Day Two - Tranquility Blog Hop - Asterisk Star

Hello, I'm so excited to welcome you to Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Tranquility Blog Hop. I'm Tina Dillard, a Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor, author, instructor, designer, and owner of Quilting Affections Designs. Using Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design for Island Batik's new fabric line Tranquility, I want to show you a fun and elegant design. These fabrics are starting to arrive in your local shops now, so make sure you check them out. You'll love this new line if you love earth tones. The quilter can choose from a variety of soft browns, tans, and greens. Check out Asterisk Star, a remake of a quilt from my book Poppin' with Wings, for an example of what can be done.

This eye-catching quilt uses the Studio 180 Designs Wing Clipper® I and Corner Pop® II tools. A basic Flying Geese unit with some corners popped to give it an extra kick. Corner Pop® II from Studio 180 Designs gives designers another level of creativity by popping corners twice as tall as they are wide. Combined with the basic Flying Geese unit, it has so many possibilities. Using these tools, I wrote a book showing the possibilities and how to use them.

Let me explain what I mean by popping the corners of a unit. Basically, you're creating a basic unit like flying geese, then cutting off one corner. You can then add another fabric piece to give it a different look once that's done. This is super easy with the Corner Pop Tools from Studio 180 Designs. I show you how to pop corners with the Corner Pop Tools in my book Poppin' with Wings. 

Example of Pattern

Quilts aren't just about the pattern and the tools. A quilt is just as much about the fabrics and colors as it is about the pattern. Asterisk Star is the perfect match for Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design's Tranquility fabric line. The brown, tan, and green colors of that line give the pattern a nice woodsy look and would look great in a mountain cabin or even in an apartment. The dark brown background creates a stencil look, which brings out the four colors.

The funny thing is, as I write this, I'm sitting at a campground in North Central Maryland watching the greens and browns of the forest. The Tranquility fabric has these colors right down to the last stitch. The beauty of nature around me inspires me to bring these colors home. If I ever need a break from the stress and anxiety of a busy life, I can look at Asterisk Star and immediately be transported back to a peaceful setting where a gentle breeze moves the green leaves as soft sunlight sprinkles through them.

Next time you're making a quilt, think about what colors bring you peace and harmony. Try working them into the pattern so you'll always have them handy if you need them. If those colors happen to be Earth colors, think of Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design Tranquility and Poppin' with Wings "Asterisk Star". By doing so, you can bring the outdoors inside.

Make sure to check out my website if you're looking for my Poppin' with Wings book. You can also check out the other fabulous designs in the book. 

Thank you all for stopping by. Check back every day this week to see what other great designers and instructors are up to, you will find the schedule below:

• Monday, July 11th: Studio 180 Design kickoff
• Tuesday, July 12th: Tina Dillard of Quilting Affection Designs
• Wednesday, July 13th: Raija Salomaa of Quilters' Treasure Chest
• Thursday, July 14th: Diana Mann of Murgaboo Quilts
• Friday, July 15th: Studio 180 Design wrap-up and giveaway

Also, be sure to stop back Friday, July 15th on the Studio 180 Design Blog to enter to win a Fat Quarter Bundle of the Tranquility fabric.