Many Blocks and a Little Dress

Interlocking Ohio Star

Flying Churn Dash

Whirlpool

Interlocking Pinwheels

These blocks are for the Piecing the Past Civil War Rest and Refreshing qal.  We're over half way into it, and it's one of my favorites.

Piecing the Past also has a summer qal, Summer Picnic, and these are the two blocks so far for that one.  I love all of these traditional blocks, and they are very relaxing for me to make.

Spinning Star and Churn Dash

Now we come to the Moda Blockheads qal.  These are 6.5" blocks and I have a harder time with the smaller piecing.  I think it will be a charming quilt with the variety of blocks.  There are about 6 designers contributing blocks so there's something different every week.

Flags
Jan Patek is one of the designers and she gives us applique blocks.

Trail of Tears
This block reminds us of a very tragic part of our history.

T Block
It was interesting to learn that the T is for Temperance

Square Within a Square

 In my last post I showed you an outfit I made for Seana's American Girl doll.  Her mom asked if I could make a matching sundress for Seana, and of course, I could.

I have a pic of both in their dresses, but am not sure if I can show it.  If I can, I'll post it next time.  Really cute.

Happy 4th of July!

God Bless America and you!

A Long Due Post

I'm enjoying making the blocks for the Civil War sampler quilt, Rest and Refreshing, that Piecing the Past is offering.  These are my blocks so far.  The top left block is my second attempt and this one came out perfect.  We were told the blocks would get successively difficult, and I'm finding that's true.  What I appreciate and like about Piecing the Past's qal is that upfront you have the option of downloading some info on how to have a good outcome when making the blocks.  I've signed up for their Summer Picnic qal which will begin in a few weeks.  

 These are the Moda Block Head blocks that I've made  I skipped two blocks.  One because after 2 attempts it still had margin quarter inch issues and one because I didn't like the block. I love the applique blocks which surprises me because I usually prefer piecing.  The green basket in the second row came out super; I used the dryer sheet lining method which works well for me then hand sewed it to the background.  I can't do needle turn; the red basket was that attempt and it's pretty wonky.

 Because I skipped 2 blocks, I made these alternates.  The two left blocks were given by the Moda designer.  The top right I found online and the bottom right is one of the designer's mistakes that I liked.  I've never made a bow tie block before but I love it.  Like the log cabin it has versatility.  Many of the traditional blocks are like that., I find.

I made a doll outfit for my sister's youngest grand.  She's 5 and has asked me to make her wedding gown. I said yes, of course, but I'll be in my eighties if the big day happens in 20 years or so.  If I'm still kicking then I hope I can still see to find my sewing machine.  Isn't that too cute!

My girl Moxie is getting older and feistier.  

Have a wonderful week ahead. 

God Bless.

Becoming a Reproduction Fabric Fan

 I don't have much to share with you but a few blocks. 

This is Woven Time, the second block from Piecing the Past Quilts BOW.  I've come to like working with Civil War and reproduction fabrics.  The browns and tans are very restful, and when a color is added, such as the pinks, they become the perfect accent.

 This is Woven Star, the first block.  I just noticed that each block has the same nine patch cross.  I wonder if that was a feature in Civil War blocks?  The lights are all tans, not white.  I didn't adjust the color well. 

Something I like about this BOW is that the shop owner gives help in making the blocks.  She also follows up on them on facebook.  That's a nice touch.

This is block 9 of the Moda Block Heads BOW.  I liked making this block also, although again, the colors aren't true in the pic.  I have to remake block 8 because I'm not happy with my first version.

The week ahead will be busy so I don't expect to have much free time for sewing, boo hoo.  I'm a semi-retired person who needs a vacation:-) 

Have a fun week.

God Bless!

Happy Tulips

This pattern is making the rounds of blogland.  Fabri-Quilt has the pattern on their blog, Inspired by Fabric,  and it looks great in all of  the versions I've seen.  If a wall hanging can be cheerful, then this one is it. 

I'm at the quilting stage, so hopefully it will be done before summer:)

This is block 7 of Moda's Block Heads. 

I didn't make this week's Solstice yet, and I am hoping to begin a new BOW tomorrow from here, Piecing the Past Quilt Shop. Traditional blocks are still my favorites, so a Civil War Sampler will be an interesting project. 

Have a wonderful week.

God Bless!

Hands2Help Finish

Hands2Help
All done with Picnic.  It just needs a label and then it will be sent away. 

 I had some wide backing in blue that works well. 

 Thank you, Sarah, for this annual opportunity to help.  I can't imagine all of the time you put into organizing it, but I certainly appreciate it.

Block Heads BOW

 I don't know how we arrived at block 6 so quickly, but this is it, Sunflower.  Tomorrow we get block 7. 

 Solstice BOW

These are the last 2 blocks we made.

