Since February, I’ve been working on the 2023 Quilters Playcation Adventure Sew Along—a Treasure map. I’ve designed both of the last two blocks. This month Cheryl Arkison’s prompt was a skull warning of danger. She demonstrated a skull for the large version she’s designing but hasn’t designed one yet for the small abstract version which is the quilt I’m making. So I took her ideas and ran with it.

I decided that rather than make just a skull, I’d make an improv Jolly Roger flag. My strips are narrow so I knew I’d need to place the crossed bones beside the skull rather than below it. Looking at images for inspiration, I kept seeing Jolly Rogers with the skull wearing a bandana. Not only does that add a pop of color, it adds some humor. Humor is definitely something I want to include in my Pirate Treasure Map.

Here is my little sketch planning out the structure of the block. In the end, I improvised on the sketch. But it was good to have a plan of construction.

Last month the prompt was a Booby Trap. Cheryl designed two traps that were based on Hollywood blockbusters and were full of knives. I decided to go with a low tech booby trap you could dig on a desert island with little or no tools. My block is a hole in the ground covered with greens. If an intruder fell in, it might break a leg. But more likely an animal would fall in and might provide a couple dinners! A win no make how you look at it!

Here are all the strips together. I’m need to make another one or two ocean blocks. They were the first blocks and the quilt strips have gotten longer as this project has progressed.

I’m thinking about designing a compass for my next strip. Cheryl is taking August off, so it’s good time to try a prompt of my own!