Star quilt blocks

FIND BLOCKS 7 & 8 TUTORIALS HERE!

Bless her heart. Bradie Sparrow is providing wonderful tutorials for a Summer Star Sampler Quilt Along. I am thoroughly enjoying making the blocks so far. I started using remnants of fabric from my stash and so far, I have not deviated to the LFS...yippee! I am busting my stash!

Moving right along with this summer project, here are Blocks 7 and 8 for the sampler. After we make the blocks, most of us members post our work with the Flickr Summer Star Sampler Group to be critiqued by other viewers. Do you have a minute or too for a peek?

I am running out of background fabric and may have to add another subtle white with black print. We are more than half complete the smaller blocks. Now do I challenge making the large intermediate block, the decision I will be making soon. I did encounter block 8 more complicated than the other star patterns, so hopefully I will be able to attempt that large middle block! This quilt along is wonderful fun!

Not only have I caught up with all projects...except for the Pinwheel Crazies next block, I even sewed three blocks of the Sister Star using my scraps only! Hopefully some my hoard of blue celestial patterns intended for my Millennium quilt will be used for this scrap quilt. My Buddie made one of these Sister Star quilts as a block lottery and I really LOVE it. Maybe just some of the quilts on my very long TO DO list have a chance after all. Tutorial to make these blocks soon.

In looking through my scraps for these star quilts, I just had to make another crazy quilting block...something for me to stitch while I enjoy the fresh air in my gazebo this weekend...between swatting those ever increasing swarms of mosquitoes...perhaps DH may just have to use our screen after all! I even did my share of picking those nasty weeds that seem to be growing faster than ever this year!

BLOCK SEVEN TUTORIAL:

Summer Star Sampler Quilt Along 2010

Well, it has either been raining OR the weather has been too hot. I could not sleep last night because I had too many projects on my mind. Then our active little dog jumped up on our bed and lavishly starts licking my face. Yes, I don't know what it is about my horrid jungle mouth breath but Ms Marlee is so full of kisses in the mornings. And I am so happy to see her feeling better as we had her to the vet's a week ago and she had not been a happy puppy all last week. My heart ached to see my baby not feeling good. However, even puppies have 'health issues. (c:

After letting out the dog, I check she is napping in a chair in the gazebo while the air is still cool, I sit down and finish this block I had started last night. Why did I start another block? I dunno...perhaps I was caught up to the two other quilt along groups I had joined, so felt 'guilty' about all the fabric piled up on my kitchen table. I had purchased the black and hot pink polka dotted remnant for sixty cents and it was talking to me...of course PINK always talks to me IYKWIM.

It was overcast outside so no sun to enjoy or weeds to pick. I couldn't even go for a walk as DH is glued to the weather channel saying it is going to rain any minute. I sit back and sip my coffee...oops time for a refill. I did not feel 'guilty' about sewing at all as even DH was making great excuses for me!

What could I do besides sew? I could finish the custom order I have for Etsy, but that will only take a few hours. Or I could start reading another book. Or there are plenty of those four letter words that spell DUTY: IRON, DUST, WASH, COOK!

DH knows where I am 'working'...as he sets a steaming cup of coffee in front of me here as I type. Oh, ain't life grand? Rain all you want, Mr Weatherman because I would sooner SEW anyway!

TO MAKE THIS STAR BLOCK, CLICK HERE FOR A WONDERFUL TUTORIAL:

TAT'S Finished...well maybe?

Please NOTE the dark blue border at the top is our wallpaper border, not the quilt; I purposely used the short form TAT for "A Tisket A Tasket" .

I entitled this WIP 'finished', however, I am still not sure about this border fabric and quilting may be delayed for a bit. Fabric is from my 'stash' and I love the fabric, especially those roses, and the color. However, when I first posted this photo to Flickr someone suggested the large flowers competed with the baskets. In fact, I have had second thoughts about the sashing also as would you believe my first sashing was in a pretty green that really looked nice, I thought. I thought the green really pulled out the greens in my individual blocks, but what about my other colors, tha tis my rich burgundies and pinks? Of course I also needed my DH's opinion as I sewed. DH assured me the green sashing really looked nice.

However, I couldn't sleep the day I had added the green, waking up at three in the morning, turning on the lights to check IF I really had accomplished that much. Well, have you ever had nights like this when you wake up, not feeling 100% well emotionally then tend to relate the pukey feeling to something that happened during the day? Well, believe me, this pretty green sashing did not look 'pretty' at three o'clock in the morning and almost made me sick to my stomach.

One remedy came to mind! What time is it? All the fabric stores in the immediate area did not open until nine or even ten! Could I wait that long? I hurriedly pack up my car with my WIP, and extra blocks, etc. and head out of town to a quilt shop just half an hour out of town! I was going for HELP or at least for another opinion! I was keeping my fingers crossed the shop would be 'open'. It was! The ladies starting pulling out fabrics that were workable, had 'punch'...and I was feeling elated, relieved, and excited about this new shopping experience. Well, a quilter can never legitimize her trip to a LQS without exiting with a bag of fabric, can they? I had used about a quarter of a tank of gas, therefore it was my responsiblity to make my trip worthwhile. After, all my shopping, I felt I was in heaven as I now had not one, but two bags of goodies! I couldn't wait to return home with my 'new' purchases, RIP off the now 'sickly' green, replacing the green with the new pretty pink. I was so excited! It took me two whole hours to rip, but I was loving every minute as I could already envision this pretty pink sashing doing the trick! Pink is my favorite color any ways..besides blue...well 'one' of my favorite colors!

I sewed the entire day...then couldn't wait to post my photo to Flickr for viewers critiques...however, something was not quite right yet! Now that I reflect, perhaps that nauseated feeling was my coming down with the dreaded stomach flu.

I wait in front of my monitor for my first HIT! Three hits, and nothing, then it comes...a viewer leaves a comment...she thinks the roses compete with my baskets. That did it!!!...but didn't I ask for suggestions from other experienced quilters? I soon delete the photo from any more critiques. Now what do I do?

My stomach is feeling nauseated again!!! I considered replacing the border with a smaller print..however I still LOVE these roses and just could not imagine my wasting all that lovely fabric. After all I can almost smell these roses! Perhaps the fabric being sentimental to me as 'roses mean remembrance' and I did sew this quilt in memory of my Dad. My love for roses is another story as I think I have roses in most of my blocks. I had spent SEW much time hand appliqueing all those blocks. Needless to realize, this entire sashing was or should I say IS now my first 'saga' of 2010. In the meantime, I will work on my other WIP's. Hmmm...and I just realize perhaps this is why I may be notorious for having more than one WIP. I asked my DH if he thinks I have OCD, (which thankfully I do NOT have)...I just know I like 'nice' things and if I do something, I am very conscientious and will excel. I feel God has blessed me with my love to work with my hands.

Back to my quilt top...I hung the top in my room and I must have looked at it one hundred times, trying to figure out what I am going to do. I squinted at it, smiled at it, peeked at it, ignored it, poked at it, wrote about, asked several friends about it and even cried at it. Alas, I never realized this quilting is serious stuff! I have also purchased MORE fabric for that border, but when I hold my 'possible purchase up to the border, it does nothing for me. So for now I am a basket case! I almost feel ill about all this, but a lesson is learned, or has it? I now vow, if I ever tackle another major year long project...well to be truthful many of my projects have been works in progress (WIPs) for more than a year, I VOW, and promise myself to select my border first, then pull my colors from the border. However I really 'bonded' with this BOM (block of the month). I have met so many wonderful, talented friends on Flickr! These freinds have become such a part of my life now. I check my NEW groups DAILY to view the new additions to our happy little family...yes we are expanding! I now belong to three Flickr groups and projects: 2010 Tea and Coffee Quilt Along, Snowbound and A Tisket a Tasket group.

And this reminds, I missed posting Ms Snowlady with her

'B * L * I * N * G *', as I stitched some lettering and beads on this block.

And now please tag along for a virtual tour...grab your coffee and see what us quilters are up to.

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY:

...I have more than one come to mind


"When in doubt, just take the next small step."

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"Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".

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"Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Have a wonderful day, my friends.
(C:

Block 2 - A Tisket A Tasket Block of the Month

Here is Block 2 of the " A Tisket A Tasket Block of the Month" series. I can hardly wait to stitch Block 1 before the new design for April is released. If interested in these adorable 'free' quilting patterns (for personal use only), these patterns are available online here:

http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/dynamic/?page=Free%20Patterns

I had so much fun making this block and my applique stitching is getting faster and easier with practice. Of course I am also doing Part 2 of the Mystery Garden Stitch Along. I have accumulated many Victorian theme fabrics and am trying to use my 'scraps' for these BOM blocks. When I saw the bird pattern, I immediately wanted blue birds as they remind me so much of cottage times at the lake.

I may even 'complete' a project soon, however I admire some bloggers who post all projects finished in one month.

Block 3 BUNNY HILL BLOCK OF THE MONTH

FREE PATTERN FOR THIS BLOCK HERE:

http://bunnyhilldesigns.com/dynamic/?page=Free%20Patterns

I completed sewing this March block on St Patrick's Day!

This is my FIRST attempt to 'hand' applique and it was so much fun! I had found several tutorials on Google and used the freezer paper 'on top' method. I noticed most members are machine stitching their blocks however I have an old sewing machine. And I enjoy hand stitching.

I am now working on Block 2, a basket with two birds, then will proceed to attempt the January block of a snowman holding stars. Of course I have the Garden Mystery Stitch Along in progress, but decided to make these blocks as all these designs are too adorable!

I have learned lots about applique and am looking forward to more applique. I ripped out the bottom shamrock three times because green did not show well against the green basket as a background!

I would highly recommend making these blocks...so much fun. Please read my post below for more information if you are interested in these free patterns.

And better LATE than never is an IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH:

May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Good Luck!!