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!!

Easy?!

Remember how I said I looked forward to the Irish Chain? I think I'm changing my mind.

I thought there colors would be a more crisp contrast between the two colors,but I didn't realize how much the prints would compete with each other. It wouldn't have looked so bad if one were a solid and the other a big print. Then, I realized I made another mistake.

I meant for the lighter print to be the one forming the chains, but once I put them together I realized I'd cut out the the wrong color of background squares. Grrrrrr. Grrrrrr.

Even though the prints compete with each other,I went ahead and cut out lighter background squares. I'll finish the pattern since I cut out all the pieces and it is easy to put together. I think I will make an interesting backing to the quilt. I was trying some different things with my scraps, and I made a star block with half square triangles. I love the look of stars but am terrified of diamonds with all those bias edges. I'll do them one day, but now's not the time for me.

I used my 2 1/2" squares for this one. I'm not picky about the size (it ended up a bit over 6 inches) since I am trying to use up scraps. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. I haven't decided how I want to set the squares yet. I'm thinking either plain squares in a light print or muslin, or sashings and cornerstones. I think I'm going to get more fabric this weekend even though I'm trying to use up my stash because I want to have a big variety and am running out of different ways to put things together. I feel like that's ok because now I know lots of ways to use scraps, and they won't be wasted.

Happy Quilting!

Arrghhh

I decided I wanted a quick hand piecing project, so I cut out all these cute little squares. Then, I thought "Well hey,I've never done on point settings before". So I tried that out. All was well until I sewed the rows of assembled squares together. I don't know if I marked the squares wrong, or made the triangles the wrong size, but that quilt isn't even almost square. I don't think everything has to necessarily perfect, but this little bugger was just wrong.

So, I'm going to piece a single Irish Chain pattern that I stared a while back but put aside. I'm doing it on the machine, andthe squares and 9 patches are simple but after the mini quilt fiasco, I need simple. Plus, I love the fabric I chose for it so I always feel in a better mood after looking at it.

On the upside, I am recovering from the horrible cold I've had the past week. Yay!!

My current project

I don't have a walking foot for my machine, so I am learning to quilt by hand. Who knew a simple running stitch could be so difficult?! I am telling the voice in my head that says "give up, get a walking foot, you'll never get this " to shut up for now. No one I know in person quilts so I am relying on pictures, helpful suggestions, and dogged determination to do it. I know deep down that the only way I'll get better at quilting is to just do it.

I made a table runner out of some 2 1/2 inch strips to practice on. I was meaning to make another small quilt but ran out of the fabric I wanted. Of course, there isn't any more at the store, but I am also trying to use what I have instead of buying new fabric all the time. I think it's good, it's forcing me to be creative.

The top picture is of the back. I made pioneer braids of 2 1/2 inch by 6 inch strips following the directions at http://www.quiltville.com/pioneerbraidborder.shtml . It was lots fun, I'm definitely going to use braids on future quilts.

The bottom picture is of the front. I wondered how to do the tapered ends since I wanted to continue with the patchy pattern but didn't have any of the gold print left. So, I strip pieced two 9 patch squares of the red and blue. Then I started to wonder what would happen if I cut the squares across the diagonal. I did, rotated them so the short sides were touching an voila! I had tapered ends the perfect size for the main body.

I'm not near finished quilting it. I figured after struggling with some designs I'd doodled on I just needed to do long, straight (well, almost straight) lines. No pictures yet, but so far it's going well and I'm finding my hand quilting rhythm. It's nice to do something by hand rather than be tethered to the machine. If I can push aside my impatient side I'll do some hand piecing.