Threads of Time BOM - Month #2 - School Girl's Puzzle

I love, love, love the Threads of Time BOM (Block of the Month).  The blocks are 8 1/2" (unfinished).  They are large enough that the seams are neither crowded nor bulky.  I started out as a admirer of civil war reproduction fabrics and this BOM does not disappoint.  I still love the civil war reproduction fabrics because I am a student of the American Civil War. I try to do at least one large civil war reproductions quilt a year. It makes me very happy!

The only difficult sewing of these blocks were the instructions to make the blocks one directional.  In other words, make all of the fabrics so they are all facing one way.  The stripes of the green, brown and red are vertical. 
The background is all facing in one direction.  I did make an error on the blue block.  You will probably see it.  I was watching a movie on TV and made two blocks upside down.  Oh well, I decided it was too much of a hassle to fix them and I am leaving them as is.

In this BOM, we are sewing one block in four different fabrics.  Here are this months' blocks:

Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Modern Building Block - BOM - Month 5 - Fig Tree Style

I worked on this month's kit which arrived last Saturday.  I try to do these BOM kits when they arrive because if I fall behind it is difficult for me to catch up.  This is the fifth month and I am enjoying sewing together these blocks.  The colors are beautiful and it has been fun!

Block #17 - 12"

Block # 18 - 12"

Block #9 - 18"

Block #19 - 6"

Block #23 - 6"

Block #29 - 6"

Block #33 - 6"

Block #38 - 6"

I thoroughly enjoyed sewing these blocks together.  I can't wait until we start sewing the blocks into one unit.  This is what I love about quilting and piecing:  the end result is worth the time of planning, cutting and sewing everything together.

Happy Holidays, everyone. 

Enjoy your time with your family.

Hampton Ridge is FINSIHED!

I finally finished the Hampton Ridge quilt.  I added the last border:  a 2" half-square (finished) border.  It wasn't difficult but it was very tedious making the 168 half-square triangles.  I will spend the next day trying to pick most of the loose threads from the front of the quilt and thin out the threads from the back before I call one of my wonderful long-armers to quilt the top.

I am holding up the 91" x 91," quilt.

I had to stand on a chair to be able to  

show the half-square triangles, 

on the bottom and you can

kind of see them on the sides. 

I think I forgot to mention that the

blocks are on point but the red-striped

border is mitered.  You can't

see it but trust me that was the

most difficult part of the quilt.

 

Hampton Ridge - Just about Finished

I finally have some time to try to finish the Hampton Ridge Quilt.  Over a year ago I started this Block of the Month and I am finally going to finish it and get it to one of the quilters that live near me.  All I have to do is to add one more border, the half-square triangles.

This piece of paper makes 

8 - 2" half-square

triangles.  I sewed 21 

of these papers and when I cut them 

apart, I will have a 

total of 168 - 2' half square triangles.

This is the quilt so far.  

I haven't measured the width 
and length yet.  It is supposed 
to be square.  

My husband was holding up
the quilt and it is huge.  
He is 6' tall and had

difficulty holding it up.

I hope that the joining of the 

half-square triangles is not difficult.

Daydream BOM - Month 7 - Sashing

I just finished the sashing for this quilt.  I looked at the initial instructions that I received when we first started this Block of the Month.  The blocks are all done, twelve in all.  I just finished the sashing so all there is to do are the borders.  It is a very pretty quilt.  I think I will either give this quilt to one of my children.  I can't wait to finish it.

The sashing block across the top are the horizontal blocks that go between each row.  There are seventeen horizontal sashing blocks in the quilt.  The two blocks that are shown vertically are the outside sashing, hence the light fabric.  There are seven sashing blocks of each total.

These were very easy to complete although over the years 

I have realized that I can't sew a straight line so these 

are no exception.  They are somewhat crooked.

Happy Sewing!

Daydream BOM - Month #6 - Blocks 11 & 12

Last month I forgot to pick-up my Daydream kit.  I didn't realize it until I went to pick-up the December kit.  It was brought to my attention that I had two kits to pick-up and make.  These are fairly easy to make because they are 12" blocks but I had trouble with making the "square in square" sections of both blocks.  They didn't turn out as 4 1/2" blocks but a bit smaller.  I finally decided to ease them in with some "fudging."  It worked but I am not satisfied.  There has got to be a better way to make them without easing the seams.

