New Pantographs and Block Boards

I saw a pantograph that I really loved and had to have; in true "one thing leads to another" form I found myself ordering more than one once I had logged onto the website, a dangerous place for me to spend too long! Anyway, one of these new (to  me) pantographs, that I didn't even know that I needed, is "Malachite". I'm excited about the resulting texture on this scrappy Maze quilt that I had pieced a year ago. The Malachite gemstone is a said to bring transformation and promote harmony. I'd say that this quilting design is well named, as it has provided both to this piece. 

I backed it with a length of fabric that I had found "by the pound" at a Pineapple warehouse sale some time ago; it was the perfect amount.  Now the binding's in place for the finishing handwork. 

Do you use Block Boards? It was high time for me to replace the ones I have been using, my old ones were ratty from years of use and abuse. If you'd like to make your own here's a how-to video. Mine are scrappy (I love the look!) because I'm using up the last of a fat quarter bundle that has already  yielded a full sized quilt, a throw, two doll quilts and now the edging for these block boards! Aren't they cute? The sizes that I have here are 18", 15" and 12"; I've found that these are the best sizes for my purposes.

The way that I use mine are as a help for block layout before carrying the pieces to the machine. 

I like to "web" my blocks (less pinning, greater accuracy) by chain piecing, this way everything stays in order and the proper sequence as I stitch the pieces and units together. 

Here's the completed block (on what becomes a great display board too 😉), "Stair Stepper" from the Wonderful Curves Sampler book by those smart and talented Sew Kind of Wonderful women.  Check it out. That's it from around here; a few new things to share and a new month on the horizon... how did that happen? Just when I thought that March would go out like it arrived, lion-like, the lamb has quickly crept in. What's new with you?

Life is Good!