August is running away from us...

We have been running...running...running... around in circles mostly :-)  That's just how it is for us in August.

I finished this FWQ block last Sunday -- and forgot to post it!  I finally figured out how to match up my seams a bit better -- and for that reason,  I feel quite satisfied with the time I spent on this block.  I've been looking at alot of blocks in the flickr pool that use the red/aqua combination -- so I thought I would give it a try.  I like it -- and Sofia even complimented it -- but I'm not sure if I will be using this block in "the quilt".  I am getting a "kitchen" vibe from it.  But, as I go along maybe I will make a few more blocks with that kind of vibe and it will "belong". 

I used  Lori Holt's easy square in a square tutorial.  I don't know what I would do without her help.  She has a few more tutorials that I haven't followed -- so I'm still in the "safe zone".  I'm hoping she'll do a few more -- hint hint... The one I would like to see is: Block #59 Night & Day.  That block is totally made from triangles and other odd shapes.  I'm leaving that one for way later...you know, just in case she's listening and doesn't want me to suffer through it all by myself. :-)

And, now, we're running off to Friday... :-)  

not so easy...

I finally finished my first block for August.  I am not sure why I couldn't get this to work right the first time I did it.  I followed Lori Holt's tutorial -- but for some reason I couldn't get the diagonal seams to match the center piece correctly.  I took it apart twice and then finally decided to make the unfinished height of the center piece 2 1/4", and I left the unfinished width at 2 1/2".  What you're seeing in the photo is my third attempt at this block.  

The block is named "spool" -- and I just realized that I have it positioned the wrong way in the photo.  I'm off to take another photo.  Sigh...

Okay, I'm back.  This is how it's supposed to look...

I am beginning to feel like this block has something against me.  I think it's time to move onto the next block... 

last block for July...

Here it is!  My cheery block made with Lori Holt's Sew Cherry fabric.  This fabric is manufactured by Riley Blake and it handles beautifully.  This was my easiest block so far.  

I made a total of ~ 7 ~ blocks for July.  Onto August -- and -- only 104 blocks more to do! :-)

the cherries make me happy...

Remember yesterday when I was wishing for some of Lori Holt's Sew Cherry fabric?

Look what showed up in my mailbox!  Yay!

I need to go flip through "the book" and find a block that is worthy...! :-)  

indecision wastes time...

So, here is my hot off the ironing board block.  It is called Buzzard's Roost.  Both the name, and, the color of the fabrics used in the book seem so dreary to me.  This block contains "flying geese" pieces.  I have never done these, so I wanted to stay true to the sample in the book as far as the colors -- just to make it less confusing while I was learning how to make the "flying geese".  On Wednesday, I cut out my fabric -- and I wasn't happy -- so I set the pieces aside.  Last night, I searched through my fabric bin for a specific piece of fabric to use in the center square -- but I couldn't find it.  Then, this morning, as I was reading Lori Holt's flying geese tutorial -- and wanting a piece of her cute Sew Cherry fabric  -- it struck me that I had some "vintage" cherry fabric in my stash!  So I used that, and this is the result.   

Here is the way the block would have looked if I had remained true to the sample in the book.

The cherries make me happy!  :-)  

a belated birthday tribute...

I have been working on this block for 3 days.  The name of it is "Butterfly at the Crossroads" and I wanted to complete it on July 22 as a tribute to my father's birthday.  That did not happen, so here it is...a little late.  This block is the most challenging one that I have done so far.  Because of the triangles, it took quite a bit of focus --  even so -- it was relaxing to work on and also the most fun.

I really didn't go flipping through "the book" looking for a butterfly block.  It is the first block I found while I was looking for a block that has 5 rows.  Why did I need a block with 5 rows?  I received an email from someone who had a question about a comment on had left on someone else's blog.  After I replied, she sent me another email asking how would I use Lori Holt's no template tutorial with a block that has 5 rows.  Since I am new to many of the traditional quilt blocks shown in "the book", I wanted to see if the no template tutorial would work for this block. 

   I looked at the block and decided the two center rectangles and square would be my starting point.  Since my finished block size is 6 inches, the width across the 2 rectangles + 1 square should equal 6 inches.  The finished width across each rectangle equals 2 1/2 inches.  The finished width across the center square equals 1 inch.

