What, Exactly, Is "$5 Quilt"?

I've received a few e-mails lately, questions pertaining to terms
and/or abbreviations that I tend to toss around on this blog.
Today's post will, hopefully, shed some light on two of those;
let me attempt to translate here and break the quilter's "code".

These are six completed blocks from this year's $5 quilt* block-of-the-month program at my LQS**; they're all composed from squares and rectangles. This first colorway uses all white-on-white backgrounds, varying indigoes and a color placement of the quiltmaker's choice. I have remained consistent with that chosen fabric, plugging in a "sketchy" caramel color fabric. I have no idea where I will go with these blocks, setting-wise. I am doing a second colorway as well, all solids, utilizing a dove-gray background and bright solids. I have thought about "floating" the pieced blocks by using a wide sashing of the same background fabrics. We'll see; it's far too early to decide yet, there are six more blocks to go! So far, my favorite block is the one in the middle on the far-right row of both photographs. I love the way the little squares encircle the larger, center, square; I'm intruiged by both the movement and the disparate appearance of that same block when a third color is added (below). I can see this single block repeated in a quilt, becoming a vehicle for moving out MANY precut 2.5" square scraps; perhaps using a controlled color center square and a unified background! As always, my mind creates SEW MUCH MORE than I can ever humanly achieve, but it's nice to plan and dream!

*What, exactly, is a $5 quilt program? It is a shop-centered series of  "how to" gatherings scheduled on a monthly basis. Each month an instructor walks the registered participants through the construction methods for that month's particular block. There's time for Q's and A's as well as show and tell, a doorprize drawing, and information about the shop's other ongoing classes and workshops; it's fun and entertaining. To register, one commits to a sign-up fee (our LQS charges a one-time flat fee, per colorway, to offset the cost of fabric and printing for the hand-outs). Each month the participant brings in their completed block and receives a pattern and fabric to make the next block at no charge. If the participant fails to bring in a completed block there's a $5 charge to buy ones' self back into the program. Our LQS offers one "free pass"which can be saved and used as needed. It's a great opportunity to socialize as well as make a quilt-top for very little expense (a great incentive to keep up).

** LQS = Local Quilt Shop

Life Is Good!

"Let's Talk" Tuesday...

Hey, there... it's that time of the week again and Mom isn't here. She left me in charge; named me 'guest moderator' while she's skiing out west. It's a lot of responsibility, whew! I've been trying to think of a topic, and a few good ones have come to mind: "what breed would you think is the perfect quilting dog companion" and "would you rather have a small dog or larger dog sleep on your quilts to show them off to their full potential"... but then I remembered that Mom had assigned a topic; oh, yeah. I'd better get to it or I'll lose my substitute position permanently! Thanks for stopping by!

Describe what would constitute the perfect quilting day for you.

For me, the perfect quilting day would be all about preparation. The pattern and fabrics would have been preselected and the pieces would already be cut and neatly arranged. The studio would be clean and all I would need to do is show up and sew. My lunch would be prepared, too; by someone else! (I can dream, right?) Oh, yeah... and my bobbin would never run out! ;)

...and sew, "let's talk"...
what's the perfect quilting day for you?

Life is Good!