding the last stitch and tying a knot I sat down to write a story about each one. So far I’ve made it through the first thirteen.  Today we get to examine number fourteen.

One Strip

Who would think that a single strip of pieced-together fabrics could become the focus of a mini art quilt…why me of course!

Throughout my career, as a fabric artist, I have learned to appreciate the value of even the tiniest of fabric scraps. One never knows their potential. They could be

  • added to a grouping of other fragments to create a brand-new building block or,
  • proudly stand-alone.

When Should I Stop

The question echoed countless times by artists of all crafts is, “When is it finished?” Knowing when to declare a piece finished is tricky.

I have experienced numerous instances when I’ve made the decision to add additional enhancements only to later regret it. To help me attempt to avoid repeating that scenario I try to remember these guidelines:

    Forge ahead slowly.
    Take breaks.
    Pause to reflect. Rushing through the process opens up the door to hasty decisions.
    Photograph my work-in-progress in both color and black and white. The different perspectives help to point out the strengths, weaknesses and balance or lack there of.
    Take pictures from different directions or angles. Viewing a piece from different angles helps you to spot the areas that might need further attention.

An Easy Decision

For this piece, knowing when to stop, was a very easy decision. The instant I saw the conglomerate of tiny fabric scraps I just knew there was nothing more to do.

All it needed was a striking border and some crafty quilting.

Huge Impact

To bring attention to the slender arrangement, a vibrant border of white fabric was added. Within the boundaries of the border are strategically placed rows of stitching.

The quilting in the left and right borders guides your eye inward toward the center and back out again. This movement helps to

  • draw attention to the center panel and
  • provides a level of interest not present with simple straight-line quilting.

Finished

As a finished project this miniature art piece is a joy to both

see and

own.

The process, from start to finish, was a simple, relaxed experience. This tiny art piece will add a sparkle to my studio for years to come.

Court-House-Friends 14 of 14, AP # 59
Court House Friends 14 of 14, AP # 59

Quilt Details

  • Materials: Fabric top and backing are 100% cotton
  • Batting: Warm & Natural
  • Dimensions: 7 7/8” L x 5 3/4” W
  • Quilting Stitch: Straight and angular lines using white thread
  • Quilted On: Conventional sewing machine

What Next?

Now that you have seen this art piece are you curious about the others? Links to the other quilts are filed under the category Courthouse Steps, Block of the Month. Go ahead and check them out! You won’t be disappointed. While you are at it share with me your thoughts about this art piece as well as the other members of the family.

Thank you for visiting!

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