OUT AND ABOUT

I have made pineapple-block projects in the past.  In the beginning I was apprehensive about maintaining accuracy; but decided paper piecing was the way to go.  That makes it super easy, accurate, and fun to do.  It also involves using scraps only 1.25" wide.

THE STATS:  Out and About, 2023, 33" x 33", Paper pieced, Machine pieced, Machine quilted.

The only large quilt I have hanging in my house is an antique log cabin from the 1800s of 81 blocks primarily in the colors of red, blue, beige/tan, and black.  I never tire of examining the fabrics and colors used in it, and how they interact.  I pulled these same  colors from my scrap bins to use for this pineapple-block quilt. 

This is my favorite for 2023 so far.  It checks all of my boxes.  176 different fabrics, 721 pieces in a 33" square -- (I'm a numbers nerd!!)  Using that many different fabrics in a small quilt reminds me of all the years of 'being out and about' to quilt meetings, national teaching gigs and symposiums plus family travels.  I've always been on the lookout for fabrics that appealed to me, and would purchase a fat quarter to take home to use in a future quilt.  Plus, there have been many trips to my local (within 50 miles) quilt/fabric stores to pick up a needed color to complete a project.  Building a stash of scraps over 45 years has been easy -- 176 fabrics is only a drop in the bucket!

P.S.:  Below are photos of the other projects I have done with the traditional pineapple block.  In the new quilt above, I used a different distribution of the light and dark fabrics and sashed the blocks. The different outcomes from the four projects shows how the choice of color, fabrics, and layout change the look.

"Pineapple Salad", 2018, 24"x24"

"Scalloped Pineapple", 2021, 18"x36"

"Down the Rabbit Hole", 2021, 22"x22"

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

2020 was quite a year, wasn't it?  I spent a lot of the year 'going down a rabbit hole'.  Sometimes, I was going down to search for information; but at times, it was just introspection.  Therefore, my first quilt for 2021 is entitled "Down the Rabbit Hole". 

This quilt may appear dark and foreboding; but to me it is a happy quilt.  I have really enjoyed my trips down each of my rabbit holes, gaining so much knowledge about pandemics, the U.S. political system, and current events.  Personally, I've enjoyed learning more about my ancestor's political involvement in the 1880-1930s; and how that shaped (or didn't) my thoughts and lifestyle for the last 82 years. Yes, 2020 was quite a year.

It is really a pineapple block on point just disguised by color and/or fabric choice.  I picked the fabrics of each block to indicate the intricate layers of my personal rabbit holes.

THE STATS:  "Down the rabbit hole", 2021, 22"x22", Paper pieced, Machine quilted, 529 pieces, 103 different fabrics.

May your New Year be safe and filled with joy!