Wow! The color prompt for the May entry for the Patterns by Jen 2019 monthly color challenge was lime green, and boy was it a fun one. This is not a color I normally use, so I had to go out and hit the fabric stores. I can’t complain though, we quilters love finding an excuse to go fabric shopping.

Fabric Choices

I hit the jackpot with both of these batiks, the lighter one really pops and the darker green has accents with the lighter color in it. Both of the choices fit really well with my decision to go with batiks for this fun challenge. They also give a little bit of an update to the traditional broken dishes block pattern.

The flower prompt for May was the Spider Mum and, even though it’s a bit of a stretch, I think that the paisley print in the darker fabric mimics the flower.

What’s Next?

Every month I find myself getting more and more excited about seeing what the next block is going to be. I’m really enjoying this challenge and am already playing with block layout ideas in my head. That way, when the end of the year rolls around, I am ready to assemble my quilt.

This is the fifth block of the challenge, and they have been easy to assemble with the instructions provided. It’s not too late to join in if you are interested. Head over to Patterns by Jen to check out all of the details.

Progress

The month of May was the second use of green in the challenge, but the lime added a vibrant twist and a whole new look to the block. Here are all of the blocks so far. All I can say is bring on June and the orange color!

I can’t believe it’s already April and I am working on my fourth quilt block for the Patterns By Jen 2019 Monthly Color Challenge! Before I know it, December will be rolling around.

This month, the floral inspiration is Glory of the Snow, and what a glorious flower it is. It is an early bloomer that gives us all hope that Spring has arrived. It is also another blue flower, which there aren’t too many of in the garden. The white center of it makes it look like it’s glowing.

I tried to find batik fabrics that would mimic the color of the blossom, and I think I hit the mark. The color prompts for both March and April were navy and blue respectively, so I wanted to use fabrics that were blue, but not close to the navy from used in March. Using the white and light blue made all the difference.

As a result of creating this month’s entry, I’ve been inspired to design a blue and white quilt. The color combination is so a fresh and crisp, and the fabric I used gives a bit of a modern twist on the famous Blue Willow china pattern.

Unfortunately I don’t have too much of this fabric left. I’ll need to go shopping if I plan on making a larger quilt.

The Challenge So Far

So far this year the colors have been green, pink, navy and blue. Next up is lime green. I have a feeling that these blocks are going to be radiant once they are all finished and set together.

Here are the four blocks I have done so far. Every month I choose a new favorite, and this month is no exception. I just love that white and light blue print.

If you would like to join in the fun, check out the information over at Patterns By Jen. You’ll find all of the instructions, and you can see entries from other quilters too. It’s always fun to see what everyone comes up with.

Happy Quilting!

I love a good challenge, especially one that gets my creative juices flowing. So this year I decided to up my game a bit and participate in a couple of quilting ones. Here is my March entry for the Patterns by Jen 2019 Color Challenge.

This challenge appealed to me for a few reasons. First, it’s all about color, and I love color. Second, the inspiration comes from flowers and besides my quilting, I am an avid gardener, so it was a natural fit. Lastly, it isn’t that difficult. It’s only one block per month, with well written and easy-to-follow instructions.

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I finally got around to making my February block for the 2019 Monthly Block Challenge. This experience has really gotten me to check out my fabric stash and see what I have.

So far I’ve been able to avoid heading to the fabric store, but we’ll see if I can keep that up. Of course, I wouldn’t mind an excuse to go.

Continuing with the fabric I used in January, I’m sticking with batiks. The hope is that, by using the same fabric type each month, my blocks will come together nicely at the end of the year.

For some reason I had an issue with my pressing this time around, but it ended up coming together nicely, and I’m happy with the vivid pinks that I chose.

This month’s flower inspiration is the carnation, and it’s quite special to me. Growing up, my grandfather always brought my grandmother a bouquet of carnations. After he passed away I tried to keep up the tradition. These flowers will always be close to my heart.

If I give my husband a not-so-subtle hint, maybe I can get a bouquet too.

Last month’s block, which you can see here, was green. I can’t decide if I like the pink or green one better.

If you are interested in joining the challenge, head on over to Patterns by Jen and check it out.

I can’t wait to see what next month brings.

I decided to take the plunge and participate in the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge from Patterns by Jen this year. It’s my first time taking part in it, and I’m looking forward to what each month will bring.

Normally I don’t join challenges. I’m always worried that I won’t be able to finish. However, this one intrigued me, so I took the plunge.

I’ll be using batik fabrics for this project because I’ve always loved them. Mostly because of their rich and saturated colors, but also because of their unique patterns.

I just hope I have enough for each month’s block. If not, I’ll have a great excuse to go out and buy some more fabric!

This year the monthly color choices are inspired by flowers. The color chosen for January was green, like the Bells of Ireland, and I’m pleased with the way my block turned out.

The lighter green reminds me of spring, and after the winter we have been having, I’m ready for it. Additionally, the fabric patterns add movement to the block, which is something I like to see in my work.

If you are interested in participating in the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge, then head on over to the Patterns by Jen website and check it out.

Happy Quilting!