~ Anchors Aweigh: Welcome to my Blog Tour! ~

I am tickled ... and honored ... to once again be a part of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.
Volume 8 to be exact.

Page 49 ... block #752 ... to be even more exact.
It's probably no surprise that my subject matter is, well, sea worthy.

So here is an overview of my process.  I give you some good, a LOT of fun ... and a little bit of ugly.

I had decided that I would choose a motif and place four of them on my block, radiating out from the center. I chose anchors as my motif, due to their particularly "pointy" quality. I then proceeded to design an anchor that was particulary "pointy".

Next stop: fabric selection.  Always one of my MOST favorite parts of the process. I found that I had some fun fabrics that already had an anchor motif on them ... but I kept looking.

I spent a small amount of time considering these very patriotic star fabrics ... but I still kept looking.

Aha! Pay dirt. Once I came across the red/turquoise dot for the background ... I knew I had my color scheme.  It was just a matter of picking the more solid-reading fabrics to go with it, so the anchors (and the sashing strip) would stand out.

I sewed each of the 4 blocks and proceeded to trim them to size as is my routine with any machine applique project.  Unfortuneately, due to a momentary lack of focus, I trimmed one of the squares twice on the same side.  I had the choice to start completely over (because I didn't have enough of the fun Moda rick-racky fabric) or to make up for my mistake by adjusting the seam allowance as seen below.

Plan B it was! (Now where else are you going to see an admission such as this?!)

Now be sure and leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing to win one of two (count 'em 2!) great prizes.  First, visit my Etsy Shop and pick out your favorite pattern and let me know which one that is, in your comment here.

You will be entered to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks volume 8 or your favorite Sea Quilts pattern.  I will post both of the winners next Wednesday, November 20th.

Thank you Quiltmaker's

And ... quilt makers.