Dancing Stars

Today's design wall is full of dancing stars.

They're eight inch blocks that will be a baby quilt ---soon, I hope.

And those stars in exile on the upper right? They're over there because I cut them wrong and they're out of step.  Marching to the wrong tune.


To check out other design walls, click here to go to Judy's blog.  

November BOM Report

Last week, my  2011 BOM group met and showed these blocks.  The ones on the right are last month's and the one on the left is this month.  I did not do this block because I've been working on the sashing for this quilt -- I'll have a photo of the progress on that on the Monday Design Wall post.

This beauty was shown last month, but I didn't have permission to post it.  Ellyn kindly gave me permission when I remembered to ask.  She shrunk the blocks from 12 inches to nine inches -- a math feat that boggles the mind  for some of these blocks.  And she added just a wee bit of red in each block.  The log cabin setting blocks were her own invention.  I especially like the little grey squares she added in the border.

I have a little dilemma... I need one more block for mine.  Should I do a "54 45 or Fight?"  I've always wanted to do one of these blocks.

Or should I do a feathered star?  I love this block and I just can't imagine doing a sampler quilt without at least one.  Or do both and put one on the back... Hmmmmm...

October BOM

This month the BOM block was the barrister's block.  Above are all the blocks from the group.

On the left is my block at  home with its friends.  I didn't have enough left of the feature fabric to cut four large triangles, so I cut two of each.  The dark blue background looks a little bit purple on my monitor, but it's really dark blue.  The lime green is a hand-dye (my own) and the orange triangles are commercial fabric.

First Thursday Piecers Group

As I have mentioned before, the first Thursday of the month is the machine piecer group.  This month the blocks were:

"Treasure Chest"

Mine is the green and blue batik block in the center.  I did it in EQ7 to try out fabric choices before I actually cut up any fabric.

It turned out different for a couple of reasons.  First, I was using the fabric choices that come with the program rather than scan in my actual fabrics.  Also, I have two printers available to me -- one that I share with the kids and so is constantly low on ink.  Right now, everything that it prints is pink.  The other printer is mine exclusively, but I was too cheap to waste ink on a print of a block.  So, during the running up and down the stairs between computer and fabric, the choices changed.  Unfortunately, all that running didn't result in a changed (read: skinnier) me.

I have a big beef with the fabric companies and EQ because they used to  have a disk of fabrics that you could purchase.  Yep -- in addition to the fabrics you already paid for, you had to buy the disk if you wanted to use them with EQ.  There are some manufacturers that allowed free downloads from their websites, but the idea of paying for an image of their fabric just griped me.  I'd rather spend my cash on fabric and thread.

So I got in the habit of using the ones that came with the program.  That's all changed with the new version, but I like designing in black and white because it's easy to see if the value choices work.  I'm much better with the scanner now and there are some new tools in EQ7 that allow fussy cutting and realistic sizing of prints, but I haven't had time to play around with them yet.  Soon.  The other block for this month was:

"Star of Many Points"

And my EQ7 version.  My block is in the upper left hand corner of the group.  Again, they're different.  Partly because I get so excited when I get to play with the fabric, changes happen.  Also, the stuff in the box for this quilt is different from the choices available with the program.   I keep current WIPs in plastic boxes so that all the fabrics are together and easy to move out of the way when something new strikes my fancy (OK, yes, I have some really old ones in boxes too).  I really like the green in the cross pieces.  I'm hoping to find some time to dye next week.  Maybe I'll  see if I can match that color.

This group is a free class that meets on the first Thursday of each month at Mill House Quilts in Waunakee, Wisconsin (the only one in the world).  This year we're doing "Sew Many Blocks" by Julia Hale from Bits 'n Pieces.  

And I did have some stuff for show and tell.  Including the latest tiger quilt.  I haven't finished sewing down the binding yet (maybe tonight), but all the quilting is done.  And I'm still married and all my children are intact.  So... tune in tomorrow.  

Design Wall Monday - Potential

This is on my design wall today.










The blocks that I've been working on for my piecing group and the background that I dyed for the challenge.  Yes, that's right, there are no new blocks since the last time I posted about them.  That's because I've been working on this:
I used some of the challenge fabric to make the right ear and I will use some more to do the other ear.  I'm getting close to finishing her -- I'm excited to see what she's going to look like on the background I dyed especially for her.  I was going for a field and sky look.


And I've been working on quilting the tiger quilt.   I have finished quilting three of the sampler blocks and done some of three more.  No photos of that today.  Probably not until it's finished.  To see what others are doing click here.

A Buncha Blocks

I've been catching up on some blockage.

These are some of my favorite traditional blocks.  I know that they have many different names, but I prefer to call them "shining stars."  I particularly like these because they are well suited to particular piecing á la Paula Nadelstern with all the diamond shapes and the way they fit together.  When made with the right fabric choices, they truly shine.  Although, I think, they look pretty good with any fabric choices.

I have also been working on the blocks for my piecing club (the other posts are here and here).  And yes, I know that the outer triangles on that top block aren't sewn on yet -- I'll get to it.






I haven't made all the the blocks because I just wasn't crazy about them.  This month the two blocks are made with the dreaded "A-word" (appliqué) -- so I'm saving up used dryer sheets for that.  Stay tuned...