Caught Up! - Sleigh Bell BOM, BCS Mystery Quilt and Westalee Sew Steady Class

I have been busily trying to catch up with my BOM's (Block of the Month) quilts. It has been an arduous task but I am trying to do a little at a time since I signed up for additional BOM's for this coming quarter!  I can't say NO!  The quilts are so beautiful!  I will tell you about them in future posts.

I have to tell you that I signed up to learn how to use rulers and templates through "Westalee Sew Steady."  We had our first meeting last month, January 18.  It was amazing and fun to see the possibility that I could actually quilt my own quilt that isn't just "stitch-in-the-ditch."  The one hilarious thing that I experienced that day was that I didn't know how to drop my feed dogs!  I had never done that before on my sewing machine!  It was fortuitous that I brought my manual and had to read-up on how to do that.  I only brought the manual to figure out which way to turn the tension dial.  Do I turn it right or left? 

The Border Creek Station (BCS) Mystery Quilt is fun.  We follow directions that are given to us every month (third week-Wednesday) and make blocks that will eventually turn into a quilt.  We also receive recipes and additional suggestions for quits.  I have done none of them but they look easy to do.  Anyway, here are two examples that we did this month.  This is an 8 month BOM.  We just finished the 5th month installment.  

2 1/2" x 4 1/2" - Flying Geese

Ohio Star - 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"

I just finished this block last night, Peppermint Candy.  It is the 7th month block of the Sleigh Bell Quilt.  

Sleigh Bell Sampler - Month 6

I am so behind but I have just finished last month's "Sleigh Bell Sampler" Block, the Christmas Stocking.  I like the blocks of this quilt because they are full of color and easy to make.

10.5" x 10.5"

A Flock of Feathered Stars - Month 17

Month 17 of "A Flock of Feathered Stars" was December's block:  California Star.  I had very little time to put the block together during the holidays, including Thanksgiving, that I am finally finishing it now.  

California Star - 24 1/2" x 24 1/2"

The photo of the block looks a bit strange.  I have not removed the paper from the back.  It will be a nicer photo without the paper.  I will post a better photo of the block once the paper is removed.

I picked up our 18th month fabric and it contains the finishing fabrics for the center motif and borders.  I probably will not start it now because I have other blocks to complete before I can finish this quilt.