Limes and Oranges

Anvil Blocks

in limes and oranges

8 inch finished

I now have 80 blocks - 40 with orange backgrounds and 40 with lime backgrounds. 

I started making these blocks in response to the AdHoc Improv Utility Quilt color palette challenge.  

I challenged myself to make a quilt I like with colors I don't particularly like. Why orange and lime?

I watched an episode of Gardener's World. In one segment Arit Anderson was the presenter in a large topiary garden (large garden and large topiaries). She had on an orange and lime green outfit (do people still wear outfits?) and I found the combination of colors striking. Although I like most colors those are the two colors I would have to say I would list last as colors I use or would ever wear. But those colors together said "wow" to me. 

Now there's some assembly required.  Then I'll have to listen and see if I hear a "wow" from a lime and orange quilt. 

And sew on...

 

Oranges and Limes

8 inch Anvil blocks - lime with orange backgrounds. 

More limes on orange backgrounds

Now for some orange on lime backgrounds.

More oranges on limes.

The goal is to try to make a quilt I like with two colors that aren't my favorites. The goal is 80 blocks and so far I have 54. The orange and lime backgrounds will alternate. 

The reason I picked those two colors for my challenge is because I was watching Gardener's World and saw a presenter in a topiary garden dressed in lime and orange and I found it a very striking combination. 

 

Limes and Oranges

Anvil blocks in limes and oranges. 

8 inch blocks.

I'm about half way to my goal of 80 blocks. 

I think I'll be able to stretch my oranges and limes that far! Lime and orange are not my most favored colors but I challenged myself to make a quilt I like with those colors. So far, so good. I find it an uplifting and joyous combination of colors. 

And sew on...

 

What Was In The Box?

Back at the end of May I blogged about a box of patriotic print scraps.  At that point I was wondering what I could make with all those scraps.  Well, so far I have made this top that measures 60 x 72. It was inspired by a quilt I saw at Petite Quilts. 

It's full of lots of different scraps...

...six inch Anvil blocks, six inch HSTs...

...2 X 4 Flying Geese...

...and there's Pinwheels in the corners. 

So. Did I use up the entire box of patriotic print scraps? 

No!

And actually it looks like there's more in there than when I started. 

Now what? Hmmm....

And sew on...

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

 

I Haven't Forgotten

 

Back in May I challenged myself to use two of my least favorite colors - orange and lime green -- to make a quilt I like. I chose to make an 8 inch Anvil block. I'm not sure about the layout yet but I do know I'm probably going to alternate lime and orange centers. 

I keep pieces for a few blocks cut and ready for whenever I feel like working on them. Slowly but surely the blocks are piling up. Unless I decide to put them on point I am aiming for 80 blocks. I haven't figured out how many I would need for the on point setting. 

Right now I think I have 24 blocks. 

Two Different Anvil Blocks

The AdHoc Improv Quilt (AHIQ) blog prompt in January was "Pick A Palette".  My comment on January 4 to that blog post was "Funny. The other day I was watching a Gardener's World special and one of the presenters (Arit Anderson is her name I think) was dressed in lime green and orange. Although I like most colors those are the two colors I would have to say I would list last as colors I use or would ever in a million years wear. But, wow, it was a striking combination of colors and I even said to my husband -- I should make a quilt in those colors. "Ok", he said. The giant and very old topiaries in the garden she was visiting were awesome too."

So...I don't really like lime green or orange by themselves but, like I said, worn together the combination was striking. - almost a "can't take my eyes off of you" combination of colors. 

Well, anyway, I decided to challenge myself to make a quilt with lime greens and oranges - not my favs on the color wheel - and make a quilt I might just like if not love. 

So I dug around and came up with a few different fabrics in those colors and finally decided on a block - an eight inch Anvil block.  Let's see what happens. 

Meanwhile, while researching the Anvil block I found a six inch version I like.  I'm making this version with some homespuns and plaids and civil war repro scraps.  The Anvil blocks will alternate with 6 inch (finished) HSTs in the quilt. 

And sew on...