A Day At The Beach - Introduction

Woohoo!  It's time.  Lift your glass in a "Cheers" and let's get started.  I am so excited that you are taking this journey along with me and have such high hopes that everyone will have some fun along the way.  If you are new to mysteries, please give this a shot.  I PROMISE it will not be too difficult and that the process will be enjoyable.

The past couple of years Ribbons of Love and Chasing the Sun produced so many absolutely beautiful quilts and I am humbled by the number of people who have sewn my design.  I thank you one and all.  Perhaps the greatest honor I have received is to sign or be photographed with the quilts made by those who participated in the mysteries.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Are you ready?  I know I am.  Let's get started.



When working on this year's pattern, I had several come and go.  Nothing really seemed to gel.  Then I took a trip to Daytona with my family and my sweetheart photographed me walking on the beach (the one at the top of this page).  When I saw this picture, something just resonated within me and the design, along with the colors, just fell into place.  I love the feel of these colors and it definitely produces a serene feeling.

What colors come to your mind when you think of the beach?  Are they sandy, white, teal, blue?  Perhaps they are bright and colorful like the swimsuits that dot the beach.  Maybe it's a stormy day and there are greys or blacks involved.  It's your beach --- use the colors that speak to you or follow with the ones nature chose for me in the photos above.

As ya'll know, the backs to my quilts play a large part in the creative process for me.  I had this fabric just sitting around and wanted a place to put it.  The minute I decided on the beach for my theme, I knew just where to find my backing.  Now, the colors in it are not exactly what is in the front of mine, but that's okay.  It's mine.  It doesn't have to be a perfect match.  It's the back.

However, then came along another panel.  Oh my.  Now what's a girl to do?  Perhaps there are two quilts coming through when I told myself I'd only do one this year.  Who knows.  The backing is down the pike a bit, right?

I know you are probably expecting something really scrappy from me and yes, there are scrappy sections in this one but I am using several constants as well.  You can do more scrappy if you wish (and I'll give special directions for those who are) or less (and I'll give those directions as well).  Please remember that I'm not able to give exact fabric requirements when you are doing scrappy.  Just go with what the requirements list and add some for seams.  If you have a string bin of neutrals, bring them to the party.  I am.  Time for paint samples.  Hello Home Depot and the Behr section.  Drumroll please ---- Presenting A Day At The Beach.  Can you spot all these colors in the photo above?  It just says "serene" to me.  As you can see, even my fabrics are a bit water/beach themed.  I have kept to tone on tones for the most part as this quilt is screaming " stay calm" to me.   Let the fun begin.

Color Number One - Paint Card Number P410A and I am using the middle color of Spearmints.  You will need 1 1/2 yards.  I bought 2 yards.  Remember that I always buy extra because mistakes happen -- it's life AND whatever is left will go into the backing.  No worries.

Color Number Two - Paint Card Number M170B and I am using the third color down which is Dash of Curry.  You will need 5/8 of a yard but I have a full yard.

Color Number Three - Paint Card Number P510A and we are using the top color of Greek Isles.  You will need 1 3/4 yard.  Again I bought 2 yards. The important part here is that you can see a difference between it and your neutrals.  More information on that below.  If you have a lot of light blues, this is a great part of the quilt to have scrappy fun.

Color Number Four - Paint Card Number M520B and we are using the second one of Alpha Blue.  You will need 1 1/8 yd.  I have 1 1/2 yards.  Again, you need to be able to see a difference between this and the Greek Isles.

Color Number 5 - Paint Number P520B.  Using one of the two darker colors on the bottom.  I chose a mix of Mega Blue and Flashy Sapphire.  You will need 1 3/8 yard and I have extra, as usual.  This one, again, needs to stand in contrast to the other two blues.  I KNOW it looks like this card could have been used for all three but I don't know what happened with the camera.  The top colors are much darker.

Now for those beloved Neutrals.  I do love them so much.  This is where I am choosing to go scrappy  and have some fun.  It is not required.  A constant will work great here too.  I am going to use my string bucket with TOASTY, SANDY colors and throw in these extras for a beachy feel.  Use the entire card and range of colors.  There are a couple of option with the neutrals.  The Paint Card Number is S250A and you will need a total of 3 1/2 to 4 yards.  IF YOU WISH to use a "white" one to represent the turning of the waves, break it down to 3 1/8 - 3 1/4 yards for the sandy ones and 3/8 - 1/2 yard for the whites.  The lighter wording one is what I will use for the "white".  If you are doing this option --- KEEP YOUR TOASTIES ON THE DARKER SIDE OR USE A CONSTANT "white" as I am doing.

I WILL be using the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers but you are free to use whatever method you prefer for cutting triangles.  Yep, it's time for some new units.

Well that's about it for now.  You are always free to do what makes your own heart happy.  Pick your own palette and atmosphere you wish to achieve.  I'm so excited to start.  You'll have all summer to gather fabrics from vacations and quilt store stops.  Have fun and I'll see you when it's Back to School Time - September 1st.  The clues will be posted each Friday until the mystery ends and you have a lovely top to quilt up.

The finished size is 85" x 85" and will be very easy to enlarge by making more units.

One last picture of a fabric I found while shopping for this.  I thought I could use it in the top, but it was just too busy.  It'll still happen, of course --- I just need to decide where.  So fun.

Remember that there is a summary page for this mystery that contains all the posts relating to it.  It is located at the top of the blog.  Please become a follower so that you get all clues when they are released.

It's time for A Day at the Beach.  On your mark, get set, go.