Shake It Off
Have you heard Taylor Swift’s new song, Shake It Off? Of course you have, because it is everywhere at the moment. If you are indeed listening only to your Golden Oldies station, flip the dial because this song sorta-kinda changed my life last week. I was feeling all, “woe is me,” “I’ll never sew again,” and “meandering without a sparkle.” Then I heard Taylor singing and getting her nerd-dance moves on in the music video and suddenly my spirits were lifted. As she said, I just had to shake it off!
So I set back to work on these solids blocks I had started and previously second-guessed myself on. I made about forty of them (they’re about eight inches square), laid them out on the floor and wowza, immediately fell in love again! They’re not sewn together, and just laid out randomly at the moment, but I’m hearting the effect hard. Hence, I’m currently calling this quilt my Mood Ring. Upon seeing my progress, Mr. Sparkles seemed to be a fan as well, “Oh, this is nice, but I’m so over baby and wheelchair quilts.” Okay, I knew he was a size queen, but apparently it translates to quilts as well. So today I’m making another forty blocks!
Meanwhile, while I was thinking about that looming t-shirt quilt for my younger brother, I decided I needed to design some sort of football block. I whipped this up using only two sample blocks, so it’s pretty easy to construct. If there’s any interest, I’d be happy to post a tutorial! Bro wants a queen size quilt, using fifteen shirts, so I’ve got a lot of filler, up-sizing to do! I’m pretty excited about that though because it gives me lots of options to go kitchen sink cray-cray. But really, when have I ever needed an excuse for that?!
Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake it off. Shake it off.
Nope, not heard that Taylor Swift song yet, but now I have I'll be playing it lots. The solids quilt is definitely woza – looking forward to seeing lots more of that!
I really like this all-solids project (and I agree with Mr Sparkles, though maybe if I didn't have so many large projects that I dread actually quilting I'd actually have some finished quilts). I know a lot of people don't like all-solids quilts because they think they're flat and boring, but I think it's all about value – if you didn't have the red, navy, and that darker purple in there, it probably would fall flat, but you do and they add some sparkle and movement.
There is just one thing I keep on wondering. How did you assemble that block? How come there are seams at some parts and somewhere there are not. I can imagine how to do it completely without semas so these extra seams of yours just getting me curious. I do like that song as well. These simple catchy tunes are just uplifting.
Loving the solids, I have never considered making a just solids quilt but can't think why not, maybe I should challenge myself.
Thanks for sharing TS, I have a big 'thing' I need to shake off right now!
I literally woke up with that song in my head, hahaha. I love those solids together, what a fun block too.
I love your solids quilt!
I was driving home the other day dancing like and idiot and singing that song! Glad it gave you the swift kick you needed!! 🙂 The solids quilt is awesome, and I agree, the bigger the better.
Lovin' mood ring…I have yet to embrace the "solid" movement (ha ha ha ha…I crack myself up) 🙂 Glad you've got your groove back…I've been in a slump as well, especially blogging, but I'm coming up! (so…many….song references!)
oh yeah to the mood ring. That's downright beautiful! And glad you shook thinks off. I think I have too – it's kind of a relief to be starting a new month!
My girls LOVE that song. LOL. Glad you could shake it off!
Love your solids block arrangement. As I have football crazy folks in my house, would love to see a football block tutorial sometime.
I love the solids. So pretty! I am looking forward to seeing what you are doing with the t shirt quilt. My first full sized quilt was a t shirt quilt and I used all t shirts from my alma mater. I have enough to make another one, bigger with all the t shirts I have left. That's my next project. My favorite thing about making my t shirt quilt is reminiscing over each shirt. So many memories. (p.s. I love your blog. When I get behind, instead of reading all 214 posts of all the blogs I follow, I make sure I read yours before marking the rest as "read." Thanks for the happy colors, the inspiration and the smiles. Your upbeat attitude and cheeriness always shows and it adds greatly to my day!)
I heart the effect of your blocks as well. A queen size quilt from only 15 T-shirts is definitely a stretch, so that football block is fabulous. Great brown print for the pig skin, too.
My kids, usually die hard Katy Perry fans, have been crushing on this song. The two year old requests it by name! 🙂 It's a great song for getting you out of a bad mood. Love your Mood Ring quilt, it's going to be amazing in 'queen size'!
Love that song and just watch the video again and made me smile! Quilt is amazing too!!!
looove those solid blocks, and that stupid song has been stuck in my head for days. Darn that Taylor Swift and her catchy tunes… 🙂
I'm glad you were able to shake it off, your solids project is really eye catching! I love those hints of navy in there. This is going to be really striking when you get it big enough for Mr. Sparkles!
So glad you are back!! Loving Mood Ring!! Your bro is gonna love the football – it's great!!
Lovin' your Mood Swing progress – glad to hear you've got your mojo back 🙂
Your fabric choices on the football block are absolutely fabulous! I'm wishing I had both the brown and the green in my stash.
Oh I love your solids quilt. I have been thinking about a solids project with my scraps. Did you have a limited palette ( wow that sounds snooty! ) or did you use scraps / all kinds of colors?
Whoa, you shook that off big time. It looks fantastic! Awesome job. I can't wait to see it finished!
~Heather
I needed to hear that song. Thanks. And your quilts are always fab. Keep on keepin' on.
So agree with Mr Sparkles! I'm over little quilts. At 175cm I am going to soon be the shortest in my family (still taller than the kids but only just) and tall people need to be able to snuggle in their quilts too!
It's everywhere on the radio here (N.Africa) and I love the cheerleading section. I love your solids and good to see you are back!
Way to go, your Mood Ring is rocking. I also like your football block, though of course it's the wrong shape if you live (as I do) in the land of proper football!
I love your mood ring quilt! Can't wait to see it finished. I'm glad you were able to shake it off! 🙂
love the blocks, they look great together. i try to do mock layouts before i put the blocks together so i dont get colors bunching in an area, my only critique is that there is a navy snake zigging through this layout. break the snake!!
I love that song! It just makes me feel energized and bouncy. Mood Ring Quilt looks great!
It's beautiful!
The color block quilt looks amazing! Are the little lines creases or seams on the outsides of the blocks?
Obsessed with that song, just makes me want to jump up and dorky dance along with her! Love that football block, very creative!!