Blue is the Colour

Blue..just "Blue"

is the colour of month for January over at SoScrappy and the first colour of RSC15.

When I first pulled the blue that I used for the centre it looked "blue" in the early morning light.
My first measure and to trim up the dog ears is to place the bias square on that 45 degree angle and then trim from there.


Back to "Blue"...However it is now past noon and it is indeed a darker/more purple shade of "blue" than the "blue" that I used for the Ohio Star Points. Oh well, I have the whole month to get my act together and find the right "blues" in the scrap bin. You can see what others choices (correct choices) some others have made over at RSC15.

 love and hugs
Kathy

Trying to stay caught up

But trying to stay caught up with what...there are so many choices this time of year. Concerts, shopping, baking and of course the online MQ Grand Illusions. I was so busy piecing this past week to get Step # 2 before Step # 3 was published, and even I did not have time to write and post at the Linky Party. 

But I learned a few things along the way. Clean as you go, cut a few to get you started the next time you have a chance to sit in front of the Bernina and a new way to turn parallelograms into rectangles. The 100 blocks are made and marinating in the bin along with the 200 Broken Dishes blocks and 80 hst's. The clips only stay on for the counting part of the process and then then help to clip the next step.

I am very happy to report that in Step #3 that 50 of the required 120 8-patches are pressed, counted and clipped together.

While I am doing all that I have started (leader and ender) a Tumalo Trail with assorted (and lively) nine patches. Pictured here the first two blocks. I LOVE THEM as much as I LOVE the GRANDSON this quilt is intended for. 

 I promise the next posting won't be so long, but I had a lot of catching up to do this time.

So much to sew and so little time.
hugs
Kathy

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

Easy Street - Part IV

I have had pieceful/peaceful hours alone to work on Easy Street Part IV and watch the pieces come together and the colours dance. 

The greens are cut and ready to play.

And I have used some of the leftovers on the table to make another in Randy's Sow-a-long blocks. A random one picked from the pile of those still waiting to be made (I am so far behind)...Missouri Star. It comes to together in a snap though using those great easy angle rulers.

#65 Missouri Star

I took part in a scrap-booking class on Saturday afternoon making a 2012 Christmas Recipe Album, taught by Kelly and her assistant/bff Sandra at the Urban Scrapbook. They did a terrific job steering all of us (10) through the many techniques and hunting through our stack of papers to get this almost to completion in 4 hours. I look forward to taking my own family's pictures and collecting the recipes that will make this a keepsake for years to come. 



Another project has been languishing in the bin since 2009...a bargello quilt for oldest son. He quietly (sometimes not so) watches the other quilts parade from studio and out the front door. So I have deviated from the original idea (as is my prerogative) and this will be a version of Trip Around the World (using Bonnie's lead here).

The highlight of the weekend has to be birthday supper with my beautiful granddaughter Tanea. So so precious. I have had the most enriching weekend...quietly and spiritually embracing everything around me and so thankful for all my family and friends.

My heart goes out to all those families grieving their unbearable loss.

#66 Connecticut Star

 Check what other quilters around the world are doing here on Bonnie's Linky Party.

Merrily I Sow-a-long

I have got to get back to Randy's Sow-a-long and get caught up. I present to you tonight, courtesy of that pile of scraps from Bonnie Hunters' Easy Street....

another beautiful little block using these purples...

#63 Dove in the Window

Two of my favourite tools aside from the Easy Angle Ruler and the Companion Ruler is Mary Ellen's Best Press (lavender scented) and a dry Iron.

Tomorrow it is off to Ponoka to watch Tanea and Odessa's dance recital...Grandma can hardly wait.

Scrap User System

While making the flying geese for this week's clue over on Easy Street I was left with some snippets that to anyone else (some exceptions) would have gone in the dumpster.

I measure and cut these bits into 1 1/2" inch 'strips' and using my Easy Angle...viola a collection of purple hst bound triangles to make the 28 hst's for another block for my Farmer's Wife Quilt sow-a-long lead by Randy at Barrister's Block.

I love the fact that I could use those bits up and work on two great quilts simultaneously. Of note, this beautiful block finishes at 6".

#62 Indian Plume