I love color!!  I have had a few different favorites throughout my life.  Hunter green.  Purple.  Teal.  Pink.  With each color I fall in love with I simply add it to my pallet, still loving all the colors that came before it.  When I was in college (and many years after it) I went through a purple phase.  Purple was the color in my wedding.  I had deep purple calla lilies and light purple bridesmaid dresses.  I made all the centerpieces for all of the tables.  They started out clear glass vases from Joann’s.  I cut and glued skinny strips of milky white and deep purple glass to them.  The next step was grouting them, and my sisters surprised me and turned it into a party inviting friends and family helping me get them all grouted in one day.  On the day of the wedding, we only had to add the candle.  I love the way they turned out, and with my love of purple so strong, it is surprising that I haven’t made very many purple quilts.  I think that’s why these fabrics from Gerri Robinson called out to me.  As soon as I saw them I knew I had to use them in my Garden Star Four Quilt.

Garden Star 4

When I was dreaming up the Garden Star Quilt series many moons ago, I thought through a few different scenarios on how the quilts could be used.  This is the fourth quilt in the series, and I just love the way it looks by itself. I say that because the block is similar to one of the blocks in my Desert Blooms Quilt.  That is the quilt I designed for Craftsy a few years back.  The Garden Star Four quilt pattern includes three different sizes so you can make a baby quilt, a throw size quilt or a queen size quilt.  It is such an easy quilt to put together you could make all three.  LOL!! 

The fabrics that I used in the quilt are all from a new line from Riley Blake Designs called Exquisite.  I love how the soft pinks and whites contrast with the deep purples and dark grays.  Some of the prints in the line include metallic silver, and I love metallics, so, of course, I had to include them in this quilt.  Gerri has created some beautiful flowers!!  I think my favorite print in the line is the wide back fabric.  I haven’t gotten that one yet, but believe me, I will.  I can’t wait to get my hands on those prints. For the back I sewed together two pieces of Gem Stones Tonal Scarlet together to get a lovely gradient or ubrumbre effect.

Quilting

My sister helped me quilt this quilt on her long arm.  Because I had to go back to New Mexico for work, I knew if I didn’t get it quilted with her, I wouldn’t get it done in time to share.  I am so thankful for her help.  I thought I would do something different since it was a pantograph.  At some point, when I thought I would be quilting it on my domestic machine I thought I would create a stipple.  This design is even better… It is like a stipple, but it is boxier with beautiful angles.  I love how it turned out!!  And can I just say, wool, you are making me blush!!  That drape has maximum crinkle. 

Pattern Bundle

I am selling a pattern by itself and as a bundle.  The bundle includes Garden Star Two pattern and Garden Star Four pattern (Click here to get your copy). You get a little discount buying them as a bundle.  They are designed to work perfectly together to make a stunning Queen size quilt.  All you have to do is use the directions on making the baby sized blocks.  Make 5 blocks of one and 4 blocks of the other and alternate the block in your layout.  Here is a mockup of a quilt I hope to make someday.  What do you think about a Quilt Along??  I could share my secrets on creating ALOT of HSTs in a flash.  Let me know if you are interested down below in the comments.  

I am so happy summer is here!!  Do you have anything fun planned??  I will be working on writing a new paper pieced pattern and then making test quilts.  Do you like paper piecing, and if so, do you have any tips for me to add to my pattern??  I already have fabric to make it in two different color ways.  I can’t wait to see how they turn out.  Have a wonderful weekend and happy quilting!!