This block was 7½" x 10½" (and all the others are 10½" x 13½"). I unstitched the basket then imagined another flower, stem, and leaf (the one on the left) and enlarged the whole block with borders all the way around. That looked too plain to me so I cut a triangle and placed it on the lower left, just to see what I thought. At this point only the three flowers on the right and the fabrics around the edges are stitched (not the flower on the left nor the triangle).
To get a better idea, I enlarged the basket pattern and cut one from the same fabric as the original. Well, that looks clunky. Some of the other Baskets of Plenty are large in comparison to the flowers, too, so maybe I can adjust it to work. Maybe it won't look too odd.
And then I thought that lower left corner looked a little empty even with the triangle, so I tried some leftover birds from previous baskets. Maybe a grey bird?
Maybe a brown one?
Or maybe off-white? No, not that one. It completely disappears.
Next, I wondered about that triangle on the left. What if it weren't there? I took it away and put the brown bird back.
And tried the off-white bird, facing the opposite direction.
Next I tried the block without the triangle and without the bird. Well, now, that looks to me like a basket of flowers sitting on a windowsill. Hmmm. But maybe it doesn't need the flower on the left.
The basket still looks a little clunky to me. I'll have to play more tomorrow. If I can make a decision I'll have some hand-stitching to do.
Oh, and if you were wondering, this is what the original basket looked like.
There are just so many possibilities when it comes to making applique blocks, or any kind of quilt block, for that matter. Color and value placement, fabric choice, size and proportion of elements, etc. It's all such fun -- and challenging too, sometimes, but very satisfying.
I hope you're staying healthy during this coronavirus pandemic. I honestly don't know what to think about it all. Perhaps I should be concerned but I'm not. Right now it seems so far away -- several hours by car, but I guess it can travel fast. The strange thing is, I'm generally a homebody but now that I've been told I should stay home I want nothing more than to go somewhere -- the fabric store, the library, another fabric store.... Probably best to stay home unless absolutely necessary to go out.
I'm linking this post to
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
> Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More
> Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie's
> BOMs Away at What a Hoot!
Thanks for hosting, ladies.
Take care!
--Nancy.
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I am a definite homebody too--our schools in our area have just closed for two weeks--after which, they will re-evaluate the situation...I don't feel particularly "elderly" but at 76 I guess I am!!;000 so We are staying close to home and avoiding crowds and stores...SO SO happy I have my sewing...
ReplyDeleteNow, I love your basket and the bird idea and I, personally, like that
triangle idea--so prim looking...nice flowers...hugs, Julierose
Stay safe..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the basket block. I've been working on two other quilts so haven't done anything with it yet.
DeleteHas your governor closed anything besides schools this week? Most public places are now closed in Ohio: restaurants (except we can order carry-out), theaters, stadiums, fairs, festivals, parades, hair salons, tattoo parlors, gyms, bowling alleys. I hope he doesn't close stores!
I'm pleased to have my sewing, too, and the computer with internet, and other activities I can do at home but I do miss getting out once in a while! But, better to not risk it, I guess. I don't think of 76 as elderly. I think of elderly as barely able to get around. But they're concerned about anyone 60 and over and that's definitely not elderly! I hope you are well!
Just my 2 cents worth. I like the bigger basket, and the gray bird. I love the block, and I love the triangle in the corner. And the corona virus thing is causing our world to be so crazy ugly. We have not been having the news on. It is just upsetting, and nothing we can do about any of it. I too am a homebody. I am going to be 73 in May and I guess I am elderly also. Boy that is hard to say, huh. Let's just keep stitching and enjoying our life. Keep up the beautiful basket blocks
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughts about the block, Cathy. I hope to work on it today or early next week.
DeleteAs I told Julierose, above, I don't think of 73 (or even 76, in her case) as elderly. I think of elderly as a physical condition more than an age condition (limitations to walking, moving, seeing, etc), though elderly people do tend to be older. I agree that the best thing to do is just keep stitching and enjoying what's available to us in life.
Do you have a blog? You're a no-reply commenter.
I think you came up with the perfect solutions to enlarge your block. Of course, I would put a blue bird on there--lol!
ReplyDeleteLOL. There will never be any doubt at all about your love for blue, Karen! Crows do look blue in some lights, don't they?
DeleteThanks for your kind words about the block. I appreciate them.
