WIP Wednesday

Awhile ago I joined this QAL - The Skill Builder Sampler - see, the button is still over there on my sidebar.  I had alot of fun making each block and learning lots of great quilty stuff, until I fell behind. 

Have you read this post by The Happy Zombie?  It's about sewing what makes you happy.  When I read it, I had one of those 'Ah-ha!' moments.  And I realized it was ok with me not to finish the Skill Builder QAL, even though I had been enjoying it and I still read each new post, because I don't enjoy that behind-the-eight-ball feeling of trying to catch up.  (if you don't mind playing catch up, I do recomend you check it out - you will learn tons!)

So what to do with the blocks I had already made?  Well, I put them together with setting blocks and a small boarder to add some size.

{i'm sorry for the bad rainy day inside pictures, but that sun just refuses to shine}

I needed one more block, so I made this pinwheel.  It is based on one I found in a Thimbleberries book of my Mom's {and can I just say it is awesome to have a Mom who quilts - I get to raid her stash of fabrics & books & thread!}   The block in the book (I can't remember which book) finished 4" too small, so I drafted it the size I needed.

I had just enough of this pretty pink on blue floral to squeek out a boarder, and I'm so glad I did because it makes the top.  Really, I didn't like this top at all until the boarder was put on.

If you want to see more about the other blocks, click on 'skill builder sampler' in the label cloud in my sidebar, and you should be able to see those posts.

This quilt is the one I will be donating for Hands2Help.  Blocks I already had being made into a quilt instead of collecting dust, and that quilt going to a good cause - I think that's a win-win :)
almost forgot - i'm linking up to WIP Wednesday, because who doesn't love a good linky party?

one little block

I do like how this block has turned out.  It is block 10, Ohio Star, of the We Can Do It! Sampler.  It was my intention to get caught up with the QAL this week, but this is the only block I finished. 

You see, a few days ago I managed to poke myself in the eye with one of those plastic-coated wire twist ties.  Nothing too serious, just bothersome enough to keep me from doing much sewing or blog reading.

The weather here is supposed to be beautiful the next 2 or 3 days, so I'll be doing some furniture refinishing.  If I get that done, I'm hoping to get some quality time in with my sewing machine. 

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Did you hear it?

That loud thud a few weeks ago.

That was me, falling off the wagon.   I'm so far behind on the We Can Do It! Sampler, it's scary.  I think I did one of August's blocks, and none of September's. 

Here is the one I stiched in August & forgot to post about:

The closest thing I have to a design wall is the boulder in the back yard.  It works pretty well as long as the wind isn't blowing :)

Since I'm so far behind on the sampler, and I've only got three more months to finish the rest of my UFO's {New Years is my self-impossed deadline}, I've decided to join a quilt-a-long.

Makes perfect sense, right? {and let's not forget Christmas gifts}

Still Samplering Along

The block on the right is block #7 of the We Can Do It! Sampler.   The block on the left is my own challenge block for July.  See, in June the fourth week of the Sampler was a catch-up week, but Leila gave us some info on 'quilt math' and a challenge to use our new knowledge to design a block of our own. 

In July, the fourth week was again 'quilt math', but there wasn't a challenge.  So I decided to make a challenge block anyway.  I've always liked Indian Hatchet blocks, but have never made any.  The 'Corner to Corner' math Leila shared was just what I needed to make my own, but I really didn't want a 12 inch Indian Hatchet, so I made two 6 inch blocks and alternated them with two four patches. 

I ended up with what looks like a giant scrappy bowtie, which wasn't what I wanted, but I'm keeping it as is.  Lesson learned: more carefully consider if secondary patterns will be created once your units are joined together.

I've learned so much from this quilt-a-long already, I really am so grateful to Leila for hosting it :)
I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday - head on over to see everyone's unfinished stuff!  :)

Playing Catch-Up

Well, the We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler started in June, but I had a lot on my plate, so I didn't start until July.  So I'm trying to sew June's blocks while still keeping up with July's.  Its sort of working :)

Here is block #2:

It was a bit challenging choosing fabrics to suit the requirments, but I'm happy with how my block turned out.

and here is block #3:

I only have block #1 & #5 to go, and I'll be caught up on the required blocks.  I'll probably make last month's challenge block when I make July's. 

This quilt is coming out very sweet and girly, so I will probably give it to my goddaughter when it is done.  If I can let it go ;)

I'm really enjoying this sampler and the chance to try new-to-me blocks without committing to a whole quilt of them.  One of my favorite parts of making a quilt is planning and choosing fabrics, and a scrappy sampler means I get to do that for every block.  Yup, this is the perfect quilt for my miniscule attention span  :)

I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday, head on over to see what everyone is working on.  :)

We Can Do It! Sampler... still chugging along

This is my block 6 for the We Can Do It! Sampler.  I'm not normally fond of using white (I've mention before that our quilts are often used to make bunkers and foxholes to fight off invaders) but I think it makes this block look so crisp and pretty.  :)

This was my first attempt at bowties, and I really loved them.  I can see a bowtie quilt in my future...

This white star print has been hanging around unused for a long time, because the stars look yellowed and 'gunky'.   But a few weeks ago I used some for the inside of my grocery bag holder (where it wouldn't be seen) and in the process realized that from the back the stars look much better.  So I used it wrong side up for my bowtie block, and I couldn't be happier.  Lovely looking star fabric + not wasting what I've already got = :)  In the picture above, I folded over the right corner of the block, so you can see the 'right' side of the fabric next to the 'wrong' side.  Can you see the improvement?

I'm linking up to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story.  Come join the party!

Pinwheels

The colors in this photo aren't very good - in real life, the solid is a pale yellow and the floral is a pinkish/salmon, but you get the idea, right?  :)

This is block 4 in the We Can Do It! Sampler.  I chose to reverse the light and dark, just for the fun of it  :)
I am a bit behind already with this sampler, but I'm hoping to get caught up this month by doing two blocks a week instead of just the one.  I've also finished block 2, but I'll get you a picture of that in another post.

If you haven't yet, you really should check out this QAL, the posts are fantastic, full of info and inspiration, everything you could possibly need to master each new skill being featured.  And have I mentioned you also get a really cool button for your sidebar?  :)    {I really, really love this button.  What can I say, I'm easy to please}

wishing you sunny skies and uninterupted sewing time!
bye for now

We Can Do It!

Have you been over to Sewn?  Leila is getting ready to kick off the We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler.
Are there quilting skills you have been wanting to try?  This looks like a great chance  to give it a whirl, plus Leila has the coolest button ever for her quilt-a-long.  Who wouldn't want Rosie on their sidebar? :)
OK.  Infomercial is over now.  Back to our regularly scheduled programing. :)