BlockBase Sew Along - All blocks are done!

Molasses flows faster than I paper piece! I finally got all 12 blocks done.

BlockBase Sew Along blocks

I'll use black as the background and see if I can't float these 8.5 inch blocks.  I'm taking this project to retreat later this month.

Keep on Stitchin'!!

BlockBase Sew Along - Progress!

I have made a little progress on this project.  I'm working on block 9 with 3 more to go!  I just might get it finished one day!

Progress

I've decided I want to use black as the background.  I've played around in EQ7 and have a layout that I like.  Maybe I can get this top put together at this year's retreat...or maybe not.  haha

Keep on Stitchin'!!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 18

2013.  Sounds very syfy futuristic, doesn't it??!!  Welcome to a new year!  This is the latest BlockBase block for the Grandmothers Choice sew along.

Grandmothers Choice - Week 18

The name of this block is Cheyenne.  Wyoming was the first US Territory and the first state to legislate women's full rights to vote and hold office.  Cheyenne is the state capitol city.  Read more at Barbara Brackman's blog, http://grandmotherschoice.blogspot.com/.

Keep on Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 17

Got this one finished just in time for a new one to be posted tomorrow! Oh, well....

Grandmothers Choice - Week 17

This one is Mother's Delight.  It could have had two colors in each of the center and outer star points, but since I wanted to use the stripe and only one color in the center, I eliminated the extra lines in the foundation.  This let me cut only 4 stripe pieces and 4 center pieces.  There were inset seams in this block, too.

Hope everyone is surviving the holiday season!!!

Keep on Stitchin'!!

BlockBase Sew Along - Block 6

Aaaaah.  Caught up with the BOWs!! It's way to easy to get behind with weekly and every two week blocks!  Now on to the BOMs & FMQ challenge for December!

BlockBase Sew Along - Block 6

Colors are pretty good on this block.  The inside swirl fabric is actually a bit more greenish.  I'm trying hard to remember warm and cool fabrics next to each other.  How am I doing?  I spend way to much time picking out fabrics.  Wish this warm/cool stuff came naturally to me...

Keep on Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 16

WooHoo!  I'm caught up...with this particular BOW anyway!!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 16

This block is named Capitol T.  Do you see it?  It took me forever to see that T!!!  The T is on the diagonal and in my block is the brown/green floral fabric.

Happy Holidays!!

Keep on Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 15

I'm behind a week, but hopefully I can get caught up today....maybe!  As long as hubby stays interested in a football game! hahaha

Grandmothers Choice - Week 15

The name of this block is Centennial, recalling the 1993 celebration of New Zealand's honorable position as the first country to enfranchise all women in all elections. Hop on over to http://grandmotherschoice.blogspot.com/ to read more.

On to this week's block!  Hope your holiday shopping and planning and fun is going great!!!

Keep on Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Block 14

I wasn't expecting to get another block finished today, but I did!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 14

This one is Bride's Knot.  Check out the story behind this block and how 'invisible' women were at http://grandmotherschoice.blogspot.com/.

No more today for sure. I have to now begin the regime of beautifying myself for a fancy holiday party at hubby's work.  They make us starve until around 7 pm! hahaha  And the beautifying part takes a loooooong time!!!!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Keep on Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 13

Catching up, I think!!  I have one more plus the new one that comes out tomorrow.  Hopefully, I'll be caught up with these BOWs this weekend.

Grandmothers Choice - Block 13

This one is called Everybody's Favorite.

Keep on Stitchin'!

BlockBase Sew Along - Block 5

I'm a bit behind in getting this block done.  Also 2 blocks behind with the Grandmothers Choice blocks with another due to be posted on Saturday.  I'm hoping to get caught up this weekend.  You know how it is around the holidays.  Always expect the unexpected!!!

BlockBase SewAlong - Block 5

I think this one is very pretty.  Of course, I paper pieced!!

Keep on Stitchin'!!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 12

This block is so pretty.  Caused me a pretty headache, too!!!  I started with paper piecing and found I'd not done a good job figuring out how to make sections.  So rather than going back into EQ7  and stretching the brain a bit more, I printed out templates.  So this block is partially paper pieced (with curses and several frog stitching frustrations) and partially pieced after cutting out the shapes.

Little Boy's Breeches - Week 12

Don't you love the name?  Barbara Brackman's Grandmothers Choice Blog tells us that someone saw pants in the shapes of the corners, so gave it the Little Boy's Breeches name.  Love it!

Take a moment to check out Barbara's blog to read what this block means to us women.  Thank goodness for our ancestor sisters in arms so that we can wear breeches!!!

Keep on Stitchin'!

BlockBase Sew Along - Week 4

Week 4 block is finished! Sure glad I decided to paper piece these rather than rotary cut. Those little squares in the center each measure 7/8 inches finished! Now that's pretty small for my clumsy fingers to hang on to!

 BlockBase Sew Along - Week 4

This block is a bit brighter in real life.  It's actually very colorful, although the outer 3 colors are darker colors.

