We interrupt this regularly scheduled program . .

. . .to clean. However, before I take on the dusting, washing, and moping, I just have to share this.


Some of you may recognize it, as you probably have one also. It's a 73-quart Bin full of "strings." Which led to this . . .


After seeing the lovely example put together by Sue Frank over at Mary's blog, I had to make one.

But wait, it gets BETTER! I'm coordinating a QOV Quilt-A-Thon to be held at our local community center. Our goal is 35 quilt tops like this one. (Although, I'm really hoping for 50). I'll post more information about this in the near future. Meanwhile, if you'd like to donate any red or blue strings to the cause and clean out some of your string bin please e-mail me. We could really use your help.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Red it is!

I must say, it's been ages since I've worked this hard designing something new. Initially some sections were very tricky. The next time I design incorporated borders, I'll use my EQ. You all would have laughed seeing me pin little red triangles to the design wall in an effort to figure out which direction they turned and attaching them was a whole other matter.

I have an idea for the outer border, but that will have to wait a bit as I think my brain needs a rest. In the future, I'll be offering this pattern for sale and you too can play with red, white, and blue!

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Like gum on a sneaker,

I'm really stuck.


Exhibit A was made 20 years ago. It's the only quilt on which I used cotton thread instead of monofilament on the top. Why, well, I was so excited about getting it done, that I forgot to change threads. Silly me.
Fast forward to the next baggie project. Yupper, 20-year-old pieces waiting patiently.

Is the red too bright, the blue too much. Should it only be white and blue. Or should I just close my eyes and sew? Ouch!

Onward . . .

. . . with the baggie brigade!

There were 31 blocks residing in a baggie for I'd say maybe 5 years or more. Every time I pulled them out, I put them back thinking that I needed to make 30 more B blocks to go with them. Well pffft on that! Why not use what was already there and simplify. Now there's a thought, SIMPLIFY!

Remember the silver rule, "it's a quilters' perogative to change her mind!!!"

And why make 1 big quilt, when it's just as easy to make 2 small ones. One has 18 squares and the other 13 squares, same setting. I'm still mulling over border ideas, but it will come to me.

Would anyone else like to join the Baggie Brigade? No special insignia required.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Print scale

This was an experiment utilizing the Ohio star block. In the small quilt, the hourglass portion was made using a 3" square and in the larger block, the hourglass portion was made using a 4" square.





You'll notice on the small quilt a background print of black circles the size of a pin head. The large star blocks, being larger, could tolerate a background print with circles the size of pencil erasers. Proportion of block size or scale does dictate the fabrics surrounding it.
While reading one of my Vintage Quilt magazines, I came upon a pomegranite quilt with 15" blocks. This was a LARGE pattern. It suddenly dawned on me that the reason for this was because the bed it was lying upon was the size of Lake Michigan. (Well ok, maybe not Lake Michigan, but you get the idea.) It makes sense that not only does the print pattern need to correlate with the block, but also, the size block correlate with the placement and use of the quilt.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Blueberries and cream

I discovered that this pattern is quickest when using one color grouping. By pulling strips of aqua, teal, gray-blue to navy blue, I was able to work these squares up very quickly. Now I'm having trouble deciding on a border, a pieced border that is. If you have any ideas or pictures to share, I'd certainly appreciate it.

While browsing through blog land, I've been amazed at the number of folks finishing up old projects. "If they can do it, I can do it" is my new mantra.

This small Ohio star with 4-1/2" squares is my first endeavor into "FOP" (finishing old projects) or at least getting them to a stopping point. Don't tell anyone, but there are so many baggie projects I'm afraid to count them. So I won't! I'll just work on them instead and share the results with you. I know you won't complain.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

"If pigs could fly, . . . .

they'd eat pie in the sky."


You could call this a happy accident. After making 9 blocks with the white squares placed opposite the originals in Humble Pie, what else could be done, but make 11 more for a second quilt. This one will be raffled off and the money used by my favorite library to purchase books on tape.

Many fabrics were chosen specifically to coordinate with the border print. These pigs have been flying around my stash for at least 8 years and it's time for them to head on down the road.

When finished, the quilt will hang in the library in the children's section for all to enjoy until the raffle ends. This pattern is like Lay's potato chips, just one won't do.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Cough, sniffle

It seems, like many of you, I've come down with the dreaded "crud." Obviously just because there are quilts to finish and fabric to fold, I'm not exempt from feeling yucko. So after we all have one big pitty party, it's time to bundle up with our buddy Vicks (vapor rub) and confer with our pal Dee (congestant cough formula),while we peruse through our favorite quilt books and magazines. Take heart troops! With graph paper and pencil in hand, charting out the next course of quilts will get us through these rough seas!


And where is everyone else heading off to . . why Miller's Dry Goods new web site of course. Have you been to Charm, Ohio? Lovely town and yes, well, ahem . . . charming.

www.millersdrygoodsandfabrics.com

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .