Proof I need more of my medication

I am going to attempt a lonestar quilt with these colors. It's taking me days to even make the strip sets for it because I'm being very slow and careful.I need 6 sets of strips, and I'm on my third. Wish me luck!

Isn't this the best picture? Jason took this at the Cologne Zoo on Saturday. This poor little mama meerkat is so big she looks ready to pop. She can't even put her arms at her sides, she has to rest them on her belly (I've been there! I even used to sit my dinner plate on my tummy and watch the baby kick it). And the other one is sunning himself! I think a few minutes later he gets tackled by a big group of the other meerkats.

Well, I'm off to cut some more strips for the lone star!

Skull big block quilt

Here is the quilt top with the skulls! It doesn't lie as flat as I would like, but I'm hoping I'll be able to quilt it out satisfactorily. I had the little ones at my feet all weekend as I was putting it together, and I used a different method than my usual one for putting the half square triangles together so I think that's what caused it. Other than that, I'm thrilled with the color scheme. Now, I just have to baste it together for quilting. I decided to use the flaming skulls for the back since they will look best when they're not hacked into little pieces.

On a side note, have you ever wondered what an RC car looks like when a kid puts it into the oven? Well now you don't have to. :)

Is that a 4 patch or are you just happy to see me?

I've been going through all my scraps, cutting them into 2 1/2 inch squares, and making them into 4 patches. I settled on 4 patches because I originally wanted to do a double 4 patch block. However, as I laid some of the 4 patches out, I realized that particular pattern wasn't going to look as I wanted it to. "Well crap!" I thought. I already had about 30 4 patches made, enough that I didn't want to start over with something different.



I couldn't think of what to do. I knew I didn't like the double four patch layout, and wanted to do something a little more challenging than a checkerboard pattern. I started sketching, and came to the conclusion that I'd set the 4 patches on point, alternating with unbleached muslin. The muslin was neutral enough that it blended well with all the different colors, and left some nice open space so the 4 patches really popped. I may go through more of my scraps later and see if I can applique some tiny flowers or leaves or something on the squares.




Here's a picture of what I've done so far, piecing wise. All the 4 patches are made, but I still have to cut out more setting squares and triangles (I ran out of muslin and had to go get more).

I'm really pleased with the way it's turning out. I was nervous about doing anything on point since the mini quilt was such a nightmare,but so far so good.

p.s. There are 89 4 patch blocks. That counts what's already pieced and the ones waiting. 89 X 4 = 356! Yikes, that's a lot of scraps.

Can't wait!!!

I'm not feeling inspired to work on anything right now. I just started a new medication and it's making me really tired. Fatigue+rotary cutter= no more fingertips!

However, we got the tax return so among other things I went ahead and ordered the fabric for Jason's skull quilt. These are the main fabrics I'll be using :

I'm pairing the red flame skulls with a mottled black, and the white and black skull print with a red batik.


I just joined the bigblockquilts community at livejournal.com, and I'm going to be using this month's block to make both sides. Jason liked both prints but the Irish chain quilt taught me to be more careful pairing such showy prints together, so I am just going to make one side with one print, and the other side with the other. I'm hoping to have it all done before Jason goes to 7 level school in Mississippi so he can take it with him. I told him that no one will bother his stuff with this quilt on his bed, tee hee. :)

Happy quilting!!