With all three of my commissions finished, I’m finally ready to work on some new ideas, like this Color Block quilt. Well–I’ve been ready, but didn’t have the time until now!

Summer Breeze Class - Cindy Grisdela

Summer Breeze – Cindy Grisdela

I’m teaching a class on this Sunday at the Quilters of South Carolina Spring Meeting based on my Summer Breeze wall hanging from a few years ago.

I’ve always liked this design idea–Improv Blocks made log cabin style from scraps, tied together in units with asymmetrical borders. The whole thing goes together like a jigsaw puzzle and I don’t really know what it’s going to look like until it’s finished–my favorite type of design!

So I wondered what would happen if I tried something similar with rainbow blocks made out of solids? Maybe I would have a new demonstration piece to show my students another way to tackle this composition.

Scraps baskets by Cindy Grisdela

Scrap baskets and Improv Blocks – Cindy Grisdela

I made the Improv Blocks fairly randomly. I keep baskets on my cutting table to corral my scraps–a different basket for each color family. Then when I’m ready to take on a scrappy project they’re all there waiting for me.

Solid Color Blocks in Process - Cindy Grisdela Art Quilts

First arrangement of Improv Color Blocks – Cindy Grisdela

My idea was to arrange the blocks in diagonal rows of color. And of course I can’t help but include some house-like blocks with the triangular roof shapes!

More coping strips will probably be needed to make the blocks the same size so they will fit together when they are sewn. I wanted the asymmetrical background blocks to be at least two different shades–the soft ecru and darker putty colors–instead of just one background neutral.

The jury is still out on whether that’s working, however. I do like the random secondary grid that’s created from the background color placements, but is it a distraction from the overall design?

What do you think?

Either way, it will make a interesting class discussion. And I will have blocks made up more like the original design too!