X Block Blog Hop - Venetian Tiles

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Today I am thrilled to be a member of the X-Block Hop (and there is a giveaway!). I found out about this hop from Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy  A friend of hers, Doris Rice, is the new owner of the X-block and so, to help her friend, a blog hop was born.  I was excited to join as I did have a lovely quilt that I made using that technique.

 I love the X-block tool and the intricate designs you can make by trimming a 9 patch.  Yup - that's the basic gist of it.  First you make a lot of nine patches, then you cut them up.  Sometimes that feels wasteful, but here's the thing - you are not piecing wonky angles BUT buy cutting a block differently you get the effect of the odd angles. 

I loved, loved, loved this pattern.  I thought it would be perfect to use up some batiks I had collected.  The ones I was using up were the more solid/light fabrics in the quilt.  I had collected them for my Whitby Abby quilt - it appears in the beginning of my blog, but I actually never wrote an entire blog on it. You can even see some of these batiks in the link above, in the second picture.  

These are the two tools I used, the 6.5" X block template* and the BellyButton 6.5*.  I think the way the colors play off of one another and that the design is so interesting.  I was looking for a colorful sky so all these light batiks have blues and some pinks in them.  It is such a cheery quilt and  perfect for a summer quilt.  The guest room in our cottage is dark and it really livens up the room.

Here are a couple of hints for making this quilt:

• Starch your fabric (bias edges behave better when starched)
• Pay attention to the directions (I know - simple but true!  there are Right and Left facing cuts)

  

  right facing block

  

  left facing block

  

  Teal square shows the Right Block, Orange is Left Block and
  Dotted Line Square shows 4 blocks making the diamond.

The pieces for the sides and top are made from some leftovers, if I remember correctly.  They were totally worth doing.  I wanted to use this on a queen size bed, so a few borders and it works!   Notice,  the top and bottom borders are smaller so it will fit my platform beds easily.   Finally, I quilted this on a longarm and loved doing it.

Hanging at the Rising Star Guild Show

Enjoy the hop and check out the other bloggers that are hopping!

May 8^th

Moosestash Quilting

Kris Loves Fabric

KathleenMcMusing

May 9^th

Life in the Scrapatch

Creatin’ in the Sticks

Seams to be Sew

Patchwork Breeze

May 10^th

Freemotion by the River

I Like to Quilt

Quilting Queen Online

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Look at this X-treme XBlocks Bundle!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  *are affiliate links 

 If you purchase from that link,  I will earn a small commission.

One Monthly Goal - Rescued GFG

My one monthly goal is to do the binding on this grandmother’s flower garden.  

It is not from my family and the family that gave it to me doesn’t know who did it and kept a few other quilts that were completed, but didn’t want this one.  So I call it my rescue GFG - have to come up with a better name.  It will either go for a church benefit or a donation (maybe to a family getting resettled - either refuggee or homeless)....

It is quilted.  The binding needs to be cut, sewn together and applied.  Application will mean cutting off some of the edges; more on why I feel thats okay later.  

Busy times and a few things that are coming up!

This is my Island Batik Pillow for May, and an IAQ (International Association of Quilters) Project.  I will help folks find their way through this pattern with a few suggestions.  It is all done, but I haven't blogged about it yet.

These are my fabric pulls for Sandra @mmquilts.com Adult Plus Playtime QAL.    I couldn't resist as I had so much fun with hers last year - also another shadow quilt and I might be the Kathleen in her blog that called the Shadow Quilter....only the shadow knows!  I like both the blue or green for the background - although black looked good too..... 

I finished the napkins for the table in Maine. Wanted something more in keeping with the color of the placemats I made on our quilting weekend.  

Some of my friends also have me pulling fabric for Tish in Wonderland's QAL.  I think it is relaxed enough that I might get it done.  It will use up stash, so that's a good thing.  Still working on it, but here are a few options. 

I am hosting on May 10th for the X-Block Blog Hop.  I made a quilt that I love a bit ago and am thrilled to share it during this hop.  You can see who else is blogging by clicking on the image.

Carol at Just Let Me Quilt has organized a Star Blog Hop later in the month.  I'm on for  May 25th (and entertaining friends) so I'll be catching up in the between times!

I am doing the binding on this gem!  I rescued this and had it quilted.   I am "straigtening the edges" so it can be bound.  Binding is halfway on...more work tomorrow on it.  It is not the way you would preserve an heirloom, but I'll explain my approach later.

So there has been lots of prep, and very little time to blog the past few days.  Hoping to get a few more entries out over the weekend and early next week.

Happy Friday!

