Quilt Block Bible Study

Geese Squared

Beginner's Delight

I have been posting for a while now about the monthly meetings that Quiltkeemosabe and I have been having where we exchange the directions we've been writing for each and every quilt block in Rosemary Youngs' Quilt Block Bible. Yesterday was one of those days. I told her ahead of time that I thought "Geese Squared", one of my assigned blocks for last month, might just be my favorite so far. But, that was before I did "Beginner's Delight"; I don't know if I can decide. But then, we've amassed quite a collection since the beginning, it's increasingly difficult to choose. My own body of work, so far, is shown below; 121 out of 202. I just love looking at them!

Can you choose a favorite? I have a question: should I sash this with dark sashing or keep it in the lighter range as it appears on the design wall? I have been thinking dark all along but I'm open to thoughts and opinions.

Life is Good!

Challenging Myself... Reaching New Heights!

I spent this past weekend in the mountains of North Carolina with our daughter and approximately 120 other women, sisters in faith. We studied God's word together, prayed together, ate together, played games and explored nature together and, above all, learned to trust in God's promise together, as women have done since Old Testamant times.  The recurring theme of the weekend was trust; how we can apply that trust to our decision making processes, to the risks we face and to the challenges we rise up to meet... our own, personal, leaps of faith! The building where we met is equipped with a climbing wall. We were offered the opportunity on Saturday afternoon to sign up for a climbing session, to challenge ourselves and trust in what was being provided for us. I like a challenge. And yet... I wasn't entirely sure if this was something I could do. I weighed my options, all the while reflecting on what we were learning through the decision making process based on the teaching of St. Ignatius. I identified my fears and opened myself up to what was new, what challenged me as a child of God to look beyond my own personal agenda and desires. I decided to leap... to reach beyond self-imposed limits and open myself up to trust. I said a prayer and donned a climbing helmet.
The climb was hard work, strenuous (for me); it's difficult to know where to step and where to grab for pulling up. I was totally reliant on my belayer below to give me cues: "reach up with your right hand for the yellow", even though I was right there on the wall my focus was fully about holding on! Isn't this how our God operates when we place our trust in Him? He will guide our steps, our every hand-hold, if only we will open our ears to listen for, and have faith in, His word.

Even though I  broke loose from the hand holds and swung free numerous times, I didn't give up; I did come close though. The good news is that I was continually encouraged to keep on... to grab again, to pull up, to "frog up" with my legs, to keep going. Here I am reaching out for the topmost grab on the wall. This was an exhilerating experience! I will think about this challenge for a long time to come. How much easier it would have been to give up and how happy I am that I didn't. God continues to place challenges before me... how much easier is it to stay within my own comfort zone? What do I risk, how much do I miss, by setting limitations? A lot! This climbing wall showed me the way to rethink the choices before me. "Every choice we make, no matter how small, is an opportunity to align ourselves with God's will."  What new heights are awaiting you?

Life is Good!

52%

These are the latest blocks completed from Rosemary Youngs' Quilt Block Bible. Quiltkeemosabe and I are more than halfway through writing directions and making each and every block in the book. At my last calculation I was 52% done; now I am moving onto applique- curves, that makes me smile... I love me some hand work! So, what does 52% look like and how am I keeping track of our work, piecing/cutting directions and the blocks themselves?

52% equals two loose leaf binders, full. Each completed block is filed in order, by number, and slipped into a page protector together with all of of its pertinent data. We're using every method we know: specialty rulers, templates, paper piecing... whatever it takes.

I'm including a few close-ups here of the fussy cutting I did. I had a length of fabric with quotes and these positively charming illustrations by Susan Branch; perfect for these little block centers. This one says: "Millions long for immortality but don't know what to do on a rainy afternoon" - Susan Ertz

 "All the way to Heaven is Heaven" - St. Catherine of Sienna

No quote, but a perfect resting place for this toile fussy cut. 

And, finally... this makes me want to brew a cup of tea right now... and read Little Women... again!

Life is Good!

New Tools = Happy Quilter!

