COMPLETED BLOCKS FROM A COUPLE OF PROJECTS

While the house keepers from Maid Pro were cleaning my house today, I had three hours of uninterrupted sewing time so I finished three blocks.  Two were paper pieced for the Just Takes 2 quilt
 

 



and the other was an easy block called Endless Stairs, block #39 for Barbara Brackman’s Women’s Rights quilt called Grandmother’s Choice.



My Just Takes 2 quilt will be a different setting to the one published by the designers.  I plan to have a medallion in the center with blocks surrounding it.  Since the blocks are several different sizes, this may present a problem but I’ll give it a try.  One can’t be too chicken about these things or we will never learn anything! [she says boldly!!!!!!]

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

GRANDMA IS SLOW . . .

As my Dad used to say, "Grandma is slow but she’s old."  LOL  Well I’m not really too terribly old (61) but I sure am terribly slow.  Here are two more blocks of the Grandmother’s Choice block of the week sponsored by Barbara Brackman.  I'm behind about 15 blocks but I keep plugging along at it.

#25 The Carrie Nation Quilt


#37 Nameless Star

As you can see, I am not making them in any particular order.  I just pick the one I want to do next and just do it.

The sawtooth star is the block used when I was taught how to piece a quilt.  I love star blocks of all kinds which is probably how I got hooked on quilting.

Mom and I had a wonderful lunch today at the Olive Garden.  We both love the fresh salad and yummy, garlicky bread sticks that they serve.  That is all that Mom ate, but I added a small linguini with marinara sauce.  It was divine!

More blocks and news later,

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

MINOR PROGRESS ON GRANDMOTHER’S CHOICE BLOCKS

22.  Jack’s Delight

35. Granny’s Choice

More to come!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

ROTARY CUTTING VS. PAPER-PIECING OLD MAID’S RAMBLE BLOCK

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, my initial #19 Old Maid’s Ramble block for the Grandmother’s Choice block of the week hosted by Barbara Brackman was a resounding failure.  Pieces flip flopped, biases waiving, the whole works.

BEFORE - Rotary Cut Version

As a result, I decided to use a paper-piecing pattern for this block from my Electric Quilt 5 program.  When I reached the point where the four paper-pieced sections were ready to be joined, I had my eagle-eyed Sweetie to check the layout.  All was well so the block went together like a charm.  The results are so much better than my rotary cutter version.  By the way, please note that the points are chopped off only in the photo and the block is square. In person both things are correct.

AFTER - Paper-Pieced Verson

One little boo-boo but nothing that upsets me. Two of the half square triangles are made from a different color way of the same Morris print.  Can you find them?  Over the years I've learned to let myself relax about the smaller imperfections.  I am NOT nor will ever be perfect so why drive myself crazy about the smaller things.  Once it is in the quilt top, I won't even be able to see the difference.  Now with that first wonky block, I would have noticed and gotten crazy about it because it's a really big icky!

Now it's on to the next block for this women's history quilt.  I’m about fourteen blocks behind on this project but I’m ready to kick it into gear to complete more.

Hope everyone is enjoying fine Spring weather and flowers about now.  My climbing roses in the back yard are running rampant with blooms, a wall of pink and green along the chain link fence..

Guess that's all for now.   I’ll talk to you guys later.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

WHAT HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING!

For the last couple of months the only sewing I’ve done is to cut off and hem my great nephew’s baseball pants.  I’ve been in a crazy 'don’t want to do anything' funk but I hope I’m coming out of it now that Spring is here.



Today I’m working on paper piecing block #19, The Old Maid’s Ramble, of Barbara Brackman’s Grandmother’s Choice block of the month.  You will understand why I chose to paper piece this one when you see the one made using the rotary cutting instructions.



Half square triangles turned the wrong way.  A larger dark triangle placed wrong.  Block unsquare.  And oh those crazy bias edges to deal with.  Yuck.  I vow to get the new block finished tonight!

I am way behind on the Grandmother’s Choice blocks.  Chances are I won’t make them all because I plan to set them in a vertical stripy style similar to this one found on Lone Star House of Quilts’ blog.  But that plan may change.  It’s still early.

