keep on Greenin'

SoScrappy is leading the scrappy charge for April and suggests we use up those green scraps. I am dedicating my green scraps to my other challenge, Farm Girl at Heart, another project lead by Randy over at the Barrister's Block. Two-birds-one-rock time.

This and That

No where is it written that we cannot move to some very old blue greens in the pursuit of scrappy happiness.

Darting Birds Set

I had great intentions to make one a day for the past week, but LIFE happened. So in the days ahead I will have to double my efforts to achieve my goal.

Mosaic

They are a little infectious, just want to quit my day job and make little tiny quilt blocks. This block, Chained Star, features some very-greyed out greens, but green none-the-less.

Chained Star

On Wednesday night my bee group met here and we auditioned sashings and cornerstones....standby for updates on that. There are still another 30 blocks, more or less, to make. In the meantime, are you wondering what others are doing with their green scraps...head over here.

Love and hugs
Kathy

More Farm Girl at Heart

the finish line is near. Only another 36 to go. I love making these little treasures. What will I find to take their place and no don't even bother mentioning anything about Jane.

#75  Pinwheels and Sawtooth

this is what less than half of what I have completed are on the wall for a preview. Because I already have 75 done, I am really starting to think about setting style. With 9 patch corner stones? With single strip sash with square corner stones? Because the blocks will finish at 6" square each, the sashing should be narrower, like finish at 1". And what colour should the sashing be? Something I call "old barn red" with cheddar-esques corner stones? Perhaps I could get the intended recipient involved in the design and colour process at this time...my own Farm Girl at Heart.

I spent the weekend scrapbooking and I would love to show you those pictures too, but both projects are intended as gifts, so I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Just come home from an Edmonton Oiler's hockey game, "we" beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1. Go Oilers Go.

love and hugs to all
kas

Sewing along...

Salvaged Hearts: at last year's garage sale Kim Caskey donated several expired inspirations. In fairness to Kim, she probably taught this class at Earthly Goods and these were some of the myriad of samples that she had produced. Anyhooooo, I bought this package and made a few more pieces and by sundown tonight I will have a fabulous new wall hanging ready for quilting and then displaying at my office at the University of Alberta.

Birch Bark: now how much fun is this. A 45 piece random collection of 2.5" strips, with bright orange 1" orange nuggets inserted at random spots and then sewn together in that 1600" quilt fashion, but then the strata is sub-cut and rearranged. Thanks for the design goes to Hunter's Designs Studios for the pattern and to the Edmonton & District Quilters' Guild and their Charity Committee for the pre-cut strips package. This quilt will be used to support the K-Pic Program run at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton. Hope to be quilted, bound and ready to hand off at the February guild meeting at the Royal Alberta Museum.

Farm Girl at Heart: This is the established name for my Sow-a-long blocks that has been featured by Randy over that the Barrister's Block.  Given the use of the word heart, this will make it easier for my LAQ when it comes to quilting designs. She always does an amazing job and I need to get this finished and into the queue.

#71 Lemoyne Star

#72 Flutter Wheel

Several more to go, then it is time to think about setting and sashing...

Wishing you all the very best
kas

Cruising on Easy street

I am totally stoked by the coming together of my Easy Street mystery quilt, map and directions by Bonnie Hunter over at Quiltville.

Last night I had an opportunity to visit my good friend Wanda Cracknell who is making the world's most over the top gorgeous Christmas Bauble Wreaths.

And I have found a little time to make another block in Randy's Barrister Block Sow-a-long for my "Farm Girl at Heart". I used some trash bin scraps (the blue) from my sister Marg's mystery quilt that we worked on together between Christmas and New Year's. Love my Easy Angle ruler for perfect hst's everytime.

#70 Double X

Wishing you all the best, love and hugs

kas

Happy Happy Studio Day

Happy happy studio day today to me.

I have my pieces, cut and labelled for tomorrow's start of the 3 Day Mystery Class with Marj O'Hara at Central Sewing. Stop in and say hi and check on which way 11 students will interpret the Casting Call for colours and themes.  I am using a collection of Australian themed fabrics brought back for me by my buddy Douglas Woodhouse when he traveled there...~8 years ago.  I have been waiting for just the perfect project and this is it.  I will be posting some pics of my/our progress on a daily basis. Next year you should consider joining us.

I also carved out a bit of time to make two more lovely block for my Sow-a-long with Randy over at the Barrister's Block.

