High Contrast Precision Check

These blocks represent a big shift for me in several ways: working in black and white and piecing in miniature, each block finishes to 4".  I started this project a year ago last summer, it is the Summer Sampler at Temecula Quilt Co., this online project offered four blocks a week over the summer months to completion.  I have chosen to follow my own schedule however (read between the lines: she couldn't keep up the pace!) and have resurrected this one from the bottom shelf of my carefully stashed UFO's. 
The high contrast of the chosen fabrics have really kept me on my toes, each teeny-tiny triangle has to be accurate and precise or it would stick out, visually, like a sore thumb. I laid out each block at the cutting table and carried them to the machine on a small cafeteria tray*, assuring each piece, in each row, would remain in order. I chain pieced the rows and "webbed" the block together by chain piecing each row to the next. I then pressed the seams open; doing that is very helpful to make sure that points are not cut off as the final row seams are stitched.

Look for the "v" that forms on the reverse side of the open seam 

and establish the next seam directly through the  "v" for a perfect point.

I will continue to make these blocks, all forty of them, as time allows. Challenge yourself on your next project to stitch as precisely as possible. Working small and in high contrast is completely unforgiving; for me, it has been a good way for me to tune up my skills, the results are worth it.

Life is Good!

On this, the eighth day of November, I give thanks for a 

creative outlet that continues to challenge and reward.

* I recently found the small cafeteria-style trays at a local hardware store. They are perfect for organizing and moving small pieces as well as for stacking and storing projects-in-progress.  

Jackstones

Jackstones

I have an ongoing love affair with Low Volume fabrics; my burgeoning collection was begging to be used, or at least some of it was, it's hard for me to cut it up. Anyway, after Bible Study on Monday Quiltkeemosabe sent me a link for website tutorial on "X" or Hummingbird blocks, thinking I might be able to use the technique on next month's block assignment. Well, as sometimes happens, I decided to experiment with a few larger blocks. The tutorial requires an EZ Dresden ruler to cut the wedge shapes, I didn't have one but I did have a 9 degree wedge and pulled out some brights to pair with the LVs, I had this pretty 10" block stitched up lickety-split.  I really liked the effect. I decided to make a few more blocks (of course I did!) and stitch them together to get a good idea of how they would appear set block to block, they reminded me of playing jackstones on the concrete porch floor in the summer when I was a little girl.

One thing leads to another and I tried auditioning the reverse block on the outside as a possible border option. You see how these trains can become runaways in no time?

It was okay, but it wasn't as great as I had imagined. 

I found the larger, brighter triangles to be too distracting.

I had some pale gray shot-cotton in the stash closet... "I wonder" I said out loud...and I set to cutting. Yes, that was exactly what I had in mind for this idea! I still have a LOT of planning to do: size being the main consideration; from there I will know how many pieces to cut. A plan is a wondrous thing! But, for now, this is but the seed for a larger quilt-to-be; one that harkens back to long, lazy summer days playing jackstones with a little red rubber ball on a smooth, cool concrete floor. Isn't that what summer is all about; taking the time to have some fun... playing a little? If the first thing you do doesn't excite you, feel free to scrap it and move on. In this case, I am SEW happy that I did just that! Don't worry about those border units I have removed, one can't ever have too many potholders, can they?

Life is Good!

In Order... Alphabetically!

I've had fun keeping up with the "Little Letters" tutorials, two weekly, over at Temecula Quilt Company's blog. I'm using all "Grunge Basics" by Moda as my fabric pallete. The blocks finish to 4", this project will end up as a little quilt or wallhanging, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in charm... I love it! If you love it too, it's not too late to begin; all the tutorials are free and online here. It's as simple as "A - B - C"!

Life is Good!

What's In Your Wallet?

 There's nothing worse than a converted coffee addict; now that I have switched to tea I need to have my tea stash with me at all times. Using the instructions I found on this online tutorial I stitched myself up a tea wallet to keep in my purse (and a few more for gift giving). The step by step (linked above) was simple to follow and the finished products are oh-so-cute! So, what's in your wallet?

Life is Good!