SHADES OF GRAY IN THE MAILBOX

Late last week I received a squishy envelope in the mail containing 56 different 5” charms of fabric, all from the “Shades of Gray” fabric exchange.  The above is just a taste of the cool fabrics in the envelope.

I sent in 56 – 5” charms cut from a yard of fabric as did 55 others, then just a few weeks later, 56 different charms were returned, all in varying shades from gray to black.

There is a free quilt pattern from the Moda Bakeshop called “Patchwork Chevrons” that I think these charms would work with the addition of a few more squares.  Bet I’ve got several in my stash that would work.  You can check out the pattern HERE.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE EXCHANGE TOP COMPLETE

I’ve named it “A Barn Raising With Help From My Friends,”  made with half-square triangles that were part of The Quilt Show’s “Sisterhood of the Traveling Triangles" exchange.  The way I have it hung here in the doorway between my dining room and den makes it look all wonky, but really, it’s not.


It’s now ready to sandwich, pin-baste, and quilt!  I have quite a bit of the floral border print left so it will go on the back, probably with some coordinating fabric pieced-in to cover it all.  But first, I am going to quilt the little bitty 12 Day of Christmas Quilt.

PROJECTS PROGRESS IN 2012

This is the last block of Barbara Brackman’s Civil War Quilt Block of the Week project for 2011.  It’s #53 Union Shield.



I’ve auditioned several different sashing fabrics and border fabrics.  These are just a few of them:




I’ve decided on the solid blue sashing strips and the blue Civil War Chronicles border as seen in the first picture on the right.    I’ve got to buy more of the Centennial Solids blue to complete the sashing and have ordered additional CW Chronicles fabric for the border and binding.

On The Quilt Show friendship triangles quilt,  I tried several different fabrics as borders.





and I’ve decided on the second one with the floral outer border and that dark same blue for the inner border.  Fortunately I don’t have to buy any more fabric to finish this one so I will tackle finishing it first.

I’m also working on the Temecula Quilt Company’s 12 Days of Christmas quilt and we are to day 10.  Here are the last five 3 1/2” blocks I’ve finished.



Working with such small pieces of fabric – the nine patch pieces are all 1 1/4” square – can be a challenge.  To improve my accuracy, I slowed my sewing machine speed way down and I am pressing all the seams open.  I’m having so much fun!!!!! And so is Ranger,



Sleeping all day long in “his” dining room chair when his Papi (my Sweetie) isn’t using it.  He’s not living up to the “Rowdy” part of his name “Rowdy Ranger” much these days although every once in a while he’ll go crazy and zip around the house and out of his pet door to his screened-in patio like a cheetah.  Wish I had that much energy.

Oh well . . .

SPOOLS AND TRIANGLES

This is block #31 from the Civil War Quilt, Empty Spools.



However, I chose to use a different pattern for the spool from EQ5 so that I could add a third color in the mix, plus this pattern was easier to do than the one from Barbara Brackman’s blog.  My spool is ALMOST empty.  There is still more work to be done by the Civil War ladies to make quilts, shirts, and other necessities for the soldiers!

Haven’t worked on much else.  I’m going through a bout of headaches that just interferes with my sewing time and life in general!  I have decided what I am going to do with my half-square triangles from the friendship exchange.  Here’s just a small layout, not complete, but enough to get the idea.



Until next time, keep cool – (my computer says it is 109 degrees today –OMG!)

WHAT DO BASEBALL AND HST’S HAVE IN COMMON

Tonight while watching the Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins baseball game on television, I began clipping “ears” and tearing off triangle paper from a half-square triangle exchange done with other members of The Quilt Show .   The exchange was called Sisterhood of the Traveling Triangles  because half-square triangles were submitted from all over the world for exchange.  So far I’ve found lots from the United States, but also a few from Canada, England (U.K.), Germany and Australia.  The fabrics included batiks, florals, conversation prints, solids, prints, bright, dark, all different kinds.  There were no limitations put on them.

There are many more to trim and tear, which I will probably pick up again tomorrow during the baseball game.  One thing though, they are messy – I was covered all over in threads and paper giblets after a couple of hours.



As you can see from my photo, from left to right are (1) the half-square triangles to be clipped and to have paper removed; (2) the HSTs already clipped, paper removed and finger-pressed open; and (3) the trash can for all the little clipped off ear bits and torn HST paper trash.  The remote control is handy and the pillows for my back and arm are set up.  It’s working out to be a pretty good system.

I think I am going to make a version of the Cheddar Triangles Block quilt located on page 101 of Betsy and Carol’s book, History Repeated:  Block Exchange Quilts of the 19th Century Patchwork Divas OR a version of the Medallion Quilt from Edyta Sitar’s book, Friendship Triangles.  For some reason the pages in that book are not numbered.  Go figure.  Anyway, I dream of what I will do with the HSTs as I rip the paper off.  Such wonderful dreams.