Saturday, May 26, 2018

Pink!

It's been Pink Month around here. Well, actually just Pink-the-last-few-Days. It took me a long time to get around to the RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) color this month. But I finally did it. And it only took a couple afternoons to get my string blocks done. So I'm still on track. Looking ahead to the rest of the colors? It's going to take some discipline to keep making these. Summer is heating up in a lot of ways, but I'm determined to keep up.

At first I thought I might not have enough pink to sew these. Well, not enough pink that I liked. If you look at my drawer, there are a lot--I mean a LOT--of 80's pinks. You know. It seems like every color of the rainbow had gray tones during those years. 

I did a lot of dithering. How far to go in each direction of the color--how corally is a pink before it tips into orange? Or how mauve before purple? Or how dark before maroon? I think this was the first block I made, and I HATED it. 
But then I made more and started feeling better about the whole scrap thing.


I put the little extra color strips in in the order of the RSC colors for the year (so far anyway).

My favorite pinks were the bright clear ones. I resisted the urge to use them all in one block.




But in the end, I had to include some of my favorites in the middle and in the triangles.

And by then, I was perfectly comfortable with even the grayed pinks. I guess that's what scrap piecing is all about. 

Here are the newest blocks with their friends from other months.
I almost forgot to take pictures, but the light yesterday evening was just right on the deck. I didn't think to stage them with my plants, so I went out and took some separate photos because, you know, PINK!



We planted our flowers a whole week earlier than planned because the weather was perfect for it--cloudy and cool. (I am not a hot weather person.) We went and bought the plants and then couldn't resist getting them in the ground and the pots. With our gardening finished for the moment, we took a ride on Wednesday out to the west side of the state with my dad, brother and sister-in-law. We visited three lakes, including Lake Michigan. Because we went from winter to summer in a week's time this year, Lake Michigan water temperature was still in the 40's, but the day was heating up to nearly 80 inland. When the warm air hit the lake, the air temperature dropped to the low 50's and we had a lovely day of sun and fog. Because of the fog, we never really saw Lake Michigan even though we were right by it, and when we went to the smaller lakes nearby, the fog moved around like smoke. Truly beautiful. And in the sun, the temperature was perfect.
It's hard to capture the beauty of fog, but I tried.

Now we are up to the holiday weekend here in the states (Memorial Day), and summer has definitely arrived. Temperatures will get to the 90's. We plan to do some early morning bike riding and then hunker down in the air conditioning. I'm glad we got those flowers planted early. I think I'll enjoy the indoor weather and start my next project. Here are the snippets I cut from the corners of my fabrics before throwing them in the washer and dryer to prep. I have some big deal quilts to make!!
I'm linking up with Angela at SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday and with Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun than Housework for Oh Scrap! on Sunday.

Enjoy your weekend, whether you have a holiday or not!

25 comments:

Jamie Janow Elfert said...

I am such a big fan of string blocks and yours are perfect!

Sheila said...

I love your string blocks with their little pops of colorful strings. Even more so when you put the blocks together. Hope you don't mind if I steal your idea. I love colorful string block quilts. They are my weakness.

Mari said...

Your pink blocks look great! The beauty of string blocks is that all those ugly bits blend together well. Plus it uses up those old pinks! Your flowers are glorious, too. It's so nice to have pretty things after such a nasty winter and spring.

scraphappy said...

Your perseverance really paid off. The blocks make a beautiful collection.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I think your pink blocks look great! The neat thing about string blocks is how they give you the effect of the color, even if not every fabric is pretty. I enjoyed your flowers and lake pictures, too!

Quilter Kathy said...

Gorgeous scrappy blocks! Love seeing them all together!

Deb A said...

Love all those string blocks. That is one kind of block I have yet to make... love the pop of the other color in yours. I love seeing fog and am lucky to enjoy it most mornings here in Florida. Enjoy the cooler morning temps and have a great weekend.

Katie Z. said...

Your blocks are fabulous!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Thanks for sharing your quilt layout so far! I know I've said that I really like the extra color in each block, but seeing the blocks as they will look in a quilt was a game changer. I absolutely LOVE that little surprise you've added!!

Ivani said...

Love all your string blocks. And also your flowers.
Have a great weekend.

Marti said...

Nice blocks! I like the way you worked some of the other colors into each block to tie the colors together. And I love your photos, especially of the lighthouse. I too love fog but didn't know it could cool the air temperature. That makes sense though.

Cathy said...

I love your string blocks every month, and the pinks are no exception. And like you, I sometimes call similar blocks “friends”. Love the pic of the friends on the patio, LOL. And your flowers are lovely too!

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

All your pink string blocks are looking great for me! Love them all together too

Linda said...

String blocks are my favourites. Do like your idea to add a strip of another colour into your pink blocks, really adds another dimension.

Louise said...

I know exactly what you mean about those older pinks! They really look dated when seen alone. And yet, behold the power of the scrappy strip block! It makes them blend in and play so nicely. Hooray! :)

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

So glad you went ahead and made your pink string blocks - it is good to get those dated fabrics out and into a quilt. I think your blocks look pretty all together. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap!

KaHolly said...

Your string blocks quilt is really taking on a personality of its own! I like how you sewed one different color in each block. It’s going to be gorgeous upon completion!

grammajudyb said...

I echo everyone's sentiments. Your string blocks are great! The added bit of color is just perfect! Anxious to see a finished quilt at the end of the year! I hope I have enough "slab" blocks to make a quilt!!

Linda said...

I love every one of those pink strings, and they look gorgeous with the others.
I'm enjoying your photos of Michigan. I've never been there, but my (late) brother lived there for a couple of years (for a job) and thought it was beautiful. He and my SIL used to travel all over the state.
I'm with you on the hot weather. We had basically no spring this year - straight to summer. Very unusual for May in this area. :(

Claire said...

I love all the thought that goes into "random" and into the definition of "pink."

Bernie Kringel said...

You did a great job combining the older, dusty pinks with modern fabric and pops of color. Great way to use up some fabric which otherwise wouldn't be terribly fun to sew with! Wow, don't they look great when you lay them all out there? I love it.

Why did you cut little corners off the fabric you were preparing?

My Sister Made Me Do It.... said...

wow Jeanette....the string quilt is really awesome......more than half the problem when I quilt is trying to figure out the colors or the pattern...I spend more time thinking than I do quilting!

Marsha Cooper said...

I need to make 2 more purple string blocks to call my top enough made.....

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

You PERFECTLY captured that beauty of fog :)

Lovely string blocks as well ! :)

Frog Quilter said...

Love your string blocks. Beautiful!