Friday, April 18, 2014

Progress......

I just wanted to show you what the Star Block looked like when I put the two pieces together.  The blocks are huge!  As you can see from the photograph, it is at least 22 inches across from point to point.  I wasn't feeling well last night so I haven't finished all ten of the complete blocks.  There are several blocks that are just portions of the star.  As you can see, I am using civil war reproduction fabric in this quilt.  I have so much of this era of fabrics that I need to use it to even make a very small dent in my stash.




Wednesday, April 16, 2014

A New Project.....Continued

The Star Flowers quilt that I posted yesterday has been coming along quite quickly.  The blocks are large so I am feeling fairly confidant that I will finish the blocks today sometime.  I can share the blocks as I am cutting and preparing them to put altogether.




I found this pattern in the current Fons and Porter, Love of Quilting Magazine, March/April 2014 issue.  The designer is pictured below, Diane Tomlinson.






In the article, this unit is called the "Star Point Unit."  It is just three parallelogram pieces that are cut with the 60 degree line on your ruler.  I used my own ruler instead of purchasing the suggested Fons and Porter 60 Degree Diamonds Ruler.  Before you start be sure that your ruler is marked with 60 degree lines.  I only had one ruler that had the lines that I needed:  Nifty Notions or NN7x14.


The bottom photograph shows the actual color of the fabric, cheddar.  I don't know what happened with the photograph on top.  I tried to "fix" it but I was unable to do so.  Oh well, I am just happy that one of the photographs depict the actual color.





I've photographed half of the block I am very pleased that it went together easily.  Hahaha, I say that now!  I will post my results tomorrow once I sew more blocks together.




Tuesday, April 15, 2014

A New Project....

I can't believe that it has been over two weeks since I posted my last blog!  I have been subbing again at my local high school and I visited my son in Glendale, Arizona.  Glendale is a suburb of Phoenix and the site of my son's graduate school, Midwestern University.  

I don't get to sew when I have been subbing at the high school but I did bring my small sewing machine with me to Phoenix, Janome Jem Platinum 760.  I sewed a small amount but I didn't complete anything.  I did, however, go to a quilt store in NW Phoenix, "The Other Quilt Shop," at the corner of N 43rd Avenue and W. Thunderbird Road.  It was very cute and had a lot of gem tone fabrics.  The owners were very helpful, full of information about Phoenix, and they had quite a bit of batiks.  It is always fun to visit other shops in other towns.  The shop is always a reflection of the owner's taste.  I wish I had taken a picture of the quilts in the store.  They were lovely.  

While I was at the Sacramento Airport, I purchased a magazine, Fons and Porter's, Love of Quilting, March/April, 2014 issue. 



I really loved the quilt on the cover,  Star Flowers.  I read the article by Diane Tomlinson.  She is an Assistant Editor of this magazine.  The caption stated that  "She designed the quilt on her computer and played with  colors until she had a pattern that she loves."







This pattern is based on diamonds and has quite a few set-in seams.  I am going to try it.  I am using Civil War fabrics because I have so much in my stash that I would like to use it all up.

The article suggested that we watch a video, "Sew Easy:  Set in Seams" at FonsandPorter.com/setinseams.  I did watch it a couple of days ago.  Of course, it looked easy but I haven't done it yet

I made about twelve of the "Star Point Units."  I haven't put them together in a block.  I will let you know if I am successful or if I will trash it!