I'm still adding leaves to the 25th block for my Pastor's Attic Quilt. This block is a repeat of another corner block. The vase is the same fabric but I'm using different fabrics for the flowers and stems.
In the original pattern, there are 3 baskets on point in the corners. The 4th corner had this block, which is a nice block, but why have 3 baskets and then the 4th corner not a basket?
There was an applique block that I simply did not like so I replaced it with this block which was supposed to go in the 4th corner and the basket block will reside in that corner. I mean, my quilt, my way.
The flowers were originally supposed to have embroidery in the centers, but part way through the process, I started using circles. I like the fabric circles better so there are 5 blocks to remove the french knots and replace with circles. I'm afraid the knots would cause wear & tear under the circles.
My goal for the month of February is to finish the applique on the 25th block and to replace the french knots with circles. This doesn't sound like a very challenging goal, but there are five blocks (including the one shown above) that need a total of 26 circles. And, in February, I am going to be gone a week to Arizona, where the sun shines every single day!
Now for the critique - I know I said I would give a review on the Ott light/magnifier in a month. I don't need to wait a month. I love it! Now remember, I wanted/needed the magnifying glass. There is a circle of LED lights on the bottom of the magnifying glass that shine right on my applique. I turn on those lights, and I didn't use the separate Ott light while appliqueing. The lights on the magnifying glass are enough light.
Using the magnifying glass did take some time to get used to. There is a depth perception challenge, but I've adapted. Threading needles is so easy, the eye is huge.
If you are experiencing eye strain or blurry vision after needlework, then the Ott light/magnifying glass is for you.
I bought the light on a stand. They also had a table top light/magnifying glass which cost less than the stand. I do not know if the table top version comes with the clamp.
I like having the light clamped to the end table. The body swivels on the clamp so I can adjust the angle of the light and magnifying glass. I move the glass up and down, I'm not sure how secure it would be if the light were just sitting on top the end table, I would be afraid I would pull it off. Besides, I don't have room for it on the table, I have too much stuff on there.
There is also a clip to hold paper directions or something. I haven't used that at all.
Linking to - One Monthly Goal, Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Em's Scrapbag, Love Laugh Quilt, Fiber Tuesday, Esther's Wednesday WOW!, Sew Fresh Quilts, WIP's With Friend's, My Quilt Infatuation, Finished Or Not Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, WIP's Be Gone
I was feeling pretty good last Saturday when I posted my purple blocks for the RSC. But then I got to thinking about my blocks, thinking about how big to make the quilt, how to finish it, how to lay the blocks out and on and on and on. You know what I mean, we all do this.
I figured up how many blocks I needed but then I decided it needs a border to finish it off. What it really needs is an applique border and I have a pattern that will be perfect for a rainbow quilt.
I dug through my pattern basket and pulled out Star Dance designed by Jill Finley. I had purchased this pattern several years ago but never got around to doing anything with it. The border would be perfect for my quilt.
Then I looked at the Star Dance pattern. Those stars are so cute but they finish at 4"! But if I just make a few a month . . . I can do that.
So I did. Here are my 4 purple Star Dance star blocks.
Aren't they cute? There are 39 blocks in the pattern. The pattern says the quilt finishes at 36". That size is too small for me so this is going to be a 2 year project and made into a larger quilt.
I also made 3 more blocks for the 4-patch rainbow quilt. I'm using the 4-patches left over from my postage stamp journey.
So once again, my blocks have been completed for January and I'm ready for February's color.
Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday, DrEAMi!.
I don't normally machine sew in the evenings but this week I did on several projects.
One project was quilting the Postage Stamp quilt. After she was finished, I took her outside for the pictures in the lovely sunshine but had problems with the wind.
Then I spied a trellis in the flower bed. This works!
The binding was left over from another quilt. There is about 18" left, into the strips box it goes!
Of course the backing is from my mother's stash, a pale lavender. For someone who didn't like purple or lavender, she sure did have a lot of that color.
I quilted this crib quilt with a spiral. Kind of lost the curve on the one end, but, oh well. She measures 40-1/2" by 50-1/2". I'm keeping this one for myself. There are 1200 squares in the center.
Since I was machine sewing in the evenings, I didn't get as much applique completed as I normally do. I do have the main part of the vase completed.
I'm slowly adding the stems to the flower buds. Maybe next Sunday I'll have this block finished.
I have a new tool. I've purchased an Ott light with a magnifying glass.
