Hive 7 - November 2024 - Circles & Rings

When I signed up for this bee, last year, I knew exactly what I was going to ask for. I had a vision in mind, a mock up and draft instructions saved back. However, I’ve enjoyed everyone’s theme/idea based blocks so much that I started thinking about a theme for my turn. I had pretty much settled on my themed idea when a friend passed away unexpectedly.

Her passing made me rethink everything, I decided I’d wanted to re-frame my quilt to celebration life. My sister turns 40 soon, so I’d like to use my bee blocks to commemorate her 40 orbits around the sun. Symbolized with a bright organic shape against a neutral background.

I'm thinking rings, circles, ovals but am open to your interpretation of an organic shape, circle, ring, orbit, etc. For example I totally think snowballs, dresdens or log cabins would work for this request. And I'm very okay with any method to make this block, be it applique, raw-edge applique, reverse applique, improv, quarter circles, improv stack and whack, inset circle, drunkard's path ... whatever works for you will work for me. I'm good with any size, but share that if you are piecing a circle or ring shape larger diameters are easier.

Colors:

I'm looking for Rainbow Brights (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) against Neutrals (White, Gray, Black, Navy). I'd like any solids to read as one color for the most part and solids are welcome. Here are examples of the fabrics that are suitable backgrounds in my thoughts. Please keep the ring or circle colors bright and saturated with a high contrast against the background.

Here are some of my in-progress blocks. 

  

Tutorials:

• Improv Stack and What quarter circles by Teresa Downunder (Youtube video)
• Drunkard's Path Scrappy circles tutorial by Center Street Quilts using the Accuquilt dies, but also shares a free pdf template for the block.
• Improv Dresden block tutorial by Seattle Modern Quilt Guild
• Fuselages tutorial by Seattle Modern Quilt Guild for a freezer paper ring block, scroll down to the Fuselages section or use the search feature to locate the block's instructions.