After finding a box of UFOs (from 2021!) while re-arranging the studio, I set out to finish all of them. Here’s the last of it!
These improv blocks from years ago
were made into this quilt
I particularly like the quilting, done by Linda NIchols. I do wish I had chosen a whiter background; this one is pale gray. 
This panel, attractive though it is, went to the donate pile after much consideration.
And the last two pandau blocks have been put away for when I need them to decorate shirts or bags.
Whew!
Meanwhile, I’m taking Tara Faughnan‘s Block Studies Collective class, which is a six month program. Every month she presents a color palette and a block as prompts, with instruction regarding both. However, students aren’t required to use either!
The first month’s block was the hourglass, and here are my little studies.
I don’t know that I’m crazy about any of these by themselves, but it was interesting to experiment.
The second month’s block was log cabin, with multiple potential variations. She suggested paper piecing tiny blocks, but since her instructions are optional I wasn’t having that! I cut strips without rulers and made the following construction, entitled Along Comes Orange.
I especially appreciate Tara’s advice to apply a black and white filter to a photo of the palette to check contrast. 
It’s quite surprising to realize how much of what I see as value is really color!
I’ve been thinking of variations on log cabin blocks for some time, so there probably are more to come. And, surprise! These exercises are creating more orphan blocks/UFOs!
Zippy Quilts 
The improv blocks made a gorgeous quilt! I love how you set them.
I also like the log cabin hexie.
Thanks! That improv quilt just went to Ronald McDonald House, so I’m sure it will be loved.
Wow congrats on that UFO clean up! How many quilters actually achieve that? The improv quilt came out wonderful!
Thanks! It’s always good to hear from you.
Great achievement – conquering those UFOs! I do like the quilting design your longarmer chose – very contemporary and pulls the whole piece together IMHO.
Thanks, Laura!
I think what you need in a quilt is contrast and that come from either colour or value, so its interesting that you see colour more than value but I don’t think it distracts from your blocks at all. They’re very pretty
Thanks, Helen.
Love what you did with those improv blocks! That strip you added to connect the blocks is genius, and makes the design look cohesive. You’re the third person I know participating in Tara’s block study program. Nice pieces; more orphans. 🙂
You got to the bottom of your UFO pile in the nick of time!
Your Tara F. blocks are fascinating.
Thanks! This has been an interesting and useful class so far.