Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tuesday Tool: Another Flying Geese Method

It's no secret I don't like making Flying Geese blocks. It's also no secret that I love the Bloc Loc rulers.

Well, guess what? They also make a Flying Geese ruler!  Yippee!  They come in four sizes, and lucky for me, one size is perfect for this month's Designer Mystery BOM block.


The ruler uses the rectangle+two squares method of making the geese:


Each square is sewn onto the rectangle diagonally:


The grooves in the Flying Geese Bloc Loc fit perfectly over the seams of the "wings."


Trim all four sides, and:


Voila!  A perfect geese!


Maybe not as fast as some other methods, but certainly the most accurate.

Tomorrow is WIP Wednesday -- come back and see my new project!

From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Monday, May 6, 2013

BOM-day and 100 Blocks Giveaway Winner

It's the first Monday of the month, that means it Block of the Month Day. Plus today is the day I announce the winner of my 100 Blocks vol. 7 magazine and block-made-by-me!

Blocks of the Month

I now have ten (!) BOMs in progress, plus my Block-a-Day project. It takes more than one day to make all my BOM blocks. I only managed three today.

First up, block 2 of "Toes in the Sand."  I'm making mine with Tula Pink's Salt Water, hosted by The Quilt Asylum in McKinney, Texas.  Julie Herman's "Hex and More" ruler makes these complex-looking blocks easy.


I'm on Block 11 of the 2012 Designer Mystery BOM, hosted by Fat Quarter Shop.  One more block and I'll be ready to put my quilt together -- I already have the setting blocks finished!  This block is "County Fair" designed by Julie Comstock of Cosmo Cricket. I used my new Bloc Loc "Flying Geese" ruler to make the geese for this block -- come back tomorrow to read my tutorial on this wonderful tool.


My oldie-but-goodie BOM is 2010's Patchwork Party. I'm almost halfway finished with blocks, five done:


Today's block is "Crazy Anna," designed by Marti Michell for Maywood Studio, kit by Shabby Fabrics.


I've managed to keep up with my Block-a-Day Chevron Quilt. Wednesday is the 50th day of Spring, and I have 50 blocks made as of today:


Giveaway Winner

Random number generator chose #4 as the winner of the 100 Blocks vol. 7 magazine. The winner is "Giddy99," who commented:




The Barn Swallows block was the favorite of those who commented, so I'm glad that's the one you like also Giddy! Please email me your postal address and I'll put the magazine and the block in the mail to you ASAP!

Come back tomorrow for my tutorial on the Bloc Loc Flying Geese ruler. I promise, this is the best way yet to make perfect Flying Geese!






From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Scrap Basket Sunday: Jacob's Scrappy Ladder

The third bed-sized quilt I ever made was "Jacob's Ladder" for My Little Sailor, Jacob. Of course, he was only three at the time, a long way from becoming a US Navy Sailor! The blues are fading, and I bound it with a single-fold binding, which is starting to fray. But it's precious to me.


Today's Scrap Basket Sunday block is a scrappy variation on the Jacob's Ladder block.


To make each block, you will need:
(4) 5" squares white background
(4) 5" squares bright print
(6) 2.5" squares white background
(6) 2.5" squares bright print
(2) 4.5" squares bright print

Not everyone has drawers full of 2.5" squares, but if you do, this is a good way to put them to use!


Also, if you utilize Bonnie Hunter's "Leaders and Enders" method, this is a good use for the basket of four patches you've been piecing!

To make the half-square triangles, take one white and one bright 5" square (it's OK to use larger squares, you'll be squaring them up).  I use Deb Tucker's "Quilter's Magic Wand" to mark the stitching lines diagonally across the white square:


Marking with a "Frixion" pen makes a nice dark line.  And it disappears when it is pressed with a hot iron! Be warned, though -- the marking will reappear in freezing temperatures, so do not use this pen to mark quilting lines on your finished quilt!


Stitch on each line, cut between the lines, and press toward the bright fabric.  Then square up to 4.5" using your favorite method -- mine is the Bloc Loc ruler (tutorial here).


The reason I listed four white and four bright 5" squares was so the block would have four unique HSTs. Of course, you can make your block with all four HSTs alike -- after all, you are the boss of your quilt!


Be careful to lay out the block with the four-patch pieces forming the "ladder." Add the bright 4.5" squares and stitch it all together.  The finished size should be 12.5" raw-edge-to-raw-edge.

