Civil War blocks

Here's a look at my version of the first nine blocks of Barbara Brackman's Civil War quilt.  The most recent is the upper left.  Let me just say that three doesn't go into nine evenly.  I ended up using 1/16th inches to get it even close.  Luckily, I have a ruler with those marks but it's only 4 1/2".  I wish Omnigrid made one maybe 10" or 12" square with 1/16th inch marks on it. 

I have several more blocks finished for my Nearly Insane quilt.  Some of them are fairly easy, others - not so much, but I knew that going in!  I don't get a chance to sew every day but, when I do, I usually can get two put together.  I try to have several blocks prepped ahead of time and that's been a big help.  There are some of the harder ones coming up so that will be slower but I don't have a deadline. 

I also started a '30's style quilt.  That makes four I'm working on at once - I never used to work on more than one at a time!  I have to say, I'm really enjoying it.

More Nearly Insane

Here are eight of the Nearly Insane blocks I've finished in the last couple of weeks.  I've finished up to block 18 - upper left corner.  I thought it was going to be the  hardest but then I read ahead - maybe not!

There's something about this block I really like.  I think part of it is the fabric.  I don't usually use black and gray or white for blocks but I'm really happy with this combination. 

How I spend my Fridays

Smile for the camera!

You have to hold the tongue just so . . .

This glue is sticky stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tah Dah!!!

 

 

 

We do an art project every week and this time we made a flower pot for her parents for Valentine's Day.  Her brother is 14 months old and was too busy playing with his blocks to pose. 

Midnight Stars

Midnight Stars (thanks, Lori!) is finished - quilted, bound, and washed.  I don't prewash unless I'm worried about a fabric (bleeding, crocking, etc) but I always wash after a quilt is finished.  Yes, even applique.  I like the look and it gets out whatever markings I've done.  I'm not sure if you can see the binding well enough to tell what the fabric is.  I used a deep red with blue flowers.  I really looks good with the fabrics I used in the body of the quilt.

Midnight Stars finished

 

with some tools

Some of the things I used on this quilt are in this picture.  I used the plastic top from a ricotta cheese container for the circle template.  It was the exact size I wanted.  I used Cebelia thread to quilt with.  I think this is a crochet thread and I've always wanted to try it.  Since this quilt isn't that big, it seemed like a good project to experiment.  I'm glad I tried it but I won't use it again.  See the pliers?  I used those with every stitch.  I can usually get the needle through with a wide rubber band but not this thread!  The bent piece of metal is a Finger Protector (?) for my under hand I purchased at Quilt Expo in Portland several years ago.  I'm lost without it.  I looked at Quilt Expo last September but couldn't find them - I was going to get a spare.  (I know I can get them online in an emergency.) 

Since this is finished, I've been going through some of my old (like 25 or 30 years old) quilt books for another project.  It's amazing how styles have changed. 

Moving along . . .

This week, I finished three Nearly Insane blocks.  First, I want to show the difference in the pictures when I use the external flash on my camera - the real colors are somewhere in between.  I think the bottom of the flash photo is closest to what my eye sees.  I didn't aim the flash directly at the squares so that's most likely how I managed to get a slight shadow on the bottom.

Block 6 using a flash

Block 6 with a lamp

Block 7

Block 8

The inner HST's finish at 1/2", the outer at 3/4".  The block really is flat - it's just hard to get it to stay that way with so much fabric in the seams, even with good pressing.  It will be fine once I sew it to the sashing.

The other project I worked on was Midnight Stars.

Here it is, marked, basted, and ready to go.  It's about finished so I'll post pictures of it later in the week.

Progress

I'm usually a 'work on one quilt at a time and finish it' kind of person so I don't know what's happened to me!  I have pictures from three quilts I've made progress on (or started) and they don't include Beyond the Cherry Tree because I haven't finished stitching down the 112 cherries or even started the embroidery in block 16.  I also have what I need to start an embroidery BOM quilt for my granddaughter.  Once I start it, I'll post the link with the photos.

I've had the book Nearly Insane, AKA the Salinda Rupp quilt, for over seven years.  As soon as I saw one, I loved it, knew I had to make it, and bought the book.  The owner of my favorite shop at the time (she sold it and it's different now) had made it and brought it to a class.  I couldn't make it out of the shop without the book!   I've been looking at it ever since and thinking how hard it looks.  I'm sure CJ and Lori got tired of me whining about it because they finished theirs so I'm sure they already know.  This week I got my brave on and jumped in.  My goal is to average one block a week finished.  Some of them have close to 200 pieces in a block that finishes six inches.  Others are easier and I can finish them more quickly.  This is a project I can fit in during the day. This week, I finished the first three.

I also finished blocks two and three in the Civil War BOW Barbara Brackman is posting.

I cropped the photo of block 2 the same as the others 

but for some reason, that photo doesn't show up.  Just pretend, okay? 

I wanted gold stars on a blue ground in the applique block.  I enjoy applique and that didn't bother me at all but I chose the wrong fabric.  I couldn't get sharp points on the stars.  It may be just one block but I don't like it.  I also don't like the block enough to redo it.   The fabric is from my LQS, not a fabric/craft store, but the weave is very loose and the threads too coarse.  I shouldn't have picked it - I know better.  If I trimmed the fabric inside the points as close as I normally do, it raveled way too much so  I ended up with way too much fabric/too many threads inside my points.  I won't use this fabric for applique again and I may not use it for piecing.  I'll have to try it in a sample and see if it holds together.

My last photo this week is of the pieces for the doll quilt, Midnight Stars, Lori is posting.  I love doll quilts - they're easy to finish and easy to display.

This doesn't look like much but I'm ready for the next step.

My Circuit Rider quilt

 

It's finished - done and hung!  It really feels good to finally get it up on the rod.  I have it in front of a window that leaks cold air all winter and puts a good chill on my house.  I've had small quilts draped over cafe' rods in the past but wanted one large quilt for a prettier effect.  You can see in its lower right where the sun was hitting the window and this is why I wanted a solid backing.  There is another very large window on the front of the room (this is on the side) that doesn't let in all that cold air so there's still quite a bit of natural light coming in.  To say I'm happy with this quilt is an understatement!  I'm also surprised at how quickly the quilting went, once I finally took that first stitch, especially with everything else going on. 

If you look at my posts from last year, April to June 2009, you can see the progress on the blocks so I don't need to post all that again.  I think I know what my next big quilt project will be - along with small, doll size quilts thrown in, but I still need one or two more fabrics.  I guess I'll just have to hit the quilt shops.  Bummer, right?