Jewel Box Watercolor Style

I usually like my Jewel Box quilt in vivid jewel tones, however, I've seen some beautiful versions using subtle differences between background and jewel fabrics as well as using very earthy fabrics. They were stunning too.

Lately I've been experimenting with mixing traditional quilt blocks with watercolor style. In this example, I divided the block into a 16 X 16 piece block. Within each color group, there are 4 different shades from light to dark which makes 20 fabrics total.

Background

• light - 57 half square triangles
• medium light - 40 squares
• medium - 48 squares
• medium dark - 24 squares

From each of 4 color groups

• light - 12 half square triangles
• medium light - 10 squares
• medium - 8 squares
• medium dark - 6 squares

Happy Quilting, 

Jeanne

Hunters Star Watercolor Quilt

Here's another way you can have fun with the Hunter's Star block. Each quarter is 16 squares by 16 squares with 8 different fabrics in 2 color or shade groups. If you use 2 inch finished squares (perfect for jelly rolls), you'll have a beautiful watercolor quilt for a table top or as a wall hanging in no time.

I've done a similar quilt in Christmas fabrics - reds and greens - and it was great and very festive.

Happy Quilting,
Jeanne

Fracture A Quilt Block

I absolutely love to start with a basic quilt block, fracture it into smaller pieces and then either make it scrappy, watercolor or gradient. At first I was intimidated by how they were done, but it can be easy and fun.

Take this "Corn and Beans" block with only 2 color or value groups. Divide the 2 squares into half square triangles, then each unit into thirds. You will have a fractured corn and beans block.

Next you choose lots of different fabrics within each color or value group and you get a great new quilt block. You can make it scrappy, or watercolor style or color gradient. Use jelly rolls (2½ inch strips) and this block measures 18 inches square or nickels (5 inch squares) and you'll have a 37½ inch block.

Make 9 of the 18 inch blocks. Lay them out and turn the blocks to even more fun effect. Add a border and you have a 60 inch or so quilt in no time.

Happy Quilting,
Jeanne

Friendship Watercolor wall hanging

Last week I started a Friendship block quilt breaking up each unit into smaller pieces. There are 256 - 2 inch squares and half square triangle squares using roughly 40 different fabrics.