Sister's Choice Quilts

Blogger Girls BOM--Block 5

I loved making these blocks.  They are my favorite in the series so far!  I think they came out quite different from each other, which was my plan.  This project is coming together in a way that is making me super happy, and exceeding my expectations.  I knew I was in for a treat, as any Monique pattern is fun to make, and just challenging enough to be interesting.  Her tools make every block come out super accurate as well, which is such a joy when piecing a top.

These block patterns are all so lovely, the fabrics I chose are pleasing me so  much, and I am really jazzed about my plan to do an alternate block and a diagonal setting.  My fabrics are a collection called Audra's Iris Garden by Jan Patek for Moda.  Beautiful springy greens, yellows, reds, purples and browns with an iris print that is so different and gorgeous.  I have used two of the larger iris prints in the blocks shown above.

This layout gives you an idea of my plan for the alternate block and diagonal set.  I think my quilt will have such an airy and springy feel to it with this variation.

Here are my ten blocks all together on the design wall:

Do go check out the posts on how the other Blogger Girls are progressing!

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog/ 
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

Blogger Girls BOM Setting Squares

I have been experimenting a bit with some alternate ideas for my setting squares for the Blogger Girls BOM.  Here is a little peek at what I am thinking of doing.  Not so many Square in a Square blocks, and more of a chain design.

I am also thinking of doing a diagonal set rather than a straight set. 

Don't you love changing things up a bit?  I plunged into this innovation a bit too quickly however, and realized when I was well into it that I could have strip pieced the strips with the green squares and cut sections of them rather than sewing each and every green square onto a strip.  Sigh.  Oh well.  Guess my mind was on something else while I was cutting out all those strips and squares.  Ack.  Now I have lots of extra work for myself, but I can't do anything about it now.

I like the look of this alternate block and the piecing is easy, so I will just get on it and get the job done.

Thanks for all the handy tips on how I should deal with my naughty dog and his penchant for destroying all things belonging to little Eva.  I am going to look into some indestructible dog balls for him, and when I replace her play balls, they will be kept way out of his reach.  He needs more exercise, which many of you wise readers suggested.  I just wish I had the time and energy to give him more of what he needs.  I will make an effort to make what he needs more of a priority.  Poor fellow, he just wants to be loved and paid attention to.

Nothing But Plans

I've been having a busy week, that's for sure.  No sewing until today, and I have to tell you I am beginning to panic, I have so many deadlines!  I am spending a few minutes this morning trying to organize my thoughts and get an action plan in motion.

Did you know the Another Year of Schnibbles girls, Sinta and Sherri, are back?  This time their theme is Vintage Schnibbles, which I am thrilled about because there are dozens of Schnibbles I haven't made yet!  This month's choice is Hat Trick, which has universal appeal, because after all, who doesn't love a nine patch?  You can get a pdf of the pattern in an instant here.   I am making mine with a new Sweetwater collection "Noteworthy".  It has all the fresh colors in my spring dishes, so I will have a nice seasonal table topper by the end of the month.

Next on my list is the lattice for Hill Country Baskets.  This is as far as I have gotten, but I do have a plan for cutting.

Next up are five more burp cloths for my niece's baby to be.  That baby is going to be here before we know it, as that girl looks about ready to pop.  I need to get these done and in the mail to her pronto.

Last, and most critical deadline is to get my student's third charity quilt quilted and bound.  Her presentation is coming up like a speeding freight train, and I need to get my part done.  This will be first and foremost on my To Do list.  If I have to burn the midnight oil on this one, so be it.

Now, someone around here is actually getting some work done, and it sure isn't me.  My student was keen to start something new now that her senior project is complete, and we found the perfect thing.  A friend of mine who is "in the business" gifted me with a fat eighth bundle of Urban Chicks new line "Boho", which suits my young friend to a T.   She couldn't wait to get the fabric cut out and get started on her very first quilt for herself!  The pattern is from Camille Roskelley's first book "Simplify", and is called Square One.

Ok, time to stop blogging and get some work done!  Hope your day is as productive as I plan on mine being!

 

 

 

 

April Showers and Blogger Girls BOM Number FOUR

Here are my Blogger Girls BOM blocks for Month Number Four.  I loved how different the two blocks turned out.  Here are my other six blocks.

This is a free Block of the Month program offered by Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts.  There is still time to join and get your blocks made, twelve of them in all.  There are other blocks to check out besides mine, so after you view Monique's blocks and instructions, go visit these other sites to see additional versions of this great project.

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog/ 
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

What a weekend!  We had the biggest thunderstorm I have seen since I was a little girl growing up in Michigan.  Around midnight on Saturday we were awakened by rumbles of thunder so loud the house shook, pretty continuous flashes of lightening, and poor Ozzie barking and whimpering in turn.  It was spectacular and very unusual weather for California.  For some reason, we just don't see those dramatic thunderstorms you get in other parts of the country.  March surely did go out like a lion!

 

 

Blogger Girls BOM

I know I am a few days early, but I have to give you a sneak peek at this month's Blogger Girls BOM. 

These are just the centers of the blocks, but I wanted you to see how really different the two resulting blocks are going to be.  Just by changing out some background fabrics for more intense ones, you get such a different feeling.  One is quite star like, and the other has a strong buzz saw or pinwheel effect.

This is such a fun project!  I am enjoying all my blocks and playing with the fabrics to get different looks for my two blocks each month.  You will get to see the two finished blocks on April 1!

Blogger Girls BOM, Month Three

These are my two blocks for month three of the Blogger Girls BOM Sew Along.  Such easy blocks to make, as I indicated in a previous post where I showed how to use the Fit to be Quarter and the Fit to be Quarter Companion rulers.  You get such lovely accurate results with these tools.



Here are all six of the blocks I have made so far in the sew along. I am using Audra's Iris Garden by Brannock and Patek.  I started out thinking I would just use the red, green and purple.  However, each month I seem to toss in another color from the collection, yellow last month and brown this month.  I just may use it all!

Do check out the Flickr group for tons of inspiration from those other people who are participating.  In particular, please visit the other websites of bloggers who are helping to host the program: 

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Monique from Open Gate Quilts - opengatequilts.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

 

Blogger Girls BOM, Month Two

Here we go girls.  Block Number Two of the Blogger Girls BOM.  Ooops.  I had this set to post March 1.  That would just be a month late, don't you know?

This was a fun one to make.  I continue to enjoy my springy Audra's Iris Garden fabric by Brannock and Patek for Moda.  I adore the iris print, and just wait 'til you see my second block...

I've decided to use the yellow as well!  It plays so well with the purple, I just can't resist.

This BOM is hosted by Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts.  Monique is known for her accuracy and clear instructions, as well as her awesome rulers.  If you haven't joined in this free BOM program with us, there is still plenty of time.  You can make a 12 block quilt, or a 6 block one, if your other commitments are too much.  There is a Flickr group, where you can take a look at the blocks other folks have constructed.  The fun of this BOM is that the main participants are all using different new fabric collections, which will give you all sorts of inspiration.

Still on the fence?  Come on, take the plunge.

Go see what the other gals have been up to:

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Monique from Open Gate Quilts - opengatequilts.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog
Nicole from Sister’s Choice  ~  sisterschoice.typepad.com
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

 

And a Full Lint Roller Later...

Ok, let me just put it out there that if you are making the Blogger Girls BoM, you cannot nod off while you are sewing.  The project is not terribly complicated, but you do need to remain alert.  No mind wandering during this construction process.

So here is what I did that caused me to do some unsewing.

If you are making a twelve block quilt, you will construct TWO blocks out of each month's pattern, since there are only six main quilt block patterns featured in the quilt.  The fun of this, and indeed the entire POINT of this, is to change up the color placement in your second block so that it looks completely different from the first one.  That way when you finish all your blocks, it will be hard to spot any duplicates.  If that is what you want to do.  (If you want your two blocks the same, it's ok.  I think I like them to be different).

Here are my first two Blocks Number One:

Umm.  Very nice, but aren't they exactly the same?  Why yes, they are. 

Sound of crickets chirping.

So, I got out my seam ripper and attacked my second block, removing the green squares that abut the purple  corner star points and replacing them with purple.  Here are the two blocks now:

Now they definitely look more different.

So what advice can I give you about making your blocks look as dissimilar from one another as possible? 

Perhaps you are a creative genius and have a million abstract ideas floating in your mind, which you can visualize perfectly.  Lucky.  Or, you might, as I do, flounder around a bit trying to get a grasp on how to make your second block dissimilar to the first version.  It doesn't come naturally to everyone.  Especially if you are used to carefully following a pattern's instructions.

Yes, I am getting to my point. You will need to check out what other people have done.  You will get so many ideas on how to switch things up!  So how can you do that, when you are slogging along all alone in your sewing room?  News Flash!   You are not alone in this project!  Thelma has created a Flickr group, which you can view and hopefully join.  Anyone who joins the group can post photos of their quilt blocks.  Infinite variety, infinite ideas you can steal copy utilize.  As I write this, already there are 20 members.

So go check it out and see what other people are doing!  This is so much fun.

 

Blogger's BOM January

Welcome to the 2012 Blogger's BOM! Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts is hosting a six month BOM program involving seven quilt bloggers, all of whom will be using different fabric collections to make the project.  Do stop by these sites to see what fabrics the other quilters are using for their BOM.

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Monique from Open Gate Quilts - opengatequilts.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog
Nicole from Sister’s Choice  ~  sisterschoice.typepad.com
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

Each month for the next six months Monique will release the instructions for a new block, which can be made in two different fabric combinations for a total of twelve blocks to make up the quilt.  (Instructions for a smaller six block version will be published as well). The patterns and finishing instructions are free, and are sure to make a beautiful finished quilt.  What I  love about this BOM is that it doesn't drag out for an entire year. 

We invite you to sew along with us, and take advantage of the learning experience and fun we are sure to have.  The fabric requirements have already been posted on Monique's blog, so you can review them for your supply needs.  Who knows?  You may have most of what you need on hand.

Today's post is on the subject of the fabrics we all chose for our quilt.  After toying with a number of ideas, and rejecting them--the fabric wasn't available anymore or the fabric collection was very similar to that of another participant's--I ended up with Brannock and Patek's new group "Audra's Iris Garden".  I am extremely happy with this choice, as it turns out.  I am featuring the reds, greens and purples in my quilt, and love my first two blocks.  The browns and yellows will have to wait for another quilt, which I know I will be crazy about as well!

Love these colors. 

It didn't take long at all to get my first block made and the second one took even less time.  I can tell this is a project that is going to be super satisfying.

So hurry on over to see what the other gals are doing!

 

 

Blogger's BOM

I am very excited about the Blogger's Block of the Month program that is hosted by Open Gate designer Monique Dillard.  The BOM will start in earnest at the beginning of January (as soon as the holiday hub bub has subsided), and last for six months.  Seven bloggers you may know and enjoy are participating and we would be thrilled to have you join in with us and sew along. 

These are the participants, each of whom is making the quilt in different fabrics. 

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Monique from Open Gate Quilts - opengatequilts.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog
Nicole from Sister’s Choice  ~  sisterschoice.typepad.com
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

At the beginning of each month, Monique will release a block pattern on her blog, which you can download and print out.  There will be options to make the blocks in two color versions, so you can have the choice to make one block (for a six block finished quilt) or two blocks (for the full sized twelve block quilt).  I have a seriously yummy fabric collection to work with (Brannock and Patek's "Audra's Iris Garden") so I will be making two blocks each month using a variety of the gorgeous colors in the line.  If you study the photo of Monique's quilt above, try to pick out the duplicate blocks.  It isn't easy, as the blocks look so different when made up in different fabrics/colors.  

Monique has just posted the supply list for the quilt on her blog, so I encourage you to go have a look.  I hope you will consider making this gorgeous quilt along with us.  There will be plenty of support, encouragement, and tips from seven very experienced quilters as we progress through the six months of construction.

Oh, and if all of this wasn't enough incentive to participate--the block patterns and finishing instructions are free!