This past Thursday, we began Week 13 of the Splendid Sampler 2 Block-of-the-Week quilt along.
Last time, we introduced you to the adorable block, called: Free as a Bird by Irene Blanck. You can see my version of Irene's block, here.
Carl Hentsch is this week's featured designer. I was so thrilled to learn how he named his block in memory of his dog, Betty. Although Carl and I have never met, I so appreciate his thoughtfulness. This warms my heart because I'm a huge dog lover and miss my beautiful boy, Boomer, who spent countless hours as my companion, protector, and best friend before I met my husband. Of course, Boomer's roles continued, but he also made room in his heart for Erv; from the beginning when they first met.
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| Boomer: Christmas, 2002, in Pittsburgh, PA |
Once I started my design business, Boomer and Maisy, who we adopted in 2005, loyally followed me around and laid at my feet while I sat at the computer working on new quilt designs and writing patterns, and also while I was planning and sewing my designs together in my sewing room. When we lived in South Carolina, I had the entire space above our garage for my studio. One of my favorite photos is when I caught the two of them on the sofa curled up while I was working.
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| Maisy and Boomer in Lexington, SC, January, 2010 |
Please do check out the blog post Carl wrote about his block. He not only touches on his beloved dog, Betty, he shares his block in two settings: One, a repeat of the block and the second one . . . well, I'll let you see it for yourself; a great alternative idea, should you wish to use his block duplicated in a quilt setting.
Carl's block, called Betty's Bloom, is a Foundation Paper Pieced block. Here is my version:
When I started making my block, I was having a difficult time deciding what fabrics to use (and it was well before I decided to incorporate my Circa 1934 fat quarter bundle and the additional fat quarters I've since purchased). So with that said, I decided to just use two prints in the starburst-portion of the design, instead of the four prints Carl used. I kept the red/cream and blue/gray theme going with the perpendicular strips, and then decided to use the mottled yellow print that I had for the center to tie in the yellow I've used in earlier blocks, as well as give the center of my bloom added interest.
So there you have it: Betty's Bloom!
The Splendid Sampler 2 book will be available October 2018. It is currently available for pre-sale so order your copy, now!
2 comments:
So glad I clicked through to read your blog post. Boomer's expression is so much like that of my own dear and Best Dog Ever Bo, a liver and white English Springer Spaniel. That dog sustained me during a difficult time and he left far too soon, sadly. Love your "hugs and kisses" in this great block!
Hi Midge! Thanks so much for commenting! I love to hear people's thoughts. It's neat how we have our best-dogs-ever with names that start with "B" and they were both liver and white Springers! I so agree with you on how your Bo (and my Boomer) was there for you during a difficult time and left too soon. Honestly, that's exactly how I felt about Boomer. Thanks, again!
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