One top done--starting another

Etchings quilt--72 x 83"

My quilt top using Moda's "Etchings" line of fabrics is done.   I was able to work through a mistake.   I had cut up most of my leftover strips--forgetting that I was supposed to use them for sashing.   But I found some Etchings yardage in my stash, bought for a neutral quilt last year.   I fussy cut some darker sections out of leftover "light" strips, and the red cross sections are seamed.  It worked out OK.   Top is sandwiched and ready to be quilted soon.

Next project --> I pulled out FQs bought on clearance years ago from Connecting Threads.  Some are "Country Essentials" and others are "Country Essentials Spring."   I'm using some from each line, then added a swirly brown print, a darker blue print from Moda's "Wildflower Serenade," and a 2nd dark green print (after this photo was taken). 

Quilt starts with 6-1/2" squares

I'm making a version of a pattern in the Summer 2012 issue of "Primitive Quilts and Projects."  Mine will be a 6 x 7 block layout with no borders. This is an experimental version.   If it goes OK, I'll make one with CW repro fabrics in the future.
The pattern is "Carson's Courtyard" by Christine Baker.  The intermediate difficulty level didn't make sense.  After all, you just start with squares -- seam and slice, seam and slice, seam and slice.

starting "Courtyard" layout on the design wall

The designer and magazine editors did NOT exaggerate the level of difficulty.  With my  lackadaisical 1/4" seams and so-so pressing of blocks as I went along, my finished blocks do NOT match up perfectly side-by-side, seam-by-seam on the design wall.   And just look at how many seams I'll have to match when I sew the rows together !!  This is going to take time, making those seams match.

Good news--the FQs I pulled out are all used--no leftover scraps.  I'm sick and tired of tossing scraps into a bag or box.  I'm dealing with them now!  Leftovers were cut into squares and strips for Bonnie Hunter projects in the future.

The instructions are for ALL seams to be pressed open.   I figured out a way to avoid that, making seams in each block nest, but now I have to arrange and turn blocks and hope for more nesting when I start putting the top together.   Fingers crossed.

FINAL THOUGHT:   The level of difficulty rating on quilts is for a reason.  Don't think you're smarter than the designer and editors, as I did.