Keep on Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Blocks 10 & 11

I'm caught up until Saturday when a new block comes out. I've been so busy getting these done and posted that I've forgotten to give the names of the blocks! Block 8 - Rocky Road to Kansas, Block 9 - Brick Pavement

Week 10 - New York

Week 11 - Little Red Schoolhouse

I decided to cut from templates for these 2 blocks rather than paper piecing. Some of the pieces are so small on these 8.5 inch blocks! I may go back to paper piecing when I can. I think the Little Red Schoolhouse was damaged a bit during a wind storm! hahahaha

Keep on Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 9

Another one finished! It helps when they are easier blocks and don't take too long to cut out the pieces and piece. Hmmm...wonder if I can get caught up with these little 8.5" blocks tomorrow??!!!



Keep On Stitchin'!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 8

Another done, 3 more to go to catch up before another is posted Saturday. This one is the same block design as a previous one, Week 2.  (see post 2012/09/New Quilt Blocks-Block-of-Weeks).

Grandmothers Choice - Week 8

On to the next one!!

Keep on Stitchin'!!

BlockBase Sew Along - Block 3

This month's block has lots of pieces!  Once again, I paper pieced the 8.5" unfinished block using batiks from my stash.  I can see that I don't have enough variety in the darks, lights, mediums but I'm trying hard not to go shopping for more.  We'll see how it goes as this BOW progresses.

BlockBase SewAlong Block 3

Those that have posted their blocks on the EQ blog site have some wonderfully different looks.  Check them out!
I'm behind on the other BOW, the Grandmother's Choice.  I'm hoping to catch up over the next several days....if life doesn't get in my way! <smile>

Keep on Stitchin'!!

BlockBase Sew-Along - Block 2

The second block is done.  Once again, I paper pieced this block.  Do you see a trend going here???

Block 2

So...these colors are better, right???  The outer fabric is a pale yellow batik.  I think I got the 'pop' right on this block!  Such fun digging through those batiks!!!

Keep on Stitchin'!!

Grandmothers Choice - Week 7

This block is called Alice's Flag.  This particular block is not in BlockBase, so instructions were given in .PDF format to create the 8" block.

Grandmothers Choice-Week 7

We were given a choice to either applique the whole star or we could piece the 5 blades, then applique.  I chose to fussy cut the fabric and applique the star.  The star shape was traced on the back of the fabric, then I used organza to line the star.  I sewed all the way around the star, then clipped the organza to turn right side out.  After a good pressing, I then machine appliqued it to the background.

If you haven't taken a look at the weekly posts for these blocks, you should jump on over to http://grandmotherschoice.blogspot.com/ and read the historical stories connected to these blocks.  Mini history lessons about women's struggles to obtain the right to vote.

Keep on Stitchin'!!

BlockBase Sew-Along - Block 1

This sew-along started October 1.  We will get a new block every 2 weeks.  Click on the BlockBase Sew-Along badge on the right side of the blog to go to EQ's blog and see what it's all about.

We have freedom of block size and how we want to put it together.  We have no fabric requirements due to...well, it all depends upon what size the blocks are and how we put it together!  I decided on 8.5 inch blocks and for this first one, I printed off foundation paper and paper pieced it.  I also decided it was high time I used those batiks that have been aging in the closet.  So with all this in mind, I decided to pull a couple of lights and a couple of darks for this block.  For lights I chose yellowish colors and for darks, one is a green and the other is sorta purplish gray.

BlockBase Sew-Along - Block 1

I did good on getting the lights and darks separated nicely and I like the contrast between the 2 lights.  But I can see that I should have picked a better contrast in the two darks.  Maybe this is where warm and cool comes in.  Maybe I should have gone with a more true purple.  I still have problems picking good colors! Next block will be better, right??!!

Keep on Stitchin'!

Modern Mystery Quilt - Week 3

Finally finished up Week 3 rectangles.  Weeks 4 & 5 have already been released, so I'm rather behind!  But I need to put this quilt aside and get to work on the other BOMs for October.  I'll be taking the mystery quilt with me when I go to Houston in a couple weeks - I'll have the final instructions by then.  I'll be there staying with a friend for 2 weeks of sewing, quilting, yakking, International Quilt Show, sewing, quilting, yakking.......FUN!!!

Modern Mystery-Week 3

These rectangles are similar to Week 1, but they have another round of strips.  Again, this was so time consuming.  I finally quit stressing about sizes of strips and decided what would be would be!  But still took a lot of time.  Choose a fabric and cut a strip between X & Y in size.  Choose a different fabric, cut 2 strips, sew to top and bottom, press, trim between X & Y.  Choose another fabric, cut 2 strips, sew to sides, press, trim between X & Y.  Repeat.  I'm just glad to get these behind me.

Most likely, this will be the only modern quilt I'll make.  I don't enjoy this process like I do making traditional blocks.  But I've done something I've not done before, like it or not...and that's a good thing, right??!!

Keep on Stitchin'!