That’s right, now that school’s back in session, I’ve been back to my designing and sewing! This project actually started several months back as a block swap with my guild, Heartland Quilt Guild. I am the night meeting projects coordinator. I had a request for a 9 patch swap, so the requirements were to sew as many or as few 9″ (finished) blocks with two contrasting floral fabrics as you wanted. I gave instructions to make 24 blocks using two, one yard cuts of fabric. We had one member make as many as 100 blocks! She made more than one quilt with those.
I made 24 blocks myself, all using the same two fabrics. We had the swap and then I had 24 different blocks. I then organized a challenge. The only requirements for the challenge were to use the blocks from the swap and put them into a finished quilt. I was originally going to slice up my 9 patches and sew them back together, but when I laid the blocks all out, I fell in love with the watercolor type effect that they made. 
I decided then to applique on top of the blocks instead. I added a busy border fabric that I thought worked great in keeping with the busy-ness of the floral blocks.
Next came time to decide what to applique on those blocks! That was literally the hardest part of this design. I knew a large-scale flower was needed, and it had to have a nice contrast with all of the florals in the 9 patch blocks. So here’s my finished quilt & pattern!
It reminds me of a bright sunny day! Measuring 50″ X 68″ it will make a lovely wall or lap quilt. You can purchase this new pattern on my website! I used quick, fusible web applique. I also layered the top with the backing & batting and let my applique stitch be part of the quilting. I then added more free-motion quilting to fill in. You can make the 24 blocks yourself, or organize your own block swap!
Until next time,
Susan
Quilting my way through life! 