A Flock of Feathered Stars by Carolyn Cullinan McCormick

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a teaser (poster) at my local quilt shop for a class called "A Flock of Feathered Stars."  This was a paper piecing class and I was intrigued.  I had the book at home and loved the stars but I didn't have the time to do it. Here was a class held once a month, the first Tuesday of each month, we bring our sewing machines, do it at the quilt shop AND socialize with twelve other quilters!  What a deal!  I immediately signed up and we had our first class earlier this week and we paper pieced!  Needless to say, I loved it!

A photo of the book is pictured to the left, A Flock of Feathered Stars by Carolyn Cullinan McCormick.
It is a wonderful book full of paper pieced stars.  They look difficult but they are not.  I will say that you had better like paper piecing!

This is the block that we started with: Feathered Star No. 4.

It was fun and not complicated.  The block is 12" finished.

This BOM is an 18-month program.  We will sew a block each month and make 3 blocks of the border.  It really is fun.

Threads of Time - Months 8 and 9 - Finished

I am current with the Threads of Time BOM.  Well, I put the four blocks together for Month #8, Broken Star and Month #9, the Anvil block.  Of course, I have not done the flying geese for them but they are not difficult when I use Studio 180 Design's Wing Clipper Ruler.  

I enjoyed sewing the Broken Star Block.  It was fun because it was a bit more complicated compared to the previous blocks.  Of course, after a difficult block, a majority of the time an easier block is next, the Anvil.  It was easier and fun but the background was directional.

New BOM - American Summer - Month #1

I have been anticipating the start of a new Block of the Month (BOM), American Summer by Carrie Quinn for Penny Rose Fabrics for months now.  I love, love, love Civil War reproduction fabarics and red, white and blue quilts!  I picked up the first installment of the BOM last Friday and I just finished the first two blocks today.

The first block, named "Skipping Stones" is on the left and the second block is "Sparklers."  Of course, I loved sewing them and I opened almost every seam because I was afraid of the bulk at each intersection especially in an 8" block (finished).  What I like about the BOM's at Fabric Garden is that the participants can opt to just pick up the pattern and fabrics or pick up the pattern and fabrics and attend the class that will help those individuals who want help with the blocks.  Of course, I opted to just pick up the pattern and fabrics and I do the blocks at home.  The additional class costs are minimal but my time is too expensive to waste with instructions that I can easily read and make.  So here comes is my only complaint with the pattern: The measurements of each section is not noted on the pattern.  I was unsure whether my first block was the correct size.  Of course, it was not so I had to rip a couple of seams and cut down some sections until the seams matched.  Maybe the measurements were given at the class.  I will ask the ladies at Fabric Garden if measurements were given and if they are, I can quickly jot them down.

Caught Up - Fig Tree Yuletide BOM - Months 3 and 4

I've caught up but I will likely receive month #5 in three weeks and at that time, I will be scrambling to get it done!

Block #5 - Goose in the Pond

This block is 15" square (finished).  This block was fun to sew together because it was made up of 9-patches and half square triangles. It was fast sewing it together.

This blocks is called "Goose in the Pond."  

Block #6 - Nine-Patchwork

This block was also very quick to sew together.  It is also 15" square and thirteen nine patches.

Block #7 - Lily Trio

This block is 16" square (finished).  Large pieces always make me happy because they have very little bulk and sew together quickly and neatly.  The stems were machine appliqued onto the background fabric.

Block #8 - Pinwheel Swirl

This blocks is composed of four Pinwheel Swirl blocks.  I love the secondary blocks made when they are sewn together.  This was another fun 16" (finished) block.

Fig Tree Yuletide Block of the Month

I joined another BOM (Block of the Month) earlier this year.  Little did I know that I would be so behind and that I would be scrambling to do these blocks before the next blocks arrived.  This is a new BOM from Fig Tree and Company. Joanna Figueroa is my favorite fabric designer and I always sign up.  I have never regretted doing it but I fall behind frequently.  The first month's blocks arrived in April.  The next two month's block arrived as they were supposed to but I thought that I would be finished before July's blocks arrived.  NO SUCH LUCK! The blocks arrived this week.  