# 68 Leaf Block

#69 Streaks of Lightning

Wishing you all a very relaxing day doing what ever suits you the best.

love and hugs

kas

Make a few at a time...getting it done

The world greatest Bring & Buy sale is over and I am slowly getting back into my studio to carved out a little more time to make a few blocks for my FWQ.  The name of the quilt still eludes me, but I know it will be worthy of my efforts.

51. Dutchman's Puzzle

52. Evening Star aka Sawtooth Star

53. De-Constructed Battleground

I look forward now to getting out into the yard and doing a bit of rose pruning and soil turning in the garden boxes.

Wishing you all well...kas

Farmers are a Blessing Quilt

I continue to sow along on the Farmers are a Blessing Quilt. I apologize to Randy, the Master Sower who is shepherding quilters from around the world as I quilt out of turn.
35. Ozark Maple Leaf...interesting construction and layout.

36. Fruit Basket...another great basket block.

37. Pine Tree...introducing a pine tree that has not been infested with the nasty pine beetles.

38. Whirlwind

39.Palm for Easter (paper pieced that I found on Just Takes Two)







 
 40. Steps to the alter

41. Cups and Saucers..Randy taught us a very quick and accurate way to make tiny (1" x 2") flying geese.

42. Propeller...bonus of an adaption the propeller block I saw on Bonnie Hunter's posting today.

Barrister's Sow-a-long fun= Farmers Are a Blessing Quilt

I have been sowing along with Randy over that the Barrister's Block.  First and third Wednesday of the month she posts public domain patterns (finish 6").  I have also bought the  The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt where many of these patterns are also found, albeit with out cutting or sizing instructions.  In any case, there seems to be scores of quilters following along as well and I enjoy looking at the choices that others have made for their blocks. Through their links that take me back to their home blogs...something like the virtual Alice and falling in a hole in the stratosphere that not only takes me to wonderful places but it can also eat up a huge amount of time.  Back to quilting...

1. Contrary Wife...using some red hst's that are a cut-away from a 

red thread's spool quilt that is on the design wall.

2. Box...also using up some bonus red hst's from above mentioned quilt.

 

3. Basket weave...using a strip set that was in the scrap bin.

 

4.Attic Windows...really digging in the scrap bin here.

 

5. Autumn Tints...more scraps that come from G knows where, because I sure have not used these in any other quilt I have made.

 

6.Basket...I love basket blocks

 7. Bat Wing...I had to draw this out and do some paper piecing...pink bats are not all that scary!  Whoa that is a lot pink too.

8. Big Dipper...introducing the qst's now (quarter square triangles).

9. Birds in the Air...should have used a stronger contrast or accept the fact that the birds are so far up in the sky that they are hard to distinguish.

 

10. Bowtie...just a fun little block.

11. Broken Dishes....accomplished handily through the use of my new favourite tool...the 6.5" Easy Angle Ruler by Sharon Hultgren. Awesome results every time.

12.Broken Sugar Bowl ...more broken china...opa!

13. Butterfly at the Crossroads...this surely is  a good sign of spring.

14. Calico Puzzle...made with some calico scrap stash.

15. Churn Dash...one of my favourite all time pieced blocks; done scrappy and using bonus red hst's.

16. Cut Glass Dish...one of the non-broken remaining.

17. Flock...there are several traditional pieced blocks that refer to fowl...here's another one.

18. Flower Basket...love making these basket blocks

19. Friendship Star...there is a lot of pink in this quilt.  Time to toss in something a little stronger ...let's try cheddar.

20. Homeward Bound...another pink block!

21. Maple Leaf...bring on the cheddar again.

22. Peace and Plenty....so thankful for my easy angle ruler, it kick's the stuffing out of these tiny hst's.

23. Postage stamp...perfect corners and yes yet more pink.

24. Practical Orchard...calming soothing greens.

25. Prairie Queen...hang on here is more pink.

26 & 27...with the careful placement of fabric you can have either a Snowball

or a Shoo Fly (more bonus red hst's).

28. Wedding Ring...oh look pink and cheddar together.  I like it.

29.Whirlpool...have I mentioned how much I like my easy angle ruler for making these 1.5" hsts?

30. Wrench...if you go back and look at #15, it is the same block.

31. Bonus Basket Block...love baskets.

32. Sickle...yes I am looking for the connection too!

33.  Cross between a basket and an leaf...love it.

34. Stars...another block favourite.

well that get's you caught up on my progress for the Barrister's Sow-a-long, and because of my A-type personality I have done a few more blocks than have been called for at this time. 

cheers