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Sunday, July 22, 2018

Mondrian Part II

I have been fascinated with Piet Mondrian art for a long time and tried my hand at designing a quilt, or more specifically a pot holder set, using the basic shapes and colors his art is known for.  

I gave a shot at it back in April: Mondrian :: Colorful & Simple , and was pleased with how they turned out.  I went into it with little idea of what to do and how to do it.  It resulted in many moments of scratching my head and figuring out the puzzle.  I vowed then and there that one day I was going to design a block where I could have some sort of consistency and not have to wonder what my next step was.
9" POT HOLDERS
And I did just that!!  I enjoyed the design part so much that I ended up designing two different Mondrian inspired blocks. 

 

One thing I love about the new EQ8 program is the color.  You can choose to print in color or not and in this case I thought it would be best.  I also like to know what size pieces I need and cut them before I paper piece certain projects.  Since these were rectangle and squares, I was able to calculate my pieces and for future use, I wrote the sizes on extra copies I made of the block pieces.



The pieces went together pretty seamlessly and quickly.  The pieces for each block are a decent size so there wasn't any tedious, fussy work in assembly.  



I ended up making two of each block because...well, pot holders do come in sets!  The blocks I made are 9" square which are a good size for me.  



My two sets!  I still have the binding to sew to the back on one set, but I'm pretty dang happy with the results.  Now I can fly through future blocks without losing too many brain cells!



I had planned on have each pot holder in the set to be the same.  However in my excitement of it all I accidentally sewed one piece wrong on one in the second set!  Plan B was to go with it and mix and match!  

A couple things I learned about this design.  You can mix and match for sets.  You can also flip the pieces around in any given set for even more variety.  And, if you choose to do so, you can decide which section you want the colors to be placed. 


9" POT HOLDERS
HOT & COLD
I had no intention of making a third set after finishing the first two.  None at all.  The next morning I woke up with an idea and you know how that goes!  I had to do it!  When I think of Mondrian I immediately think of red, blue and yellow.  But it doesn't have to be does it?  No it does not!  My idea was to make one with warm colors and one with cool colors.  Hot & Cold!  That's it...my big idea that popped into my head!

It's fun designing blocks that you know you'll use again.  I'm pretty sure there will be several variations over the next few months!

I'm thinking they might make a great pattern at some point.  I talk about designing patterns all the time but never seem to quite get there.  It is definitely a lack of confidence!  I probably could handle a pattern like this though!  
LINKING:




32 comments:

  1. I once had a Mondriaan dress! My mother made and I loved it!!In my workshop space at A & B Creating I painted the curtain rails red, blue and yellow!!

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  2. This is such a striking block! Thanks for sharing it.

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  3. These are amazing. You should be creating patterns. You have awesome projects that people would love to make. You can do it!

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  4. I love that design - I too once had a dress in that style - a mini of course this was back in the very early 1970's - the design went across the bodice of the straight line dress and the bottom was white.

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  5. Hi Jayne,
    You are already there - you've done all the work, and you have it in EQ8. How can you not finish up the pattern?! No confidence is needed for that - the confidence was needed when you began the project. Could you do it?? Yes. Indeed you can, and we are enjoying seeing it. Fly, dear! You are doing it already. Happy Sunday! ~smile~ Roseanne

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    1. Roseanne you have boosted my confidence! You are right, it’s in EQ and ready to go…I just need words to go with it! Thank you very much … I may just do it!

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  6. I echo what the others have said - just do it! You've got all the hard work done now.

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    1. Thank you Barb! I better set aside some time and get it done before I forget about it!!

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  7. I, too, think a pattern would be awesome. They are striking!

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  8. I too am a Mondrian fan. When I taught Computer Applications, my classes used Excel to create art in his style. I would be honored to test your pattern when you have it done.

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  9. I really like knowing the size of fabric to cut for paper piecing, too. It makes it so much easier for me. Great pot holders and I love how fun the hot and cold idea is! :)

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    1. I think having measurements is a huge plus for paper piecing too! Especially when the project is graphic like anything Mondrian. The hot and cold version was a fun departure from primary colors!

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  10. I love the blues/aqua version. So pretty.

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  11. It looks like you had a lot of fun with this Jayne. All versions look great, and knowing the size of fabric to cut for paper piecing is wonderful. I waste so much fabric.

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    1. Thank you! I like having the sizes of pieces needed when paper piecing. Since I have tested a few times with my blocks, and have a record of what size I need it’s easy to share the information! I don’t mind not having sizes when piecing some that is intricate and it wouldn’t turn me a way from a pattern. But the extra info is good to include and have!

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  12. these are great! you should totally write the pattern (can I test it? ) we did mondrian blocks for a bee quilt a few years ago (totally improv style and that was HARD!) I wonder what ever became of them?

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  13. Aren't those neat?! I love that you turned it into a paper-pieced pattern. A person could just sew a bunch of those into a whole quilt, too! :)

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  14. Those are just fun and I love blocks like this. I think I would volunteer to test if you did write up a pattern!

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  15. Love these blocks! I also had a dress with a similar pattern, must have been a thing some years back. I never knew it had an artist to inspire it. I have been thinking of you today while sitting at my sewing machine right next to my gorgeous woven mini hanging on the wall. Such a wonderful surprise gift! I hope you have received the thank you card I sent, a small thing for such a wonderful gesture. Still, I like to send them.

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  16. I love these! I can see how they would be addictive to make. I think I like the primary colors the best. Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap

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  17. I've been fascinated with Mondrian ever since seeing one on the opening of Green Acres! Wonderful hot pads!

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  18. I love the Hot and Cold colors idea! So fun for potholders. And very smart to make a reusable pattern in EQ8 :)

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  19. Those are really neat! We studied him in photography - so seeing them in a quilt is even co0ler!!

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  20. These look great! I remember you writing about these previously and thinking what a wonderful quilt you would come up with. These are too pretty for pot holders, especially if you are as rough on them as I am mine.

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  21. These are wonderful Jayne. I love them all but have to say - the traditional color scheme is still my fav. I hope you'll take it to the next level and write up a pattern. I think lots of people would love to try this!

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  22. Very fun! Sounds like once you figured out the key to the design, it was easy to make the variations. A beautiful set of pot holders (too pretty to use, they'd end up as wall quilts at my house).

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  23. So fun! I love the designs, both the traditionally colored ones and the alternative colorways.

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  24. Love these. They'd make great mug rugs.

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  25. I love them all, the three of them ;)) Nice variations, very clever way to use colors. Keep going designing patterns!

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  26. These are so striking! Good luck on writing that pattern.

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  27. I love these! And the hot/cold version is pretty awesome, too. I think you should definitely go for making a pattern.

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  28. I came over from Kelly's My Quilt Infatuation and am a first time visitor. Won't be the last though! Love the potholders (and the coasters) and have signed up for email so I don't miss the pattern or any future inspiration. Thanks!

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