Block 11

Block 12

I believe there are only twelve blocks in the quilt so the end is NEAR!

Hopefully, the current months kit is easy to assemble!

Happy Sewing!

Thanksgiving and Freshly Pieced Blog

Freshly Pieced Blog

I just wanted to mention that I have been reading Lee Heinrich's blog, "Freshly Pieced" for over a year.  I love her patterns (I have purchased quite a few of them) and most of all, love her work.  She has been exceedingly kind to share with all of her followers her knowledge of her use of neutrals in her quilts.  She uses solid neutrals in the background in most of the quilts that I have seen.  Choosing a Neutral for Your Quilt, Part 1 is an incredible amount of information that you will absolutely use.  She has examples of the different backgrounds that she used on her "Cartwheel Quilt."  They are all stunning but you can see why some of the blocks "pop" because of the particular background that she used.  Part 2 that was just posted today, Lee shared her "Kona Neutrals Cheat Sheet."  I am sure many hours were consumed in putting this sheet together. 

She also co-authored a book,  "Vintage Quilt Revival."  I participated in their Quilt Along.  The blocks were fun to put together and it was well written (easy to follow).

Thanksgiving

We traveled from Sacramento to San Jose for Thanksgiving.  The traffic wasn't bad for us traveling west but looking at the traffic heading east was downright awful.  At any rate, we were happy to celebrate our Thanksgiving at my brother's home in San Jose.  We always take our family photo for our Christmas card since that is the only time we can get together in time to print our card.

Our son (far left) is in graduate school in Glendale, Arizona.  He will be graduating this coming May.  Our youngest (second from the left) attends UC San Diego.  She is a junior (undergrad).  Our oldest (third from the left) works in Berkeley.  Yay, she graduated from graduate school this past June.  We have an additional family member at the far right.  My oldest and he will be married in the spring.  He is a wonderful person and makes my daughter so happy.  We have many events to be thankful for this coming year.  By the way, my oldest is a quilter too!  

Fig Tree Mystery BOM

As promised, here is a photograph of my clamshells for the first month of the Fig Tree Mystery BOM.  

Happy Quilting everyone!

Fig Tree Mystery Sampler BOM - Month #1

I signed up to participate in Fig Tree's third BOM.  I decided I had too many projects last year to sign up for the first BOM but it looked like so much fun that I decided to join the second BOM.  I have had so much fun with the second BOM that I decided to join the third BOM.  I just received the first month's fabrics and instructions Saturday so I got to work right away.  I finished all of the blocks except for the Clamshell blocks (applique).  We are supposed to make seven of them, one for each fabric included in the kit that was mailed to us.  I have taken an applique class several years ago but I have not done any applique since.  I will post a picture of them as soon as I am finished with them.

Here is a photograph of this month's blocks:

There are 42 leaves:  21 leaves that are facing to the right and 21 leaves that are facing to the left; two blocks of Rolling Stone and three blocks of Churn Dash.  These blocks were fun, fun, fun.  Now on to the Clamshells.

Threads of Time - Block of the Month - Month #1 and the "Wing Clipper"

I posted several months ago about the new BOM called Threads of Time.  It is very beautiful so I had to join this group of piecers/quilters at my local quilt shop, Fabric Garden in Sacramento.  

I went and picked-up my first month yesterday at the store.  I was excited to get started and I finished this morning.  The first month's four blocks were all  the same, the "Devil's Claw," made with four different fabrics.  

I enjoyed sewing the blocks but I did not follow the instructions provided by Julie Hendricksen.  First, I noticed that the Devil's Claw was comprised of 8 flying geese.  I used my "Wing Clipper" ruler by Debbie Tucker of Studio 180 Designs instead.  The Wing Clipper is an ingenious device created by Deb Tucker.  Your four flying geese are perfect after you trim them down to size.

 

The photo on the left shows all eight flying geese before I trimmed them.  The photo on the right shows the "Wing Clipper" ruler and the small pile of fabric that I trimmed off the blocks with hardly any waste.

 The photograph to the right shows how I 

dealt with the seams.  I basically opened 

the seams especially in the middle area.  

That area had the most bulk especially 

where the two points of the flying geese meet.

I love making flying geese now because of the "Wing Clipper."  I've had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to Deb at PIQF this past month and last year.  She is passionate about her rulers and happily demonstrates every one of them. 

