improv quilts

Sticks and Stones

Sticks and Stones is a quick little improv mini that came to be this week. It always amuses me to see where the blocks lead when I begin working on improv. It all began with these blocks.

Sticks and Stones - the beginning blocks - piecefulthoughts.com

I added another block, then let it sit a few days. On Wednesday, I finished my Sunrise Sunset quilt top (more on that in another post), so I thought I’d pull these blocks out and play with them a bit. My idea was to just keep making blocks; I wasn’t planning to sew them together.

Somewhere along the way, I began thinking about sticks and stones. I thought about how the blocks could represent stones of different shapes. I just needed sticks, which could be made from the strip piece on the left.

Going along with that train of thought, I wanted a background that had some noise to it, something a little bit graphic.

Sticks and Stones - improv play - piecefulthoughts.com

Why? Because the old adage “sticks and stones may break my bones . . .” was banging around in my head and I was giving thought to the error of that statement. Words can either heal or hurt. When they hurt, it is painful, and while the pain of sticks and stones eventually eases, the pain of words can be felt for a lifetime. In the chaos and noise of our world today, I can either choose words that will heal or hurt. My words, if I choose them rightly, can build up and encourage and hopefully brighten someone’s day. So this little mini is to remind me of that.  See? This quilt was really making me think.

Anyway, let’s get to the quilt itself. This little mini measures 14 inches square. The background fabric is Zen Chic Modern Background Essentials, and Kona solids are used in the blocks.

Sticks and Stones - the finished mini quilt, designed and made by me - piecefulthoughts.com

Once I found the background fabric the blocks all fell into place. The backing fabric is a piece from my stash, an Andover Modern Quilt Studio in gray with words scribbled across it. It was just the right choice for the back — words!

Sticks and Stones - the backing fabric - piecefulthoughts.com

Here’s a closer view.

Sticks and Stones - backing fabric, up close - piecefulthoughts.com

I used a lime green Aurifil (#1231) to quilt straight lines of three thoughout the quilt at different angles.

Sticks and Stones - quilting detail, using Aurifil #1231 - piecefulthoughts.com

I’m happy with the way the green thread worked with the quilt.

Sticks and Stones - another view of quilting, using Aurifil #1231 - piecefulthoughts.com

Even the little piece of chocolate I nibbled seemed to have a say in the making of this quilt.

Sticks and Stones - Be someone's rainbow - piecefulthoughts.com

So, how about you? Do your quilts talk to you while you are making them? Please tell me I’m not alone (haha)!

2018 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop

Just a quick reminder to visit the Blog Hop, read  this week’s posts, and sign up for the giveaway!

Linking up today with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts, Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Sherry at Powered by Quilting, April at Janda Bend Quilts and Tish at Tish’s Adventures In Wonderland.

Happy quilting, everyone! Share some encouraging words this weekend!

Wendy

 

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