Well, since one cannot discern between red and read (past tense) in the spoken word, in my childhood days I might have said a newspaper!! But now as I’ve gotten older and wiser, I would say a quilt! So, if you have a quilty brain like mine and you guessed quilt, you would be exactly correct!! And, specifically, a quilt for participation in the Black & White Blog Hop hosted by the lovely and talented Carla who blogs at Creatin’ in the Sticks.
Welcome – and thank you for stopping by on my day to show my quilty project! Thank you, Carla, for hosting this blog hop and stretching me to get out of my color zone and focus on something different. I’m so glad I did. I love the Homegrown Collection by Deb Strain, so I decided to raid my stash and and make a wall hanging for my kitchen! Oh, don’t worry, I have MORE of this great line to make a table runner and placemats, and who knows what else!! Did I mention, I REALLY love this line??! LOL I also added some tiny black and white gingham checks and black Crackle by Wilmington Essentials, along with Kona white for the background.
I recently purchased the Swoon 16 pattern by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms Patterns. I fell in love with the original pattern but really wanted a smaller version and was so glad she decided to create a 16″ block. I thought it was perfect for the fabrics I chose for my Black & White Blog Hop project!
As I was deciding which fabrics should go where, and as I love cows and chickens (not to mention my kitchen does too!!), I pulled a 10″ square from the layer cake and fussy cut a cow for the middle! She has lots of little chicks, lambs, and piglets around her – well, at least PARTS of them!
Salt and Pepper Shakers 
My uncle made this chicken for me and my aunt painted it. I will treasure it always! Next a couple of my salt and pepper shaker collection! And finally my little cows and angels shelf. One of my home health patients taught me to make the beaded angel and candle holder! We bought the “jersey” candle and little cow candle in Gatlinburg, TN at a candle shop. Poor little cow lost it’s head in a tumble! But it’s still cute – at least to me!
Sorry – back to the project! I then added the flying geese units to make the sawtooth star legs, and some of my favorite HST’s to complete the center block.
If you follow my blog, you know I love HST’s – especially being able to cut them with my AccuQuilt GO!Big machine! So, instead of following the pattern directions for the remainder of the block, I set off on my own using my HST’s,rectangles, squares, and of course flying geese – just to see if I could – and I did!! I’m such a rebel!! LOL Here is my Swoon block completed – and I did it my way! Oh wait, I think there’s a song by that title!
There is a vintage version of this block that I love that replaces the center square with a friendship star and alternates the outer sawtooth star leg fabrics. I saw it on Lori Holt’s Bee In My Bonnet as part of her Vintage Quilt Along – it’s called Grandma’s Star. I love the idea of changing out the middle block. This is what it would look like if I had chosen to go with the vintage block.
OK, so after I completed the large center block, I decided it needed borders, so back to EQ8 I go and add some borders to the design.
So what about the original question? I see no red you say? You are correct. Since my kitchen cabinets are painted a deep red, back I go again and decided to make the binding red! I love the little pop of color it adds and it really pulls everything in the kitchen together!
(So without further squirreliness (is that a even a word?), here is my finished project!
Thank you for visiting my spot on the blog hop today! I hope you will visit the rest of the bloggers. I will list the schedule below. But, first, let’s have a GIVEAWAY! I am giving away a Homegrown panel to one lucky winner. Everyone is welcome to participate!! Just complete the Rafflecopter form below for up to six chances to win!
Tip: If you have trouble getting the rafflecopter form to “boot up” try a different browser. I use Chrome and often I will have to switch to Edge to get the rafflecopter form to show.
I’d love it if You Would Visit my Fellow Bloggers Today!
MooseStash Quilting
SewFreshQuilts
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Quilts by Joanne
PamelaQuilts
That Fabric Feeling
Songbird Designs
Two Maker Chicks
Check it out!
Thanks again for stopping by and please visit the other blogs on the hop and leave a kind word. We all appreciate your comments so much! I’ll be linking up with my favorite linkies this week as they open up (yes, those over in the sidebar!) Until next time…
Your Black and White wallhanging turned out great! And you’re right, that red binding is perfect.
Thanks so very much!!
Beautiful Brenda and the cow print in the center is perfect! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Connie!!
This is wonderful! Like you, I fell in love with the Spoon Quilt when it was first released, yet never made it. When the smaller version came out, I decided that it was that push I needed to just do it. I love your personal touch and think I may be doing something similar. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
It was my pleasure to share, Joanne! Thanks for visiting. I’m glad you liked the personal touch and encourage you to make yours block your own, as well!
Nice job on working through your kitchen quilt project for the Black and White Blog Hop!!
Thank you so much!! It was fun!
Fantastic finish! Well done!
Thank you, Susan!!
It turned out so pretty. I love it. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you, Mary!
love black and white. Currently paper piecing Wicked with libs Elliott fabric, her pattern, too.
That’s awesome, Sue! Thanks for visiting and commenting
I simply adore the way your quilt turned out! All the heart eyes. 🙂 The best part, imo, is how you did it your way – and it turned out great! Nicely done.
Thanks sew much, Melody!! I did enjoy doing it my way!!
That’s a beautiful quilt – that swoon block is so much fun and the center star takes it over the top. The red is perfect.
Thank you, Kathleen! I appreciate your sweet comments.
Squirreliness is totally a word. And your country themed swoon is simply a delight! What a lovely quilt!
Thank you so much, Lorna!! And, I appreciate your validation of squirreliness!!
I love Swoon blocks but I have never seen one in black and white. It is stunning! I like to sew in black and white with a pop of color. Thanks!
Thank you, Delaine! I love this Swoon pattern too!
Oh, Brenda, that quilt is perfect! Love the farm print for your center, and thanks for showing us your creative process and the evolution of this darling quilt. Love the touch of red in the binding. I’m a farm girl from Idaho and have a collection of kitchen chickens too. You’ve definitely inspired me!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Deonn! I loved writing this post though it took me ALL day! I just kept thinking of additional info to include! Glad to have inspired you!
I don’t often quilt in black and white/cream, but I always love seeing that combination–it’s such a classic, elegant look.
Thank you, Beth!
I like a black and white quilt every once in awhile. Swoon block was a great idea.
Thank you so much, Christi!!
This is wonderful. I love swoon blocks and would never have thought black and white would look so great in this pattern. The center square fabric makes the quilt … 🙂 Pat
I did a quilt in black and white with turquoise.I L9ve it so I guess it depends on the quilt or the idea that pops into my head….happyness04431@yahoo.com
I love colors but I love black and white also. Depends on how I feel.
Love the panel! And I really like your quilt. That cow in the center hit home. I was raised on a dairy farm. Good memories.
I love color but I do love the look of black and white as well.
Love the panel! And your quilt turned out so cute. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for your visit and comment, Nancy! Glad you like it!
Your quilt is really cute. I like the Swoon block. I can see how changing up the center in many different ways could make some great blocks. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.
Hi Nancy! Thanks so much for your visit and kind comment. I really like this block too!
Love your quilt!
Thank you, Karrin! I appreciate your visit and comment!
I like adding a little pop of color to my black and white projects.
Thanks, Susan! Great minds!!
Your star quilt is stunning, the cows in the center are awesome!
Thank you, Anita!
Oh, wow! I’ve never made a Swoon block, but seeing it like this has me wanting to add it to my quilting schedule. It’s so gorgeous! Love it!
Thanks, Carol! So glad I could inspire you! It’s a fun block!
I LOVE your wallhanging. HST’s are so much fun, so versatile, and easy to make. What’s not to love in that case. Your work has inspired me today. Thank you.
Thank you SEW much, Lynn! Glad I could inspire you!
It’s a really fun block!!
I don’t think I have ever stitched a black and white quilt. However I have a UFO of black, white, gray, and yellow that is not cut out yet, but the fabrics are collected and boxed for the future. I do love color, so if I actually make this quilt, it will be stretching me.
This was my first Nancy! I bet the black, white, gray and yellow would be gorgeous! Go ahead stretch yourself!!
Always love meeting another lover of sewing, crafting, etc. so was glad to see you stopped by Peabea Scribbles so I could come visit. From my visit here, you look very talented. My latest after many years of crocheting, I’m working on my knitting skills. Always wanted to do the knitting too, but thought it looked so much harder than crochet. I sew, but have never really made a quilt. They are so lovely. Come visit again and would enjoy seeing you link up your crafting photos on Pictorial Tuesdays.
Thanks so much for your visit Peabea! I dabble in crochet, but am not a knitter! Never could get the hang of it!! You should try a small quilt and see how you like it! Thanks for the invite to link up with you!
This is beautiful! I love the clean looks of black and white. When I do stitch in something black or dark, I have to have some good lighting!
Thank you, Shirley! I totally understand about the lighting!! It was really hard quilting in the black. Thank goodness I have extra lighting around my quilter!!
Oh Brenda what a fun starting place with that Deb Strain fabric. Great read and a fabulous “quiltie” you have created!
Awww, thanks, Joan! That means so much coming from a talented quilter like you! I’ll be visiting your blog soon!! Can’t wait to see what you’ve created!
It is really weird, but I can never seem to get my tension correct when I am sewing with black fabric. So I do try avoid a lot of black, but a small amount worked into a project works great. Thank you.
I wonder if it has something to do with the dye in the fabric, Danette? This is the most black I’ve ever used in a project. Fortunately, I didn’t have any tension problems and I did all the piecing with black Aurifil 50 wt thread. I actually quilted the black with ARC 40 wt black polyester thread! My HQ loves poly thread! But so far I haven’t found a thread it has not liked! I’m blessed!
Your process is so fun to see. Thank you for sharing all the details from the fabrics to your inspiration, it’s a great read. Thank you, also, for joining me on this blog hop adventure. Your post in the Black & White blog hop is super inspiring!
Thank you SEW much, Carla! So glad I could be an inspiration to others as I’m sure all the other super talented bloggers participating are! We appreciate you hosting this fantastic event! Looking forward to your next one!
I have never made a black and white quilt yet. This hop is really inspiring me. Thanks.
Awesome, Lori! I hope all the projects you see in this blog REALLY inspire you to give it a try.
I love your quilt with the pop of red. I have now made two black and white (and teal) quilts. I have lots of fabric left from my collecting so see at least one more in my future. 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win.
Oooh, teal is gorgeous with black and white also!! Enjoy your new quilty adventure!
That is one of my favorite blocks and yours looks so cute as a little quilt. I love the pop of red in it too. I enjoy sewing with black and white and use a lot of it in my colorful quilts too. I think it gives the eyes a place to rest.
Thank you for stopping by Mary and for your nice comments! I’ll definitely be using it more often, I think!
Love your cows, and chickens. For many years I commuted through farmlands to and from work and always loved to see the animals out and about. Anyway, love your quilt. The red binding sets it off perfectly.
Thank you for visiting and for your nice comment, Selina! I grew up on a farm, so this is near to my heart!
Loved the What is black & white & read (past tense)? I would consider having that in fancy script (in red thread) as a center medallion.
Thank you, Julie! Great idea for the center of the quilt too! Thanks for visiting!
Usually I go with colors but I made a quilt featuring house blocks in black & white with colored doors.
That house quilt sounds awesome, Rosalind! I can see where that would be so very cute!
I LOVE using the black & white color scheme! It creates such clean lines and a pop of color really sets it off.
Thanks for visiting Tamma! I totally agree with you, after having tried it!!
Wonderful! The farm animals are great in the star and black and white.
Thank you, Gin! So glad you stopped by for a visit!
Although I like to use black and white, i usually use them as accents this looks like fun!
Give it a try, Ann! Thanks so much for visiting.
I love color in my quilts but have been intrigued and interested in sewing up a black and white just to give it a try!
You sound like me, Anita! But I really do love this and enjoyed stitching it! Thanks for visiting
I like to make two colour quilts and have only made one black and white quilt. It has such a classic look about it. The pop of colour is always a delight. Janice.snell@gmail.com
Black and white really does make a classic looking quilt – especially with a dab of color!! Thanks for visiting.
I have never used only black and white in a quilt, but it sure looks good ! Will have to try it. The red trim gives it spark !
Eileen, this is my first time to use it and I really do like it! Thanks for your comment and visit!
Gorgeous! The red binding was a great idea too.
Thanks so much, Elizabeth!
Gorgeous quilt. I’ve only made one black/white quilt & I added some hot pink. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Joyce! I appreciate your visit. I bet the black, white, and hot pink quilt was gorgeous! I do like that combination!
Great quilt. I love that you added the red binding – it really makes it. The only “Black and white” quilt I’ve ever made had red on it too.
What can I say, Dione? Great minds think alike! LOL Thanks for visiting!
Your quilt is so pretty. ‘Love that cow in the center. Thank you for the giveaway chance. I love black and white, and color. Both themes are versatile and pretty.
Thanks, Danice! This country girl loves her cows and chickens! LOL
Star blocks are one of my favorites.
Thank you, Theresa! I appreciate your visit and comment! I love stars too!!
Love star blocks, they are one of mt favorites.
Thank you, Theresa! I love stars too and the sawtooth is so very easy! I appreciate you stopping by!