Groovy Vibes Only: 70's Inspired Projects with Celebrate! -

This past weekend, I channeled my inner flower child and stitched up a “far out” quilt top and pillow set using the ultra-playful Celebrate fabric collection by Sue Daley for Riley Blake Designs – and let me tell you, this collection knows how to celebrate!

My niece is hosting a 70s-themed end-of-the-school year pajama party with lava lamps, disco balls, and a dress code full of peace signs, bell-bottoms, and platform shoes. Naturally, Auntie SeeBee (that’s me) had to deliver something totally rad to match the vibe! I reached for my Celebrate yardage and got to work crafting a quilt full of bold color, movement, and retro flair.

From Graph Paper to Groovy Quilt

Before I even touched my fabric, I sat down with a sheet of graph paper and a handful of colored pencils to map out my design. That quiet moment of sketching was where the magic started. I played with blocks creating half square triangles (HSTs). Once I had the perfect layout, I used that drawing as my road map and turned it into my quilt pattern. Y’all there’s something so satisfying about watching a pencil sketch become a real-life quilt.

Half Square Triangles for the Win!

Half square triangles are like the bell bottoms of quilting-timeless, versatile, and always ready to make a statement. In this quilt, they let Celebrate‘s joyful prints and groovy hues shine. From bold feathery florals to funky geometrics, every triangle brought big 70s energy.

The design came together quickly (because let’s be real-when there’s a slumber party countdown, speed matters!), but the result was magic. I paired the quilt with set of coordinating pillows using leftover blocks and with a selection of scrunchies-as Auntie’s special touch!

A Cozy Corner for Disco Dreams….

We set up the quilt and pillows in a reading nook turned “pajama palace” with twinkle lights, a record player, and plenty of snacks. The girls loved it! They wrapped themselves in color, laughed until midnight, and even took turns making friendship bracelets on the quilt. Every stitch held a wish for to remember this moment of joy, creativity, and connection.

Fabric Details:

Collection: Celebrate by Sue Daley for Riley Blake Designs
Technique: Half square triangles, envelop pillows
Vibe: Bright, bold, nostalgic-just like the 70s!

Whether you’re planning a retro party, need a fun gift for a young one, or just want to inject some celebratory sparkle into your stash, Celebrate is pure quilt joy. Don’t be afraid to mix those prints, play with layouts, and sew some unforgettable!

Auntie & niece approved!

Lava Lamp Love: A Nostalgic Mini Quilt

This mini quilt is a celebration (pun intended!) of mixed methods – which excites my researcher’s heart. Here’s how I brought this groovy vision to life using:

Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP): For the lamp base and frame, I attempted to draft symmetrical FPP template – work in progress..LOL, but believe me! FPP gave the crisp, modern–kinda wonky-silhouette I needed without worrying about curves.

Raw-edge Applique: The lava blobs inside? They had to flow..well mine might be bouncing (wink). I applied HeatNBond to fabric scrapes, used my Accuquilt Go die cutter to cut our circles and appliqued them inside the lamp’s center, layering different prints from the Celebrate collection to mimic that bubbling lava motion.

Traditional Piecing: The mini’s border and background were pieced traditionally, using strips of Sue Daley’s vibrant prints to create a patchwork frame that feels both modern and nostalgic, just like Grandma’s parlor.

This mini finishes at about 12″ x 12″ – perfect for a wall hanging, framed displayed, or that one cozy corner in your sewing room that needs a touch of vibe. I bound it in a contrasting print and stitched in the ditch to make the lamp frame and base pop! I added a blanket stitch around the flowing (bouncing) lava letting the thread add one more layer of motion.

Want to Make Your Own?

I’m working on a free PDF template for the FPP base and lava applique blobs-stay tuned! And if you make one, please tag me @Sew_Sweet_SeeBee and use #LAVALampMiniQuilt so I can swoon over your versions too!

Every stitch is a prayer, a wish, and a dream-and this one, it’s a pure glow! Jeresther – @Sew_Sweet_SeeBee