This Spring I joined a Rainbow Mini Swap event that happened via Instagram. One of the unanticipated benefits was gaining more followers. But BETTER THAN THAT was all the new, wonderful and oh so talented quilters I met because of it. The swap theme was “Rainbow” so you could use all or some of the colors (and their variations) of the rainbow in your project, which had to measure from 16″ to 24″. I have to admit that I was totally intimidated by all the wonderful quilting projects that were popping up everywhere.

My first partner loved solids and grays and had very modern tastes as far as fabric and design. I was willing to step up to the challenge and made this rainbow with solids and gray using the Norway pattern from Thimble Blossoms by Camille Roskelley. This color palette was completely outside my realm of favorites but I enjoyed making it.

 Then I was notified by the Swap Mama about a partner switch and I was totally okay with it. We had many similar tastes. I remember her greatest point was she liked bright colors. Like me she was not into Civil War Prints and enjoyed Novelty prints. I was really overthinking the process and decided to just keep it simple. So I made a Log Cabin Style Block in rainbow colors.

As I investigated my partner, I learned that she was a runner and has just been in a Disney half-marathon. Well guess who lives in Florida?! As it turned out, I just kept getting these ideas about personalizing her block. The Log Cabin Block now looked like a race track to me. So I started embroidering Disney lcons and landmarks she may have encountered during the race.

It was serendipity that one of the green fabrics had this little guy  “Run, run as fast as you can!”

I finished it off using a black Mickey Mouse strip for the binding. It’s not too elaborate but I think it’s meaningful and I sent it off with some goodies I thought she would enjoy.

And as luck would have it, she ended up being my partner in return!! She made me this lovely mini in the Round and Round pattern also by Thimble Blossoms and she used the yummy fabrics (Twirl and Giggles) from Me and My Sister Designs. She did this amazing tiny cross hatch quilting in metallic threads and a beautiful embroidery design in the center the says “GROW IDEAS IN THE GARDEN OF YOUR MIND” I just love it!

And the back is all patched!

And here it is hanging in my sewing space for inspiration.

Guide and links for RAINBOW Mosaic:

1. Heather Ross quilt swap for Suzanne (foofanagle), 2. Rainbow Swirl Dolls Quilt, 3. dqs#7 version 1…., 4. Doll Quilt from Mini Milly!, 5. Snow Dance, 6. Rainbow Mini Quilt , 7. Mini quilt color study, 8. DQS8 # 2 quiltie – ‘Rainbow Girl’, 9. Finished ticker tape color wheel, 10. Color Play, 11. DQS 7 in the grass, 12. Colours on Linen, 13. Doll Quilt Swap I: received, 14.Rainbow stripe doll quilt, 15. Somewhere over the rainbow…, 16. Color Wheel Mini Quilt, 17.Doll Quilt Swap 7, 18. Colorblock Pillow, 19. Charlie’s Zig-Zag, 20. The front