Welcome to Day 4 of the Road Rally blog tour for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designers, vol. 16. The magazine issue includes 100 fantastic and unique blocks; you will want a copy for your quilt inspiration library. Today I am so excited to share my block, “Beacons in the Fog,” with you!
When designing this block, I wanted to create an illusion of movement, as of the light in a lighthouse turning interminably, cutting through the fog, warning the ships at sea as well as serving as navigation signposts along the shore. The saturated colors of batiks speak of clear direction in contrast with the foggy gray neutrals. (Thanks, Wilmington Prints, for these fabrics!)
Since my husband and I have made North Carolina our home, we have enjoyed exploring the state from the mountains in the west to the seashore in the east. And we invite you to plan a road rally stop, whether real or virtual, to experience North Carolina and especially to see the lighthouses of the Outer Banks. Click here to see pictures of these majestic sentinels that serve as beacons in the fog.
What’s a road trip without some music? Tune your “radio” to you tube and click here to hear “My Lighthouse,” as sung by Rend Collective. The praise band at our church led us in this song just this Sunday. What a comfort to know that the Lord will carry us “safe to shore.”
Using Electric Quilt software, I developed two quilt layout diagrams to give ideas for setting “Beacons in the Fog.” Twenty blocks set with narrow black sashing and red cornerstones would make a striking decorator statement on a white or gray sofa. The design of nearly solid fabrics would also suit as a young man’s quilt.
By setting blocks and half blocks in vertical strips, flanked by black strips, a contemporary effect is achieved.
Construction Tip: Your block will be softer and less bulky if you use a minimal amount of fusible webbing for the machine applique and if you cut away the un-fused background fabric after stitching. As you can see from the photo on the left, I cut an arc of fusible webbing about 3/4″ wide and adhered it to the wrong sides of the quarter circles. After peeling off the paper, pressing the quarter circles to the background triangles, and machine appliqueing, I cut away the unfused parts of the background triangles as shown in the photo on the right.
If you make “Beacons in the Fog,” I’d love to see your block. Send a photo to aby.quilts@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting my stop on the road rally, and I’d love for you to “follow” my blog. We currently have a pre-cut challenge going through the end of December. (Use those 5″ charm squares!)
Enjoy the blog tour today; be sure to stop by the Quiltmaker blog, QuiltyPleasures, to register for prizes and to link to other blogs on the tour this week. Can’t find the magazine at your local newsstand? You can order a copy from the online The Quilt Company (Quiltmaker).
Leave a comment below to enter a drawing for a free magazine. The drawing will be 22 November.
abyquilts 
What a great block. Thanks for sharing tips for assembling.
Clever block. It reminds me of one of the Dear Jane blocks. Thanks for sharing the tip about reducing the bulk under the fusible. Great idea.
I’m a little intimidated by curved piecing, so it was a pleasant surprise to me to see that your curves are applique!
Great block–I does remind me of lighthouse lights!
Such a lovely block! North Carolina has so many great places to see. We have vacationed there many times.
When I first looked at your block, it reminded me of a softball coming at me. I like your lighthouse lights much better. Thanks for sharing your block.
Nice block, I like your color choices. I would love to visit North Carolina to see the light houses and other places of interest.
Great tips on making your neat block.
Really cute block!! Thanks for sharing!
Fun block. Thanks for the applique tips.
Thanks for the little tutorial and the helpful hints. Visiting lighthouses is always a trip highlight if they are open to tourists.
Your lighthouse block would make a great border for lighthouse picture in the center. Thanks for the block. It will be fun to make up for my husband men cave. It is the theme of his room. He like to see every lighthouse in Fl, there is a guide and quilt shop often have fabric of the sea.
Your block really does remind me of a lighthouse! Great design!
Cool block! It does remind me of a lighthouse beam. Congratulations on having your block in the magazine.
Congratulations on having your block included in Quiltmaker’s 100, Vol. 16! What a fun and graphic design. Loved listening to the band and their song “My Lighthouse “. So up beat and got my foot tapping as well ;-D
usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com
Love the Outer Banks. I’ve been there once and hope I get to go back again. Thanks for the construction tip.
We have fogs here on the plains, but alas, no beacons to guide us thru the murky stuff. Neat design, Kathy in Colo
Beacon… never would have guest it but as soon as I read it…. I saw the light 🙂 What a fun blocks. We had plenty of foggy mornings while at our MN cabin this fall.
thank you Kaylace@bellsouth.net
I love the fabric choices and the way the white and colors sparkle together. Thanks for sharing this!
Lighthouses are my favorite, and I loved your statement about the Lord carrying us safely to shore.
Your block is interesting and I too love the lighthouses I have seen. I imagine NC would be a wonderful state to explore. I have been there before to visit twice and was considering a job move to NC. But alas no move there yet.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Sure do love those Batiks! They can create such wonderful effects and colors! Lighthouses are such symbols of faith and hope.
reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com
You have a good-looking block, thanks
Interesting block….would love to try it!
Fun block. Thanks for the inspiration.
Very clever Lighthouse quilt block, I appreciate the information.
Cool lighthouse block! Thank you for the tips!
Thanks for the clear tutorial and backstory. Very illuminating 🙂
I can instantly see the beacons! Takes me back to my boating times off of Vancouver Island. Thank you for the tips on your great block and for the giveaway.
Someday I may get to your neck of the woods so to speak. I live in the northwoods but not to far from Lake Michigan where we have some great light houses.
Love your block and appreciate the construction tips!
Your block is so clever and creative!
Thanks for the applique tip
Fantastic, I love NC. Grew up there and now live in WV. Fantastically enough, the company I work for moved the Hatteras Light House from it’s original spot.
love this block.. thanks for the chance to win.,,
Thanks for designing the nice block and giving contruction tips!
Nice block! The name really suits it.
What a clever fabulous block you created! A lighthouse indeed! We played in the praise band at church and that is one of the funnest songs to play. The only side effect though is, it sticks in your ear all day 🙂 Thank you for the ear worm! Congrats on your great block. I might try it in Christmas green and red!
Love the block and your constructing tips!! Hope to try it one day
Great block, does make you think of a lighthouse beacon. Thanks for the link for the song.
Great inspiration & execution! We visit family in NC & always love it.
Definitely looks like lighthouse light
I appreciate your explanation for the quilt block. Looks good.
I loved your block so much that I actually purchased the magazine! Applique is my favorite technique — I too minimize my fusible web usage.
I am a big fan of lighthouses so this block is especially appealing to me. I was wondering how it was constructed when I just saw the picture. Good tip about cutting away the excess under the applique. I often forget to do that.
I also love lighthouses- the East coast has a wonderful amount of them. Thank you for your links in this post. I love your block.
I love lighthouses and I have visited a couple in North Carolina. Also, my husband and I used to sail past the Thomas Point light house in Maryland. Your block would make a cute mini quilt for my husband to remind him of our sailing days.