Linking up to Scrap Basket Sunday at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure.

Scrap Basket Sunday


Wouldn't this make a great "Quilt Block a Day" project?  Be sure to come back tomorrow to see who won the 100 Blocks magazine giveaway!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Friday, May 3, 2013

A Friday Finish Sneak Peek

I am having so much fun with the other "Scrappers" on Quiltmaker magazine's "Scrap Squad."

QM scrap squadB3 QM Scrap Squad: Annes Mandarin Express
I can't show you my finished quilt today, because it will be "revealed" on the Quilty Pleasures blog later this month.  But here are some close-ups:


Ann did a stand-up job of quilting this giant in a hurry!


And of course, I applied the binding using Susie's Magic Binding technique!



And I added one of my "PeaceLoveandHappiness" GutenTags!


You can see the original quilt on page 58 of the May/June Quiltmaker magazine.

Linking up to Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday at Quokka Quilts.



And don't forget to enter my giveaway of the newest issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine, along with your choice of one of the blocks I tested!  Go here to comment and enter.




From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

13 in 2013 April UFO Parade

Does anyone besides me think April went by really, really fast?  Maybe it's because we had so much snow, it felt more like February than April!

Even so, we have some really great finished for the 13 in 2013 UFO Challenge.  Before I share the photos, here is the number for the May UFO project:

12

I squeaked in my finish just under the wire!  My April UFO was a mystery quilt I started last summer at Quilt Colorado 2012.  The designer is Linda Ballard of Let's Quilt

"Bits and Pieces" is probably the most "mysterious" mystery quilt I've made.  You really had to sew all the steps before a clue emerged as to what the quilt would look like!  The pattern called for four borders, but I didn't have enough of the orange fabric to add a border, so I left it off.  And I think it looks fine -- love the HST border.


This is the 17th quilt top I've finished this year.

Now, refill your coffee cup and sit back to enjoy the parade!

First up, Carol from Idaho and Arizona send this photo of her Thimbleberries blocks from 2008.  I remember this project, and I think Carol gets extra credit for finishing three months worth of blocks -- they are complicated!


Susan embroidered this lovely tablerunner.  Here is the link to her blog post explaining the project -- doesn't she do nice work?


Another Australian, Sue, made these clever "loyalty card" wallets to match handbags she made earlier.  Isn't this a great idea to keep track of all those "you shop here too often" cards?  Her blog post with a link to the tutorial is here.



She also finished her bonus #13 project, "Stars Aligned."  Go here to read all about it!


 Karen of Stitching Circle also has two big finishes this month.  First, Big Stars by Judy Laquidara:


And, Bonnie Hunter's Roll Roll Cotton Boll!  


Deb S. also finished a beautiful, spring-like table runner (who knows, maybe it's Spring where Deb lives!). I love her applique:


Nurse Jessi made this darling baby quilt for Olivia Grace:

Here's a close-up of the darling binding:


 And speaking of darling, doesn't Olivia Grace look happy with her new quilt?


I have to share what Debbi told me about her April project, it made me laugh!

My UFO this month was to make Bargello placemats so that I could learn the process. Oh, I learned! First and foremost is: I learned that I don't think I am willing to tackle a full-size Bargello quilt just yet! LOL! And after taking these pictures, I have learned that these placemats (meant for my SIL) REALLY coordinate well with my Berber carpet! Hahaha!
Isn't it amazing how different two placemats made with the same fabrics can look?




Another fellow retiree, Irene, made two quilts this month.  First up is from Debbie Mumm's Project Kids book, it's a quilt-as-you-go project perfect for the child of two baseball fans!

And second is another of her clever photo frame quilts to add to her Christmas prezzie stash:

I love the idea of a photo frame quilt, Irene.  Is is your own design or from a tutorial?

Sandi made another lovely batik number this month -- I love the colors in this one!


Sandi explains the process for "Kalahari" on her blog, here.

Hold the presses!

One more last-minute finish -- Noela completed this quilt with some of my favorite fabrics.  Whew, just made it, Noela!



Mr. Random Number Generator chose #6 for this parade's giveaway.  Karen, I hope you haven't bought a copy of the new 100 Blocks Magazine vol. 7, because I have one with your name on it!

QMMS 130033 cover 5002 100 Blocks Blog Tour Day 2, Giveaways!

Thanks to everyone who submitted finished UFOs this month.  If I missed your entry, please please please let me know!  And good luck with project #12!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature