Hive 2, September Block for Dawn - Modern Trees

Hello Hive 2!  I have a quick and simple block request for September.  It is Modern Trees by Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter.  Yes, I am getting ready for the holiday season, but you can save your amazing holiday fabrics for your own projects, the request is for these blocks to be made with a modern bright fabric and a black and white fabric!  (this block also  happened to be the November 2017 VMQG block lotto that I loved so much, but didn't win!)

Here is a link to Amy's step by step tutorial, with added notes and photos by me below.

This tutorial will make me a pair of blocks, they are very quick to make and have minimal waste.

For colours, think BRIGHTS!   Here is a selection of bright colours from my stash, a lot of these are two-toned - but go crazy with multi colour too!

For black and white, please select fabric with a read more on mid to high volume, not a fabric reading as super low volume white.  If you don't have all black and white, please choose something with only a little bit of colour if you can.  Preference is for white, or offwhite background.  I think you get the idea! 

Select your two fabrics for the pair of blocks, with contrast to one another.  I did my best on my sample blocks.  For a pair of blocks you will need:

• one 8.5" x 8.5" square in the bright print, and one 8.5" x 8.5" square in black and white print
• one 2" x 8.5" strip in the bright print, and one 2" x 8.5 strip in the black and white print

(I found it much easier to cut these 10.5 x 8.5, then to sub cut the 2" strip off that piece. Make sense?)

• two 1.5" x 2" pieces in brown solid.  Any brown solid will do, light, dark - whichever suits your fancy.  If you don't have brown solid, maybe a grey?  or tone on tone brown? 

Getting ready to cut the trees, you stack your two 8.5" squares on top of one another as we cut them at the same time.  If you are particular about directional prints, pause and check before cutting. 

Get your improve on, we are going to make just two random cuts!  Think tall, think short, think wonky -
Here is your first:

For your second cut, DO NOT cut your triangle point to the top of the block, leave lots of room for seam allowance.  This is where you can play with height, a tall-ish, or short-ish tree:

 
Now, we sew.  Swap out the tree pieces, with the contracting background pieces.  Sew the tree onto the second cut, making sure to give room for seam allowance at the tip of the tree:

Press.  Then sew the other half of the background on, again hanging the end over to allow for seam allowance. 

Press and then trim the bottom in line with the edge of the tree, like so:  (please do not trim the other sides)

For the tree truck, simply cut your background strip in half (4.25"), and sew the brown piece between the two background pieces.  Yes, in half.  I am going to ask you to center the trunk as best as possible on the tree itself - as the tutorial says there is enough wiggle room that you should be able to center it on the tree.  Close is good enough!  It will make sense once you get to this step. 

Sew the trunk on with the corresponding background, press and voila!  Easy peasy, a pair of blocks done!  I'll ask you to NOT square up the tree blocks.

Here is a selection of samples I have sewn (not yet squared up), and the trees look to be mostly all the same height 'cause I suck at this improve thing!  Don't hesitate to go short and wide or tall and thin, and different angles!  Have fun with it.  I think once you make this quick and easy block you'll want to make a quilt for yourself! 

Thank you!!

Dawn 
@dimestorefloozie