Voila, it's a finish . . . .

When I started working on this pattern I wasn't sure if I wanted the size that the pattern made or  maybe a smaller wall hanging size.  Once I finished my first 4 blocks I new I wanted a smaller size.

This will fit perfectly on the wall in my kitchen.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 163

The pattern is Viola by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co, but I call my top Voila!

It finished at 46" x 46"

It has approximately 359 pieces.

I paper pieced  my stems and received a few emails asking for directions explaining my process.  Unfortunately I can't show any pictures of the stem block from the pattern, that would be a copyright violation.  But if you have the pattern, trace half the stem block onto a piece of paper, take the curve out the stem, but leave the outer stem placement exactly where it is on the pattern.  Start from the left and move to right, 7 pieces, and you're done, voila!

Sinta and Nicole are working away on their full size Viola's, and I love them both,  check out their progress.  Also, be sure to let me know how you're doing on your progress if you've decided to sew along.

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Voila!!

I made my first Voila block.  I did not pay close enough attention to the pattern and had to do a little resewing.  I'm sure the remaining blocks will go smoother, I think I made all my mistakes with this one.

The pattern calls for appliquéing the stems, I'm not in the mood for appliqué so I paper pieced them.

I am happy with my fabric choices, orange and yellow petals, green stems, and blue baskets.  My background fabric is called Paint by Carrie Bloomston for Windham.

Nicole has accomplished even more, stop by her blog to see her Viola blocks.

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Two Things . . .

Thing One - A few posts back I mentioned struggling with finding a perfect pattern for some of the fabric in my stash, and finding the perfect fabric for some patterns I want to make.  Several folks commented they were struggling with the same dilemma.  When I'm trying to decide what to do with a family of fabric I like to search Google and Pinterest to see what other clever and creative quilters are making with that fabric.  The longer the fabric has been out there, the more finishes you may see.  

I had been looking for a good project for my Figures by Zen Chic for Moda bundle for months and couldn't find anything that suited me, but I didn't give up, I just kept searching.  I finally found a great free online sampler pattern by Sharon at Color Girl Guilts.  (click here for pictures and block patterns)    This made me realize that any sampler pattern is the perfect solution for any family of fabric, you can decide the block size, the setting, and the quilt size, the possibilities are endless!  So if you're looking for that perfect pattern for some of your fabric, look into a sampler! 

(Even though the pattern is a free online pattern, I still checked with the designer to make sure she was OK with me making something very similar using her pattern and the same fabric. )

Thing Two -  When Viola isn't Viola!  When this pattern was released by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company I was excited for several reasons, I love a good basket pattern and have a soft spot for the word "Voila".  When my daughter and I were in Paris, and the cab driver dropped us off at the Eiffel Tower,  he must have sensed our excitement because he said, "Voila".  For the rest of that trip, and trips since, whenever a cab drops us off at our destination we say, "Voila".  So with that in my head, when I saw this pattern I immediately read "Voila", not "Viola", because really, doesn't this pattern look like a "Voila"!  If I had a twin I think she would have been named Viola, it's right up there with Esther and Thelma in my book.  So now you get to decide do you want to make Viola or Voila? I'm making Voila!

But that's not the only problem, in the pattern, Carrie Nelson, the pattern designer, doesn't call those flower receptacles baskets, she calls them vases! Do those bases look like vases to you? So even though technically this won't qualify as my annual basket quilt, and the name is Viola not Voila, I'm still making it!  I hope you are too!

Here's the fabric I pulled for my baskets/vases/bases, 16 different shades of blue.

My petals are going to look very similar to my cheese crackers.

I hope to start cutting and piecing Voila next week.  Nicole has a wrist injury, she's hoping to start next week too.  It's not a race, just join in when you can and sew at your own pace. If you are sewing along let us know what fabric you're using and how you're progressing.  Leave a comment or send an email, pictures would be great! I think Sinta has started but has a busy weekend, look for her update on her blog, hopefully soon.  (Sandy, you've started already but I'm including you in our sew along, or maybe we're joining you!  Send me pics of your progress if you don't want to blog!)

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Two things . . . .

Thing One - I got a new rug for my sewing room, finally!  The hardwood was installed 11 months ago, and I've been looking for the perfect sewing room rug for 12 months easy.

The first two area rugs I ordered did not suit, so I sent them back.  Then I found this one, sold by Pottery Barn Kids of all places.  I'm very familiar with Pottery Barn, but I have no kids, so I'm not as familiar with PBK, but they have an amazing assortment of rugs that I don't think look like rugs for a kids room, like this one.  If a rug with a hexagon pattern doesn't just scream sewing room, then I don't know what does.

Thing Two - I've been waiting since Spring Market for the release of this Miss Rosie's Quilt Co pattern, and it's finally available. Viola, pronounced Voi la, like Ta Da!!

This pattern finishes at 82" x 82", the blocks finish at nearly 19', nice size blocks.  I plan to start working on this pattern in a couple of weeks, although I've yet to decide on my fabric, except that I think there will be orange, because I'm going through an orange phase.  I have two friends who have also been waiting for this pattern and they plan to start in  a couple of weeks too, Sinta/ Pink Pincushion, and Nicole/Sisters Choice.  I like to make at least one basket quilt each year, this is my 2015 basket quilt.  It sure would be fun if you decided to sew along too!  All you need is 8 fat eighths for the baskets,  29 fat eighths for the flowers and 4 green fat quarters for the stems.

I hope you can squeeze it into your schedule!

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