#365DaysOfArt - Week 15 #113-119

#113 Draw an animal out of cut-out pieces of paper.

The leg and nose are way out of proportion and I had no colored paper so I used a quilting catalog.   I also had no glue (Maine - put on list now) and used nail polish to hold it down!  

#114 Add smiles to these stars.
I had fun doing this, a few are different, if you look closely.

#115 Look outside your window and observe what you see.  Then draw the scene from memory. 
This is not a bad rendering of what is outside the apartment window.

#116 Write down the top 3 places you'd like to visit, and why those places are on the top. 
Yes, I think those are my top 3.  The reasons are similar - food, color, history and sweaters in Ireland!

#117 Visit a garden center or park.  Look at plants individually, rather than seeing a scene as a whole. Focus on drawing one plant at a time.
The drawings are from a desert garden we visited when in Palm Springs - last year.  I had fun doing this one too.

#118 Put on some relaxing music, take a colored pencil in your hand, close your eyes, then draw as you listen to the music
I was sort of looking for awhile, don't know why but it was kind of fun.

#119 Use this page to paint or draw some skies.
I have colored pencils that you can blend.  They work alright - I kind of liked the process.  I have looked for paints to use, but haven't found what I want.  

Not a bad week....  It really is kind of fun ... you can order the book 365 Days of Art(affiliate link) from Amazon and join in the fun any time you like.  

Just a reminder that the Craftsy Unlimited Offer is still good!  Its a great way to learn new techniques...Craftsy Unlimited, watch everything free for one week before you purchase.  I am an affiliate (if you purchase I get a small commission to help defray the costs of my blog).



Linking up to:  365 Days of Art

Partners in Design Presents.....Fall into a QAL!

Quilting friends who met in the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers group launched a succesful QAL last year - I Wish You a Merry QAL.  We decided to continue and in so doing, branded ourselves Partners in Design.  We design in many ways - some design the blocks, some their quilts and others just are generally helpful.  Many of the designers who participated last year are participating this year.  

Introducing our new theme:   Fall!  

Like last year, you will get directions for 12 blocks and some possible settings.  The block designers are listed below with the weeks their blocks are released and also if they are a host or not.

Abbie at Sparkle On (Host + Block 11 Designer)

April at JANDA Bend Quilts (Host + Block 2 Designer)

Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting  (Host + Block 7 Designer)

Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter (Host + Block 8 Designer)

Karen at Tu-na Quilts, Travels and Eats (Host + Block 9 Designer)

Kathleen at KathleenMcMusing  (Block 5 Designer)<---that's me
Sandra at Sandra Healy Designs (Block 10 Designer)

Sandy at Sandy Star Designs (Block 4 Designer)

Sherry at Powered by Quilting Host + Block 3 & 6 Designer)

Vanda at Quilt in Piece  (Host + Block 1 & 12 Designer)

Here are some of the particulars:

Theme:                        Fall

Dates of QAL:            May 15, 2018 through October 16, 2018

Blocks Schedule:        Every 2 weeks, 12 total

Settings Released:      October 16, 2018

Final Quilt Due:         November 13, 2018

Hosts:                          There are 7 and they are listed below

Fabric:                        These are approximations based on 12 blocks, 2"lattice, 6" border (56x70)

                                                    Scrappy will work!

                                     Blocks: 6 fat quarters (or scraps)  2 dark, 2 medium, 2 light [minimum]

                                     Background:   1/2-1 yard

                                     Lattice: 1 yard

                                     Border: 1 yard or length of quilt if you like straight of grain

                                     Binding: 3/4 yard

                                     Backing:  3 yards pieced or 4 yards for one seam

What else do you need to know:  

WHO?                Anyone who can sew! 

WHY?                TO have fun, win prizes, make a quilt or some blocks

WHERE?           Join the  Facebook group OR follow on Instagram #fallintoaQAL

HOW?                Post a completed block/quilt picture on facebook or instagram #fallintoaQAL

WHEN?              Usually by Monday 11:59pm EST 13 days after release of block

       

Below are some of the prizes that will be awarded (open to international quilters too!). Blocks and prizes for the particular block are announced at the same time.  As with many of the QALs (quilt alongs) more prizes are often added as we go.   Each block will have its own prize and then a Grand Prize for a quilt that is complete (all 12 blocks - top only is fine).  

To keep the contest portion of the quilt-along fair and fun for everyone, only quilts that use all of the designers' blocks will be eligible for prizes. Slight variations are okay, but substituting another block will disqualify you from the giveaway.

So we hope you join in,

share with your friends,

quilt, 

and have fun!!

