Color play and a give away with Fort Worth Fabric Studio

A few weeks ago the kind folks at Fort Worth Fabric Studio sent me two charm packs: Moda Bella Solid White and a new Moda line by the Jungs called “Bumble Berries.” The collection, which releases in July, includes a refreshing array of prints with little strawberries, bees, vines and small scale geometric shapes. 

Each color in the line is presented in two tones, which caught my eye right away.  There is a buttery yellow and a cooler yellow, a raspberry red and a pale pink, plus two shades each of green, blue and gray! Fort Worth Fabric Studio shop owner Jodie told me to play with these charm packs and have some fun, and that’s what I intended to do!

From the get-go, my plan was to make 84 half square triangles from the two charm packs and then lay them out to see how many different designs I could create.  I drew a diagonal line on each of the solid white five-inch squares and then layered them right sides together with the colored five-inch squares.  I sewed 1/4" from both sides of this line and then trimmed down the middle to make my sets of half square triangles.

And this is where I hit a snag . . . well actually a color distraction.  I began by organizing the half square triangles by print so that I could begin the layout design process.  

However, I found myself being pulled by the shades and tones of the fabric, and I reorganized the half square triangles by color instead. 

My eye was really drawn to the cool colors, and the yellow wasn't working for me. This was actually quite surprising, because I have been all about the yellow this spring.  It has been my favorite color.  On the other hand, it was fun to be led by a "color mood" and just go with it.  So I omitted the yellow and kept playing.

At this point I tried to get back to my original plan of arranging the half square triangles into different patterns, but I really wasn't feeling it.

 

So I went back to letting the colors guide me and just laid them out in a placement that was pleasing to my eye.  

For my quilting color mood, this was the winning layout. I only ended up using 49 half square triangles, which in the end created a nice square table topper at 29 1/4".  If the full Bumble Berries line were out, I would have loved to add that pink floral as a border and make it a bit bigger.

I quilted this project myself using my Bernina, walking foot and Aurifil pale green thread (#2880).  I rarely use colored thread when machine quilting, but apparently my color mood was still running high and I threw caution to the wind.  I really like the effect of the pale green thread. Maybe I should let loose more often!  I also used 80/20 batting rather than 100% cotton on this piece, and I like the loft it created.  In this shot you see a nice closeup detail of the fabric.  Isn't it pretty?

Here is my finished table topper.  Although it's a very simple design with simple quilting, I think the fabric really shines.  

Many thanks to Fort Worth Fabric Studio for gifting me their sample of this pretty line!  Jodie and team have Bumble Berries available on preorder, so head on over to their website and check it out!

Finally, thanks to Fort Worth Fabric Studio, one lucky reader will win this same set of charm packs: Bumble Berries and Moda Bella Solid White! (The winner will receive the charm packs in July when the fabric arrives.) Leave a comment below with your email address and you'll be entered! Comments are open through 3:00 pm (CST) on Friday, June 3.  At that time, I will do a random drawing and announce the winner.   *Only one comment per person/per email address.  Email me if you are having trouble leaving a comment and I will leave a comment on your behalf. (carriedawayquilting@gmail.com)

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today and allowing me to share my quilting color mood with you! And don't you worry about my cast off yellow blocks.  I will put them to good use in another project down the road!  Yellow is still my sunny favorite!

~Taunja