I’ve beentaking a little break from Reach for the Stars (see previous post) to make a new kaleidoscope runner, a second version of the one in fall fabrics I showed you a few weeks ago.This runner features some delightfulnew Paris-themed fabrics from Michael Miller with a contemporary vibe.Take a look:

This close-up of one block gives you a better look at the fabrics:

The Parisian street scenes were fussy-cut from Gay Paree,thenew line from Michael Miller, as wasthe Eiffel Tower, an older Michael Miller line.The navy-on-white and white-on-navyhouse printsare from the Maison line by Michael Miller, companion prints toGay Paree. Fans of Violet Craft’s Waterfront Park collectionfor Michael Miller will recognize the two bright orange pieces from that line, and the remaining white-on-navygeometric is a Mini Mike from Michael Miller.

That bright orange accent strip is a batik and the outer sashing strip is Tangle by Marcia Derse for Windham Fabrics. My background fabric is a pale grey Color Weave by P&B Textiles. I usually piece my backs but I’m going to put an uncut length of the Gay Paree fabric on the back so that the Parisian street scenes can be seen in their entirety.

I’m going to quilt this little table runner/wallhangingwith straight lines or maybe simple cross-hatching and bind it in the same orange batik I used for the accent strips.

Over the last few years I’ve made at least a dozen kaleidoscope quiltsfeaturingoctagons, all made from eight repeats of one fabric carefully stacked, pinned, and cut.This is the first timeI’ve used eight different fabrics in a block. What fun!

I’ve been bouncing from project to project this week like the proverbial rubber ball and boy,has it been fun! First I made this little fabric box, using directions from my friend Viv:

I think Viv’s directions were adapted from atutorial she found on the Internet. She made a box for me last year that I use all the time. In my sewing room it catches threads. When I go to a quilt class, it holds notions. So versatile and cute! I tweaked her directions to make my fabric box 4″ square.

Then I made a pair ofking-size pillowcases for my twin sister, Diane:

My husband and I arespending two whole weeks with Diane and her husband aroundThanksgiving;these cases will be ahostess gift. She fell in love with the fabrics when she saw themmade into thissewing machine dust coverso I’m pretty confident the cases will be a hit.

Next I sewedthose three kaleidoscope blocks from a couple of weeks ago into a table runner/wall hanging:

Isn’t it amazing that all three blocks were made from the same focus fabric? I’m going to put a solid piece of that fabric on the back.

Last but not least, I pulled some black and white fabrics from my stash to make this test block using the pattern Metro Rings byJenny Pedigo of Sew Kind of Wonderful and her Quick Curve Ruler©:

This is Jenny’s modern take on the traditional wedding ring block. Those curved rings are made from strip sets! It’s thefourth design of hersI’ve made using herQuick Curve Ruler, and I continue to be amazed and delighted at how versatile the ruleris.I’m especially excited about this quilt-to-come because I’ll be teaching a class on itat the Pine Needle in January 2014.

I started out with this fabric. . .

. . . and wound up with this:

and this:

and this:

Can you see now why I’m crazy about kaleidoscopes?! I think I will turn these 16″ blocks into atable runnercelebrating autumn,”season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.”

Sometimes the obvious escapes me. I’vebeen working with this pretty hydrangea floral fabric for a couple of weeks now butdidn’t notice untiltaking picturesfor this post that the hydrangeas are made up of clustersof butterflies.I evenmissedtheclue on the selvage:

You may recall from a recentpost that I wasusing this fabric to makethree sizes of kaleidoscope blocks that I wascalling Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear to distinguish their relative sizes.The bear image isnowbanished from my brain; I see only butterflies.

And here are thosebutterfly blocks are, floating on a field of pale green:

Thebackground fabric is Krystal by Michael Miller,and I’m pretty sure the solid green inner borderin the kaleido blocks is Michael Miller, too. The pink and whiteprint in the outer borderis Yvette, from the City House Fabrics line by Swirly Girls Design for Michael Miller.

I’m thinking of binding the quilt in thesolid green.(Ido wish solid fabrics came with information printedon the selvages like print fabrics do. I like to know what fabric I’m working with — and what if I need moreand can’t find it locally? That information on the selvage is essential for an Internet search.)

Now to ponder quilting motifs and quilt names.I’m thinking of simple cross-hatching in the background, spaced an inch or two apart, and some kind of floral design in the kaleido blocks. As for a name, I’m waiting for inspiration to strike.Bloomin’ Butterflies? Butterfly Kisses? Suggestions gratefullyaccepted!

You already know that I’m crazy about kaleidoscope quilts. My most recent effort, Cosmic Kaleidoscopes,containedfive oversized kaleidoscope blocks floating on an inky background; itmeasured62″ x 82″before quilting.I wantedto try ascaled down versionusing softer fabrics and a light background.I sketched a designon graph paperand chose a luscious pink and green hydrangea print as my focus fabric.

The blocks are three different sizes,the largest being 20″ and the smallest 13½”.I supposeit was inevitable that I would start thinking of them as the Three Bears.Here is Papa Bear:

. . . and Mama Bear:

. . . and Baby Bear:

The next time you see these blocks, they will be in a quilt top,floating on a pale green background.