Month #1 - Puzzle Star

I love this block.  It is composed of nine churn dash like blocks.  It was very easy to put together and the pattern included with the fabric was easy to follow.  In the middle of this 16" (finished) block is a star depicted in green.

Month #1 - Caroline Lily Variation

This block is also 16" square.  If you hadn't notice the name of this quilt is the Yuletide BOM.  It is a Christmas quilt thus the red and green blocks. This block is still incomplete because Joanna will send in a future mailing another shade of green to make the leaves.  This was another easy set of four blocks to sew. 

Month #2 - Flying Geese Criss Cross

The next two blocks were received in May.  I am finally finishing them in July!  This block is also 16" square. This was another easy one because of the size of the pieces of fabric.  It went very fast and besides I LOVE making star blocks.  BTW, this quilt is a mystery quilt which means Joanna will give us instructions and/or suggestions at the end of the year on where to place the blocks for a pleasing quilt.

Month #2 - Feather Star

This block was by far the most difficult of the four blocks.  The small triangles and placement were tedious.  In the instructions Joanna wrote:  "Sew SLOWLY & CAREFULLY." At first, I did not follow her instructions and had to rip out the seam so many times (I lost count) that I was leaving some places where the triangles meet close to threadbare!  I like the look of it so I guess it was worth it.

So I am on to June and July's blocks.
Happy Sewing Everyone!

Catching up on Threads of Time BOM and Fig Tree Mystery Sampler BOM

I have been out of town just about every weekend so it has been difficult catching up.  I took photos of the Block of the Month that I have completed so far since mid May.

Threads of Time - Month #6

Threads of Time - Month #7

Fig Tree Mys BOM - Month #3

Fig Tree Mys BOM - Month #4

Fig Tree Mys BOM - Month #5

Fig Tree Mys BOM - Months #6 & #7

I just looked at the postings that I previously published.  I neglected to photgraph the Threads of Time - Month #5.  

I also have months #1-3 of another Fig Tree BOM - Green and Red, a Christmas block of the month that I have not even looked at yet. I will try to get to it after I finish the Lone Star portions that I am supposed to finish before the next class on July 13.

Slowly but surely...I am catching up!

I have been sewing just about non-stop.  May was a busy month:  my oldest daughter was married on May 2nd and my only son graduated from Pharmacy School on May 29th.  Before the wedding, my husband and I were busy helping build a dance floor and cleaning up a not-yet-opened artisan bread store for the rehearsal dinner. 

Erin and August - The wedding was spectacular

My son and his girlfriend graduated from Mid-Western University Pharmacy School in Glendale, Arizona.  Glendale is a west of Phoenix. The week before their graduation they attended a wedding and reception at the Fairmont in San Francisco.

Tom and Jocelyn

Anyway, driving back and forth just about every weekend did not leave much time to sew and to catch up on my BOM's (Block Of the Month). 

I decided to take a class at Fabric Garden because I am not working at school...it is vacation time for students and staff.  I have always been intrigued by the Lone Star block.  It looks so complicated because of the many diamond pieces that have to be sewn together.  It looks like a daunting task.

The class that I enrolled in is Lone Star - The Quiltsmart Way.  We were told to select six coordinating fabrics and cut them before we came to class.  Well..it was so fun and easy.  All you do is follow the instructions and use the interfacing included in the pattern and VIOLA!  You have a large diamond with smaller diamonds in all of the colors that you brought with you.

Quiltsmart Pattern

I used batiks for this Lone Star Quilt

This is the back of the block with the interfacing

I think that I will give it to my son Tommy and Jocelyn after they move to Oakland this coming week.  Jocelyn is starting a Pharmacy Internship and Tom will be working at Walgreen's in Oakland also.  They did a six week pharmacy work experience in Honolulu and they absolutely enjoyed it.  The fabrics that I chose for this quilt reminded me of the ocean and sun in every photograph that they posted on Instagram and Facebook.  Unfortunately, they move in soon but the second installment of the Lone Star class is July 13.  Almost three weeks after they move in.  Oh well, I will eventually finish and I hope they like it.

I will post photos of the blocks that I have caught up on next time.  Hopefully, that will be soon.