It's a 16 Patch Throwdown.

I have had so much fun this week. Simple things...take a pile of blue scraps and divide it up into blue and 'not really blue". From these I have made more slabs, 17 in total. I will need 36 slabs to make a decent sized quilt for one of my little boys.

and more 16 patch/Sawtooth blocks.

I have also used the scraps from cleaning up the table after my Grand Illusion finish and have 'sewed-ahead'. Will show those blocks when the time and colours are right. But they are finished blocks in the bin and ready for their great reveal when that month comes.

I have a cutting plan for the alternate blocks with the Sawtooth Stars and have started to cache my 2.5" colour squares into the RSC15 bin.

It doesn't matter how many times I count my "Farm Girl At Heart" Blocks I come up with a different number. 1, 2, skip a few, 3, 4.... Ah well, how about sewing up a few more with some blue scraps. I started the one on the left with 1 3/4" squares...nope...ended up with a 7" unfinished block. Okay do it again with 1 1/2" squares...nope, this one is a perfect 5 1/2" square. When really all I want is a 6 1/2" unfinished square. These two will go into the orphan block bag!! Can anyone out there provide the math?

Next up for the Grand Illusion is to have it quilted in time for Christmas gift presentation 2015, until then it can go on the shelf for a few months.

See what else is happening with the colour Blue at SoScrappy.
Happiest in the studio
Love and Hugs
Kathy

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

Farm Girl at Heart...cont'd

# 80 Carrie Nation

This is such a light airy block...just love it. I was delighted to use some tiny amber coloured 1 1/4" squares from my friend Brandis, leftovers from a mystery class we took part in 3 years ago.  Is that too long to keep those tiny pieces?

Patio Lanterns that I made with my tiny 1 1/4" pieces from the same class. The Quilt pattern was called Trail Mix.

One of the other benefits of quilting is coming across a block named Carrie Nation. The discussion could end there, or I could Google this name and learn about the very determined woman from the American Temperance League that this block was named for.

This experience reminded me of when I used to collect stamps as a young teen and I wondered who was this Alfred Noble guy that was featured on so many of the Swedish stamps.

Keep on asking questions, keep on learning, keep on creating.

love and hugs
Kathy

April means Green

April means green over at SoScrappy this month. We are all encouraged to get those green scraps out and used up. So while I do have a "few" WIP, I think I will put some concerted efforts into adding greens to my Farm Girl at Heart Quilt and close the gap on the finish line.

# 81 Gentleman's Fancy

Not an unrealistic goal when I consider that this is #81 out of a possible 111. Heck, if I applied the "1 a Day" theme here, I might see the end of this before May rolls in.  Fingers crossed folks.

Check out what others are accomplishing over at SoScrappy in the name of Green. Of course this also makes me just a little bit more excited (if that is possible) to be going to Ireland in just 62 days with Sew Many Places and the International Quilt Festival of Ireland...you know you want to come with Kim Caskey and I! Check out Kim's photos and experiences from her time there in 2012 and get back to me with just how excited you are to come with us.

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

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