‘Milestone Memories’ by Roxy A Pike (GranRox)

"Milestone Memories" by Roxy A. Pike (GranRox)

Each of these vegetables depict milestones from my husband's 41 year career at Texas A&M U. I created the design as a memory quilt for him. 

Leonard M. Pike was a Horticultural Research Scientist/Professor and developed these four vegetable varieties, plus others, using traditional plant breeding methods to create more attractive and tastier vegetables with natural plant disease resistance, better nutrition, and fitting certain marketing windows.

The onion is "TX 1015", a large, single center, sweet onion. Noted for its large size and mild flavor, it contains more of the naturally-occurring chemical in onions that M.D. Anderson scientists report prevents colon cancer, provides larger/more onion rings per onion and is grown around the world. The pickling cucumber is "TX Triple Cross" and was developed for once-over mechanical harvesting. The orange carrot is "TX Gold Spike" and noted for its deep orange color, sweet taste, long, slender shape and used for "baby" carrots sold in cello pak. The maroon/purple carrot is named "BetaSweet" because it is high in beta-carotene and has a sweet taste. When sliced into "coins", they reveal a bright orange center.

I made one large Snowball block to frame the visuals and I hope it reads orange.

~~~~~

‘Give a Snowball a Chance’ by Linda Syverson Guild

Give a Snowball a Chance

Linda Syverson Guild

This has been a fun challenge and definitely made me think on the fly.  When I saw that this month’s block was the Snowball and I had orange to use this month, my thoughts shot to autumn and the cast of characters who inhabit this time of the year.   It began with the Jack-o-lantern because the day before the challenge was announced was Halloween, then came the requisite turkey and the snowman (it is a snowball challenge). But then I began cast a wider field of vision and I thought about snow globes and all of the activity that could be captured within and then the owl began hooting in the woods and the wise one completed this collection of orange snowballs.  All of which are set against an orange sunset.

When this project began I was delighted to find the opportunity to create a collection of mono-colored quilts. Which is something I had always wanted to try.  Six of the seven colors are used (yes I missed the flying geese in September—but hope for my own satisfaction, to finish it in December).  This has been a challenge that has forced me think about the personality of a color, how it is perceived, and what story each one tells.

‘In His Hands’ by Leslie Carmichael

‘In His Hands’ by Leslie Carmichael for the Focus Through the Prism snowball challenge.

My remaining color was orange and it didn't seem to fit with
snowballs. I had been wanting to make a quilt with the man holding the
world. If you use your imagination the snowballs with the orange
cherry wood and batik fabric make the circle look like a globe.

This challenge has been a lot of fun. I have really had to think to
make the color and the block fit into a quilt. I look forward to more
challenges.

‘Waiting for the Great Pumpkin’ by Nancy LaPorte

"It should have worked. I had saved my favorite orange fabric color for the Halloween month. I waited with hopefulness that the block given to us would be something I could make spooky. A nine-patch! Perfect for a pumpkin patch! And boy, could I make THAT Halloweeny!! Nine-patches for the sky? Nope, did that before. For the scarecrow? Nine-PATCHes on his coat? Nope, didn't work, nor would they work on his hat. For the pumpkins?

Made them two different ways. The faces just wouldn't show up on them. Couldn't use the patches for the ground....I'd already made my path and I wasn't going through that again! (Don't ask.) So to make a long story endless, I found a spot for my nine-patch. Don't feel sorry for him, he was way too difficult to work with!"

Waiting for the Great Pumpkin by Nancy LaPorte

‘A Very Wicked Hallows Eve’ by Pat D

A Very Wicked Hallows Eve by Pat Dubois

Done just in time for Halloween!

 

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‘Crows in the Pumpkin Patch’ by Debbie S

Here's my nine patch challenge for this month. 

It's called crows in the pumpkin patch. I had fun quilting this challenge

Debbie silva

 

‘Happy Halloween’ by Linda K

October challenge has to be about Halloween! 

My entry is Happy Halloween!

‘Flying’ by Sue Johnson

Flying...

Who flies better than geese?  I do best with a subject so this month I close Halloween.  As I have each month, keeping with the ROYGBIV theme, there is a tatted O for orange.

 

Indian Summer by Sharon Scott

This September focus through the prism challenge piece is called Indian Summer, the unseasonably warm weather in Autumn.

One of my favorite memories of geese is when they would fly over the Patrick Marsh area where I taught. 

They were particularly beautiful in the early morning with the sun coming up.  The orange Cherrywood fabric was used for the dividers and the borders.

‘Golden Wind Farm’ by Marsha Friou

I am so enjoying this challenge.

This my July challenge Golden Wind Farm.  Quilted by Marcia Wachuta.

 

‘Pinwheels in a Pumpkin Patch’ by Zeeda Magnuson

Pinwheels in a Pumpkin Patch
Zeeda Magnuson

Halloween is my favorite holiday with cool breezes, the beautiful and bold colors, and pumpkins galore.  So, when I saw the August block was pinwheels, I knew I should create a pumpkin patch.

‘Pinwheels & Polka Dots’ by Mary Kay Turner

Pinwheels & Polka Dots
It's orange even though it kind of looks red in some light :)

Looking forward to September's challenge.
Mary Kay Turner

“Whiskers & Pinwheels’ by Cheryl S

After many delays this month, I've finished my August Pinwheels block. Once I finished piecing the block & looked at it, it seemed to be missing something. I decided to add the block name to the front, "Whiskers & Pinwheels." Can't wait to see what is in store for Sept.

I used the orange from the Cherrywood fabric pack as my focus fabric in case it isn't obvious (ha!). Cheryl

“Early Autumn Sunset’ by Audrey Manning

"Early Autumn Sunset" because I think it looks like a sunset and my husband said it looks like early fall. I had planned to use more colors but fell in love with the stripe.

Focus Through the Prism Pinwheel Challenge

‘Logs Wrapped Around the Family Tree’ by Sandy Huovinen

Log Cabin Quilt Block for July. 

When I think of log cabins, I think of Fall and pretty colored leaves.

I think of the family tree in the heart of the home so I call this

Logs Wrapped Around the Family Tree.

Focus Through the Prism: Log Cabin Challenge

‘Unfolding’ by Anna Montgomery

I started this quilt as a folded log cabin, but conversation with a beloved friend revealed the illusion of the quilt unfurling or unfolding.  I thought, "unfolding to what?" 

So after a bit, I decided to finish the quilt as a traditional log cabin to sharpen the illusion.  And I bound it in the same fabric as the center. 

Because I realized, we are born exactly who we are, but life and society heap layers of "stuff" upon us, and we spend our lives trying to reclaim the person we know ourselves deeply to be.

So here I am.  Unfolding.  Back to myself.

Focus Through the Prism: Log Cabin Challenge

“You are my Sunshine” by Liz Mandelkow

 

Log Cabin–A Focus Through the Prism Project QUILTING Challenge, July

Your Are My Sunshine - In Honor of My Mom

My log cabin entry for July in orange.

Made by Liz Mandelkow

Buhl Idaho

My block for July was inspired by an embroidered tea towel that my mom had made many years ago.  My mom loved to embroider and I made many of her pieces into quilts for the family.  I found this "sunny” piece of stitchery in a box of linens that I have been saving and this was a wonderful way to incorporate her work with something that I created.  This has been a wonderful project to design and sew and quilt.  I am very pleased with the outcome.  It makes me smile and brings back wonderful memories of Mom.

I added multicolored glass teardrop beads around the sun for a little extra sparkle and punch of color.  

The quilting was fun as I tried some different textures to enhance the block.

Cutting the block a little wonky was fun … but really tested my “traditional” approach to quilting.

I am very happy with the end results.

Creativebug Inc

Susan Kerr's Log Cabin Project

 

Susan Kerr's Log Cabin Project

When my forever friend moved to North Carolina we had to find a way to quilt together so we were excited to find this challenge to work on together. It allows us to keep in touch better also since work really cuts into talking and quilting time (haha). She is really creative and inspires me!

Orange was decided on for July and since I love fall I decided I needed to have a pumpkin. I incorporated several techniques including log cabin blocks that allow the project to have a curved look. My border is a piece of fabric that has just Jack o' lantern faces on a green background...kind of like planning what your carved pumpkin will look like before it is ripe. I have been saving this fabric forever to be used in just the right project and this was it!

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Linkin Logs by Evelyn Larrison

July Log Cabin Challenge – Linkin Logs by Evelyn Larrison

Here is my Log Cabin tribute.  I used the Lincoln Logs I played with as a kid to inspire me.  I chose the orange fabric but also used creams and browns Cherrywood fabric for the logs.  The back ground is a woven solid fabric.  I only had a fat quarter but once I saw the fabric nothing else would do.  I had to piece three blocks and ended with about 2" of scraps.

So I introduce --LINKIN LOGS.

 

"Shining Stars and Friends" by Gail Oliver

"Shining Stars and Friends" by Gail Oliver for the Focus Through the Prism Friendship Star Challenge.

Sixty-one purple and orange friendship stars represent friends. Some shine brighter than others, like the purple stars. To be surrounded by friends is a gift to cherish.