More Paper Dolls

I've been taking my time and finally finished my 27 paper doll blocks. I love this block. It goes together quickly and depending on the fabric you can get a very different look. I decided to stick with various green background fabrics to reinforce my garden theme. I am pleased with that choice.

Here are my finished paper dolls and the tentative layout.

Picking borders and side blocks.

Now the challenge is to decide on side blocks and a border. Initially I wanted to use the green and blue floral by Mashe Dyans. I love this fabric and thought it would tie together my theme of my theme of paper dolls in the garden. I also considered alternating the blue raindrop fabric and the blue and green fabric (same collection). I have one yard of the raindrops and two of the green and blue.

I have this really wild fabric (also by Ms.Dyans) that I am considering using for the border. My initial thought was that most Kaffee Fassett fabrics are very bold, with lots of pattern, so this would be a good  choice. I love this fabric. It has flowers, water splashing and frogs jumping. However when I laid it out on my design floor. I was not tickled with the outcome. Just a little too busy. I did consider adding a small, say two inch, inner border to separate the dolls in the garden from the border.

Wild and crazy border option.

I think an inner border might not be too bad as it would be a break between the quilt body and border. Just can't decide.

So options are.

•  Blue raindrop to finish off the four doll rows.
•  Green and blue floral to finish off the four doll rows.
•  A combination, alternating blue and green with the rain.
• Blue and green to finish off row, a rain drop border and the wild outer border.

Decisions, decisions.

Last options is to use the wild fabric on the back, and find another fabric for the border.

For now I think I will sew the dolls together and let it lay on my "design" floor for a few days.  I really have nothing to loose if I go a little wild and crazy with this quilt. One of my goals is to get out of my comfort zone and be a little more adventurous in my fabric selection. Perhaps I should throw caution to the wind?

I think what I need to get my granddaughter here to help me make the decision. She is always much more willing to put together bold patterns and colors with good outcome.

You know they say if you want to see God laugh tell him your plans. Well I am planning on trying Bonnie Hunter's new mystery this year. It didn't work out last year as I ended up in the hospital. I never started the quilt and the fabric is still sitting in a bin with the patterns. I love the colors for this years mystery, so I am going through my stash and getting ready. It is such a cheerful color pallet that I decided to put it ahead of last year's mystery. Who knows how far I will get. Hopefully my Multiple Myeloma cooperates this year.  I'm just taking it one quilt at a time.

Today's blessing is beautiful weather and gorgeous fall colors.

Coming up: the completion of Paper Dolls.