Preliminary Layout Sugar Block Club 2013 Quilt

The Sugar Block Club blocks are finished and I am ready to start putting them into a layout for a quilt top.  I have a small design wall in my sewing room, so this will not be the final layout by any stretch.  It does give me an initial feel for what will be going on here.  I am too heavy with the grays in the lower right corner so I will move that block and swap it out with the one in the upper left corner.  Then I think I will be happy.  I have some connecting blocks that will go in to this as well.  The blocks will not overlap when the top is finished, the entire set will be expanded outward and filled in inbetween with additional design work.  I want to leave a lot of white space to be quilted at a later date.  I have two white on white fabrics to use in completing this top, one is white with white dragonflies, the other is a white on white pin stripe.  

I bought two books used this past week, I was hoping they would come for my class but they did not arrive in time.  They are both on setting your quilt blocks and are good examples of breaking out of the "square" mold.  

The first one is Smashing Sets by Margaret J. Miller which I purchased on Amazon.com

The second one is Sensational Settings by Joan Hanson also purchased on Amazon.com

I like to purchase books used on Amazon.com, you can often pick up older titles for very little, just a couple dollars.  Nice to add to your library.  I also enjoy their downloads to my android through Kindle.

You can see that my setting resembles the cover photo of the Sensational Settings book, but it will be expanded and contain more elements like some that are in the Smashing Sets book.  Fun!

My husband John, now with his new glasses! and I went on a weekend tour, looking at longarms!  Wheee!  So much fun, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am able to get the one I would really love to have.  So, I didn't get a lot of sewing done.   It was great fun though, we stopped in Squaw Valley and picked up my son Andrew and both he and John stitched on the longarm!  Yes they did!  And loved it!!!  More to be revealed!

Weekend Whimseys

Ruched Happy Bag

Been staying close to home, caring for my husband.  We will be heading down the hill to see the doctor tomorrow for the second post op visit after his emergency eye surgery last weekend.  So, keeping myself busy with some fun projects.  First, this little Ruched Happy Bag.  I have made lots of these.  The pattern is by Amy Friend, you can visit her website at www.AmysCreativeSide.com

Then it was on to some BOM's that I am a little behind on.  First one is a block for the Vintage Block Quilt Along hosted by Charise at http://charisecreates.blogspot.com/p/vintage-block-quilt-along.html  The patterns are free and although they make look easy, I guarantee you they are a bit challenging.

Daisy Block #7

Crazy Anne Block #6

I finished the quilt top for my Saturdays Charms Quilt...which is a pattern that is from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  If you look back in my blog a couple entries, you will see the video that demonstrates this fun and easy quilt top.  Next, shop for border fabric, backing and binding.

My husband has called dibs on this one, he loves it...go figure.  

Then another block for the Perfect Paper Piecing group...this will be our June Block.  I am not crazy about how this photos, not enough contrast, but it looks rich in the quilt.  I will make another in the other colorway I am working, which I think will more effectively show off this block.   But I think it's important to show you what is working and not working so that you can make choices for your block that will work for you!

Circling Geese

This is the current block for the Sugar Block Club 2013 which is called Home Sweet Home.  This BOM is being hosted by Amy Gibson at www.stitcherydickorydock.com  There is a nominal fee, under $10. for the year and you have access to all of her blocks for this year.  All of my blocks will have the same white background, then they will vary in shades of turquoise and gray.    Each block has a bit of a story or theme for me.  This one...which came first the bird or the egg?  

Home Sweet Home

And this little scrappy potholder, which will be for work.  We have an old beat up one that we use with the sterilizer when it's too hot, this will work just fine with insulated heat resistant batting, and it will gussy up the place.

I got the idea for this potholder from a new book I just downloaded from Kindle.  Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.  

If you have wanted to make a quilt, or a potholder, or a table runner...and you don't know how to quilt and you need to start with something easy.  If you don't want to make your grandmother's sampler quilt.   If you like the modern aesthetic, this is a book you should get.  So very easy, and such pretty results.  She gives you the nudge and let's you explore your own creativity.  Well Done!   

Well, you can see that I have a rather eclectic bunch of projects going...LOL.  Ah, isn't that the way of a quilter?  One day you feel traditional, another modern, who says you can't have it all?!

Saturday's Stitches

Sunny Days Block

I'm up late sewing, had a great nap this afternoon and I am full of energy, I may stay up all night and sew.  Just finished the 4th block in the Sugar Block Club BOM, Sunny Days.  I'm going to call it Bird Songs and Lace.  It's been raining out so I'm not feeling the sunny day yet.

This is a fun and easy block, only 4 pieces to each of the eight triangle components.  Goes fast and lends itself to fussy cutting.

Earlier today I decided that I needed a thread catcher and I liked the one that my friend Brenda made.  I have had the tutorial printed out for a while now, so it was time to get at it!  The tutorial is available online at CraftGossip.Com  I have already filled that thread catcher tonight and will be starting on the next project shortly!  I have two blocks to get caught up on for The Vintage Block Quilt Along.  Check back, I may have them done by morning...lol.

2013 Time To Reflect and Plan

Wow, I just noticed that I had not posted a photo of my finished Craftsy BOM on my blog!  Well, here it is, I have it pinned to the batting and backing, just waiting for my machine to get out of the shop for the quilting!  So happy with how it turned out, I love the blue batik for the sashing.  Not sure about the binding until I get it quilted, then I will sort that out.  But absolutely delighted with it.  

Here is a picture of the backing fabric.  No one can say it doesn't grab your attention!  I picked out a very royal plummy purple.   This will be fun to snuggle under!  The other quilt top that is ready to go is my take on the Swoon.  I will be sashing and bordering with black.   

All my UFO's...just waiting for my machine!  I Hope They Hurry!!!

I have decided that along with teaching a quilting class this year, I want to do a couple of BOM's for myself.  I have two selected and a possible 3rd and 4th.  I will be doing the 2013 Sugar Block Club.

This is a subscription that will come via e-mail from the same instructor that taught the Craftsy BOM, Amy Gibson from http://www.stitcherydickorydock.com  Amy just had twin boys and has two other children as well...I don't know how she manages to be so very creative!   She has a wonderful blog and I enjoy her work.

The next one that I am doing is a Vintage Block Quilt Along with Charise Creates.   Charise also has a wonderful blog at http://charisecreates.blogspot.com Each of these blocks are absolutely delightful and challenging.

I am also toying with making the Camelot Quilt.  It's hand pieced, we will see how my temperament and my hands hold out.  Here is a picture of the pattern, it is absolutely lovely.  The pattern cost about $45. US dollars, so it will have to wait for a payday or two.  I get excited looking on Flickr at all the work that others are doing on their blocks!

I will be teaching paper piecing this year, and I did see a new pattern by Amy Ellis called Dancing Stars.  Very clean and modern. The pattern is free and would be a GREAT way to use up some scraps that are about.  So I may undertake that one as well...we will see.  Pattern is downloaded and ready to go.   Amy also has a wonderful blog at 
http://amyscreativeside.com

So it's going to be an exciting year!  Let's all pray that everyone in my family can remain upright this year, no scraped knees or broken arms and we will be doing great!  Can't wait to see all my gals at the first class this month!