Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Little Penguin Quilts Through the Year

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Scrappy Improv Quilting Blog Hop - Botanics!


Welcome to the book launch blog hop for Scrappy Improv Quilting, by Kelly Young of My Quilt Infatuation!  This is Kelly's second book on improvisational quilting with your scraps, and it is full of fun ideas.  I could picture myself making every quilt in the book!  These are mini quilts, so they go together quickly and have a fun scrappy look to them, which is really my favorite kind of quilt. 

*For my I Like Thursday friends: I hope you'll enjoy my post for Kelly's blog hop!  I sure liked making this little quilt, and hope to make more from her book.  Thanks for visiting!*

I chose to make "Botanics," from the Single Block Beauties section, and here is Kelly's version from the book.



If you've never done this kind of sewing before, Kelly includes lots of helpful pointers for getting started and how to construct the quilt blocks.  I started with lots and lots of low volume scraps, piecing them together in pairs and then larger groupings until I had slabs of these pieces.  


Some were sliced and sewn back together, and some were trimmed into 6.5 inch blocks.


In fact, the whole quilt design is made up of 6.5 inch blocks: leaves, stems, and background!

24 x 24

Quilting was fun on this one!  I followed the stem and leaves up the quilt, and added veins to the leaves like Kelly did in her quilt for the book.

Some favorite scraps in the background have flowers in them!

Then I thought, "Why not add some ghost leaves in the background squares?"

Fun scraps in this section, too!
Seashells, starfish, bowties, marshmallows on a stick, and more.

If you need help finishing up your mini quilt or ideas for how you might use or display it, Kelly includes a whole chapter on finishing your quilt at the end of the book. 

I enjoyed every minute of working on this little quilt and am so happy with the finish!  It needs the perfect spot to hang in my house, but I haven't decided just where that is yet.


But... being a botanical sort of quilt, I decided it did need to go hiking with us the other day.   It was fun photographing the quilt on a favorite trail up near Rocky Mountain National Park!




Kelly, thanks for inviting me to be a part of the blog hop for your book!  I'm excited to see what everyone else has made, too.


Be sure to stop by the other blogs who are sharing quilts from Scrappy Improv Quilting.  It started on Monday and runs every Monday and Wednesday through October 20th.

9/13- Summer BlossomLori @ Crossquilt
           Up, Up, and AwaySandra @ mmm...quilts!

9/15- FlutterRose @ Something Rosemade
           BotanicsDiann @ Little Penguin Quilts

9/20- Face the SunLaura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
           Full SpectrumJayne @ Twiggy and Opal

9/22- PrismaticAnja @ Anja Quilts
           DownpourNancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting

9/27- FunkytownVasudha @ Storied Quilts
           Cherub WingsMichelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

9/29- Chapel WindowKris @ Sew Sunshine
           Winter FrostLeanne @ Devoted Quilter

10/4- HeartstruckRebecca Grace @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
           Star SpangledChristine @ Triangles & Squares

10/6- Birds of a FeatherPreeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
           Fall FoliageSusan @ Quilt Fabrication

10/11- OrnamentalGail @ Quilting Gail
            Churn, Churn, ChurnCynthia @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

10/13- Sunset CrossingKate @ Katie Mae Quilts
             Positivity- Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

10/18- All Dressed UpLinda @ Flourishing Palms
             ShockwaveAnne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room

10/20- Sweet Bee (a bonus thank-you pattern), Finishing, and Wrap-Up (here!)

















 

 

33 comments:

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation said...

I love your Botanics quilt so much, Diann! The leaf echo quilting is especially awesome. Thank you so much for participating in the blog hop!

:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Ivani said...

I love your mini quilt, Diann, and the quilting is just perfect for it.♥

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

Your quilt is so fun, Diann!!! I love your quilting and the ghost leaves! Fun photos in the wild!!!

Libby in TN said...

Love it! Even I could do this one.

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

your mini turned out wonderful - It actually looks bigger than I thought it was when you show it by the river. The way you quilted it suits it to a T

Vicki in MN said...

