Journey of a Block Design

I am so happy to have a block included in this issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks!

Come back TOMORROW for my giveaway post.

Today I thought I'd share how I designed my block.


My block was inspired by the photo above.
In fact, I have a quilt design all mapped out on graph paper too.



This is what my block looks like:




Not much like the photo at all, eh?

So - how did I get to this block? Take a look!

I wanted it to be a scrap friendly block.
I wanted to have lots of fall colours too.

I thought making a pieced background would be fun.

Then I struggled on how to make my flower be the focus of the block.





I liked the green background, but the purple faded out of attention.






My first attempt included a stem, and in fact here the flower does look more like a coneflower than a daisy.




I found a brighter purple for the petals and liked it.

BUT.

I felt the block was missing some "friendly factors":
it wasn't the easiest construction method
value and fabric choices had a strong role to play in the results
{making it not so scrap friendly}
it was a difficult block to set with other blocks - or even itself

So, I took what I did like
- the green background and the flower -
and worked on improving the friendly factors.




This simplified frame improves construction and will set nicely with other blocks.
It's also pretty scrap friendly, or focus fabric friendly.
{You could even SKIP the applique altogether, if you wanted too!}




It also gave the flower petals more room to 'blossom' and so it became more daisy-like. Without the stem, it's a bit more whimsical too.

What do YOU think? Did I find the JOY?

Come back tomorrow to see a quilt top I made featuring my block - and for my giveaway.




Check out Quiltmaker's blog all week as they are the Official Tour Directors and will lead you to designer blogs each day where you will have more chances to win a copy of this magazine.
The tour starts TODAY!


With Joy,
Sarah Vee