Homestead Quilt 2

Another 3 blocks done.  I really love this blue color scheme.  All the blocks will be placed on point with navy blue sasching between the blocks. 

Block 2 - Easter Basket

Block 3 - Five patch chain

Block 4 - Hen and chicks

Homestead Quilt

Whilst finishing up last years projects with an odd UFO here and there also getting finished, I thought it good timing to start another new quilt as I am itching to piece an new quilt top and the year is past it's halfway mark already.

The Homestead quilt blocks was released after the conclusion of the first Art of Quilting sampler quilt along.  I was hesitant for a long time but in the end the overall look of the quilt bowled me over.  As I started buying the blocks almost at the end, I was lucky enough to get half of the blocks for free but if I remember correct, there is one or maybe more blocks missing.  But by cutting very cautious, I might have enough bits and pieces left to complete the 50 blocks.

Block 1 - Hen and chicks

Mandala

I seldom buy fabric without a quilt in mind, but couldn't pass the opportunity to get one of these mandala prints from Amafu when they visited Bloemfontein in 2018.  I had no plan or idea what I was going to do with it at the time, just thought it was pretty.

So, during 2019, Daleen Lubbe of Stitchdelight digitized designs to embroider on a Dream Big panel from Hoffman's, and I thought it could work on the mandala as well as using it as an exercise piece before tackling the actual Dream Big panel I bought. And boy, was I hooked.  Once I started I just couldn't stop, so 2 weeks and 52 hoopings later, the mandala is done.

Embroidering for 20 years now, I know how challenging it can be to get designs to line up, but Daleen's instructions made it super easy as did the way she digitized it with a placement line first.  

It was so satisfying to see this project grow petal by petal and turn an already beautiful piece of fabric into something truly exquisite.