2021 Color Challenge - April

Coca-Cola, ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz, and Elizabeth Arden’s Victory Red lipstick…

Cherry Red is an Iconic Color

…and it is our focus color for the month of April!

The block that Jen created for us to make in the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge Sew-Along is a quick one to cut and piece, and with a quirky center, it has a great personality:

Click over to Patterns by Jen to see the pattern instructions.

For my two fabrics, I chose a red print on a white background for my light and the exact reverse of white dots on red background for my dark:

I took the time to press the seams between stitching, and even though they are created with skinny, 1″ finished strips, my 4 square units kept their shape perfectly.

I am quite charmed by the finished block:

My Sofa Snuggler Layout

Ashli's custom layout for her 2021 Monthly Color Challenge Quilt

For the red row of my on-point topper, I needed 4 additional blocks, so I turned to the Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns compiled by Barbara Brackman.

I just purchased the newly published 3rd edition, and it is fabulous!

I was browsing through, flipping across the pages, when ID# 3212 jumped right out at me.

The Crayon Box

The Encyclopedia provides that the Crayon Box block first appeared in the Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine in 1976. It is categorized as a three-patch pattern with horizontal divisions.

It is similar to my all-time, favorite Log Cabin block, but also unique in its own right.

It is very eye-catching with 4 (shown above), 5 (my design below), or even 13 different fabrics!

When I laid it out in EQ8, I decided to start with a light center and work my way to having the darkest tones on the outside.

Keeping with the cherry red and white theme for April, and after an afternoon of digging and hunting in all my fabric-stashing spots around the house, I gathered a gorgeous variety of prints, dots, and stripes for my color boxes.

Best of all, the majority of these fabrics come from fabric donated to Quilt 2 End ALZ from the family of a life-long quilter, seamstress, and crafter who died of Alzheimer’s disease a few years ago.

After hearing about my mission to use quilting to promote Alzheimer’s awareness and education, her son reached out to me through my husband’s job as head football coach of the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane, he mentioned that he wanted his mom’s scraps, stash, and supplies to benefit others and support my work, and then he delivered 7, 39-gallon bags of fabric to the football office. You should’ve seen those huge bags stacked outside the film room as well as the coaching staff’s expressions and saucer-sized eyes when I announced they were all filled with fabric – it was awesome!!!

I can’t tell you how many one-of-a-kind treasures and fabulous fabrics are in those bags. As well as a few finished blocks, timeless polyester crafting materials, and even some leather and fringe. I’m telling y’all…it is fun!

I’m so happy to have used her fabrics on this project which will go into our online shop after the Color Challenge is over. There, 80% of all sales raise funds for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving, education, advocacy, and research.

I wrote step-by-step instructions for both 6″ and 12″ finished Color Box blocks that you are welcome to download for yourself and to share with friends:

THE CRAYON BOX BLOCK PATTERNDownload

Finally, my cherry-inspired recipe…

Sweetheart Salad

This light, fluffy, sweet, and scrumptious salad uses cherry pie filling with crushed pineapple, whipped cream, and mini marshmallows, it is a staple at our holiday feasts, and it is often found at church potluck dinners. My sweet mother-in-law shared it with me when Coach and I married, and I am honored to pass it along to all of you!

That’s it for April – please take some time to explore my fellow Color Challenge bloggers this month, and be sure to check out our 2nd quarter sponsors. Both are listed below.

Lastly, if you missed any of the previous months, colors, or blocks, here is a list of links to see how the full project is coming along and snag some of my go-to recipes: