Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Salt and Sand Blog Hop - My Day!

Welcome to the final day of the Salt and Sand blog hop hosted by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt!  It's been a great week of visiting all the blog hop participants to see their fun projects.  Thanks so much, Carol, for sponsoring all the fun!


I have always loved the ocean, and living most of my life in the landlocked state of Colorado means that the coastal areas of our country have become a frequent vacation destination for my husband and I.  So... Salt and Sand (and sea!) are very special to me!   

One of our favorite places to visit is Monterey, California, and while we were there a few years ago I visited a fun quilt shop called Back Porch Fabrics.   (It's actually located in the neighboring city of Pacific Grove.)  I picked up a great fat quarter bundle of novelty fabrics featuring all kinds of sea creatures.


Combining these fun fabrics with a variety of blue solids, I used them in my very first hand-pieced quilt called "Sand, Sea, and Sky."  Of course, I had to take it along on a trip and photograph it on the sand!


But then, what to do with the scraps?  I decided to cut them into 6.5 and 4.5 inch squares, whatever I could get out of each leftover piece.  The solid blues turned into 3.5 x 6.5 inch rectangles.  The smaller squares were sashed with different solids - even a few bright ones just for fun!  Then I laid everything out like this.


The Salt and Sand blog hop, along with the Hands2Help quilt drive, gave me a reason to finish up this little quilt!


36 x 42

Can you find Nemo?

I love the sharks, otters,  and sea lions, too!

Another favorite block - 


The backing and binding are this great large scale print of a world map and the oceans!

I hope this fun quilt will bring joy to a 
little ocean-loving person somewhere!

As for me, I'm just looking forward to the day I can get my toes in the sand and saltwater again!

Thanks for visiting, and be sure and check out all the other participants, too!

March 22

32 comments:

Carol said...

Awesome quilts! I love those fabrics! They are certainly perfect for the theme. Thanks for sharing!

Stitchin At Home said...

Lovely quilts! A fun array of fabrics.

Velda at the Freckled Fox Quiltery said...

These are awesome. Such lovely fabrics.

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Two great quilts! I really love "Sand, Sea, and Sky."

Annie said...

Both quilts look awesome! How fun it must have been taking your finished quilt back to the beach for photos. I love the idea of another quilt using the scraps. It turned out so great and your generosity to donate it is wonderful.

Linda said...

I love your quilt and would have trouble giving it away. The framed blocks are like little windows, and the rectangles make a perfect border. I specially love the backing! Nice wavy quilting too. I hope you get to go back someday soon.

Inflorescencedesigns said...

Both quilts are amazing! I especially love the scrap busting one. I love when you can find a way to showcase novelty fabrics and all the little details that each possesses. Great work!

Mari said...

Oh, very cute! I love the map backing fabric. And good for you for using up those happy scraps!

Connie W. said...

What a cute small quilt. Both the top and the back are great for eye spy play. I am with you on that longing for some travel and beach time. Thank you for sharing.
Connie

Carol Swift said...

Your quilts are beautiful in those amazing ocean fabrics! They would make nice "I Spy" quilts for children or adults. I know I'd love to search for Nemo! Thank you for sharing your ocean beauties and here's to a trip to the beach to put toes in the sand...the sooner the better!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

such pretty blues - certainly ocean fabrics to me!

grammajudyb said...

I love how you used your scraps from Sand, Sea and Sky! It will be a great donation quilt! I “found” Nemo! 😊

Susan said...

Two for the price of one, and nothing wasted. That's a quilter!

Carla said...

I can't wait to get my toes in the sand too. Look at these sweet quilts. I love when a secondary quilt happens - it like 2 for the price of 1. I really enjoyed all the details of the fabrics you chose. That backing fabric is so perfect!

beaquilter said...

Cute projects, love the seal and otter fabrics!

PaintedThread said...

Pretty quilts! I love what you did with the scraps, too.

Vicki in MN said...

Isn't it great when you can combine two events into one quilt! Some little one will love looking at all the fun sea creatures. Otters are a favorite of mine to watch.

Calicojoan said...

What a great way to use those wonderful novelty prints. Better yet 2 fabulous quilts from them. I love them. Yes we are a bit landlocked here in Colorado, although with the snow we got recently, I feel like I was a bit waterlogged! hahahaha

Karrin Hurd said...

I love your quilt. I am about 2 hours from Monterrey but it is one of my favorite places, and I have actually been to Back Porch Fabrics! I long to see the ocean too, but would have to find a sitter for my husband! I will have to take a picture of my feet in the sand the next time I go! Thanks so much for sharing!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

There is something so striking about bright blues in quilts. Yours are gorgeous, Diann. I've been to Monterey and thought it pretty there and so different from our North Atlantic Ocean vistas, etc. The acquarium had a sea kelp wall growing (if I have the right place) which was fascinating.

Ivani said...

Love both quilts. Well, I am suspicious in speaking because I love the sea, I love having my feet in the sand and salt water. And I am dreaming with the day I will travel to the beach again. But honestly you made a beautiful quilt using all the sea life scraps, sure it will bring joy to someone. Congrats Diann!!!

piecefulwendy said...

What a great finish, perfect for this Hop! Happy Friday!

chrisknits said...

What a cute finish! We visited the west coast and dipped our toes south of San Fran. I was amazed at how different the sand is between the East and West coasts. Much prefer our white sandy beaches of Florida.

LJ said...

Great quilt! It's a beauty. Those scraps though...if you don't find a place for them, they multiply when you turn your back on them!! Super idea.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Great idea to finish up this scrap quilt for the Hop, Diann, and ever better that it will be for Hands2Help!!

MrsV said...

Both quilts are fantastic - a great use of left overs. And hand-pieced! Incredible. You must have a lot more patience than me.

Danice G said...

Darling quilt and fabrics. Anyone would love to receive this quilt.

Carol Andrews said...

Beautiful quilts and such fun novelty fabrics. Thanks for sharing.

Karen's Korner said...

You have captured the beach in those lovely fabrics. Nice work.

Susan said...

Great quilts - your set for the beach!

Emily said...

Love your ocean themed fabrics! This is very fun!

Joy from Days Filled With Joy said...

Such fun quilts! They are perfect for our ocean theme! xx