This February in the 6-month Penny Sampler we are continuing to use applique techniques to make Scandinavian sampler blocks.  This week I made two sweet sunflowers, the little vine block and a spruce forest.  Come see!

First my 6" finished applique blocks.  Applique makes for such simple construction, even if pressing the little leaves on the vine block is a bit tedious.

A sampler friend reminded me that this would be a good chance to use my mini iron.  This little device found its way to me awhile back, and I don't think I've ever thought to use it.  But it's absolutely perfect for pressing little leaves!  I didn't get burned even once.  Nice!

Here's where my salmon pink sunflower fits into the sampler.  I love how it pops with those blues!  The lagoon window dressing print pinned up there is one I have set aside to use on a focal block that falls near the quilt's center.  Keeping it pinned up on the design wall helps me choose other fabrics in colors that mix well.

This week I also completed my spruce forest block.  It's one of the pieced (not appliqued) blocks assigned to February to mix things up.  I bravely used a Loominous II woven for the background on spruce forest.

Using a print rather than a solid could have majorly backfired, but I think it worked in this case.  I like that it softens the block so that the trees stand out a bit less.  I think that will help this block merge more gently with the rest of the quilt.  Soon we'll be making applique birds and some other special blocks that I'll want to have stand out from the rest.  I'm being mindful to save my bright and bold fabrics for those moments!

If you're sewing along too, how is your sampler coming?  Do you have a favorite block so far?