Skull pattern – Fiesta de Azucar #9–Forget Them Not by Trish Frankland

Hello! This is Trish Frankland (aka QUILTchicken) once again taking over Kim’s blog. Today we’re stop #9 on the Fiesta de Azucar blog hop. So far in the series, you’ve seen 8 other amazing designers’ interpretations of the iconic sugar skull. In the next couple weeks you’ll also see some ideas on how to set these nine blocks together to make a quilt. But today, I’m introducing the block I designed: Forget Them Not, a block to honor all effected by ovarian cancer. I am an ovarian cancer survivor (12 years now!) because I was lucky, but in many cases this cancer has advanced to an extreme stage before it’s discovered. I’ve made it a mission to raise awareness and funds for treatment and research of this too-fatal disease. The block pattern is available now for sale for $3 on Craftsy, and for every pattern purchased from today through September 30, 2017 I will donate $3 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (ocrfa.org). I personally will absorb any fees to make sure $3 for every pattern goes to charity. Right away when invited to take part in this blog hop, I decided to use my block to honor those lost to ovarian cancer. A big part of decorating altars and making sugar skulls for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is taking special time for remembrance of one’s ancestors – the idea that as long as you’re remembered, you’re never really gone. This design was inspired when I realized I could use the female reproductive system as the structure of the face. And while many skulls are decorated with flowers in the eye sockets (frequently marigolds), I realized a simple forget-me-not flower would work perfectly in that space … right where the ovaries would be. I added a simplified “goddess” at the center of it all, in royal purple, and a flower crown twined with the teal ribbon for ovarian cancer awareness. My block was created using Island Batik fabrics, with the sole exception of the teal ribbon fabric. I outlined and accented the applique with Aurifil 12w threads, which I put through the top of my sewing machine using a jeans needle (my favorite technique!). Both of these companies provided our designers with materials for the project, and I wish to express my gratitude to both Aurifil and Island Batik for their support – and their superior products. Make sure you go back through all the sites on the blog hop and check out the incredible designs everyone created for the Fiesta de Azucar event. You can find every one of those block designs for sale – just $3 each – on Craftsy. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, so I’m extending the donations based on my block’s sales through month’s end: I will make a donation to OCRFA on October 1, 2017 based on all Craftsy sales. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the design! PS – there are still a couple days to register to participate in the Teal Mini Quilt Swap over at EvaPaige Quilt Designs. That event is also a fundraiser for OCRFA. Don’t delay – sign up here (http://conta.cc/2sLWtbU) and make sure you tell ‘em Trish sent you!

Don’t miss a block! 

July 1st – Block 1 – Terri Sontra, Purple Moose Designs
July 8th – Block 2 – Joanne Hillestad, Fat Quarter Gypsy
July 15th – Block 3 – Vicki Hansen, Cranberry Pie Designs
July 22nd – Block 4 – Cheryl Sleboda, Muppin 
July 29th – Block 5 – Penni Domikis, Cabin In The Woods Quilters
August 5th – Block 6 – Tammy Silvers, Tamarinis
August 12th – Block 7 – Kate Colleran, Seams Like A Dream Quilt Designs
August 19th – Block 8 – Susan Emory, Swirly Girls Design
August 26th – Block 9 – Trish Frankland, Persimon Dreams<=====YOU ARE HERE
September 2nd – Border Option #1 – Tammy Silvers, Tamarinis
September 9th – Border Option #2 – Terri Sontra, Purple Moose Designs 
October 30th – Prize winner announcements from our Facebook group here, so please join!