Hive #5 March Block: Broken Dishes Border

Hello Lovely Hive 5!

I'm Genevieve.  I live in Santa Cruz, California with my husband and our 2-year-old son.  I'm an astronomer-turned-data scientist and I blog sporadically over at miniwinquilts.blogspot.com.

I loved being in Stash Bee last year, but to my shame have still not finished the quilt.  You see, I made a mistake.  I asked for "orphan blocks" in bright colors.  My bee-mates sent me gorgeous things, but every single one is different and many are different sizes, so assembling them into a quilt takes planning, thought, time, a design wall... all these things I don't have.

So this year, I'm going in the opposite direction and asking for your help to complete two WIPs.  I started this medallion quilt over a year ago:

I loved the center so much, I decided to make two simultaneously.

Mistake!  That just means that every step in the quilt takes twice as long, so the chance of the project stalling out doubles!

My genius idea is to have you all help me get over the hurdle to complete these quilts.  I plan to gift them to my cousin's two daughters when they are finished---the multi-colored one to the 10-year-old and the more sophisticated, B&W one to the teenager.

So...

This month, you will make one 16" finished block that will become part of the next big border on one of these two quilts.  If your queen-bee month is January-June, you are in the "Spring Group" (that means Lynn, Kim, Rebecca, Christina, and Tisha), and you will make the block in this color scheme:

If your queen-bee month is July-November, you are in the "Fall Group" (that means Kelly, Shirley, Emily, Liz, and Holly), and you will make the block in this color scheme:

(And no, that tiny foot isn't mine---it's my son's.)

These blocks are simple: the 16" block is made up of 16 different 4"x4" squares.  Each of those squares is made of two rectangles, or two HSTs.

Here are the cutting and color instructions:

NOTE: please use a solid white-white for your white (I have used Kona White).

"Spring Group" (Lynn, Kim, Rebecca, Christina, and Tisha):

4 black rectangles, each 2.5" x 4.5" 

4 aqua rectangles, each 2.5" x 4.5"

8 white rectangles, each 2.5" x 4.5"

2 white squares, each 5"x5"

2 grey squares (print #1), each 5"x5"

2 grey squares (print #2), each 5"x5"
1 lime square, 5"x5"
1 aqua square, 5"x5"

For your black and grey prints, please use prints that only contain black, grey, or white (no colors).

"Fall Group" (Kelly, Shirley, Emily, Liz, and Holly):

4 blue rectangles, each 2.5" x 4.5" 

4 red rectangles, each 2.5" x 4.5"

8 white rectangles, each 2.5" x 4.5"

2 white squares, each 5"x5"

2 squares of print #1, each 5"x5"

2 squares of print #2, each 5"x5"
1 square of solid #1, 5"x5"
1 square of solid #2, 5"x5"

For the prints and solids, choose any bright, clear (not muddy) colors that look nice together.  Here, I've used an aqua print with solid yellow, and an orange stripe with a purple solid.  

Piecing instructions:

(1) Sew each colored rectangle to a white rectangle.  You now have eight 4.5" squares made of half-square rectangles.  Set them aside.

(2) Make HSTs out of all your 5" squares.  I like to use this method, but feel free to use any method you like.  The main thing is to get the right color-combinations.  

Spring Group: 

With grey print #1, pair one square with a white square and one square with your lime square.  Make two grey-and-white HSTs, and two grey-and-lime HSTs.

With grey print #2, pair one square with a white square and one square with your aqua square.  Make two grey-and-white HSTs and two grey-and-aqua HSTs.  

Trim your finished HSTs to 4.5" square.

You should now be able to lay out your block like this.  PLEASE make sure the AQUA is on top and the broken dishes go TOP-LEFT to BOTTOM-RIGHT.

Fall Group:

With print #1, pair one square with a white square and one square with your coordinating solid square.  Make two print-and-white HSTs, and two print-and-solid HSTs.

With print #2, pair one square with a white square and one square with the other coordinating solid square.  Make two print-and-white HSTs, and two print-and-solid HSTs.

Trim your finished HSTs to 4.5" square.

You should now be able to lay out your block like this.  PLEASE make sure the RED is on top and the broken dishes go TOP-LEFT to BOTTOM-RIGHT.

(3) Sew each row of squares together.  I like to press the seams in alternating directions after sewing so they nest nicely in the next step, but do as you like.

(4) Sew the rows together into a finished block.  

That's it!  These blocks will make most of what I need for the final big borders on these quilts.  That should be enough of a boost to help me over the finish line with them.  I plan to lay them out like this:

Thank you so much with your help!  And if anything is confusing about the color choices, or which color-scheme you are supposed to make, please please email me!

I love exploring off-the-beaten path.  My question for the month is: if I were to come visit your area, what would you tell me to go see that I wouldn't necessarily find in a guide-book?

We live in Santa Cruz, on the central coast of California.  The beaches and boardwalk are well-known, but if you came to visit I would direct you to a hike in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.  A hike along the seldom-used "Buckeye Trail" takes you through beautiful redwood forest down to the San Lorenzo river, where you take off your shoes and wade across to continue the hike.  Crossing through the sparkling water at the bottom of the canyon is totally magical.  When you're done, head to 515 Kitchen and Cocktails back in downtown Santa Cruz for a unique cocktail and some truffle fries on their outdoor upstairs deck.