Everything about it is just perfect Diann! I am really impressed with how you quilted it too, adding the ghost leaves was brilliant:)

Linda said...

Diann I am so, so impressed with your mini - although it seems pretty big! I love the slabs and the fabrics, and the quilting is amazing! I like the shot of you next to the river. Hope you find just the place for it in your home. What kind of quilt hangers are those?

Susie H said...

This may be the book for me! I've been wanting to try crumb piecing. Do you think this book would help me take that first leap? Your project is so pretty, right up my alley. And your quilting? Perfect!

somethingrosemade14@blogspot.com said...

Aren’t these mini quilts fun to make? Botanics is the one I really want to make next, your version is wonderful, love the quilting. Your quilt does look beautiful along the trail. I think Colorado is the best for taking photos of quilts. We did drive through Ft. Collins on the way to Steamboat.

piecefulwendy said...

Your Botanics quilt turned out so well, and I love the in-the-wild photos! Great idea with the echo quilting, too!

grammajudyb said...

Your quilt is gorgeous! The green leaf shades are great! The leaf quilting in the background is inspired! Thanks for taking us on your hike in RMNP! The photo of you by the water gives a good perspective as to this quilt’s size. Perfect!

Barb N said...

What a fun wallhanging! And your quilting with the leaves duplicated in the background adds to its character - well done!

Preeti said...

Such a cool pattern and you did it beautifully from the improv piecing all the way to the binding. You look so cool in your shades and the picture is cool too. Super cool and super chill all over!!!

The Joyful Quilter said...

It looks like Botanic enjoyed its hike, Diann. Awesome improv mini!

Sandra Walker said...

I absolutely love your quilt Diann! This is one that really appeals to me too (as you can probably guess). Love the quilt in the wild shots, just perfect!

MissPat said...

Not many quilts get to go hiking in a national park. Hope your husband didn't roll his eyes too much. Great job on the improv and the quilting. This book looks like a keeper.
Pat

Anorina @SameliasMum said...

What a fab mini quilt. Your quilting finished it off beautifully.

Mary said...

What a great mini quilt. I really like the ghost quilting and those photos in the wild. Great job!

Quilter Kathy said...

That is very cool... congrats on a terrific finish! And the photos in the wild are such a great idea!

LA Paylor said...

how lovely!!!

Sherrie said...

Hi,
Beautiful Quilt! Love all the mixed up colors for
your background. Have a great day!

Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty said...

Wow, what a pretty, vibrant green against all those low volumes. I'm particularly fond of the yellow floral, the dots, and the punctuation in the background -- they're happy little surprises that add a nice variety to the background. Well done!

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Diann! Love this whole post but especially the nature pictures of your finish. It's all fabulous!! Say - Sherrie at Food For Thought is looking to find out what the RSC colors for November and December of 2020 were. I'm hoping you can leave her a message. I know you've been playing along for a few years. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

Rebecca Grace said...

Your Botanics mini turned out beautifully, Diann. I love that extra touch of quilting “ghost leaves” or echoes in the background.

JanineMarie said...

Gorgeous! I’m getting more and more intrigued by the quilts in the book. This one could make a striking front door quilt because the design would show up well from the street. I really like how you quilted it. And the improv background with the denser quilting really makes those leaves pop.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Loving your 'Botanics' mini quilt Diann! All the extra quilting sure added heaps of yummy texture! Do you have somewhere special to hang it at home?

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

This is a true little beauty, Diann. I love it very much and the quilting is inspired!

Kris said...

This turned out really cute!

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Oh your quilt is fabulous! I love it! Also your pictures of it "in the wild".

works4me said...

Lovely. I really like your background; how it reads from close-up and far away.

Quilting Gail said...

Your Botonics mini quilt is great ... and the quilting - well it's just WOW!!!

Sharon - IN said...

Oh! Wow! That is a gorgeous quilt!

Susan said...

Great looking Botanics mini!