I'm all set for tomorrow's Bible Study at Quiltkeemosabe's home. Ten more blocks done this past month, we're 43.5% done (88 out of 202 blocks).  Working out of Rosemary Young's Quilt Block Bible has been lots of fun as well as challenging when it comes to writing up all of the piecing instructions. I've put some great tools to work this time: Studio 180 Designs Corner Beam and Corner Pop tools have proven invaluable in working out the blocks in chapter two, Pinwheels and Windmills, shown in the photo at left, the bottom four blocks. I'm glad I happened to have them in my tool arsenal, as well as the E-Z Tri Tool. I have added Marsha McCloskey's Feathered Star Ruler to my bag of tricks, Quiltkeemosabe had recommended it to me and boy, am I ever glad that she did! It is a ruler marked for precision cutting 1/8ths and 1/16ths. I now find that I can tackle these impossibly small-seeming cut sizes without fear! I am still loving Creative Grids Itty-Bitty Eights ruler, but this new one (to me) opens up yet another way when it comes to precise 1/16" cuts. YAY!! All of these blocks shown are 6", finished, to give you some perspective.  So here's the deal: I'm certainly not suggesting that you go out and buy all of the rulers that I have referenced here. What I am thinking, though, is that you may have some of these rulers in your sewing room, they may even be collecting dust; get them out. Dust them off. Familiarize yourself with them and their capabilities. These are precision tools; they're designed by really smart people who've already done all of the hard math for you. Use them! The results will show up in your piecing. It's a definite win-win.

Panning out from the tight shot, above, you'll see what's growing from the bottom up on my design wall. It's the tumbler challenge thrown out earlier this month as a Leader-Ender project by Bonnie Hunter. I'm calling mine, a charm quilt, TMX2 (The More The Merrier). It's totally mindless piecing which, sometimes, is oh-sew-necessary after precision sewing for accuracy.  Whatever you're piecing in your sewing room, I hope you're having fun... remember, after all, why we do what we do; this is (or should be) our happy place!

Life is Good!

Stitch Which?

So,  while working my way through Rosemary Youngs' Quilt Block Bible I came to #37, Whirlpool. The way the book works is that there is a photograph of the completed, stitched block and the ability to print out a block diagram sheet from the CD (it comes with the book). Hmmm... I couldn't make out any reason for the arrangement as photographed, to me it appeared cluttered and was lacking in organization; it didn't make sense. I printed out three of the diagram sheets and grabbed some colored pencils, surely I could come up with a balanced arrangement that would be more pleasing to the eye. If I was going to stitch sixteen tiny half-square triangle units they were going to have contrast and not combine into square blocks of color... why bother?

These block representations appealed more to me. I settled on the one shown on the far right, deciding that the open center depicted the center of a whirlpool with enough movement surrounding the center to be visually pleasing. Creating the mock ups was a fun exercise without wasting fabric.

I like it! 

For perspective: there are 32 triangles in this block, the half-square triangle units finish to 1.5", combining to create a six inch block. I am loving that Itty Bitty Eights ruler more and more every day!

Life is Good!

Getting My House In Order

The house in question is this house, the BOM at my LQS. It took some extra-special attention to get it in order, not because it is especially difficult but, rather, because I thought I could talk on the telephone and cut out the pieces at the same time. Apparently I can not do that. You might be able to see some interesting seams... in the background fabric along the roofline and lengthwise down the front door. Oh, well; I doubt they will be visible after quilting. If I can make one recommendation it would be this: don't think of cutting out quilt pieces as a multi-tasking activity.  I paid much better attention when it came to this month's upcoming Bible Study blocks, especially the ones for which I am writing up the directions! So far, this is my progress. I have four more to go, Quiltkeemosabe and I get together to compare notes and stitch on Monday.

Life is Good!

At The Depot

My Mom and Dad have gone back home now, but a week and a half ago, when we were all together, we spent a day in Spencer, NC at the
NC Transportation Museum. In this photo Mom and I are at the depot waiting for the train to stop and take us around the property there; we had a wonderful day.  While working on my homework for "Bible Study" earlier this week I put together this block, entitled "At the Depot".
I decided to make it up out of fabrics Mom gave to me, she'd collected quite a few small, Civil War type prints for a recent quilt and she gladly saved the leftovers so that I could put them to good use in these small blocks. So here we are together, At the Depot; she and I, in body and in fabric.

