I am just so frustrated. All my lovely red star blocks that I made do not work what-so-ever with the rest of the quilt! What was I thinking? My inspiration was a pattern in a 2007 American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. Heritage Stars was the name of the pattern. It is a Homestead hearth design.
You will notice the center medallion. Focus fabric is a blue floral with reds and creams. This is the fabric I chose for my center medallion. Not a red in sight.
No red. The blue, caramel and chocolate blocks work great. Not the reds.
Again--what was I thinking?
So, the question is, what do I do now? I do not have enough of the Allspice Tapestry browns and caramels to make more blocks. Blues I have, but not the others. Do I beg and plead with you, my readers, to sell me any small pieces of Allspice Tapestry browns and carmels you may have in your stash? I am not above asking--the Internet has nothing in all the searches I have done.
Or, shall I completely shift gears and purchase more reds from compatible Fig Tree groups such as Patisserie, Gypsy Rose etc, and make a red version of this quilt? And pack up the blues, browns and caramels?
Or, do I bag the whole project and write it off as a complete waste of time? I have put in so many hours of sewing on this silly project. Why didn't I buy the kit when it was offered in the magazine in 2007? I could have had the exact fabrics that were shown in the magazine.
I would not give up on the project. I think I would either purchase reds from the other Fig Tree Groups or continue searching for more Allspice Tapestry. I did a quick search of my own on Quiltshops.com and a 2 or 3 pages of Allspice Tapestry came up, but don't know if it was colors you were looking for...
Posted by: Michelle R | June 17, 2010 at 04:52 AM
I think it is the burgundy red in the large star that is the bug a boo. In your post yesterday, the star blocks all look good. I say do a new center... Is that possible? Good luck :).
Posted by: Audrey | June 17, 2010 at 04:53 AM
There's no reason to pack anything up. I'd take the corners and the beige sashing off the center medallion block and replace them with a fabric that has beige, blue, and RED in it. That way, you've incorporated red into the center and the red star blocks will work.
Posted by: DLS | June 17, 2010 at 04:53 AM
My thought too would be to change up the center. I like how all your smaller stars work together. I have to cut a couple of borders from some Allspice fabric, and then I would be willing to share what I have. I know that there is a beige background fabric and then the reddish-orange floral for the large border. Could even send a couple of pics for you to see.
Posted by: Shelley | June 17, 2010 at 05:11 AM
It's never a waste of time...you can go with either one and use the other for a table runner or napkins or a wall hanging. If you need anywhere to "get rid of it," I'm sure you can count any one of us, or Sara to smile at the thought! It's all beautiful.
Posted by: Kayte | June 17, 2010 at 05:39 AM
If you have to change it, change a bit of the center. It is going to look fabulous and with all those stars going on, it won't matter, anyway, imo.
Posted by: Penny | June 17, 2010 at 05:56 AM
I would make a new centre if possible. I don't have one inch of any of those fabbies but I would send you the whole lot if I did! I know that doesn't help but I just wanted you to know that it's okay to ask!:)
Posted by: Shelley dionne | June 17, 2010 at 06:03 AM
Yes, I agree the red/orange color of the center star is throwng it off. I'm not also excited about the gold surrounding it either, but that's just me. I soo love all the small blocks. They're awesome. I just finished the top for a throw out of this line that I've been hoarding for about 3 yrs. I did find a bunch of Allspice fabric on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=allspice+tapestry&search_type=supplies&ref=auto
Also, I have about a 3 yard piece of blue similar to the 8th photo from left to right, but instead of the color shown, mine is the dull blue colorway.
Posted by: Deb C | June 17, 2010 at 06:08 AM
I agree, replace the center and/or ask your blogging friends for their "Allspice". Sorry, I don't have any!
Posted by: Sandy Rowe | June 17, 2010 at 06:15 AM
How frustrating. If I had the fabric you are looking for I'd send it in a heartbeat!!!
I agree with most of the commenters to redo the center block and use your reds.
Posted by: Lori | June 17, 2010 at 06:22 AM
I echo the suggestions to make a new centre block. I do like the one you have, but it can become the centre of a new project that does not require red. If I had any of the fabric line you're looking for, I'd send it to you right away. I'm sure you can find some among your readers - we've all found ourselves stuck like this before!
