Since you asked

Inquiring minds seem to want to know the status of my Project Spectrum projects.  An insistent, pesty, interested reader* recently posed several questions which I'll address today.

1)  What's up with your March and April Project Spectrum projects?

Progress as of yesterday

This may not look like good news, but I got a lot done this week.  The March red/pink project had just been sitting in blocks on the design board while I worked on the yellow top but since I promised myself that I wouldn't take it off in pieces and I was running out of room for the April project, I took a few hours this week to trim the blocks and piece the top (sans border). 

 
Untrimmed/trimmed  (Click for closeup)

Because the blocks are never exact after piecing and handling, I always trim them up before assembling the top.  These required a little more attention because all of the block edges are on the bias.  As usual, I sewed them in strips, pressed the seams in one direction (one strip up, next strip down) and then sewed them together, strip to strip.  Those seams had to be pressed open, however, to alleviate the bulk at the block joins.  It's now off the board temporarily so that I can move along on the April quilt, which, by the way, I had intentions of being on the bed by now.  *Ahem*.

Yesterday afternoon I cut all of the strip sets for the remainder of the yellow/orange blocks.  Now I'll be able to just pop in and sew up a few at a time instead of being faced with pressing and cutting first.  My goal is to have the top finished by the end of next week, though I don't have my border fabric yet.  Must hunt some down.

2)  What are your plans for the green?

None yet.  Lots of ideas.  Mulling it over while I'm piecing red & pink and cutting yellow & orange.  Something not as structured.  I'm considering combining May and June (green & blue) since this is a busy month for me and, admittedly, I'm finding 'green' to be a challenge.  I'm inclined to stick with the Project Spectrum guidelines, though.  After all, it is supposed to be a challenge, right?

3)  How many hexagon flowers have you made now?

 
Seven more

Sixteen!  Now that this appears to be materializing into a real quilt project, I need to start thinking about how much black I want to purchase for the connector hexes. 

So there's the update.  I'm feeling great about these projects, unlike so many of the UFOs that have stacked up from years past.  *Life intrudes* sometimes and this spring has had a few distractions, but these quilts are all on track to actually be finished at some point in the near future.  (Not to worry!)  If you're looking for a completed PS quilt, Kristin has a lovely one here. 

Now I'm off to pick up my new glasses.  How convenient that the optician is next door to the quilt shop.

*Kidding, of course.  Keep those cards & letters coming!

Comments

[Carole]

I hope your new glasses aren't so expensive that you can't afford some fabric, too! I still love that orange and yellow quilt.

[jillian]

I love seeing those hexagon flowers come to life. So pretty!

[Emily]

You have completely put me in a trance about the grandmother's flower garden. I can't stop thinking about it! I even bought some paper piecing templates at Paducah! If I ever get caught up on my blog I will show them.

xoxoxoxo

[Lisa]

I gave up on cutting my own hexagons and am now waiting for the mylar ones to come from Connecting Threads. My stash is calling to me :) I hope it yields flowers as beautiful as yours.

[Lisa D.]

Your first 2 Project Spectrum quilts turned out fabulous!! I can't wait to see what you do with the green.

[margene]

Quilting really shows off the color!!

[Cordelia]

You are so clever with color. Just love it.

[kristin La Flamme]

Great progress! Everything is so juicy! Keep up your momentum and dive into the green!

[Dawn]

ooo - I like that pink/red one!

[Judy]

Wow, they are all looking so pretty! I am loving your flowers so much, that I am almost contemplating another hexagon project sometime in the distant future. Especially with the bold prints! The red/pink, and the yellow/orange projects are going to look really cool when finished! Can't wait to see them!

[Kristin]

Hi Jan! The quilts are gorgeous! Thanks for linking to mine. I'm still thinking how I want to do the green one too, but I've got my KF fabrics picked out and ready to go. Oh, and the flowers are really amazing, they will make such a lovely quilt.

[Kathy]

Fabulous. I actually paused and sort of peeked as I walked by the "Quilt" section in B&N yesterday. Not.a.good.sign.

[Cindra]

Your work is beautiful. I can't believe how much you can get done....Can't wait to see what you do with the green.

[monica]

Beautiful! I love this project spectrum idea. Well done on your designs.

[Chris]

I just love looking at your quilts - your eye for color and composition are amazing!

[Sharon]

Oh! How beautiful they all are!

[Lily]

Oh wow I love love love the pink/red one. Just love how the blocks have all come together - it's sending my eyes all over it. Love it. Can't wait to see it finished!

[Jean]

J'aime beaucoup vos harmonies de couleurs !
Bravo !
Quelle richesse !

[carolyn]

all three are stunning - they're going to be masterpieces when they're done!!!!

[Krawuggl]

It´s so great, that you explain every step, even the ironing, I absolutely love to read every word of you. Both quilts are so beautiful, and I especially love your flowers, this is one of my favorite patterns. I also watched the video of working with those templates (it was in one of your comments here. So I am really looking forward seeing your garden growing.
Greetings,
Suzi

[Melanie]

The more grandmother's flowers you make, the more I love them!

[samantha]

they look simply lovely, and your progress is far ahead of mine. I'm also finding green to be tricky, but I keep saying, if it was easy it wouldn't be a challenge, right? Green and blue together sound wonderful!

[phlegmfatale]

beautiful. absolutely gorgeous, all of it!

[uhoava gnu]

Oh wow! You hav done incredible handicrafts here! I'll start to visit you regularly now, you know what you are doing :)

[molly!]

Glad to see that I'm not the only curious reader! Where've you been? It's the 9th!!!

[Passions & Distractions]

Yay! I love seeing where everything is standing now!

[Amelie]

both are absolutely beautiful! I cannot wait to see the following projects, whether it's green and blue together or separately ;-)

[kelli ann]

incroyable!