 My tulip quilt is cut but that's it.  Easter Sunday was busy, and I'm still working 2 days a week.  Plus, the sunshine keeps calling me and I can't resist it.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Have a wonderful week.

God Bless You!

Some Blocks to Share

I did not do well stitching this weeks Block Head block.  Some of the pieces were 1.25" square and there were lots of pieces.  I ripped out too many stitches and that just gets boring.

This is last week's block, a bee skep.  I do like the way this one looks.  Some of the participants sewed little bees on their blocks and added other details.  It is a sweet block.

I haven't made this week's Solstice block, but I should get it done tomorrow.

These two are the last blocks we had to make.  The pinwheel is 20", the Honey Bee is 12.5".  The setting is going to be very interesting with all the sizes we've got so far.

The Hands2Help quilt is quilted and the binding is machine sewn on, it just needs to be turned and hand sewn. I did a very easy bubble type of quilting that gives a nice texture.  There are lots of threads to be buried, but that's nothing. The plan is to get this completed this weekend.

I'm ready to tackle another project.  This tulip wall hanging on the Fabri-Quilt site is cute.  Can I squeeze it in this weekend, too?  As long as I don't have to rip out a million stitches.

Enjoy your weekends.

God Bless! 

A Very Easy Quilt

 Before you see the easiest quilt ever, these are the Block Head blocks I've made so far.  I'm still using a Moda Scrap Bag, but I did get some yardage for later.  I love these earthy shades.

 This is the easy quilt.  I received a free pattern from an order I placed with Suzzette's Fabrics.  It is just 10 inch squares sewn together with sashing and corner stones.  This is going to Hands2Help.  My jolly bar quilt doesn't meet the size requirements and I don't have any fabric even close to the shades in that quilt, so it's just easier to make another quilt.  I really like this easy quilt. 

This is the most recent Solstice block, Honey Bee.  I've got to sew on the petals, but I'm hoping to get other things done today. 

That's it.  

Have a wonderful week.

God Bless You.

Beginning Blockheads and Solstice Continued

 On the Moda blog, The Cutting Table, a BOW by 6 designers has begun.  I was drawn to it because the people involved tend to make traditional designs and their fabrics are primitive/reproduction types, which I also like.  The first block, Whirlygig, was given by Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles.  I had a Moda Scrap Bag to use which worked great because the pieces were 3.5 inches wide, the called for width. I'll see how far I can stretch it.

The 6.5 inch blocks seemed so small to me after making the super sized blocks for Solstice.

This week's block, Jacob's Ladder, is 18.5 inches.  

When I layed out all of my Solstice blocks it looks to me as if I have two quilts going.

I pulled out the darker floral.

What was left looked more harmonious to me.

It's might be too early to be playing around like this, but going forward I'll be choosing blocks for each separate quilt.  I don't think the fabrics work together.

I had a week taking care of a sick person, me, but things are looking up.

Stay well and God Bless!

Jolly Bar Quilt

Fat Quarter Shop sells a pre-cut they call Jolly Bars.  They are 10" by 5" cuts and come with a pattern for using them in a quick quilt.  I also have the book with patterns for using them, and that's where I found this design.  Since Confessions of a Fabric Addict is highlighting star quilts for her Hands2Help event this year, I chose this design and a Jolly Bar pack of Bunny Hill fabrics which I already had. 

 It did go together quickly, but the stars would show better with darker fabric.  

When I quilt it I will work at making the stars stand out.

 Without the border it was only 36.5" by 47.5" so I added the border to meet the charities' requirements. 

This is this week's Solstice Block.  

 When I put all of my blocks together I see too much white, so I would like to have a dark or medium sashing when I put it all together.  But that's a few months away.

Have a wonderful week.  I'm coming down with a cold so curses to that little germ that settled in me.

God Bless.

Begin again, or is it Same Old, Same Old?

 I took a bit of a blogging break and have missed my blogging friends.  I hope everyone is well. I'm feeling my age but who isn't?   I'm going to try to post at least once each week.  My goal is to get some of my many UFO's moved to the finished stack.  I began with this one, one of my favorites.

I began this project in January, 2012, made 12 blocks and then it became an UFO.  I never forgot it, but just didn't have an interest in putting the blocks together.  A few weeks ago I pulled it out and have made four more blocks.  This is the Radiant Star block designed by Eleanor Burns for the 2011 Winter issue of 100 Blocks by Quiltmaker.  I love this block.  I'm going to play with sashing ideas, and will definitely do borders.  

I joined Pat Sloan's Solstice QAL.  It's a block a week until June.  

Hopefully, this will not go to the UFO stack:)

You can't see the colors very well, but the common colors they all share are black and white. I may have chosen a few too many fabrics for this one, but there are at least 15 more blocks, so I'm hoping they all pull together in the final product.

Take care and God Bless Everyone!