Posted by: Lesly | June 17, 2010 at 06:22 AM
I agree with the others. I love all the small blocks. They look great. As far as your medallion block, I think I would just try to change out the outer triangles. It seems that is the one that just won't "play nice" with the others. What do you have to lose? Even if it comes down to re-thinking something else in the centre block it is still easier than all the small ones. My opinion is that I like yours better than theone in themagazine. More spark and life in it. Keep us posted.
Oh, by the way I don't have any of that fabric line either, but it would have glady found it's way to your mailbox if I did.
Posted by: Wendy Ouellette | June 17, 2010 at 06:25 AM
I guess I really don't see what the problem is. It's a scrap quilt...I think it will look great just the way it is. But then I'm not a 'one liner matchy matchy' type quilter.
Posted by: Kim | June 17, 2010 at 06:41 AM
Nicole,
I have 15" by WOF and 12 x 12 of a brown. I would be delighted to send it to you. I'll email a photo of the fabric.
Posted by: Karen | June 17, 2010 at 06:45 AM
I forgot to say it's from the Allspice Tapestry collection.
Posted by: Karen | June 17, 2010 at 06:46 AM
I might have some of the colors you are looking for. Email me. Would hate to see all your hard work go to waste.
Posted by: donna | June 17, 2010 at 06:48 AM
Sorry, I don't have any to share with you, but I do like the others suggestions of getting a little red into the center and seeing if that would work. Good luck!
Posted by: call me crazy | June 17, 2010 at 07:00 AM
You might have already done this. . .but. . .have you tried putting the center & the blocks on a design wall to see exactly how things would look?
There was a workshop that I took many years ago with either Eleanor Burns or MaryEllen Hopkins (can't remember exactly right now). What is important about the memory is that she had said that all reds go together.
At the time I didn't believe her; however, over the years I have seen lots of quilts with lots of different reds in them & they all worked.
I don't often run into problems like this because I purposely do not make a quilt in the same colors as the pattern. . . I always need to do things my way.
Good luck figuring out what to do.
In peace & pieces,
Sherry V.
Posted by: Sherry | June 17, 2010 at 07:00 AM
Have you tried this quilt shop search engine?I'm not sure which exact fabrics you're looking for, but they do come up with some browns if you search for Allspice Tapestry.
http://www.quiltshops.com/
Posted by: Pam | June 17, 2010 at 07:05 AM
There is just something about looking/for finding a in need fabric... anyway, while I dont have any, I did find some online.
http://www.snowyriverquilts.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?product=Allspice_Tapestry&productid=20063-17&tracking5=froogle
http://www.suzzettsfabric.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=HH&Category_Code=ALLSPICE
(I googled allspice tapestry chocolate)
Good luck!
Posted by: badlands quilts | June 17, 2010 at 07:08 AM
Oh Nicole if I had the fabrics I'd gladly send them to you...
I think split them and try to match up enough fabrics to make two quilts - how about fabric from your stash? :o) Good luck - and don't dispair - there are positive vibes coming in now from Switzerland!!!!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | June 17, 2010 at 07:16 AM
Nicole, a local shop here in Cary is a treasure trove of old Fig Tree and 3 Sisters lines. They have at least some of almost every older line. They do not have a website, but I'd be happy to go take a look for you if you'd like. Let me know!
Posted by: John | June 17, 2010 at 07:20 AM
I would work on the center medallion block, I think it can be better. I would either make an entirely new center block or replace the outer two borders. But a whole new center star that works with fabrics of your small stars is my first choice.
On my first medallion quilt, I made the center star a second time, every time I look at that quilt I'm so glad I did..
I'm happy to get to see the pattern today, I was wondering what all those beautiful small stars were going to be when they grew up. I think this is a wonderful pattern.
Posted by: Thelma | June 17, 2010 at 07:35 AM
You've already gotten some wonderful suggestions Nicole. If I had some Allspice Tapestry I'd gladly send it to you. I'm sorry!
Posted by: Darlene | June 17, 2010 at 07:53 AM
I agree, remake the center. This one can be the start of another one when you find the fabrics. Another choice might be to incorporate a print with some of the red in the first border between the center and the small stars. However, one can never have too many sawtooth stars, they will always work in another quilt. I'm always amazed at how fast you churn out beautiful quilts!
Posted by: Rebecca Ball | June 17, 2010 at 07:53 AM