Two Months Catch-up

You'll feel sorry for me when I tell you that I wasn't able to make Michelle's February block, nor Victoria's March block because I didn't have a sewing machine for more than a month. I was in a Florida beachside condo for a couple weeks, and then in Tampa spending time with a ten month-old grandson. Poor me, huh?

But as soon as I got home, I got to sewing! Michelle, your block was especially challenging to make because the strips were in short supply! I had to piece three strips to get the lengths needed for string-piecing. Here's a picture of the wee pile of scraps I had left over. The largest piece was the 2" X 4" print on the far left. 

This is a big block at 18-1/2" X 18-1/2" unfinished. I hope the seams aren't too noticeable.

Decorative stitches on my 830 Bernina Record are limited, but I think this one looks nice.

I was merrily decorative-stitching away when the sewing machine dramatically slowed speed. I couldn't figure out why until I opened the top of the machine to see that a cone of thread I had set aside got caught in the fly wheel! Lots of snipping and "arghs" later I was able to finish the decorative stitching.

Michelle, this is your block and leftover bits that were mailed to you today.

Victoria, thanks for the fun of picking green print scraps from my stash. You'll notice that I was sure to include a palm tree print (see at top right) that's sort of my trademark. With a blog name of "Flourishing Palms," I take every opportunity to work in palm trees.

Two additional tips when making this block:

1. If you have a Sara Nephew Clearview 60-degree Triangle, it's great for trimming the six triangle units before sewing them together. 
2. It's helpful to put a piece of lightweight paper beneath the center circle, before appliqueing it down. The paper adds nice stability. My old Bernina doesn't have a blanket stitch, but the number two utility stitch looks nice.

It will be so fun to see these blocks made into quilts! Michele, Michelle or Victoria... whose quilt top will we see first?

Linda in Iowa

Log Cabins for Michele

Ah… my first blocks for this bee for the wonderful Michele! I must have received the right amount of fabric, as I definitely have leftovers!

I had the perfect opportunity to throw the selvage into the center of one of the blocks:

 

Michele, I will send out as soon I get my fabric sorted out for February! :)

This post also reminded me of what a pain blogger can be with uploading photos! I would recommend you check out Windows Live Writer – it’s a lot more intuitive (more like Microsoft office products) and easier to arrange photos.  Live Writer works for both blogger and my own self-hosted Wordpress blog.

First Block and a "Nice to Meetcha"

Hi there! I'm Andrea over at the little collection and new to One Block Over this year. (Yipeeee!) I'm looking forward to sewing with you all and getting to know some new quilty bloggers!

Kicking it off with January's blocks...

Michele's little package of fabric was waiting for me when I got home Saturday, so this little gal was done by Saturday night.

(Love the fabric for the center medallion!)

When I saw Linda's post, I decided to see if I could squeeze a second block out of what was left but figured I better plan carefully. Like Victoria, I had to do a little extra piecing of bits and crumbs to make it work, but it did!


The blocks and scraps (minus just a smidgen of that sweet strawberry fabric, I must admit) are all on their way home to you. Hope you like them both!

January 2011 - Patchy Log Cabin Block

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The packages of fabric for the January 2011 block went out in the mail on Wednesday and may be arriving today.  Not knowing really how to divide up so many of the Meadowsweet designs, the baggies are a bit overloaded!  

During the 2010 bee, my favorite block was the February patchy log cabin we made, so I decided to go with that design for myself this year.  At the top of the post is the completed block I made last year, as I haven't made one with the Meadowsweet yet.  Included in the packages coming your way is a letter spelling out my hopes for the block.  
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Please do keep the strips a rectangle shape with straight sides no wider than 3.5".  To keep one common theme running through all the blocks, I sent you one strip of turquoise cotton that is approximately 2.25" wide and one strip of lime cotton that is approximately 1.5" wide (the dimensions are from memory, don't hold me to it!).  What I thought would be great is to have each of you add one strip of each color to the block, one placed in a horizontal position and one placed in a vertical position.  It doesn't matter where you place the strip -- well, please keep it inside the block and not as a final piece -- or which ring it is on, just so one is going one way and one the other way somewhere in the block.  Photo example above. 

I plan to sash between the blocks maybe with the turoquoise or go with a pink that is a common color in the Meadowsweet line.  I so love this fabric set.  I'm all about sharing fabric, and if you wish to keep a piece or two from the set you receive, please do.  Otherwise, please send back what you don't use, as I need to be sure I have enough to piece any last blocks and just because I love it so and want it home with me in my humongous stash! 

Please contact me if you have any questions.  -- michele