Sister's Choice Quilts

Pie Birds

This is the first completed block in a Kim Diehl table runner that is made up of seven of these little guys.  It took quite some time to put it together, as each of those block triangles is actually two folded corner triangle units sewn together.  You do the sew and flip method with the black fabric on all the colored strips and then sew the smaller strip units together to make longer ones.  Lots of points and seams to line up, but the super scrappy effect is worth the bother.

34 different fabrics in each block, if you don't repeat any (I'm trying not to, but it's hard).  65 total pieces in each block.

In honor of my year to "Use It Up", I pulled fabrics from my Kim Diehl storage box.  I have so many scraps leftover from her Simple Whatnots projects that I could construct about twenty more Kim Diehl projects out of the leftovers alone.

Pattern is in the book "The Big Book of Table Toppers" by Karen M. Burns.

If you are wondering about the title of this post, "Pie Birds", that is the name she gave this little quilt.  It made no sense to me either until I really looked at the block from a distance.  The little black triangles are blackbirds baked in a pie!  See it?  How cute is that.

Super cute, but just wait.  This quilt was one of the wackiest I have ever made.  Here is how you sew the thing together:

So, where are we going with this?  Well, this quilt needs to be trimmed up.  Keep in mind, each block has 65 pieces.  Seven blocks x 65 = 455.  Four hundred and fifty five little pieces that took FOREVER to line up perfectly with no points cut off, every seam intersection perfect.  And here is what I am supposed to do:

Cut the sides off.  (Sound of Nicole sobbing...)

To be continued.

 

Blissful Weekend of Sewing

What a wonderful peaceful weekend I had!  On Saturday I got three more ModaBlockheads blocks done.  You will notice one of them is a remake.

I ended up remaking the block on the right with a darker background.  I was going to try tea dying the lighter background one, but wasn't sure if after a number of washings the dye would come out and the block would be light again.  I just remade it instead.

I really enjoyed making the little bird house block.  I am surprising myself with how much fun I am having with that scary old appliqué.  I changed up the pattern just a little bit.

The placement of those little circles seemed kind of random to me, so I put in just one larger "hole" in a place that made more sense to me.

I am caught up now, and quite happy with the blocks.  I got some great ideas from you all regarding settings, and like the idea of making a center appliquéd medallion with the sampler blocks arranged in two rings around it. I also like the idea of separating the rows of blocks with a wider solid border to set them off and separate them.  Since I am loving doing the machine appliqué so much, the idea of a focal appliqué scene in the center of the quilt is a great concept, and would tie everything together so nicely.

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Thinking of our friends in Florida and hoping for the best.


 

Here's a Thought

On the left we have a 6 1/2" block.  This was Block #1 in the 2017 Triangle Gatherings Sew Along.  I like it a lot.  

The block on the right has a 4 1/2" version of Block #1, surrounded by star points.  That block is 8 1/2" square.  I am crazy in love with it.  The smaller center block is adorable, and the star points add interest.

Now, imagine these star blocks in a quilt, all with a different 4  1/2" center square.  I think it would be stunning.  It is totally not my idea.  I saw it on the Triangle Gatherings Facebook page.  A brilliant person named Leanne Malzewski came up with this variation.  I think it is so interesting to have the 2017 Triangle Gatherings blocks featured as the center of a star.  And the star points will add a continuity to the different centers.

Now imagine a diagonal setting.  I tell you, the wheels are turning over here.  Since the star block ends up being rather larger than the  6 1/2" version, I think I would make far fewer of them for a quilt top.  With a diagonal setting you can get away with fewer blocks as well.   I am going to play around with adding in some additional colors:  red, gold, black and more of these dusty blues.  I would use the same background for all the blocks.  

Check back tomorrow and see what I hope to have come up with.

 

Blogger Girls BOM Quilt Parade

Welcome to the final reveal of the Blogger Girls BOM, hosted by Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts.  This beautiful design of Monique's has been such fun to work on over the past six months.  Monique designed a total of six quilt blocks, one a month, starting in January.  She had clever alternate color suggestions, so you could make two blocks a month from the same pattern, and have them look totally different depending on how you placed your colors.

I chose a different setting than the one that Monique designed to go with the pattern.  In the past, Monique had designed a setting that I loved, that used an alternate block that formed a secondary chain pattern.  I combined that earlier design of Monique's into this quilt, with great results.

That alternate block also increased the size of the quilt to ginormous proportions!  This quilt turned out King size for sure!   I think the longer side is 100 inches. 

The size of the quilt made it really tricky for me to photograph.  You can get an idea of the size of the quilt by how much is hanging over the side of my queen sized bed.  You wouldn't believe the gyrations I went through trying to get a decent picture.

The fabric collection I used was Audra's Iris Garden, designed by Brannock and Patek for Moda.  You can still download the block patterns and setting instructions from Monique's website, but don't delay printing them out, because they will not be available for free much longer.  You may enjoy visiting the Flickr site to see other versions of these blocks made by a number of people who have joined in the sew along. 

Also, don't miss checking out these blog sites today to see the final reveal of the bloggers Monique invited to participate in this fantastic 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

Thank you so much Monique for the invitation to join in this Block of the Month program, and for your beautiful pattern designs. 

 

 

 

 

 

Blogger Girls BOM Month Six

It doesn't seem possible, but month six in the Blogger Girls BOM program is here already.  My two blocks did come out quite different looking, which is good.  I started with the variation block (pictured on the bottom), because I was really challenged by the difficulty of making sure I cut out the right fabrics in the right sizes.  Sometimes these things take me awhile to puzzle out.  I left off the corner thingys, because I preferred the clean look of the background fabric surrounding the design.

Here are all twelve blocks.  When you make two a month, you have them done before you know it.  Practically painless.

Our final reveal of our finished quilt tops is scheduled for July 1.

Go have a look at some of the others who are participating in this sew along:

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--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!