small decisions

I've been working on my Circle game quilt some more.  I drew another block this week and it was kind of exciting to see it progress from paper to fabric.  I'm trying to make blocks that fit in with the rest from the pattern without being too similar. When I planned this block I intended to make the star centre red.  As I rummaged in my template bags I found this beige centre that is the perfect size.  I was surprised at how much I like it. 

 I went ahead and basted a red centre too. I had to be sure.

 And now I can't decide - lol!

 Surely if I laid out all the blocks together the quilt would tell me which colored centre to use.

But no - I still like them both :0)   I'm sure I'll decide soon and just sew one of them on.  2 more blocks to go!  I found the perfect border fabric in the sale room at a nearby quilt shop.  I'm excited this will be a completed top.

 

I also made the Clue #2 of the Thimblecreek Mystery.  I even managed to cut into some of my Dutch chintz fabric.  The first cut has to be the hardest right?



Happy Quilting!!

intersection of time and inclination

I should be working on my Bird of Paradise border.  I'm so close to finishing it- over 5 years I've been working on it but instead I have been working on is this.  Audrey posted on her blog Quilty Folk about the magic intersection of time and inclination for working on things.  Clearly there has been time what is lacking is the inclination.

 I am loving appliqueing these blocks though! My teenaged daughters recently discovered Downton Abbey for themselves and are watching their way through all of the seasons. How can I resist sitting down with them to watch and do some handwork?  Somehow I doubt this will be a 5 year project...

I got back to working on my Circle Game quilt.  I decided to make 4 more blocks and make a rectangular quilt that someone in the family can use on a bed.  I drew this fairly simple block on freezer paper, made templates and sewed it last week.  Now I only have 3 more to come up with.

 And I thought I would never need to use a geometry set again once I finished high school  :0)

After watching others make the Halloween Thimblecreek mystery quilt last year I could not resist joining in on the mystery for this year.  These are the first 4 blocks.  What is it about 6 inch blocks - so irresistible :0) 

Happy Quilting!!

a new old project

We've been away - without internet even for a whole 7 days and we survived!  So, there was time to sew :0)

 

I wanted an easy prep applique project to bring along and remembered my intension to get back to this project.  I started it at retreat in March of 2014.  It is a Kim Diehl pattern from the 2014 April issue of Fons and Porter magazine.  I posted about it here.  Anyway I started the project in Kim's machine applique method but now have switched to hand applique which I love.  This is my newly appliqued block. 

 I lay it next to the machine appliqued blocks from a couple years ago and they look okay together.  I will make some more blocks before I decide if I want to put both styles of applique into the same quilt. 

 What do you think?  Would you put hand appliqued blocks next to machine appliqued blocks (appliqued with invisible plastic thread) in the same quilt?  I really disliked doing the machine applique and I won't go back to it but it sure is a lot faster!

While we were away I also managed to make a Star-a-day block everyday :0)  I'm up to these 15 blocks now and I am considering aiming for 365.

They are amazingly portable to bring places which I really like but I don't think I'm getting any better at hand piecing yet.  Oh well, maybe in a 100 or so more stars...

Happy Quilting!!