Block a Days

First, here is a shot of my 2nd design wall with one block from the 4 color-ways/sizes of block-a-days I'm working on.

The big one on the right is a 16" block, I've used leftover strips and some Aster Manor fabric.  I have 4 of these blocks.  I'm going to make nine 8" coordinating blocks and use those for a lap size layout.

The Bright fabric block (top left) is a 9" block. I have a little piece of paper pinned to each block that has a tally count on how many I have made.  I finally got tired of every couple weeks digging out the box of blocks and re-counting them. :)

Bottom left block is the next set of 12" blocks and I'm using my leftover Morris Workshop fabric. I don't think I'm going to have enough of a variety so I have a jelly roll of "blessings" fabric that goes well and I'm throwing some of that in too. 

And the bottom center block is a 10" and that's my Aster Manor fabric (although in this block that rust fabric is not AManor, but one that plays well.) 

I have 16 of these blocks so far.

Here is the 1st design wall with some of the lastest completed blocks.

And yesterday I made my 11th Jelly Roll block.

I've also been working a bit on the Tisket-Tasket machine applique.  I've got the first 3 done.  And since I LOVE to do machine blanket-stitch I've changed my goal from stitching 2 a week to 1 a day.  It's like a little treat and with the 2nd machine set up now. I just roll my chair over and start stitching.

 

I do need to pick a day soon and spend it sewing string blocks. The basket is filled to over flowing. And a day for crumb blocks as well.   I totally forgot about that little project and I think it's over 1/2 done.

Design Wall Monday (week 29)

On my wall now are my Tisket Tasket Blocks.  They need so be blanket-stitched and then I have to hand embroider them.  I thought if I put them on the wall it would give me the incentive I need to get going on them.  I'm thinking if I do 2 every week. (I'll probably do more), but if not that's ok.  I have been meaning to set up my newer Pfaff 4.0 and do my regular sewing on it and set up my older Pfaff 2046 for the blanket stitch.  I hate to say it but even though the 4.0 is a fancy slick machine. I'm much more comfortable on the 2046.  The 4.0 doesn't have a presser foot lever-it's automatic and I can't blanket stitch as well on it because of it (I think, anyway).   So both machines are set up and I'm getting used to the 4.0 again. 

I have been keeping up on my block-a-days, but no pictures.  I've been having computer issues which I think (crossing fingers, legs and eyes) are fixed thanks to the Geek Squad at Best Buy! whew!

And in my previous posts I showed my Cone Flower Tall & Skinny wall quilt. A few wanted to know where the pattern is from.  It's a Pat Sloan design from her book  Vintage Blooms.  Mine looks a little different because I saw a picture of it in a magazine article and just made it by looking at the picture.

Coneflower Tall & Skinny

As I said yesterday, I would take a picture of this wall hanging for today.

So first is the before "re-quilting" you may be able to see the sad lines of the quilting I took out:

(you'll have to click on 'em to see, I should really fired my camera-person)

And here is the 'after re-quilting":

And here is a close up.  (this picture has the true-est colors..I am so camera bad it's not even funny).

It's back hanging in the kitchen, making me smile. 

The "Tall Skinny's" are Pat Sloan patterns.

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Crazy Curves

Today I spent the entire day sewing.  First I put together July's BOM block from Shannon.

Then I finished sewing the rows together on my crazy curves quilt.  I originally thought I would just add 1 border (3" finished) as I did before on a the Black/white and Red one. 

But when I got out the yardage I had for the borders there was enough of the light for a 1.5" finished inner border and a 6" finished outer border.  It now measures 99" x 99"!  Holy-moley!

Ta-da!

Tomorrow she has the day off work.  We're going to go see Eclipse;  been waiting for the teeny-bopper crowds to thin out. There's enough teenage angst on the screen I don't need to be surrounded by it in the theater!! heh-heh.

Thursday, Libby needs to go to a quilt shop or two for backing fabric for her One Block Wonder. I'm going along for the ride (am I a good friend or what??)  I think she wants me to quilt it so I'll share a picture then. It's very beautiful....totally different from mine.

So happy

I made enough for a 11 by 12 block layout.  I had to pin a piece of batting to the left there. My wall wasn't big enough and the bottom 2 rows are on the floor. (which Annie made a little bed in twice..so I gotta get them together fast.)

ANYWAY, I decided to make it 12 by12..... Of course, I did, why would I do anything as easy and make blocks and stick with the plan.....sheesh.

So....

I cut some more and sewed them together and now it's so big I can't get it in one photo....

the colors in the 1st pictures are  true.

I'm going to put one small border, probably 3" just to frame it and it should finish about 90x90.

Block a Day Batik Sampler

I finished sewing the rows together this morning.
 I like it.

It's pressed and neatly folded on a hanger where it will wait for inspiration (and time) to strike for the borders. 

This bunch of blocks are waiting to get up on the design wall.

Block a Days and a FLASH!!

Here are my block a days 6/28-7/4.  Paul and I are going on a little bike trip from the 3rd -5th so I'm getting ahead again.  The 5 batik blocks are 12" and the 2 Aster Manor are 10"

Here are the 10" blocks  and Batik 12" I have so far.

So...I was planning on leaving up the 10" ones and maybe working on a layout for them and even going through the calendar and finding the next 5 blocks sized 10" and make them.  

But as I was looking at the batik arrangement (I had to take the 10" ones down for the picture) I had this FLASH!

****segway****

I've started another leader/ender project using 2.5" batik squares to make 80 9-patch blocks.  I'm doing  this as part of "The 9-Patch Project" you can read about it here.  Of course, making one 9-patch blocks a day is too slow and using the leader/ender method I get 5-6 done a day with out trying so I have about 50 made already

***

ok back to the FLASH:

My brain said, "what if you take some of those 9-patch blocks and use them as setting squares in the border....

and what if you put plain sashing strips in....OR WAIT use 2.5" strips for the sashing.

  

I like the plain sashing better. I think.

So now I have another new project to play with.....cuz Hell-O do I really have time for this!!!!?

that would be "no".

Oh and I did buy a lot of the black batik when we were shop hopping but I'll bet dollars to donuts I'm going to need more!

I may have to go to a quilt shop today...what a shame.

******

This has nothing to do with quilting stuff. 

While on vacation, I bought a 550 piece puzzle. It was very difficult. (partly cuz I think I need new glasses...) It took Meghan and I 3 evenings to complete. 

I used that Mod Podge stuff to glue it together and framed it. I never did anything like that with a puzzle before. From across the room and with me needing an updated prescription in my glasses the puzzle pieces blend real nice....

boo-hoo, I miss the Ocean. 

Actually the shore and the sound of the waves is what I miss...I'm afraid of the ocean and all the sharks and fish and lumpy things you step on when your 20 feet off shore in only 3 feet of water but your mind starts playing the theme from Jaws

in your head...

(Yes, I know, I'm 47. I should get over it already!)