Bella Challenge Underway

So back in February Moda announced that they would be hosting a Bella Challenge using 12 very bold and fun pre-set colors of Bella Solids.  I decided in March that I wanted to participate and ordered my fabric.   It is now the last week in August and the deadline for the quilts is September 12th . . . so ya . . . it's about time to get this quilt underway!!  Let's just say the design has been percolating for a while ;)   But now I am set  and yesterday was a serious strip piecing kind of day!!!  And it was so much fun :)

I pressed all of my strip sets yesterday evening.  Don't they look so fun in all that bold Bella Solid goodness!!!   And I was so excited, and it wasn't to late (insert wink) , so I headed right to the cutting mat and starting sub-cutting all of my strip sets.  

Then this morning, instead of exercising (because sewing is way more fun!!!) I sewed all of my sub-cut strip sets into giant pieced rows.   Don't they just look so great hanging off the ironing board.  There are 5 sizes and I just love seeing the variation of small to large.   My kids say they look just like their Lego's all pieced into a giant wall. And I have to say, they do indeed make me smile, I mean, how could you not smile at all of the piecing goodness :)

So now, it is time to turn these pieced rows into blocks.   Here is where I am crossing my fingers that the blocks I create will look similar to the concept design that is floating around in my head ;)  It is always fun (and a bit scary) when I piece without a pattern or a set plan.   I mean, there is a basic guidance plan but this project it is still relying a lot on "make it up as you go".   Wish me luck!!  3 weeks to get this one pieced, quilted, and bound, but hey, I always work best with a deadline ;)  

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!