New York Beauty

I feel like I could just continue making blocks and playing with the layout of this forever!

I did rip out the outside wedge shapes on two of the blocks that were  just too light. Amazingly, I was able to save the block!!! Yea

Each block is an investment in time and the idea of ruining one made me stop and think.  But I know me; and if I hadn't my eye would forever be drawn right to them.  Not good! 

Of course as I'm looking at this photo I see things I could move...

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I did start quilting the Swoon  raffle quilt quilt--another yea!  

I was planning on custom quilting it.but then I remembered I had pressed the seams open so there went that idea, which involved a lot of SID. Oh well.

My plan is to have it finished in a week or two! 

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I have finished a few customer quilts this month too.

Fun times fun times!!

Sew day

Today ML came over to sew- it was great! So much to catch up with so much to sew.

I had great expectations!

First I made some fabric...it takes a lot longer when you spend more time gabbing than sewing 😊

Next I worked on my NYBeauty blocks.

OK I only worked on and completed this one arc ( I really thought I'd get at least two blocks pieced) 2 as in one block has 4 arcs!!!

 These ones I already had done:

This project was on the goal list for 2014.

       Um it didn't happen 

I don't think paper piecing and I will ever be besties but I'm determined that this quilt will grace a wall in this house this year!!  There I said it.

I have 11 + months.  

I ain't worried

         ....yet

Dresden plates

I made a new "list of things to do". It's taped to the side of my sewing machine.  The last one worked really well.  I don't put anything like 

TO BE DONE THIS WEEK!! on it.

I just list some things and leave it open ended.  

It's keeping me on task without making me stressed.  

The Dresden's are on the list.  You may recall how I posted about wanting to set these on point.  Well, I'm over that.  

*smile*

The setting is going to be 4 x 5 plus sashing and borders.  I will aim for a nice queen size for my bed.  

The above picture was taken yesterday morning after the rearrangement. I now have all the plates made and only 5 more to blanket stitch to their foundations, woo-hoo.

You can see I still only have 4 NY Beauty blocks made.  I do need to make at least one soon here so I don't forget the technique!

And a way down at the end of the wall are 8 random block-a-days.  I want to put them together with a solid fabric--saw an inspiration  quilt for it on Pinterest; forgot to pin it or pinned to wrong board (done that before)-- but that's OK as I saw another inspiration quilt today. 

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Last Saturday Paul-michael called.  

He was in the 'burgh and wanted to know if he could stop for a little visit before having to head back to Emmitsburg on Sunday morning.

"HECK YAH, come on over!"  I said calmly.  ;)

After lunch he and Meg went out on the deck.

I was cleaning up and spied them out the kitchen window.

One of those moments, 

                  nothing special really 

but it made my heart swell.

You know what I mean.  

 Sometimes life is so good it wells up and leaks out my eyes.

the first 4

New York Beauties

I'm happy with them all.  The one on top left is the only one a little off- you can see the bottom of the outside background piece is too narrow by a good 1/4 inch.  I'm not sure what went wrong but I can always re do it.  

I'm going to wait since I need 36 total blocks the chances of having more like that are high.  If I have 2 like that next to each other it won't stick out as off.

NYB Simplified

Here is my first block.

6 1/2 inch block

Last night was our first quilt guild meeting of the year.  Linda J Hahn was our speaker.  She gave an excellent trunk show of all the quilts in her book and is a very funny lady too!

Today was the workshop, but I wasn't sure if I could make it with vacation and all so I didn't sign up.  

I had bought this book months ago when I decided I really wanted to make a NYB one day.

As you might recall, paper piecing and I don't get along.  So after a successful newbies class on the subject last year through the guild I got all excited, bought the book and then just as quickly was distracted!  

This morning I thought I better give it an attempt.

  This 6 1/2 inch block took me 2 solid hours.  I messed up 3 times and then turned the book upside down -and wallah I could do it.  I sewed right on the printer paper that I had.  I'm going to head out now and see if I can find some EQ printable foundation that Linda recommends-it doesn't have to be removed.  We felt her quilts after the lecture and you can not tell there's anything in there.

I also want to get a 9 1/2 inch square ruler. 

I need rotary cutter blades too- 45mm and 28mm.  Last night while I had 5 minutes before I had to leave to pick up Libby (she finally decided to try the guild!) I changed the blades on my cutters---none of them worked well.   I hate doing that 

little job.  I'm afraid of those things.

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fun times, fun times.  Life is Good.