I really like the larger basket with all four flowers, the grey bird AND the triangle. It does have a nice prim look about it.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I went to a grocery store to get a few items (NOT toilet paper), and I ended up going to 4 stores to find what I needed. I was so amazed at the empty shelves, I was taking pictures on my phone to show my husband. A store manager saw me and told me to go to the paper products aisle for a really good picture. Totally empty!
This is the first time I recall being part of the vulnerable population, being in my early 60s. I don't feel vulnerable, but I need to be careful so I can continue to help care for my 90-year-old mom.
Thank you, Janet. I'll be working on the basket today or Monday.
DeleteWe went out on Monday afternoon and I was surprised at how many people were out but less surprised about the empty shelves because I'd heard about it from so many people.
You would probably be surprised at the number of times I think about you and your mom. She is probably one of the most vulnerable and it's good you're taking precautions for her sake. Good for your sake and everyone else's, too, of course. I just turned 70 and don't feel vulnerable, either (no health problems other than arthritis), but this virus seems like an unknown entity. Most of us will survive and those of us who don't will be in a better place.
I hope all is well with you and the rest of your family.
I really like the addition of the left and bottom border. It adds a lot. I like the bigger basket too. It is much more in proportion with that largest flower. And, I like how that fourth flower spills over into the border. You are coming up with a very pretty block. I've been working on my 1st flower block (big smile). I'm glad I have a new project to look forward to during this isolation time. I made bread today thinking if we both get sick at the same time it would be good to have some bread in the freezer for quick meals. This just feels so unreal. It's like I'm preparing for an imminent storm but I don't know when it's going to hit.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts about the basket block, Robin. I always thought that tiny basket for that big flower was odd looking, even for a primitive block, so I'm pleased to be able to "save" the block by adding fabric around two sides and a bigger basket. It's strange to try to pick up someone else's design ideas and make the additional blocks look like they belong. Fortunately, Cheri left enough patterns in her Facebook group and the ones in this Basket of Plenty can be altered just enough that they not look identical to other blocks.
DeleteSo, I'm eagerly awaiting a view of your first "Flowers" block! I keep thinking you'll post it soon, or even progress photos. I'm looking forward to seeing your fabric choices.
I agree with your feelings about this coronavirus thing. For me it's as much about how and whether it's going to hit as it is when, and even if (it hits me or someone I know). I suppose the best thing is to take precautions and to carry on.
To Robin , above: I bought flour and yeast and extra eggs, thinking if we are out of food I can bake bread, or make noodles.
ReplyDelete........
Nancy: I love the enlarged basket. I don't see it at all as clunky. I esp like the corner add and the extra flower on the left. Not sure about the birds, tho I like how they look.
You described it so well! I too am a homebody usually, esp in winter and spring, but with this so called social distancing, I am already both lonely and dying to go out, somewhere, anywhere, right now.
I hope the virus misses your part of the country.
lizzy
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and view about the basket block. I'm not sure about the bird, either, and have been considering some addition to the basket itself, but I'm still playing.
DeleteI think you may be in the high-risk category for the virus, Lizzy? Have you stayed home or have you needed to go out? And has your governor placed restrictions on going out, closing businesses, etc.? I keep up with what's going on in Ohio but not the other states. It's all just so unreal. We went out on Monday to three stores, briefly, and I was surprised at how many people were out and about.
Your block is charming (in all its iterations). Aren't we so fortunate as quilters to have a definite "indoor", even solitary, craft that taps into all our problem solving and creative abilities. I know just what you mean. I'm such a homebody but for the past few weeks we have been avoiding all train travel, and limiting any time out of the apartment.... and it's getting hard...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cynthia. Yes, absolutely, we are fortunate to have something that we love to do, that we can do alone, and that we -- most of us, at least -- have supplies to do it. I don't know what I would do without fabric and thread!
DeleteWe've only been doing this at-home-all-the-time for a week and it is getting hard. (And I've been out briefly twice!) Most of us will survive it and probably learn some things along the way.
I really like the larger block - and it was very creative how you made it bigger
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alycia. I was trying not to have to create a new block from scratch or unstitch what was there.
DeleteI think all are lovely, and it's interesting to see your process of auditioning different possibilities!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rebecca Grace. This was fairly easy auditioning. Sometimes it's harder when I don't have scraps to try out the colors or shapes.
DeleteI know you thought the basket looked clunky but I think it was prinm style good.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving this comment, Karen. Prim style does not come naturally to me. I usually second-guess myself but even more so with prim style blocks so I appreciate your guiding eye and comment.
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