I've had excellent lighting in my corner all these years
but I've been experiencing eye strain with all my evening applique. The black thread on black fabric is hard on my eyes.
The light and magnifying glass can be on a stand or it can be screwed onto the side of an end table. I tried it on the stand, but the magnifying glass was too high. We screwed onto the end table, perfect height. I'll let you know my critique after I've used it a month. They were on sale at JoAnn Fabrics last week, 60% off. I don't know how long the sale lasts, I gave the sale brochure away.
Linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Em's Scrapbag, Love Laugh Quilt, Fiber Tuesday, Esther's Wednesday WOW!, Sew Fresh Quilts, WIP'S With Friends, My Quilt Infatuation, Finished Or Not Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict
I'm joining in the Rainbow Scrap challenge this year over at So Scrappy. The challenge color for January was purple. I've sewn my blocks, ten of them.
I decided to try some different lay outs on the display wall. Straight set.
This will look more interesting when there are more colors.
But I like this design better.
I won't make a final decision until next fall.
The small squares are 1" finished and the larger squares are 2" finished. The whole block is 8" finished.
I'm still sewing 4-patches. Hopefully I will have enough sewn of whichever color is selected for February.
Linking to So Scrappy, Finished Or Not Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict
I'm keeping up with the Solstice Challenge. So far, the blocks have been fairly simple. If Pat decides to make the block patterns more challenging, I'll probably stop participating and just sew the completed blocks together for a crib quilt.
Here is this week's block.
And the first four blocks. I seem to have a yellow theme going. There are lots of blocks to sew yet, it will even out by June.
Carole, from My Carolina Home, is hosting her third mystery quilt-along, Two-Step. She has had a series of mystery quilts and they all have something to do with dancing. The first clue will be released on Friday, January 20th and on every 3rd Friday of the month thereafter. The mystery will run for 7 months.
I've decided to sew along with this mystery and I have most of my fabric ready to go.
I ordered this fabric from Missouri Star Quilt Co. years ago. It's Edyta Sitar's Snowbird line. I didn't have any idea what to do with it, so it has just sat in the sewing room, waiting all these years. The fabrics have matured and are ready to be sewn. The larger piece of cream fabric is a Fusions from Robert Kauffman.
My fabric tastes have changed since I ordered this fabric. I like brighter fabrics now; these fabrics just look so blah, boring, subdued. They really need something to brighten them up. What color do you think I should add? It won't take much but they definitely need something to give it some zing!
Linking to Pat Sloan's I Love to Make Quilts, Fiber Tuesdays, Sew Fresh Quilts, WIP's With Friends, My Quilt Infatuation, Finished Or Not Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict.
I'm showing the picture of the Pastor's Attic Quilt book. This is a Baltimore Album quilt book written by Marsha D. Radtke in 2009 and published by AQS. She found the original quilt in the attic of the parsonage in which they were living. I call it the Pastor's Attic Quilt (and she does too in the forward) because there are so many Baltimore Album's quilts and I want to differentiate my quilt from the crowd.
There are 25 blocks in this quilt of which 24 of the blocks are appliqued. There is one block which was first pieced, then appliqued to the background fabric. I've looked at that the block ever since I purchased the book so many years ago. I consider myself a very good foundation paper piecer. I mean, I pieced most of my Dear Jane that way and I'm paper piecing Nearly Insane. However, I could not make heads or tails of the directions.
I decided to leave that block out and come up with another applique block, this is an applique quilt after all. I've been looking at different blocks for years, trying to decide which one to use. I finally decided to use an old stencil pattern. I traced off the design and appliqued her. I love it! There was no name for this pattern on the stencil but I'm sure there is one. Do you know what this design is? {Updated Sunday evening - My friend Elaine says this pattern is Lancaster Rose. I think this flower may be showing up in another of my quilts someday}
I didn't think I would be able to applique her in a week, but I didn't feel like machine sewing for several days last week because of Nearly Insane burn-out! I had a marathon session of applique while watching season 2 of Poldark. I got her done!
Now, just one more block to be appliqued! But these completed blocks are for the center section of the quilt; there will be the applique border to applique after the center blocks are sewn together.
Linking to - Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Em's Scrapbag, Love Laugh Quilt, Fiber Tuesday, Esther's Wednesday WOW!, Sew Fresh Quilts, WIP's With Friends, My Quilt Infatuation, Finished Or Not Friday, Crazy Mom Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict
