Summer Camp Prep Exercises

Last summer I participated in the (on-line) Fiona Sandwich Summer Camp, hosted by Rachael. It was great fun to choose an activity, select a postcard block for our quilt and happily mark off an activity on the "activity sheet".

The summer camp activities were enjoyed so much by participants that she created a "Winter Camp" with similar activities and projects.  Our camping journal quilt, at that point, was caught up, so I skipped out on that one.

I am ready to go with the summer camp again...  This year the aim of the camp is to "cultivate your inner artist."  

This summer, we’ll explore all things with color, and choosing fabrics for your National Park quilt blocks. The activities will help you see colors in a new and fresh way. You’ll discover how to maximize the fabrics you have, and confidently choose colors for your travel quilt. 

I spent one afternoon last week sorting through and organizing a collection of fabric that I have gathered for use in our camping journal quilt.  (I won't mention that I should have been working on the borders of a t-shirt quilt.)  I tried to limit my fabric choices to the ONLY what I had set aside.  I did have to wander to my stash closet for a few fabrics... I NO purples of any sort!  It was for the purpose of matching the swatches!  Really!

Here are some practice sample swatch pulls...

Before Sorting

I'll be cleaning up my now-organized postcard block stash and getting it into a small box for transport because the plastic bags they started in were a little full.

After Sorting

I only have five more spaces for blocks in the main part of our quilt.  Dave requested that it be a little wider than the other quilts we currently use in the camper so I will add a narrow border all the way around and then add two blocks to each side.  I'll be a little sad when it the top is done...

But I am sure I will find something to work on that will be just as meaningful.

After playing with the color exercises, I did in fact return to the T-shirt quilt and shared the finish last Friday.  With that finish it opened up the weekend for more creative time!  

I made the little music notes block that are next to the guitar in my journal quilt (above) and six journal covers.  All the details are over on yesterday's Sew & Tell.  

This week's To-Do list includes...

❧ Prepare the step samples for the Pieces From the Past BOM in June, Blocks #11 & 12

❧ Write pattern, test and photograph Block #6 of the Pieces in the Garden Sew Along.  

There is still time to get the pattern for block 4, Hours and get it linked for the prize drawing of a great prize from Cornerstone Tea Company.  The most recent winner, Kathy, had this to say... "a HUGE thank you for the prize package. Oh my goodness what a huge and lovely surprise! I have sample four now, and they are all winners!"

Block #5 will be published on Thursday.  Are you ready?  If you are a sucker for romance, this story will put a smile on your face. 💗

In regards to the Summer Sewing Camp...

Have you ever done "color" exercises? 

Or know how to use a color wheel?

I have very little experience in this field, but I do know that nature never gets it wrong... so I tend to pull inspiration from there... or just keep trying different combos until I am happy with it. 😉 But I look forward to having a better understanding of how colors best complement each other and why some combos don't play well together at all.

Leave a comment... I love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing!

Melva

Linking with:

To Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

Stitch Sew & Show at Life in the Scrap Patch