   The other rectangles, squares and HSTs fit in around this.  Since the finished width of the center square equals 1 inch, then the finished width for each of the 2 connected vertical rectangles equals 1 inch.  The width of the remaining area on each side of a vertical rectangle equals 2 1/2 inches, so the finished width of each square piece or HST piece equals 1 1/4".

I am very happy with the way this block turned out!  I think my father would have liked it.  Am I learnin'? :-) 

     

oh, the weather outside is frightful...

Right now the temperature is 97 degrees -- but the heat index is 107 degrees.  You can't even breathe outside -- so -- I had an excuse to stay inside and work on another FWQAL block!  Since this is my "fun time", I have to justify it -- otherwise I feel guilty.  I know I am not alone in this, so I won't elaborate on it.  Anyhoo, I did run errands this morning, and then I came home and did my chores -- so I deserve the fun!  Yay!  Here is my first block with HST (half square triangles).  They were so easy to do because of Lori Holt's tutorial.  I did make a mistake and cut out the first group of squares too small -- note to self -- look at your notes!  :-)  But, I found another piece of fabric that was similar to what I originally planned for those squares and recut them, so no harm done.  I also realized after I was all done that my stitch length setting was too long.  Other than that, this block was fun -- and I have gained a teeny bit of confidence -- so I am moving on to find the next block in the book that has HST!

 

I changed my colors...

I love the colors of this block in the book, so, I wanted my block to look similar.  I got as close as I could get with my fabric stash.  This fabric handled a bit better than was I used for the postage stamp block -- so this collection is a possibility for redoing that one.  I am also getting a bit better at matching up my seam lines.  I think I am going to try a HST (half square triangle) for my next block.  I haven't done a HST yet, so I will be using another tutorial from Lori Holt to guide me along.   

FWQAL - my block 2

I spent quite a few hours today yesterday working in the garden.  Yes, it was very hot.  Really hot -- but -- I was in snipper overdrive and just kept going.  Around 3 p.m. I thought it was time to quit -- and joined the troops in the pool.  After all that you would think I should be exhausted -- but I wasn't -- so I went upstairs and worked on my 2nd block for the FWQAL.  This block has a postage stamp pattern -- so it's very easy to cut -- but a bit tedious to stitch together.  It's looking a bit wobbly there in the 2nd photo -- but I'm sure it will be just fine after a few quilting stitches.  :-) 

 

doin' my homework...

Work in progress...

First block completed!

I am so happy to show you my first completed block for the FWQAL!  I followed Lori Holt's tutorial -- and I love the result!  The fabric I am using for my first group of blocks is Moda Picket Fence by Chloe's Closet.  This fabric is from a few years ago.  I only have one charm pack -- so even though I love it, I will need to switch to another fabric after I make a few blocks.  I'll make a decision about the next fabric at that point.  Right now I'm off to work on my second block!  :-)   

EDIT:  Oh, NO!  I just realized when I looked at a closeup of the 2nd photo that I sewed my squares together the wrong way!  I think I need to make one of Lori's Mini Design Boards before I do my 2nd block!  

whew...(w)hew...

{catches breath while gathering supplies, scoffing down blueberry bagel, and guzzling morning coffee}  Alrighty, I have most of the supplies required for Lori Holt's awesome tutorials for the FWQAL.  I am now happy that I was a bit delayed in starting my blocks -- because I would have been pulling out my hair trying to use the templates for every single block -- and --- probably would have missed the blogger updates about these tutorials.  My only dilemma now is that I can't decide what fabric to use -- but that will work itself out once I get going.  

I'm off to a lovely weekend -- and hopefully completing a few blocks...  Hope you have a lovely weekend too!  :-)

woo hoo...

Look what showed up after dinner last night...

{grin} :-) 

I hopped on the bandwagon...

I read about this over at nanaCompany and bee in my bonnet.  I looked at photos in the quilt-along on flickr.  I finally went over to my local Barnes & Noble yesterday to see if I liked the book -- even though the weather forecast called for more thunderstorms...

I found a copy on the bookshelf and flipped through the pages as the lightning crashed and thunder rumbled outside the store window.

And, I fell in love with the book.  I didn't want to put it back on the shelf, but I had to because I knew that I could order it online from Walmart and save $$.

So, I did...  Hope it doesn't travel here on the slow boat...