Hope each of you have a wonderful, productive, fun weekend.  In the meantime, may your bobbins always be full.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

A PLEASANT SURPRISE, THEN AN UNPLEASANT ONE . . .

Imagine my surprise when my telephone rang and it was my good friend Charlotte S. telling me she was visiting from Temple, TX and asking me out to lunch along with our buddy Donna W.  I totally forgot to take their picture at the Mexican Inn where we had lunch.  Darn it!  But the food was good.



Last week’s block in the Grandmother’s Choice project hosted by Barbara Brackman really threw me for a loop.  Instead of calling it Old Maid’s Ramble, I referred to it as Contrary Old Maid!  All the bias edges in the pieces made for an awful mess of waves and stretch although I starched the fabric before cutting and tried to be gentle with the iron.  Not to mention the correct direction of the darks and lights in the block.  Yikes!  It came out so ugly that I won't put the picture in my blog or anywhere else but the trash.  A lesson in humility.

Therefore, I decided to redo the Ramble by using the paper piecing patterns I printed from my Electric Quilt 5 program.That will stabilize the fabric in the block thus keeping everything properly in line.

Oh so glad that this week’s block is pretty simple – the Memory Wreath also known as the King’s Crown.  Yippee!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

BLOCKS 11, 14 & 18 OF GRANDMOTHER’S CHOICE

I’m not too crazy about the way #11 turned out.  In my infinite wisdom, I though it would be easier to paper piece it instead of the templates provided with the pattern by Barbara Brackman on her GRANDMOTHER'S CHOICE blog.  I was soooooo wrong.  But I stuck with it to the bitter end.  The white stripes do not match in size.  Then there is my slightly wonky door.  It will not be redone.  It will have to stay as is.  All the little kids were rough on my schoolhouse!

11.  Little School House



The churn dash is a favorite of mine.  This one turned out fantastic.
4.  Bride’s Knot


The most recent block posted on Barbara’s blog is number 18.



Thankfully Cheyenne and was easy although I wish I had more dominant orange in the fabric mix.  To see how other participant’s are making their blocks just visit the FLICKR photo group.

I’m hoping to get several of the Grandmother’s Choice blocks caught up today though I may take a break to see Lincoln at our local movie theater.  And maybe make a black-eyed pea recipe called Hoppin’ John.  Need all the good luck we can get from the New Year’s Day black-eyed peas.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Blocks 9 and 10, Grandmother’s Choice

9.  Brick Pavement – I’m going to have to iron it within a inch of it’s life to get this one squared up!  This one took several tries before I found a combination that I like and it has no Morris fabric in it.





10 New York


However, this block is ALL Morris fabric.

I’m working on it!  Two down and three to go.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

THE WEEKEND STUFF

My Janome 4800 Quilters’ Companion sewing machine badly needed a cleaning after making the twin size flannel quilt I talked about here.  Little flannel “fuzz” and dust were inside my machine everywhere.  I took the throat plate off and thoroughly cleaned the area under the plate including the bobbin area and feed dogs using a chenille pipe cleaner and a microfiber cloth.  Even used a wet washcloth to wipe down the outer surface.

Ms. Quilting Bear and Ms. Janie Janome are both so happy now!



After getting five blocks behind.  I’m back on the Grandmother’s Choice blocks published weekly by Barbara Brackman on her blog. I completed #10 New York using William Morris fabric and a 4” paper-pieced 8-pointed star in one section.


Also did a bit of Christmas shopping via Amazon.com and put up my Christmas tree.  When I set up all of my Santa collection, I’ll take pictures and share with you.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

JT2 AND GRANDMOTHER’S CHOICE REPORT

This is block 49 “Double T” block for the Just Takes 2 quilt.

It has been several weeks since I worked on the JT2 project.  Instead of using the paper piecing recommended, I found a pattern on the Internet for rotary cutting the pieces.  It went together very well.
Regarding Grandmother’s Choice block of the week for block 8, I have the fabric chosen and cut in strip ready to trace the templates.

I need to get it ready so I can hand piece while watching the World Series games.  My Texas Rangers didn’t make it this year so I’m rooting for Detroit mainly because they are in the American League just like the Rangers.

There is a Christmas wall quilt I was hand quilting last year during the World Series while the Rangers played.  I need to pick that back up and finish it before Christmas!  You can take a look at and read about it HERE.  Since I have not worked on it so long, the calluses on my fingers are gone and I’ll have to start all over again.

Sew long for now,

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

7 Alice’s Flag

Last week’s block from Barbara Brackman’s “block of the week” project is from  her blog Grandmother’s Choice.  It is called “Alice’s Flag.”  Read the history behind the women’s movement to acquire the right to vote on Barbara’s blog.


Once again I used 2/3 William Morris & Co. fabric from Moda with another older piece of fabric in the center stripe.  To see how other people made their stars go to the Flickr group page.

One hint to those of you who may not have been quilting very long or whatever,  I suggest you iron the seams open on the back for a flatter surface on which to applique your star.  As usual on this project, I machine appliqued this  star.

By the way, pretend you don’t see that loose thread in the top center of the block.  It’s an hallucination!  Or you need to clean your glasses. Or ??????LOL

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

BLOCK 6, ELIZA’S STAR

This is not a great picture, but you get the idea.



”Eliza’s Star” is block 6 of Grandmother’s Choice block of the week from Barbara Brackman’s historical quilt-along focusing on women’s rights.  This one contains 100% Wm. Morris & Co. fabric from Moda with a bit of fussy cutting for the center and the outside corners.

To see blocks made by others in the project, visit the Flickr page HERE.  You will be glad you did!  There are no two alike.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

MISSED THE BIG SHOW BUT FINISHED BLOCK 5

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the big Trinity Valley Quilters’ Guild show this past weekend due to some health issues.  This is the first one I’ve missed in 10 years!  Boo hoo!  However, I’ve been able to look at some pictures taken at the show.  There were so many fabulous quilts as always.  Trinity Valley has some of the best quilters in the world!

Saturday morning about 3 A.M. I remembered I had not made block 5 of the Grandmother’s Choice block of the week.  Crazy me, I decided I wanted to get it finished before block 6 comes over the blog waves.



This block is called “New Jersey.”  I first put dark green fabric in the outside corners but it was so dull.  I decided to rip that out and add fabric from Cherrywood in a coordinating burnt orange.  Now I’m a happy quilter!  It’s prettier in person than in this photo.
Now I’m ready for Block #6!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

BLOCK 3 OF BRACKMAN’S GRANDMOTHER’S CHOICE QUILT

Union Square was completed last week but I haven’t made block 4 yet.  It’s going to be a hand piecing project for me.

To get the blocks each week visit Barbara Brackman’s GRANDMOTHER’S CHOICE blog.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

BRACKMAN’S BLOCK OF THE WEEK #1

This is the Grandmother’s Choice block I made using some Wm. Morris.-based reproduction fabric – the blue – and a white on beige background fabric from my stash.

To see other versions of this block, visit the the Flickr photo page by clicking HERE.  It’s always inspiring but intimidating to see what others used in their blocks. Mine never seems measure up. 

To follow Barbara Brackman’s newest blog click on this GRANDMOTHER'S CHOICE: VOTES FOR WOMEN for the block of the week instructions and a bit of history about the suffrage movement.

That’s all for now.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND PLANS

In the United States, we celebrate a Labor Day each year on the first Monday of September.  Here’s hoping that those of you working are thankful for your jobs and those of you looking for a job find one very soon.
My Labor Day weekend will be fairly peaceful.  We’ll watch some Texas Rangers baseball and I’ll do some sewing.

I just downloaded the first block from Barbara Brackman’s Grandmother’s Choice Block of the Week Project.  I’m excited about this new project because I loved her Civil War Block of the Week started last year.

1911 Anti-Suffrage Headquarters

Ladies, let’s be glad that the anti-suffrage movement failed!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.