Another Star Block

The Radiant Star block designed by Eleanor Burns and published in Quiltmaker's winter issue of 100 Blocks:

I made this block twice.  The first time, the last three seams did not line up, and the lateral lines of the stars were off.  I was going to give up because the damage appeared so big, but while dozing last night it came to me that I should take it apart and start from the beginning.  So I ripped every seam out, measured each piece to be sure I cut correctly and began again.  This time it went much better.  No fabric wasted, just thread.

I have sewn outfits that didn't give me as much trouble as quilting gives me, at times.

I order fabric online and on sale, and over the past year in different orders was able to get quite a few prints of this line which I'm using for the Radiant Star blocks.

This is much different than my usual pastels, flowers, or cute images, but I think making the stars in a mix of this fabric will be nice. 

I didn't use this mix but will do eventually.

I didn't practice FMQ today (can't rip out stitches and sew at the same time,) but SewCalGal gave us a link today to a blogger who I enjoyed reading.  You may already be familiar with Geta's blog, but if not it's worth visiting.  http://cadouri-din-inima.blogspot.com/2009/10/free-motion-quilting-tips.html 

I did learn another thing today.  Those short seam rippers are for the birds!  I'm getting an ergonomic seam ripper as a New Year's gift to myself. 

Have fun with your crafts.

God Bless You.



January FMQ Challenge

For those participating in the FMQ Challenge that SewCalGal organized, the January practise was to make leaves.  http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/01/welcome-to-2012-free-motion-quilting.html  The leaves look easy to make, but I've found that consistency takes practise, and I have a tendency to lose the smooth curve that makes for a nice leaf.

Go Patriots!

God Bless.

Radiant Star Block Practise

We had a snow day here today, so I spent the day, and I mean "the day" making the radiant star block in the Winter 2011 issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  Began well enough and seemed to be proceding correctly.

So far, so good.

Getting smug.

Uh oh.  Big oops.  The center seams do not match on the vertical. 

I unstitched quite a few seams and resewed.

Now the vertical seam takes a detour. 

I was really enjoying myself until that final seam. 

Fortunately the fabric is dark and printed so it isn't very noticeable.

Tomorrow I shovel snow. 

God Bless.

More Free Motion Quilting Practise

I practised feathers and other squiggles this weekend.

This design I saw in Maurine Noble's book, Machine Quilting Made Easy, and I like it because it is easy and has a nice look. 



I really like making G Clefs.

God Bless.



Practising FMQ for The Challenge

SewCalGal's Free Motion Quilting Challenge http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/free-motion-quilt-challenge.html  is a year-long session for anyone who wants to improve their skill at this facet of quilting.  Darlene of SewCalGal sent an email with a link to a quilter's video of how she makes feathers, and after watching her method I've been practising them today.  I haven't made two alike yet, but that's why we practise.

Edit:  This is the link to the video: http://joanne-threadhead.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-motion-feather-tutorial.html 

What is difficult for me is that feathers are done backwards,  beginning from the bottom and working up, so I can't see the stitches that I have to sew over.  That's my excuse, anyway, for the wavy lines:)

God Bless.

Scrap Bag Block and Another Lone Star Pattern

This is the fourth block in the Treasure Chest Quilt from Quilt in a Day's facebook page. 

My four blocks so far. 

I missed the Lone Star sew along that Sue of Quilt Times  http://quilttimes.blogspot.com/  held this past Saturday.  I guess I'm not ready yet, but I do have my fabric chosen and plan to begin cutting this week.  I was going through my quilt magazines looking for a pattern when I came across this ad:

So I visited the Janome USA site, found the pattern and printed it out. 

I'm not rushing this project, even though it was a spur of the moment decision to do it.    It's an advanced quilt project that has numerous challenges, such as offsetting the strips accurately, then cutting them in a 45 degree angle accurately, and sewing in the set in triangles.  I've read that one of the biggest challenges is to not have a puff in the middle of the star after the points are sewn together; in other words having it all come together and be flat.  And I am visiting the sites that Sue's quilter friends are mentioning, because every bit of knowledge helps. 

I did think about ordering Eleanor Burns's book on the Radiant Star, but a revised edition is coming out this month so I held back.  The Janome directions seem to be good, and I do like the applique on this design.

God Bless.  



Effort to Organize and Radiant Star Plans

I'm hoping to make this year a "buy very little fabric" year.  So I needed to get a handle on what I have so I can make an efficient use of it.   I read some ideas for cleaning up stash and organizing it, and since my sewing area has fallen into the "path to walk through" condition, I am making a stab at putting things in order. 

I began by putting on Threadbare by Monica Ferris (a mystery audio book) and then digging through the scrap bag to find pieces to cut into 5" squares.

The colors and prints are very mixed. Sometimes loving fabric so much makes me hesitant to cut into it, but this size is easy to work with and I love how neat they look.  Just doing this one group used up about one quarter of one of the scrap bags. 

I also found bigger pieces that I will square up and put into a fat quarter category. 

For the bigger pieces I am wondering if the "comic book board" method of folding is a good idea.  Has anyone else tried this?  This is what I saw that I liked:  http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com/2011/02/fabric-folding-tutorial.html.  Here is another one: http://www.thatgirlthatquilt.com/2011/01/mini-fabric-bolts-tutorial.html.

Sue of Quilt Times http://quilttimes.blogspot.com/ sent out the invitation to join and support her in her project to make a Radiant Star Quilt.  The button on the left shows the version Sue is making.  I'm joining in for the challenge.  I found this design in one of my older quilt books:

However, I couldn't get a grasp of the directions, but I found a block by Eleanor Burns that enlightened me.  She designed a  12" Radiant Star block for the latest Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks issue.

Thank you, Eleanor, for making it clear to me. 

I have no idea of what fabric/colors I will use, but if I keep up with my organizing efforts, I may stumble upon the perfect collection. 

God Bless. 



Back in Play

I put myself on the quilting sidelines for most of December, but this weekend I got back on the field.  I had both the last block of the Scrap Happy Sampler Quilt and the third block of the Treasure Chest Quilt to make.  So I finished 2011 all caught up with blocks to make and that's a nice positive finish.

Corner Star Block: If you "like" Quilt in a Day on facebook you will find the three blocks so far.

I'm trying to keep with purple/green/white/gold with accent colors.

These blocks are challenging and interesting.

 

Rolling Stars Block:  http://quilting.about.com/od/quiltpatternsprojects/ss/Scrap-Happy-Sampler-Quilt-Pattern.htm

There were two variations for this block in the directions but unfortunately, I didn't realize this until I cut out my fabric, so I have the plainer version.  There are several designs of the Rolling Star, but they are eight point stars.  I think this one looks very ordinary, but there is another version which I plan to make, mostly because I need more blocks for the quilt size that I am planning.

 I learned a few things in 2011 in the qal's I joined. One that I hope I remember is that scrap quilts require just as much fabric planning as any other quilt. 

Wishing all of my followers and readers a healthy, peaceful and joyful New Year.

God Bless You.

 

Merry Christmas 2011

Pictures from one of my Christmas activities.

Those are Canada geese and ducks in the foreground.  This is the Rosary Pond.

I hope everyone's Christmas is beautiful.

God Bless You.

Christmas QAL Quilt Show

Hi!

As many of you know, every second Saturday for the last year I have participated in the Christmas Quilt Along hosted this year by Sue of Quilt Times  http://quilttimes.blogspot.com/ and Cathi of Shakerwood Quilts .http://shakerwoodquilts.blogspot.com/  Sue began this fun event in 2010 I believe, and it's the best thing that's happened to me in the sense that I've made so many of my beautiful Christmas covers with her and the other participants.  Hazel of Hazel's Quilts http://hazelsquilts.blogspot.com/ suggested that we have a show-off day on the second Saturday of December, so here I am, ready to brag. 

This year the Scatty Stars quilt pattern was given to us a block at a time each month. 

Pretty nice, huh?  I had this quilt folded at the end of my bed the other day, and when I got home I couldn't find Moxie until I walked into my room and saw a lump under my quilt and felt a little warm body sleeping there.  So it's been given the Moxie Seal of Approval.

I made these two table covers this year.

The quilt that Moxie's sitting on here was made during last year's Christmas QAL.

I made this wall hanging last year, too.

I'd like to share with you my Christmas decorations.  I am a big Annalee fan.  She was a New Englander, New Hampshire, and I love her dolls.

My bears wish you a Merry Christmas.

My carolers and musicians hope you enjoy the beautiful music of the season.

The santaas and elves are out in full force.

The reindeer know where the good news of great joy is to be found.

The angels hope we hear the message.

Soon it will be time for joy.