Those itsy bitsy teeny tiny stars

     I have been making wonky stars from scraps and 2" assorted white/creams for a long time as leader/enders. My granddaughter arranges the block and I press it on freezer paper until I can web sew them. I have over 100. But I could not find a way to arrange them that was not repetitive and monotonous. On Pinterest, I found a large star quilt that had a circular arrangement and I said, aha, that is it.
    I figured out the placement and have to sew more plain squares in threes for it to work. I will make a large circle block and then more so I can sew the circle blocks into a top.

Trying not to grumble

     I am one of those persons, when I fall in love with a pattern, I buy it. I want to support the designer and cut out the math busywork. Most times I am disappointed in the description, diagrams and depth of instruction. I know it is hard to write patterns. Last year, it took me months to write a Mystery pattern for my guild. I worked so hard on it and few made it, that I gave it to Alycia to use for her Mystery Quilt for QOV. I have no desire to write another. Explaining and drawing out every detail is time consuming and tedious. I get it. 
     When I buy a pattern, I want it to be specific on how to piece the block together and how to sew all the blocks into the whole. I don't want only a schematic of blocks, but piecing order instructions, and cutting instructions/diagrams if tricky.
    Last week, I bought two patterns. Neither spelled out the details. One pattern is a derivative of Jack's Chain and was very frustrating. It was not a cheap pattern and it did not include piecing order directions. It is a y-seam/partial seam block. I saw a finished quilt on the designer's blog and fell in love. The pattern page has this quilt on it. But when I downloaded the pattern, that variation was not mentioned. I tried to adapt the instructions, but did not realize until it was too late that the 9 patch order would have to be reversed, so I have a useless block.
    I did contact the designer and told her my problem. She did not address the issue, but said that quilt was not part of pattern instruction and there was enough info to piece it. 
     I am plannng to use Kaffe scraps, make all the nine patches as leader/enders and then deal with piecing order.  Maybe by then I will figure it out.

Nine patches are wrong- have to have the light square in the center which is opposite the instructions

Partial, y seams and assorted

     Over a week ago, my co-chair in programming at my guild and I did an all day workshop on y seams and partial seams for our guild. We did hexagons- made a Tumbling block placemat and coaster and also wanted to teach the inset tile block. We ran behind because people did not precut the fabric as per handout instructions, so we lost about an hour and were only able to demonstrate the tile block. The block is called Scrappy Bow Tie by Rita from Red Pepper Quilts. However, I redesigned it so it would use 5" blocks, perfect to use up charm packs. We also made a unique way to cut the angle for the tiles. We also made marking templates from the cheap cutting mats from the dollar store.

      I don't think the cool color blocks are going to mesh with the warm ones. I may have to make two separate quilts. I think a 1" finished white border may look like grout and could improve the quilt.

It bloomed!

     My colorwash, that is. I finished the seams and now have to hunt for a backing. I will  quilt this on my Singer 301, not the longarm. Not sure how yet. This was a result of Wanda's Colorwash 360 online class. Sign up for her blog. 
     I have been collecting floral squares for a long time. I wish it could have been bigger. It is 17 rows by 17 rows, so about 34 x 34 when finished. And a bizillion hours.
     I am happy with it. It is staying with me.

Columns clipped on tray

Four for the Basket

     Four done baby quilts for Jack's Basket. I used scraps donated, partially done blocks donated, and some stash. The backs were given to me also. I tried to quilt two at a time on the longarm (different backs next to each other and it was a bit challenging). These are for the Hands2Help challenge sponsored by Sarah Craig.
     You can go to the link and see all the other quilts people have made. I had other tops for another charity, but I could not get them quilted in time. Now, I have to get these packed up and shipped out. I enjoyed making them and I hope they give the recipients some smiles.

Back

Back

 

99 pieces of scraps on the wall, 99 scraps on the wall

     Actually there are more than 99 pieces of scraps, but that boring song was all could think of when repeatingly moving colorwash squares. You might have to be a genius to solve a Rubik's cube, but there is only one right answer. In a colorwash, it moves along a spectrum of getting better. Not knowing when to stop moving it around is difficult. 
     For days, I have moved, added, scrounged up a few new squares, rearranged the trays, and taken photos. I think I found a place on the spectrum I needed to stop because it was not improving any more to my eye. This is part of the Colorwash 360 class by Wanda. The amount of information, helps, and insight in the class is staggering- all done online. I have not ever taken an online class before that really pushed me ahead in understanding, technique, and competency. So, it was time to stop. Now the columns are all numbered with painters tape, ready to take down and clip ready to sew by webbing.
     I need to find a better setup to photograph because the colors really do blend and are not choppy like the photo. I bought some new lights, but can't find proper stands. You have to trust me on the color blends. 

Last layout, I'm done

 Black and white shows value shifts

Taped numbers on top columns ready to take down

Train 'em young

     I am gifted with a granddaughter (age 7) who loves to color and draw. She asked me to draw some flowers with her on the driveway for spring. I am always stocked with chalk.

Hers

Mine

     Then she asked me if it was a quilt back, how could it be designed, so we drew these out. B is for back. Background fabric colors and design added. All her idea.

x
     Finally, she designed a front and now expects me to make it. F is for front. Yikes. How does she do that so easily and I sweat over graph paper?