I Just Can't Do It

I just can't bring myself to write a cheery "oh, look, here's what I'm working on today."

Most of my readers know I live in Colorado Springs. You may not know there are three fires burning around our city, the closest in Black Forest. My "home" yarn shop, Table Rock Llamas, is 10.5 miles north of us and has likely burned.

At the last update, the fire has burned 8000 acres, which is 12.5 square miles.  Here is a map showing my approximately location, and the yarn shop in the center of Black Forest:

And here is a link to video from last night:

http://bcove.me/skxzd2q8

If you're a praying person, this would be a good time to pray.


From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday, Oh! My!

Oh! My! It's already June 10, and look at my "To-Do"  list for June:

Notice that not one thing has been crossed off?  I don't know what I did with the first 10 days of June, but it apparently wasn't "work on The List!"

I was lucky enough to be invited to spend the weekend at a friends "cabin" this weekend. It is such a beautiful, quiet place -- if you don't mind keeping an eye out for bears and mountain lions! Worrying about the wildlife makes it easy to stay inside and make progress on sewing, though.

I got a good start on the August Jelly Roll Party sample. The pattern is "Ring Toss" by Cluck, Cluck Sew. The jelly roll is "Reunion," from my favorite designers, "Sweetwater."

Somehow I mis-counted my jelly roll strips, so I have to cut 10 more blocks. Here's what the finished quilt should look like:

The air conditioner dudes are coming tomorrow to turn on our A/C. The high today was 97, so I will welcome them with open arms!


From the desk of your

First Friday Finish

Of the month!

This is the 21st quilt top I've finished this year. I should make it to 52 if I keep on schedule.

"Paragon Pavers" is the quilt class I took at Quilt Camp in the Pines last month. It was designed and taught  by Carol Anne Wagner of Granny's Attic in McCall.

She thought the six rectangles in each block looked like patio pavers, and wanted a word that began with "p" and meant "perfect." So:  Paragon Pavers! I love the blue batiks Lori (I think) chose for my kit! Especially that she added the medium blue from her personal stash -- it's like having a little bit of Lori in my own sewing room.

The March/April 2009 issue of Fons & Porters Love of Quilting has a perfect "wave" pantograph pattern for the quilting. It will finish at 50" X 69" and would make an excellent baby quilt if made with only nine blocks. As it is, I will send it to one of the Sailors on the USS George Washington media section who was recently promoted.

As soon as the pattern is published, I will offer it as a giveaway!

From the desk of your

WIP Wednesday: Dash in the Box

This project could just as readily be considered a UFO.  I started it in a class at Sew-Ciety in Castle Rock in January (if it's not more than one year old, does it count as a UFO?). They had a sample of the quilt in the shop, and I fell in love with the colors. LouAnn graciously helped me find all the same fabrics as were used in the sample - thanks, LouAnn! Really, the colors are more subtle than they appear in this photo (taken at night, with flash, so they don't read "true!")

It's called "Dash in the Box," because it has both a "box" design and a "Churn Dash" design. Six blocks are made from each set of three fabrics. My blocks are on the design wall with the six blocks of each three-color combination together. They'll be mixed up when I get the last set of six blocks completed!

Here is what the mixed-up blocks look like on the pattern cover:

The quilt was designed by Stephanie Prescott of A Quilter's Dream.

Although the construction is simple, keeping the colors straight make this a morning project -- not a late-night project!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

I should have it finished in time for "A Friday Finish." Come back and see!



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Tuesday Tool: Half-Rectangle Bloc Loc

I've told you before that I think the Bloc Loc ruler is the greatest invention of the 21st Century. I wrote a tutorial on how to use it here.

Now, the inventor of the Bloc Loc ruler has added a half-rectangle to the Bloc Loc family. It features the same channel engraved across the bottom of the ruler as the Bloc Loc square up ruler.

Notice that there are two rulers in the HRT set - one with the channel leaning left, and one with a right-leaning channel. Which one you use depends on which way you want the HRT to "lean."

The set I bought from Julia at Room to Learn included a book with dozens and dozens of block patterns. It shows the blocks in several sizes, each of which can be made with the same HRT ruler set.

This is how I made the HRTs for the "Liberty Block" I tested today.

Cut a light and a dark rectangle for each two HRTs:

Then slice from corner to corner. It is important that both fabrics be cut right-side-up and from the same corner (upper right in this case) on both fabrics:

Place the light triangle on top of the dark, with the points extending approximately 1/4" on each end:

Trim the HRT as directed in the pattern. An easy way to place the ruler correctly is to place the side that reads "Bloc Loc" on the light side of the HRT (assuming you've pressed the seam toward the dark fabric).

Flip the ruler and trim the opposite side:

Each set of one dark and one light rectangle makes two HRTs. For this block, four HRTs are needed:

I made the corner half square triangles (HSTs) using my favorite Bloc Loc square ruler. Here is the finished block:

I think I would like to try this block with the center star in gold and the HSTs in the dark blue. It will make an excellent QOV, don't you think?

I have another project on the design wall. Come back tomorrow for WIP Wednesday.

From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday

I confess: When I first saw this pattern, I thought the name was currants, as in raisins. Not currents, as in water. So I wondered why the sample was made with blue fabrics instead of purples.  Oh.

Well, mine is currants! This is one of those "easy to make" but "easier to mess up" designs. The layout of each block is critical, or the secondary pattern won't emerge.

I only had to "un-sew" and "re-sew" three or four blocks because the HSTs were turned the wrong way!

I'm thinking a "curvy straight-line" quilting design with purple thread. What do you think? This is Quilt #23 for 2013 -- if I finish one more before Friday, I'll be caught up for 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks.

I have a new tool to share with you tomorrow. Come back for "Tuesday Tool!"


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Sunday Scraps: Quilts of Valor

I'm sure you've heard of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.

The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover all combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

The Wyoming State Quilt Guild, along with many, many other guilds across the country, is making blocks for Quilts of Valor. Today, my Sunday Scraps project is the block for the 10th Anniversary of the Quilts of Valor. The link with instructions is here,

The block requires fabrics in red, white or cream, and blue. The colors may be used in any position. I am listing the colors in the positions I used for my blocks.

Cutting
4 - 2.5" squares blue
2 - 3" squares blue
2 - 3" squares cream
4 - 2.5" X 4.5" rectangles red

Assembly
Using the cream and blue 3" squares, make four 2.5"  half square triangles.

Square up the HSTs to measure 2.5." If you have a Bloc Loc ruler, this is the time to use it!

Stitch the HST to the blue 2.5" squares.

Stitch the HST/square unit to the red 2.5" X 4.5" rectangle.

Arrange as shown and complete stitching.

Do not trim your blocks; assembled blocks should measure 8.5."

Here are my finished blocks:

The instructions request that blocks be signed with your first name and state. You may mail your blocks to Karen Demaree, Quilts of Valor Director, PO Box 628 Platteville, WI 53818.

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

Or if you'd like, send your blocks to me and I'll take them to Quilt Wyoming with mine in July.



From the desk of your