Looking Back...A New Carpenter Star from a Vintage Quilt

The Island Batik Ambassador Challenge (Island Batik provided the fabrics) was to "be inspired by a quilt, design or block from the past when designing and/or creating a new piece."

What to do?  What to do?   I so love vintage quilts and there are so many ways to make them new.  I have been wanting to try Beth Helfler’s accordion triangle technique, so when I saw the Mennonite Broken Star I couldn’t resist and thought a new technique would make this so much fun.

Menononite Broken Star c. 1890 Mrs. Myers

I have lots of books on historical quilts.  This picture came from Vintage Quilts:  Collecting, Dating, Preserving....  by Gerald E. Roy, Sharon Newman and Bobbie Aug.  I had the privilege of taking a class with Sharon Newman many years ago, and this brought back fond memories.  As the book says:  Seven of these quilts are thought to exist, one made for each of the maker's seven children, three are known to exist and are in private collection..."(page 71).

The block is also known by a few other names:  Broken Star, Carpenter Star, Carpenter Wheel and Swoon.  Swoon is a favorite among many quilters - I did a quilt in French fabrics a few years ago using Swoon.  I do have a love affair with stars of many varieties.  This one keeps reappearing in new ways.

I began by selecting fabrics.  Part of the challenge is being sure to have enough fabrics to finish a project - always interesting - and it always is fun.  I had just enough of this grouping:  Small Pointed Floral in turquoise and Bubbles in Salmon would be pieced with a lovely neutral called Rice.

So what is this technique.  Well, it is genius!  Beth Helfter of Eva Paige Quilt Designs calls it Accordion Sewn HST™(Half Square Triangle).  She has videos on YouTube that show you the technique and a book coming out on it very soon.  You sew half square triangles into what Beth calls and accordion.  It is much more fun than the ordinary half square approach.  

I followed her pattern,  but true to form, made mine a bit differently. The inner star was easy, following her pattern.  The outside star was a little more difficult - because of my changes not hers - but I persisted.  Also, I did not have enough fabric to do a third ring of star points or a third border. I simply needed the right count of each pair of fabrics to get it done.  

Here is a group of squares sewn together.  

The picture on the left is getting ready to sew the front and back piece together.  After this you trim, press and sew the HSTs together.  Beth recommends the Clearly Perfect Slotted Trimmer and Clearly Perfect Angles to make your work easier (affiliate links).  I didn't use these tools, but I have them now and will review in another blog entry.

The top was completed on my guild's retreat weekend.  Here is is hanging above the quilters - among the group of finished tops.  Quilting wasn't in the cards for the weekend.

My next great dilemma was how to quilt the Carpenter Star.  I decided to use Westalee rulers again on my Bernina 440 and I am very happy with the results!  I decided to stay with a more traditional quilting, that is, not as dense as modern quilting to reflect the traditional nature of the block. 

Our Island Batik box also included Aurifil thread and I pieced quilted this quilt with 50 wt. Aurifil 2024 white, 1148 light jade and 2350 copper.  I love the color combination and the finished quilt.

I loved the challenge of the making something old in a new way and this new technique takes half square triangles to a new height!  I highly recommend checking out Beth's technique, you won't be disappointed.

And, this finishes my first project for the second quarter FinishAlong; you can see my goals here.

Thank you Island Batik and Aurifil for providing the great materials to work on and another interesting challenge.

Linking up:  Linky Tuesday

                     Finish It Up Friday

                     2018FALQ2

#365DaysOfArtPBQChallenge Week16, Exercises 106-112

106 Draw the horizon on this grey sky.

We have had an abundance of grey days!  This was one from my living room in Maine (it appears later too).  Enjoyed the minimalism of it.

107 Draw lots of mouths

108 Draw lots of eyes

Dislike these exercises.  They will never be my forte or what I am doing in my creative life.  I also will look at images the next time to help me think of different options!

109 Add the reef by drawing coral, fish and sea life

I had some fun doing this, trying to remember different kinds of sea life.  I rather like the jelly and stingray.

110 Design a pattern using the grid

I like this one a lot.  It was more fun than I have had with other similar exercise.  Maybe its getting easier?

111 Shading can add depth to your drawings

I always like these.  A good reminder of different ways - lines and dots - to do shading.

112 Draw a scene in the window, are you lookin in or out?

I was looking out and it finally is feeling like spring here!  Not so much in bloom yet, but its coming.

Have been away from this for awhile and will try to get back regularly.  My schedule was crazy - with travel for quilting and classes - all great - but I didn't do a lot extra.  I think I will do the ones I complete on some of the crazier weeks!  

Linking up with:  365DaysofArt

Up next:  Island batik challenge and progress on UFOs....