Block Of The Month

At the Rugby quilting group I belong to, Rocheberie Schoolhouse Quilters, we are doing a BOM.  Well, it's not actually a block a month, as we meet every two months, but it works out to twelve blocks over the year, so it's basically the same!  

Here are my two March blocks.

The one on the left is Flying in a Circle, and made from flying geese and half square triangles.  (I also used hour glasses, but you don't have to.). The one on the right is Disappearing Hourglass, and it went together beautifully. 

Here are my four blocks so far.  Ive not decided how to set them yet, but I don't think it'll be like this! 

Generous Liz

I taught a workshop on LeMoyne Star on Saturday, which was great fun.  Liz decided to use the class as a technique opportunity and to make a star for Project Linus.  So generous!  She'd bought fabric specially for this, with a lovely bird fabric for the star and a red batik for the background.  (Isn't it Freddie Moran who says red is a neutral?  Well obviously Liz agrees!)  at the end of the day I had Liz's star and my demo star, which was green and white.  I thought they would play nicely together if they had friends, so here we are. 

A nice bright quilt for Linus, using up some of my many Mile. Minute blocks.  With a yellow binding, this will be great.  

On second thoughts, a narrow final yellow border nod yellow binding will be even better! 

And here is my Clarice Cliffe completed.  I love it!  And better yet, I used all fabric from my stash!  

Good news!

I randomly read part of an article in today's 'Sunday Times' about eyebrows.  Apparently, a study has shown that the British woman spends an average of £200 a year on her eyebrows.  Who knew?!  So since I have spent a total of £0 for the last x years, I can spend all the money I've saved on fabric!  Whoopee! 

In related news, I have been continuing with my Clarice Cliffe quilt. 

The flying geese look great, and they make it a better shape.  One more patterned border and it'll be done.  I'll be dipping into my £200 very soon! 

Good job!

I have been continuing my onslaught of the UFO drawer, and made some good progress.  

This one is now finished, and looking good.  I just quilted it in the ditch, but that's all it needs. 

This is one inspired by Victoria Finlay Wolfe's book on MAM quilts.  I had great fun making it, and I think a child will be delighted with it.  It's certainly very cheerful!  It's a bit puffy, as I used poly wadding for a change, but puffy = snuggly in my book, so that's all good!  Red binding will be sufficient here, or maybe purple?! 

Time passed

I can't believe that it's been so long since I last posted!  Things have been busy (panto, mothers, meetings, Linus) but so life goes on.  I have been happily sewing from time to time, and here are the results. Move been continuing my love affair with MAM and been making a quilt for DD.  she needed an item for a charity auction, and asked if I had a quilt I could donate.  I thought about my Allietare, but then decided to do something specific. 

A slightly crumpled 'Lovely Ladies'.  It's MAM with additions of all the lady fabrics I've collected over the years.  Thank you Alexander Henry and Michael Miller in particular. 

Here are burlesque ladies, Parisian ladies, skater ladies and some ironing ladies. 

Some Alexander Henry naked ladies (very tasteful!), housewives and more 20s ladies etc. 

Lastly, Frieda Karlo, mermaids and 50s ladies.  Lots of fun. 

I've also finished this baby quilt, ready for a lucky baby.  There seem to be quite a few at the moment. 

I've also bordered and layered up these orphan blocks.  I'm busy quilting them. 

And finally I attended a lovely workshop with Gail Lawther this week. We made this Clarice Cliffe inspired work.  I thoroughly enjoyed making it, but when I came to attaching the black stained glass bias strips, decided I preferred it without.  I satin stitched the edges and am going to make it into a quilt.  So far, so good. 

Allietare

I'm mainly working on my Allietare, and am very pleased with it.

I've corrected those pesky jumping blocks, and am grateful to those who pointed them out.  DD has asked if I could let her have something for a charity auction, and this might be it.  I don't have other plans for it at the moment, so we'll see.  I think this arrangement will give me a final quilt about 60" square, which is a decent size and very quilt able.  Four more blocks to go! 

Mysteries

As if I need new projects, I've been working on my Bonnie Hunter mystery, Allietare.  Allietare means to gladden or rejoice in Italian, and is an appropriate name for a quilt inspired by the colours of Tuscany.  

Here is my progress so far. 

I usually do half the suggested number of block components, and then see how big that will be.  I think this four by four arrangement will probsbly be good, and make a decent size with added borders.  So far I'm liking it very much, and it's all going tog ether very easily. 

I'm also working on another mystery, the 365 challenge.  This is a challenge of a block every day for a year!  No pressure there, then!  The blocks are only 3" to start with, and very undemanding, so I'm keeping up so far. Here they are. 

Four pacth, H block, cross and the other one should be a rail fence, but I chose the alternative block, year's end.  Next is a nine patch, so it's gradually ramping up. Have a look on www.365challenge.au