Life is Good!

31.188%

I've been busy catching up on a lot of projects lately; my "Bible Study" homework is just one of them. Quiltkeemosabe and I will meet again this week to work on our next batch of blocks out of Rosemary Youngs' book. As of today, here's where I stand: 63 out of 202 (6" blocks) are complete, that's 31.188%. Our "Bible Study" began innocently enough late last summer, you can read about our idea and how it all got started here. This has been so much fun so far; along the way we've experimented with new piecing techniques and tools, read books that we might not have picked up if the other hadn't suggested them, and enjoyed catching up and reinforcing our longtime friendship over a home-cooked meal (usually with an exchange of recipes). Plus, the BIG bonus: we'll each end up with a quilt when it's all said and done. Since I'm on the subject of percentages, I can tell you this with 100% certainty: it just doesn't get any better than this! Grab a book and a buddy and set up your own "study" group, you'll be glad you did.

Life is Good!

A New Batch

I have a new batch of quilt blocks ready for tomorrow's "Bible" study; the monthy meeting that Quiltkeemosabe and I have to compare notes and share tips on our construction techniques for the blocks out of Rosemary Youngs' Quilt Block Bible.
Pictured here are:
Row #1 - Log Cabin and T Block
Row #2 - X Outline, Lantern and X Star Block
Row #3 - Doris' Delight Star, Grandma's Star and Radiant Star
Row #4 - Ribbon Star, Star of Spring and Shooting Star

They've all been fun and each is challenging in its own way. This brings the cumulative total of completed 6" blocks to fifty one blocks; we're twenty five percent done! Sadly, time will tell if we'll actually get together tomorrow or not, an inch of snow and sleet last evening has left our roads in poor condition for driving. I'm hopeful we'll experience a big melt today. I have little room to complain; my friends and family in New England have really been dealt a heavy hand when it comes to snow and ice. These cute little blocks can wait, safety first; I suppose I can always find something else to work on if we need to reschedule!

Life is Good! 

D.E.A.R. Year

When my daughter was a classroom teacher she had D.E.A.R time scheduled for her students: Drop Everything And Read. I love to read; but, typically, I don't have (or, to be more honest) I don't make the time to sit down, even for a short period every day, and read. This year I vowed that it would be different; I declared this year to be my D.E.A.R year! The books pictured are ones that I have already read in 2015; with the exception of the Lutheran Study Bible, I haven't read that through in its entirety, but rather, am enjoying digger deeper and reading all of the notes and commentary included by Bible scholars that appear in the margins and in the additional sections. My reading of this Study Bible will be ongoing.  The Hiding Place was added to the top of my list as the result of a book report by Quiltkeemosabe during a "Bible Study" workshop, I've known of the book and Corrie Ten Boom for decades but had never read the book, it has left an indelible impression. Firstlight has been a re-read for me, it was like being reaquainted with an old friend; one who never fails to inspire me.  Walking On Water is the conclusion of Richard Paul Evans' "walk" series, this one too was almost like a reunion with some old and dear friends; although each installment could easily stand on their own.  The Quilt That Walked To Golden is a fascinating historical compilation that I found I couldn't get enough of; which led me to the spin off of that book, The Quilt Walk (a novel written for 9 - 12 year olds). This is a sweet and endearing historical tale; I like knowing what's available for young readers in this same genre. A Quilt For Christmas was predictably charming and, yet, I never lose interest in the winning way that this author weaves story and characters into a seamless whole. I have plenty more in the queue for February and am excited about the prospects of my growing "I've read that" list for 2015; I've certainly not found that I'm missing out on whatever D.E.A.R. time has replaced, perhaps it's just the satisfaction of making this happen that's far more valuable. Hannes is most pleased with the lap time that D.E.A.R affords for him as well, it's a win-win!

Life is Good!

