Bramble Blooms II - Link-up

Back from a long blogging hiatus, between life in general and a camera that died in mid-October and attempting to learn all the nuances of a new one. I've been busy working on the second border for my version of Bramble Blooms II.  And without further ado, here it is in all its just-completed glory.

A quick review of my Bramble Blooms progress (more for my own record-keeping than anything else), here is my first fabric pull at the beginning of this series.

I had early-on decided that this series would have a loose theme of "seasons" and Bramble Blooms I represented early spring tulips and the typically gray rather dismal weather we experience in April around here.  At this point I'd already diverged from my initial fabric pile, adding a couple of Japanese yukata fabrics that kind of took over as the focus of this particular quilt.   Applique efforts in the borders consisted of half-circles which were then repeated in BB II's second border.  This is BB-1 as it sits currently awaiting additional border inspiration.

With Bramble Blooms II, I returned to the original fabric pull, and even utilized quite a bit of the original inspiration fabric.  An attempt at replicating Sujata Shah's old Italian blocks for the center wasn't as easy as I'd thought, so stopped at just four blocks.  Didn't really care for these blocks at this point, but didn't have any more of a couple of the fabrics to start over, so they stayed.

Then began a series of "filler" borders until I arrived at the "official" first border using the nine-patch blocks as suggested by Audrey's first border prompt. At this point the quilt seemed to be taking on a happy, more summery vibe and we were ready to attempt the second border prompt.

This was the most intensive hand applique work I've ever done outside of Quilty 365 from several years ago.  In keeping with the lighter vibe of the 'early summer' theme and the rather wonky look of the central blocks, the second border attempts to achieve a more informal look with the floral shapes used - I've called them summer tulips.  

I don't consider either of these quilts finished as they both need at least one additional border to bring them to a useable size for anything other than wall quilts, and with BB-2 the need to stabilize the outer edge as the background fabric turned out to be quite ravelly.  Both may see more action in the new year after a couple other projects reach the finished stage.

Linking with Audrey at Quilty Folk with thanks for your constant encouragement and inspiration!