A Little Bit of Progress

Hello Everyone,

This quilt has become addictive.  I've been on a mission, arranging and rearranging the strips into pleasing combinations of color while making this intricate block.  I haven't sewn the stars together yet. 

I'm going to make all of the stars, and all of the log cabins, then move them all around to see what combinations look the best.

Teal is a hard color to find.....and I need more teal.

Whenever I do any strip piecing, I get the old pasta dryer out of the closet.

It can hold hundreds of strips, takes up very little room, and I can see exactly what I have to choose from.

When I'm done, there will be sixteen, 20" blocks.  I have to stop working on this one, but I've had so much fun!  Can you tell my quilt is leaning toward an Autumn colorway. 

The blocks will be connected by four log cabin blocks.  This is another opportunity to incorporate more color.....too much fun!



I did some more machine quilting yesterday on Buttonwood.  I'll try to tear myself away from the stars and concentrate on machine quilting today.  There are just too many things that I want to make and do and not enough hours in the day. 

As always,

Lynn

Machine Quilting Buttonwood

Hello Everyone,

I made a scrappy backing for Buttonwood and loaded it on the machine yesterday and started quilting.

I decided not to quilt the cable and feather in the border.  Instead I went with more of a scalloped look.

There is a lot of stitching in the ditch on this quilt which takes me quite a bit of time to work my way around the block.  I'm going to sew the buttons to the center of the yo-yo's after I finish the quilting....I hope that isn't going to be too hard to get through all of the layers.  I guess I'll be finding out!

I'll be machine quilting and doing some machine piecing today.  I also need to get back to October Magic and prepare more pieces for applique.  My to-do list is starting to grow again.  This quilt is at the top of my list so I can have it on display by Memorial Day.  I'd better sign off and stop chatting with you so I can start meeting my goals.  Get out those lists today and start checking some items off.....you'll be glad you did. 

As always,

Lynn

Become a Diamond

Hello Everyone,

Having been on the go for the last week, it is hard to get back to normal and dig in again with my quilting.  We had some wonderful adventures with our company, and look forward to seeing them again.

The only project that "spoke" to me yesterday was Eldon, by Edyta Sitar.  I started cutting up 1-1/4" and 1" strips of fabric that turned into this block.

The story behind the Eldon quilt is HERE.  It is a heartwarming story.  If Eldon can overcome huge odds, I can sew a "Y" seam!  I have not tackled a "Y" seam in my whole quilting career.  By the time this quilt is finished, I hope to become an expert.

If you start this quilt, I highly recommend that you purchase the two templates which help with the construction.  You begin by making an 8-point star.

Then you make eight 4-1/2" log cabins.

I haven't sewn any of the cabins to the star yet.  I'm still practicing my "Y".....Why, because I need to.

This quilt is a real scrapper, just like Eldon.  I can throw in everything but the kitchen sink into this quilt.  I love to combine the different colors to see what works and what doesn't work.  I also think this quilt would look fabulous using batiks. 

When I get tired of working on other quilts, I'll return to Eldon and make more stars.  I love this quote in the article about Eldon. 

“When you are confronted with trials and pressures, you can either break or be like a diamond."

 I've received many emails over the past week and I promise I'll answer them this week.  Some of you are facing many hardships and tough times.  My wish for you is to become a diamond......you may be a diamond in the rough.....but become a diamond and let your life sparkle.

As always,

Lynn