Moda Modern Building Blocks - BOM - Month 4 - Fig Tree Style

First, I just noticed that I made an error on labeling last month's Moda Modern Building Blocks.  I labeled it as Month 2 when it was truly Month 3.  I just corrected it.  Sorry, I was working full-time last month and made an error.  Oh well.....it will not be the last time that I make an error!

I just finished this month's blocks.  Most of them look okay but one block, #22.  I will probably look at it next month and redo it.  I am in a hurry today because tonight I am selling tickets at our high school's Women's Volleyball playoff game and tomorrow is set-up day for our local guild's quilt show, River City Quilter's Guild.  I will be working all weekend in the "Country Store."  We sell craft items made by our members (we keep a percentage) so it isn't junky stuff but nice holiday gifts to give to your friends and relatives.

Block #12 - 12" x 12"

Block #13 - 12" x 12"

Block #10 - 12" x 12"

Block #45 - 6" x 6"

Block #6 - 18" x 18"

I don't know how I got these photographs in just two rows but I am glad that I am able to do this. 

Block #25 - 6" x 6"

Block #25 - 6" x 6"

Last month, Joanna wrote that we would be using Block #25 two times in the quilt.  I made the one on the left last month but it was in error.  She wanted us to make the block in different fabrics, the one on the right.   So, I am showing both blocks.  

Here is the block that I am not pleased with.  You will see that some of the intersections are not meeting correctly.  I will do it again next month because I am just not satisfied with the results.  Ick!  There is so much bulk and I did not heed Joanna's instructions...take your time and sew slowly.

I will next month!

Block #22 - 6" x 6"

Modern Build Blocks BOM - Fig Tree Style - Month 3

I have been working so much that I have not been able to keep up on my BOM's.  I finally am back home and not subbing at the local high school.  I am back sewing!  Sewing keeps me grounded and happy.

Block #3 - 30" block

Block #4 - 24" block

Block #7 - 18" block

Block #25 - 6" block

Block #24 - 6" block

Block #46 - 6" block

These blocks were fun to sew together.  The only thing that you have to be careful with are all of the points that meet in an intersection.  You have to be very careful.  If you don't, you will have to rip some intersections to get the points to meet properly.  I was watching TV and I was distracted.  I had to rip a couple of intersections apart.  Oh well.....

Daydream BOM - Blocks 9 & 10

I finished blocks 9 & 10 of the Daydream BOM last night.  I made an error (at midnight) and placed an incorrect fabric in block 10.  I am attempting to fix it now but the SF Giants are playing today and I am watching football with my "hubby."  It will probably get done tonight after the baseball game but I thought I had better post block 9 now and try to post the other block later.  I have to work tomorrow and I will probably go to bed early. 

Working Full Time - No time for SEWING!

I don't like the feeling when I am not sewing.  I don't feel like myself when I am not sewing or creating a quilt.  I have been working full time for the last month because I want to help my former co-workers and friends when they need help.  So, I am working full time and not able to sew as much as I want.  Boo Hoo!

My youngest daughter, Caroline attends UC San Diego.  She is a new member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority there.  When new "little sisters" join, their "big sisters" shower them with crafty gifts to welcome them to their sorority.  To ease the craft making that she has to manufacture in just a few short weeks, I volunteered to make a few pillows with the Greek letters depicting the name of her sorority.

These are the Greek letters that I used to make the pillows:  alpha, chi, and omega.

I used a paper-pieced alphabet that I found on-line. 

I had to use an upside down U with added feet to make the omega letter.

The pillow forms that I used are 12 inches x 16 inches.  I did sew white fabric to the back of the letter panel because I am afraid that if the pillow case is washed, the panel would fall apart and/or unravel unless I protected it.

This was an easy project and sure to make points with Caroline.

Binding left to complete the Baby Quilt!

The baby quilt has been quilted.  It was beautifully quilted by Tracy Palumbo of GardenBee Designs.  I love the movement that the quilting gives to the quilt.  It is just amazing!

The front of the quilt.

 

 

 

 

A close-up of the front of the quilt.

Photograph of the back art.

I will finish the binding this coming week and give it to my daughter to give to her good friend, Sara.  I hope they like this quilt.  It was so fun to make and I hope it keeps little Will warm in the winter and a good companion when it is warm in the Spring and Summer.