Quilt Top Finish – Molli Sparkles Lava Lamp

Oh honey-baby-sweetie-pies, I am so excited to share this latest quilt top finish with you! I first conceived of the Molli Sparkles Lava Lamp quilt block in May 2018 while on our trans-Atlantic crossing aboard the Cunard Queen Mary 2. I had my sketch book with me everywhere, and for some reason–probably after some stately martinis–the lava-spiration started to flow. You’ll see from my sketch book below, a few tiny scribbles have turned into one of my most exciting quilt designs. Embarrassingly, one of the things that originally held me back in creating this block was my fear of the unknown. I didn’t have a lot of experience designing my own paper piecing patterns, and I had zero experience with fusible appliqué. Unfortunately, I became my own roadblock. I’ve since bitch-slapped some sense back into me!

I started to dismantle those blockades when I bit the proverbial bullet and purchased Electric Quilt 8 computer software. That’s not to say that you need EQ8 to design paper piecing patterns, although as far as I can tell, it is a pretty good option. Since I had zero understanding of where to begin, I just started pushing buttons until I did. While I’m still on the bottom of the EQ8 learning curve hill, this block has popped my Cherry Ripe. (And I do love a good Cherry Ripe!) Hint, hint: I may have another design coming shortly that was also birthed from these very pages.

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Once I had got going with the designing, and felt some of my “ain’t no stopping me now” mojo returning, my fear of fusible appliqué didn’t stand a chance. Like seriously, y’all, what was I even thinking? It’s some fabric, glued to other fabric, and then outlined with stitching. Permission to slap my head, because I’ll tell you now, the worst thing that happened is I had to give my iron a good clean. (If you’ve used fusible, you know what I mean!) My iron loved it’s time at the day spa, so it was really a win-win for all parties!

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I announced my Molli Sparkles Lava Lamp Pattern, and further details about its design back in November. If you missed that blog post, it’s a pretty good one to understand more about the endless possibilities of this block. Basically, anything goes! I already have another stack of fabric that may get the lava lamp treatment! Quite a few of you have been getting groovy with your own versions–don’t think I don’t see them! Make sure you check out the Instagram #mollisparkleslavalamp to get your own lava flowing.

As I finished up my initial blocks, I wasn’t content with a squared-right-angle setting for them. I needed more! How could I add a touch of 60s-mod-fabulousness and still be on the more traditional side of the grid? (Traditional? Me? Have you ever?) After many days, nights and twilights of staring at the accumulated blocks on my design wall, it hit me in the face like a curtain of love beads: squircles! I had to figure out how to implement these as well, but there was no stopping me now! Finally, all these lava lamps in their bold, retro colour palette, combined with this mod-meets-mod setting gave me a revolution of love!

So final moral of the story: get out of your way, and get on with it. Stop saying “I can’t” and instead start saying, “I did!” You and your quilt practice will only be better for it. Remember, it’s just fabric–so get lit and get into it.