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' . . .