Twenty Percent

Here are the first forty blocks completed in the "Bible Study" workshops that Quiltkeemosabe and I are conducting (for each other) on a monthly basis. We're working concurrently on constructing, and writing up instructions for, the 200+ blocks in Rosemary Young's Quilt Block Bible. (The book is inspiring, it offers beautiful photos of each block and includes a CD for printing block diagrams but doesn't offer any instructions.) With my latest "homework assgnment" just finished today, I've now worked out about twenty percent of the book! We'll meet again on Wednesday for our next session. These blocks measure 6" (finished) and each presents its own set of challenges.  I've been able to use specialty rulers on some of the blocks, with excellent success; I'm particularly pleased with Deb Tucker's Studio 180 tools, the "Wing Clipper" and "Tucker Trimmer" have already proved themselves indispendsable. A few blocks have been straight-forward rotary cutting, some have required templates and others foundation piecing as the best construction method. So far I've found myself falling back on every construction technique I've ever learned; except applique, that is yet to come!

After displaying all the blocks on the neutral toned design wall I decided to audition them on a mocked-up dark background, simulating a 1" sashing, to see if I would like this better; I think I do.

This block, Aunt Nancy's Favorite Star, was paper pieced. Deb Karasik's Perfect! Piecing Paper was recommended to me and I can't say enough good things about it.  After drafting this block and exploding the diagram into sections for foundation piecing, I copied those sections onto Perfect! Piecing Paper which I had loaded into the printer; the results were crisp and clear; it was effortless to stitch through and easy to tear away! I'm sold on this product, and will keep a package on hand from now on. Our objective as we make each block is to write up clear instructions that produce accurate results. So far, so good; I may only be twenty percent done but I'm one hundred percent happy!

Life is Good!

Quilt Block Joy

Night Moon Star ~ 6", finished

This is the third week  in Advent; " joy"  is the word of this week. This quilt block gave me great joy, not only because it's pretty to look at... but becasue it's DONE! Quiltkeemosabe and I met this week to work together on a common block and to compare notes on the instructions we've written for constructing five additonal blocks from Rosemary Young's Quilt Block Bible.  This is block number 14; 12 and 13 are pictured below, they all were difficult; I ended up resorting to foundation piecing for accuracy as the measurements were anything but straight forward, there didn't seem to be a satisfactory solution for rotary cutting that would provide consistency.

Blocks # 13 and 12; Aunt Eliza's Star Variation and Aunt Eliza's Star, respectively.

Block # 15 ~Album Star

This block was straight forward and easy to piece using a few of Deb Tucker's handy dandy tools from my collection: the Wing Clipper and Corner Pop rulers made putting this one together a snap.

Block # 16 ~ Album Star Variation

Block #17 ~ Signature Star

These latter additions were equally easy and straight forward to piece. I did two variations of #17, one as pictured in the book and one as a traditional signature block with a light area for signing in the block center; all of the blocks finish to 6". We've now completed 28 blocks... only 174 to go! The joy associated with our "work" sessions together over this book go much deeper than our ever-growing quilt block collection; there's joy in the act of getting together, of laughter, of sharing a simple meal, and, most of all, in celebrating friendship. Where will you find joy today?

Life is Good!

Re-bound!

I bought this book, The Quilt Block Bible, with a conventional flat binding. It was fine that way, it held the pages in as it was designed to do, but as I work my way through the book, writing up directions and stitching out the blocks, I found myself weighing down the book's cover by what ever means within arm's reach: a magnetic pin cushion, another book, whatever it took to hold the pages open to the desired page. This wasn't always a satisfactory solution.  Last month, during our "Bible" study work session, Quiltkeemosabe and I took a field trip to our local office supply store and surrendered our books for a spiral re-binding (as shown here); this was the best $5 I've ever spent, no more frustrating flip-overs! 

Now, our books stay flat and open to the proper page as we work our way through, without any weighty assistance! We'll meet again next week... I still have five more blocks to go before then, I'd better get busy. We're about one eighth of the way through the book and still enjoying every stitch, all while amassing an ever-growing collection of unique and colorful six inch blocks!

Life is Good!