The August block has been a long time in the making.
Progress has not been helped by the summer holidays and the arrival of my Bouncy Nephews. So while there’s been a lot of fun going on, there hasn’t been much sewing.
It was hard to think of designs for August. I considered poppies as they bring back childhood memories for me of wild poppies growing by the roadsides but I felt they were too associated with Remembrance Day to be suitable for the summer.
Then I thought about sunflowers in a vase but The Little One wasn’t keen.
< So initially I came up with this design but I just wasn't quite happy with it.
The dragonflies were awkward to make as the wings were in four separate parts. The frog was tiny and sewing round his feet was tricky. Its eye had to be stitched in with satin stitch as the pieces were too small for applique. Additionally, I didn't like the way the reeds stretched all along the background and I felt the block lacked a main focus. So I tried again.
The frog was enlarged and then I found this golden button that was just perfect for a froggy eye! I amended the shape of the frog’s feet and chose fabrics with a higher contrast so the frog became the focal point of the block. I like the expression it has! A rather wary one!
The dragonfly’s wings were coupled together so they were much simpler to position and, like the frog, the dragonfly was increased in size. The lily flowers were removed from the block altogether, albeit reluctantly!
I used a pretty Japanese fabric for the tallest bulrush which I’ve had for years. I think it’s so beautiful, I wish I had more!
Nothing says summer to me quite like plump, ripe cherries. We have our own cherry tree in the garden but it’s never warm enough here to get proper cherries.
When finally the block was finished and I laid it out to photograph, the Bouncy Nephew briefly landed beside it. ‘Do you like it?’ the Little One asked enthusiastically. ‘It’s ok’, he said before bouncing off. High praise indeed!
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Sandra, I can’t get enough of your calendar blocks! All of the details and your little frog has such personality 🐸 I think I said it before, but I love your style. ~Abbie
Thanks, Abbie, for your kind words! We have a pond in the garden so it’s lovely to see all the wee baby frogs hopping about at this time of the year!
Oh how neat! I’m jealous 😉
This is a lovely block and your changes are good for those who may make the pattern later. I look forward to seeing the whole quilt together one day or are they little hangings or have you not decided? Such fun to design blocks.
Thanks, Kathleen! They will come together to form a wall-hanging which The Little One has already decided will be hers so she’s taking a keen interest in the design! (Which is mostly a good thing 😉