Shhh....A "Secret" Project

After diligently working on my Island Batik March project, I am nearing a completion.  Of course I can't show it until March - and I hope I finish it by then.
I am doing something I have never done.  Yes, this is a true confession.  I am hand sewing the binding to the back of the quilt. I honestly have never done this before. But, as it is the traditional method, I decided I needed to do it at least once.  I sewed more than one side without using a thimble -mostly because I couldn't find one here.  Yes, I do own thimbles but as a rule I dislike using them.

Since I can't show you the front of the quilt, let me tease you a bit with the back of it.  The backing fabric is a delightful Island Batik Neutral called "Whip Cream."  It is off white/cream with a spattering of pale blue and a darker cream swirl pattern.

I have adjusted the photos to show off the quilting better so the colors are not true in the photos.

I had lots of fun quilting this quilt and deciding which quilting designs and motifs to use.  There are a number of "Square Flower" motifs which I learned from Lori Kennedy.  I also pulled out a book or two to look at other ideas. One of those was 180 Quilting Doodle Designs compiled by Karen Burns.
Another was Step-by-Step Free-Motion Quilting by Christina Cameli.   Christina has been one of my favorite FMQ teachers. Her teaching and "you can do it" attitude have really helped me to be better at Free Motion Quilting.  Even though we have never met, I consider her a true friend.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you will return in March for the reveal of this quilt. But don't wait until then.  I am sure I will be posting more here before the end of February.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Real Cut-up

I spent a day being a real cut-up.  You see the cutting directions for the Daisy Chain Quilt Along were posted on Monday.   My choice is to make the throw sized quilt for this one.

I got my rotary cutter and mat ready and the fabrics pressed and neat for cutting.  But I noticed that a couple of the sizes of cuts would work with Accuquilt dies that I have. So I pulled out my Accuquilt Cutter and those dies.  Here  are my stacks of fabric all ready to make into a quilt.

Those stacks are each labeled with the letter from the cutting instructions as well as the size and number cut.  I am trying to be really organized for this quilt along so that I finish it in the appropriate time frame.  This should also be a lesson to keep me on-track for other projects.
You may notice that the purple and aqua/teal fabrics are still wrapped on the cardboard mini-bolts. That is because I will pick which one to use and cut those strips (2 1/2") as I need them. It is likely that I will use them both.  I also have jelly roll leftovers for the scrappy fabrics listed in the cutting - but I may choose to cut those from yardage as I go along also.

I have finished all of the blocks for my "Left Handed Sampler" quilt along quilt.  My plan is to use adding the sashings and cornerstones as "fill-in" time between other projects. I am sure I will show some of those as it progresses.


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

3 More Sampler Blocks

Today was pretty but cold. I did all my chores and then after supper I made three more blocks for the LHQSQ (Sampler Quilt.)

I am not sure I can tell you the names of these. I know the first one is Thrifty.

The next one she has listed as Double X No. 1

Then there is this one,  a Four-Patch Chain

But this last one is not in the Quilt Along at all.  Rather I took the leftover pieces and decided to make my own block.  So, unless someone knows a "proper" name for it I am calling it "Monday Leftovers."

Honestly, I really like this little block. The quarter-square triangles combine with the half-square triangles to make an interesting block.

Do you ever create your  own blocks just for fun? I find it entertaining. For me it is like playing with some of the tangram puzzles I did as a pre-teen.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

LHQSQ Blocks

I made two more blocks for the LHQSQ 2.0 quilt along.   A Left-Handed Quilter posted two more blocks this morning and I decided to use those two in my sampler also.  The blocks are the Hourglass and the Attic Window blocks. This is not the Attic Window that immediately comes to my mind, but it is called an Attic Window in Electric Quilt.
While looking at her blocks I saw that I could combine a couple of shapes and cut pieces with my Accuquilt Go! cutter.  One of those shapes is the chisel for the Attic Window.
Unfortunately, I neglected to pay attention to the orientation of the chisel shape.  So, my attic window block is a mirror image of hers.  I also mirror imaged the Hourglass block just because. Ha ha.

I am slowly accumulating enough of these blocks that I should soon get to start on the sashing and joining.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Little Love

In honor of the day --you know February 14th - today......that mushy love day,  I spent a little time sewing and practicing my free motion quilting as well as some straight line quilting.  I used an orphan block that had a little heart appliquéd on it as part of the design.  So here is my little table mat.  It is a bit bigger than a placemat.

