Monday 21 October 2013

Brit Bee Round 3

Round 3 is starting for the Brit Bee and after much dithering I have finally chosen a star and fabric to make my block. Yay!


I've been thinking about using some of my Mendocino fabric by Heather Ross for ages and decided that now is as good a time as any, so I started pulling fabric. Before I knew it, I was head over heels in love with the pile of fabric in front of me, and decided that just a single block wasn't enough! I have a whole quilt planned for this pretty pile :)


I managed to get a grip of myself and choose just a few fabrics to make my star. I wanted a round star shape and decided to use the Evening Star from the Summer Sampler Series. I've made this star a couple of times before and really like it, but then I remembered a gorgeous block I'd seen Rita of Red Pepper Quilts make a while back called a Colorado Star from the book 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars by Carol Doak. Now, I don't have a copy of that book (but I'm seriously tempted to buy it) so I used the Evening Star templates from Katie at Swim Bike Quilt and added in the centre star part.


I love the star but I'm not sure about the border I've added to the block. I'm going for a light, sunny, beachy feel and the blue strips are supposed to be like water. The essex linen cornerstones are supposed to be like sand, but I'm not sure it's working. What do you think?

Fiona x

12 comments:

  1. I'm in love with your star, as you know. But I'm not sure about the border either. It's hard to know if the linen will work when it's just the central block you can see. Can you Austin other fabrics by just folding them in place and comparing?

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  2. The fabric and star are really pretty! I love the delicate summeriness of this!
    About the black... it does add a modern/pop/urban look, if that is what you are going for.
    If I was lucky enough to own those mermaid fabrics I would focus on the beach colours, maybe that warm gold for the first border, but it is your choice and you'll know what is right when you see it. Good luck with your new Brit Bee - I'm looking forward to seeing how they all grow!

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  3. I think that border will be the least of your worries once it has been round the houses for 18 months!!!
    Maybe swap out the corner blocks for something lighter?

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  4. The beautiful centre star is delicate and refined. The border doesn't enhance that feeling. Diplomatic answer?!

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  5. I think Hadley is right. The corners may be too heavy for the look you want

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  6. Love the plan, the beautiful star, and the corner blocks, but your thin triangle strip in between the blue & black is wasted, it disappears. Helpful or depressing?! xxx

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  7. Really beautiful star, but the eye is drawn away from it to the border. Perhaps something a little calmer round the edges? Jxo

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  8. Oh so pretty, love that star! Think Hads might be onto something with the lighter corners

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  9. I LOVE your star. I think the border is so busy it's drawing the eye away from the stars yumminess. I'd change the border for something calmer?

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  10. Love it!!!! I do think the fabric border is very busy though.

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  11. I like the border! I think in the context of a medallion it will add a lovely frame to that amazing star. Especially if the rounds following are light. But I'm not keen on the cornerstones - I'd go with Hadley and go whiter. It's beautiful though!

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  12. Your star is beautiful and I agree with lynz that the border will look right when the medallion starts to get some meat on it....but...those corner stones do look wrong. Maybe go for tropical sand instead of British?

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