Stars and Crocus

This weekend I made five more Radiant Stars and I think I'm done making them.  I have twelve and that should make a nice quilt top. 

I have to cut out each block using templates and there are 48 pieces to each block.  The most fun was mixing and matching the fabric, but I'm low on the background and don't know if I can get more.  The sashing will be the prints. 

I have been using the practice pieces from the FMQ challenge as mug rugs and place mats.  I used one of the templates and then washed the item, so this doesn't really look that great now, but with more practice I think this will be okay.

This surprised me today:

Where did winter go?

God Bless You.

 

FMQ Challenge February Exercise

I have been working on the February FMQ challenge from Diane Gaudynski  http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-2012-fmq-challenge-tutorial.html , and I have one sample that I will share.

Good enough for now, but not for a quilt.

I ordered stencils from Quilt in a Day when they had a 30% off sale recently, and they arrived yesterday so I now have some new toys. 

They are bigger than I expected.

They'll be fun to use.

God Bless.

February Christmas QAL Post 2

I have changed my mind.

After seeing the Christmas fabrics that others are using I went through my Christmas fabrics and found some I like better than the brown group.

And I'm up to six stars.

Now I will do some cutting.



February Christmas QAL Post 1

I'm having a difficult time making the fabric decision for the Festive Mystery quilt. This is what I chose yesterday from what I have on hand.

So of course this morning I'm second guessing myself and came up with this combo.

I think the medium and light fabrics are too close in value.  I'm using the brown because I have enough of it for the dark. 

Question for Sue:  would this design work with two darks of the same color and the same for the mediums and lights? 

Help please!

I may just go scrappy, but that means I probably won't make much progress today.

I have been making Radiant Stars and am up to five so far.

I might just work on those today until my coffee kicks in and I'm truly awake.



Saturday is Christmas Quilt Along Day

Not ready for Santa this soon?  That's okay.  You just need to be ready for some quilting fun.  The second Saturday of the month is almost here, well not here in this blog, but at Hazel's blog, http://hazelsquilts.blogspot.com/.  Hazel is the hostest with the mostest for the February Christmas QAL.  She has a wonderful blog and is sure to make you feel right at home and welcome when you join us.

Last year Sue and Cathi created a quilt for us to make together, and we were all so pleased with our finished quilts. We also enjoyed seeing each others progress and finishes.  This year Sue has created a Mystery Quilt for us to make together and has named the quilt A Festive Mystery.  Is that fun or what?  We will have six installments of the quilt, then will share our finishes in December when Sue again hosts the QAL.  Sue has a wonderful talent for design, so you can trust that the quilt we make together will be lovely.  Check out last year's finishes if you need more encouragement. http://quilttimes.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-quiltalong-party.html Just visit each blog to see the quilts and other items made by the bloggers who participated. 

Hazel will begin this Saturday by giving us the materials list and the first cutting directions.  I am hosting the March QAL and will have the second installment, although I don't know what it will be.  It's a mystery to me, too.

If you don't want to make the mystery quilt, you can make whatever you like.  I think that since the Christmas season ended so recently, we all know what we could use or want for next year.  And it's not too early to begin making gifts.

Hope you can join us.  It's sure to be a fun experience.

God Bless.

Storm at Sea Block

This is the fifth block for the Treasure Chest Quilt that I am making per Eleanor Burns and Quilt in a Day's facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/#!/quiltinaday

What I've learned is that blocks that may look difficult may just require more exacting attention.   I love working on this quilt because each block I've made so far is entirely new to me but is traditional, so I'm enjoying making them.

When I did a search for some history on the Storm at Sea block, I found that it is a very popular block that when used as the sole block in a quilt can create many different designs depending on how the block is put together and the choice of fabrics.  Two sites mention that the design is based on the  New Testament event when Jesus quiets the sea from the fishing boat, which is a nice testament to the faith of so many quilters of the past.     

Enjoy your crafting and Go Patriots!

God Bless You!



My Third Radiant Star

These blocks cannot be put together quickly, at least not by me.  But for this third block, things went much better.  I only had to rip out 3 seams, maybe 4:)

The February FMQ Challenge practice is a lesson in feathers!  So happy!  Maybe after following the instructions that are given and practicing as much as possible this month I'll get good at them.  Diane Gaudynski is the guest instructor.  The pictures look very helpful. http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-2012-fmq-challenge-tutorial.html

I spent time this past weekend patching together scraps of batting to use for the practice pieces.  So I'm ready to make feathers.

Today I visited an Audubon Wildlife Refuge nearby which is near some of the few remaining farms in this area.  Across the road the field was filled with Canada geese.  They were so quiet I guess they were resting.  I think the mild winter we are having is affecting man, beast, and plants alike.  My crocuses are popping up, but it's too soon.

God Bless You.