You can see that I echo quilted that little heart applique.

The original block was part of a jelly roll race quilt that I started and realized that I didn't like all that much. I prefer the back of this more.

It is always good to make a small simple piece to practice your free motion quilting before you jump into quilting a project.  Normally I just do a practice sandwich, but this works well also.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A New Video -Accuquilt Go! Cutter

Over the weekend,  I was planning to cut some 2 1/2" squares from some layer cake and charm pack squares.  So I decided to do a video showing my method using the Go! cutter and the 2 1/2" strip die as well as the Go! Qube die for 2 1/2" squares.

This video has also been added to the Tutorial Video tab so that you can find it again easily.
You can also subscribe to my YouTube Channel to be notified when I have new videos.

I have added social media buttons on the left hand sidebar for your convenience.  I hope you like the blog redesign.

I have also added a page tab with all of the current Island Batik Ambassadors and blogs/websites.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Sampler Blocks

The  Left-Handed Quilter Sampler quilt along is moving along and I have made a few blocks.
This sampler is based on the nine-patch grid so each block is a type of nine-patch. In honor of that, I have included a basic nine patch with the other blocks.

From left to right the top row is: Friendship Star; Blue Chains, Aunt Malvernia's Chain Variation
The second row is: Greek Cross Variation,  Basic Nine Patch, Contrary Wife.

So, for this I have only nineteen blocks left to go.  Actually, I did make a Churn Dash. It seems I never get those to come out correctly.  After ripping out seams several times, the fabric frayed and distorted so that it is a quarter inch small in some areas. I will put it in the sad orphan blocks for future use.  Maybe I will try again on the churn dash for this little quilt.


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Oh My Stars

For February the Island Batik challenge is called Magnificent Minis.

After some deliberation, I decided that I would do a field of wonky stars.   Then I looked at the fabrics I was given to work with and decided to make it a little more interesting by dividing the field into four colors.  Of course, I didn't want to do it as four squares, so I thought a while longer and decided that I could divide the square in two diagonals.   Making one diagonal - that was an easy thing to do.  But on the other, it took some planning and careful fabric choices.

Here is one of the photos I took of this mini quilt. In case you are wondering this little quilt is 22 1/2 inches square. Each star block is 3" finished - so each star point section is started with a 1 1/2" square and finished at 1" - that is possibly the smallest piecing I have ever done.

But since we had a sunny warm day, I decided to go on a photo "safari" with the mini quilt of stars.  My location of choice was a local park that has a lake.  There is also an old covered bridge there.  So I put the quilt against the wall just inside the bridge, hanging it over one of the boards.

Wow, I love how that shot came out. 

But there are more photos.  

I stepped to the back of the bridge and put the quilt on one of the guard rails.  Before I could take the photo,  a visitor landed on top of the bridge, so I included this photo-bomber. 

Do you see that lovely gray heron?

I tried to get a photo of the heron sitting on a small ?rock? in the lake but he flew as I snapped the photo. 

There is also a nice spraying fountain in the lake. 

I think it made a nice backdrop also. 

And a couple more shots taken in a friend's yard. 

The fabrics are all Island Batiks.  The batting is Hobbs 80/20 Heirloom. The thread is Aurifil for both piecing and quilting. 

Of course I am required to tell you that I was provided the fabrics and the batting for making this quilt by Island Batik and Hobbs Batting at no charge to me.  I also used Aurifil thread in the construction and quilting, but that thread was already in my stash.  

I would like to thank Island Batik,  Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread and Accuquilt for being sponsors of the 2019 Island Batik Ambassador program. 

Throughout the month, the Ambassadors will be sharing Magnificent Mini quilts.  Here is a list of other Ambassadors with links to websites for each. Enjoy the journey with us. 

Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen

Gene Black ~ Gene Black (you are here)

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Connie K Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River

Anja Clyke ~ Anja Quilts

Tina Dillard ~ Quilting Affection Designs

Becca Fenstermaker ~Pretty Piney

Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter

Barbara Gaddy ~ Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Dione Gardner-Stephen ~ Clever Chameleon

Sarah Goer ~ Sarah Goer Quilts

Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts

Lori Haase ~ Dakota City Quilter II

Joanne Hart ~ Unicornharts

Mania (Magdalini) Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for Quilts

Carla Henton ~ Creatin’ in the Sticks

Stephanie Jacobson ~ Steph Jacobson Designs

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Joan Kawano ~ Moosestash Quilting

Kim Lapacek ~ Persimon Dreams

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Leanne Parsons ~ Devoted Quilter

Bea Lee ~ BeaQuilter

Toby Lischko ~ Gateway Quilts & Stuff

Bill Locke ~ Studio Bill Locke

Denise Looney ~ For the Love of Geese

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack's Blog

Kathleen McCormick ~ Kathleen McMusing

Carol Moellers ~ Carol Moellers Designs

Karen Neary ~ Sew Karen-ly Created

Lisa Nielsen ~ Lisa Lisa and the Quilt Jam

Jackie O’Brien ~ If These Threads Could Talk

Laura Piland ~ Slice of Pi Quilts

Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde

Vicki Schlimmer ~ Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Sherry Shish ~ Powered by Quilting

Anita Skjellanger ~ Quilt in a not-Shell

Laticia "Tish" Stemple ~ Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

Jennifer Strauser ~ Dizzy Quilter

Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations

Terri Vanden Bosch ~ Lizard Creek Quilts

Alison Vermilya ~ Little Bunny Quilts

Sandra Walker ~ mmm! quilts

Suzy Webster ~ Adventurous Applique and Quilting

(Debora) Anne Wiens ~ Seams like a Plan

Geraldine Wilkins ~ Living Water Quilter

Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Fabrics for the Daisy Chain QAL

As I told you about the Daisy Chain Quilt Along,  I have picked my fabrics for it and they are separated from my "stash" so that I don't accidentally use them in something else.

Here are my selections.

The orange will be my background fabric. The yellow with multicolor circles will be my focal fabric.  I will be using both the purple and aqua as my accent fabric (because I couldn't choose just one.) The strips will be my assorted scrappy or coordinating fabrics.

But if I change my mind about the assorted scrappy strips or need to supplement them, I can also use the black version of the circle print!  That might be more fun.  What do you think?

Are you going to join in the Daisy Chain Quilt Along?


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Island Batik Ambassador 2019 Unboxing

As I have mentioned previously,  I applied to be an Island Batik Ambassador for 2019 and was accepted to the program.

Island Batik is "The best from Bali."  The fabric is outstanding. In a few days I will be showing you my first project as an ambassador.

Full Disclosure:  Island Batik along with partners, Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread and Accuquilt have provided the items I received free of charge as an Ambassador. 

I will also say that I have purchased and used products from all of these companies prior to becoming an Island Batik Ambassador. 

So now, enjoy watching as I unbox the lovely items I received from  these sponsors.



I also have some nice still photos of my amazing "haul."

The table is FULL of happy possibilities. 

Bright Colors and more

Go! Cutter, Go! Qube, Island Batik Fabric, Aurifil Thread.

Another view of the fabrics and that lovely Hobbs Batting

Surprise!  The contents of this package
 will be part of my August Blog Hop post. 

Neutrals in Gray/Black/White and more.
Look at the lovely red rayon scarf. 

Batting Galore from Hobbs Batting. 

This year should be a time of productivity and growth for me as a quilter. I hope you will come along for the ride.


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible.
Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply.
Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Two Blocks -LHQSQ 2.0

For the Left-Handed Quilter Sampler quilt along,  I have made my first two blocks.  Since there are 99 blocks to choose from and we are only making 25 of them, we can choose which ones we want to make.
My fabrics for this will be mostly Kaffe Fassett by Free Spirit.  The 10" squares and some charm packs were on sale and I couldn't resist the colorful delights.

The pieces were cut with my Accuquilt Go! cutter using the 8" Qube set.  These are 6 inch finished blocks, but the 2" square and 2" half-square triangles from that set were perfect for cutting these.

The Contrary Wife is the first block I chose to make.

These two blocks are in the "not too hard" category, in my opinion.  They are simple half square triangles and simple square fabric units.

For the second block, I chose an old favorite - the Friendship Star.

This block can be arranged to rotate either direction.   These fabrics certainly change the look of the blocks.  One of those yellow HSTs has blue right along the edge of the star point which seems to change the shape just a bit.  The center square has a pink burst that is seven pointed.  It is actually the veins of a leaf, but it has a nice "starburst" feel in the middle of my star block.  This was completely serendipitous - but I love it.

Only 23 more blocks to go...but I will be taking this one slow and easy.

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.