Wonky Star Block

I had to do a wonky star block for my block exchange.  First time.  There is a great tutorial at http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.com/2009/02/wonky-star-tutorial.html.  My block turned out great.

Then I decided it was time to do verykerryberry's Wonky Star QAL.  I saw a quilt on PinInterest that lead me back to the QAL.  http://verykerryberry.blogspot.com/p/quilt-long.html.  This was my first attempt at the wonky star.  The fabric is cut into 12 1/2" pieces and then subcut into nine uneven pieces.  I had trouble with the short and narrow strips.  You can see my points were not there.

The second block turned out better.  I am starting to get the hang of it.  Only eight more blocks to go.  This is a baby quilt.  

I also got all my string blocks completed.  I still have to cut my corner and side pieces and put the whole thing together.  I had a pretty productive sewing weekend.

I also went to a presentation by the Janome educator at my local sewing machine retailer.  I am in love with the Janome 7700.  We got to try fmq and did a small project where we got to try out a variety of stitches.  I am going to save my pennies for this baby.  

LQS in Texarkana

I was out of town in Texarkana a couple of weeks ago.  I found a new quilt shop in Summerhill Square that had only been open a couple of months.  She did not have too much fabric yet but I got some great deals.  Her fabric was mostly $8.00 per yard.  I got a great deal on a bundle of four fat quarters for $6.00.  I bought a yard of purple to finish out my husband's quilt and a fat quarter of a floral purple to add to my Farmer's Wife quilt fabrics pile.  I had a great time.  The owner and her daughter are very nice.  If you get to Texarkana you might want to stop by.

String Quilt Revival Quilt

I made progress on my string quilt.  I decided to piece it on the diagonal since my charm squares were directional.  I tried getting my sizes for my setting triangles from Quilt Pro but it would only give me a layout and not the size of the squares.  Thank goodness for Bonnie Hunter.  She has a page that gives you the math to figure out the blocks that you divide to get your setting triangles.  I still have eleven blocks to go.  Since I start at the charm square edge and go out with scraps on all four sides it is time-consuming.  I am using up a lot of scraps but still have lots left.  How many scrap quilts am I going to have to make to use up my scraps.  It seems that they just multiply in my storage containers. I pin-basted another quilt but did not get to it yet.  I am out-of-town this week so I will not get anything done until the weekend.

Not much happening

I have had sort of a slow three weeks sewing-wise.  I got the pieced back of a quilt done, a few of my string quilt blocks, and finished all of my log-cabin blocks.  Between being out-of-town,  having company and being sick, it has been slow.  Hope to get more done in the coming weeks.

I won an embroidered rooster that I can use a basis for a pot-holder or other kitchen item.  Bejeweled Barb is utilizing her new embroidery machine and I am a lucky recipient.

This is a picture of my log cabin blocks.  It does not look like 48 blocks but it is, and putting them together was very time-consuming.  I hope to get them sewn together next week.

January Swap Block

I tried a new design for my January block for my Block Swap Adventure.  I found a tutorial on Freshly Pieced for a ribbon star block.  It took me awhile but I got it done.  You really had to watch how you sewed your pieces together.  I hope my swap partner likes it.  She requested an orange block.

Log Cabin Blocks

I spent last weekend working on my log cabin quilt.  I had previously had seven blocks done and then got caught up in Christmas gifts.  Now that I am free again I started up with the log cabin blocks.  I had eight more cut before last weekend so I assembled them and ended up with fifteen blocks that were complete.  I decided I wanted a twin size so I was going to need a total of 48 blocks.  Then the fun began.  I cut and I cut and I cut.  Now I have nice piles of every size separated by light and dark.  Now I get to assemble and sew this weekend.  I had to go to my LQS and then to JoAnn's to get additional fabric.  Good thing I had a coupon for 20% off my total purchase and then the fabric was 40% off.  I even got the backing fabric for my husband's quilt.  A bargain of $12.00 for 4 yards of fabric.

Wish me luck.  

String Quilt Revival

I treated myself to a new book today with my Barnes and Noble gift card.  It is "String Quilt Revival" by Virginia Baker and Barbara Sanders.  It comes with a DVD featuring Nancy Zimmerman.  It has some really neat string quilt ideas.  They also don't use paper for their foundation.  They use no show mesh stabilizer.  You keep it on the quilt rather than tearing it off.  Great idea.

I, however, am using sketch pad paper for mine.  I picked a charm square pack I am not going to use otherwise for the charm squares in the middle of my string block.  I got two pieced tonight.  Just trying it out.  I was going to do all light floral but I am using those fabrics for my Farmer's Wife quilt so I just stuck with neutrals and darks which I have plenty of.

Took a picture of my two squares, the book and my sketch paper pad.  I will probably do this over time.