Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop: Beary Goosey Block

Welcome to my stop on the Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop! Paintbrush Studio (formerly known as Fabri-Quilt) has generously sponsored this new block design blog hop by providing FQ cuts of the Ocean Sunrise color palette to all participants. Each designer creates a block and writes a tutorial for it, which you can see by visiting all the posts. Then all the blocks will be used in donation quilts. Stephanie @Late Night QuilterCheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, andYvonne @Quilting Jetgirl are hosting this project. 

The Beary Goosey block is for the intermediate level sewist. Some experience with flying geese, HSTs, and bias seams is recommended, although this block would be a great skill-builder for a confident beginner.

My block uses four of the six colors in the palette, Midnight, Bordeaux, Peach, and White. Prewashing the fabrics is recommended to preshrink the fabrics and remove any excess dye.


Instructions are written for one block which will finish at 12" (12-1/2" unfinished). All seams are 1/4". 

Cutting and Prep:
-          Midnight:
o   Cut 1 (one) 6-1/2” square
o   Cut 2 (two) 3-7/8” squares and mark each on the diagonal
-          Bordeaux:
o   Cut 1 (one) 7-1/4” square
o   Cut 1 (one) 4” square
o   Cut 1 (one) 3-7/8” square and cut on the diagonal for two triangles
-          Peach:
o   Cut 2 (two) 3-7/8” squares and mark each on the diagonal
o   Cut 1 (one) 3-1/2” square and mark on the diagonal
-          White:
o   Cut 1 (one) 6-7/8” square and cut on the diagonal for two triangles. Set one aside; only one is needed for the block.
o   Cut 1 (one) 4” square and mark on the diagonal


The Beary Goosey Block is assembled in quadrants.
           
1.   Midnight Quadrant:
a.     Snowball the corner: Place the marked 3-1/2” peach square together with the large Midnight square. Stitch on the marked line. (For a bonus HST which is not used in this block, stitch again ½” away from the first line of stitching.)
b.     Cut ¼” outside the sewn line (or between the stitching if making the bonus HST) and press the corner out.

2.     Flying Geese Quadrants:
a.     Place two 3-7/8” peach squares on large Bordeaux square as shown and stitch ¼” on each side of the marked diagonal line.
b.     Cut on the line between the stitching and press the points out. 

c.     Align a 3-7/8” Midnight square on each unit and stitch ¼” on each side of the marked diagonal.
d.     Cut on the diagonal and press the corners out; trim. You now have two mirror-image pairs.

e.     Sew matching pairs together to form block quadrants.

3.     Geese in the air quadrant
a.     Make HST: Place the 4” white square together with the 4” Bordeaux square. Sew ¼” on each side of the marked diagonal. Cut between the stitching lines. Press one HST open and square up to 3-1/2”. (Set aside one HST, not needed for one block).


b.     Sew wings onto HST: Align one Bordeaux triangle as shown, stitch and press the point outward. Then align the other triangle and stitch. Press and trim.

c.     Sew large white triangle to Bordeaux triangle assembly, press outward, and trim. If any dark seam allowances show under the white, carefully trim them away. 


Final Block Assembly:
            1. Lay out block quadrants as shown. Be sure that the Midnight triangles of the flying geese units are next to the Midnight quadrant.
            2. Sew quadrants into rows. Press toward the white and Midnight quadrants. Join rows together; press.

Ta-Done! 

You can create some really interesting and unique layouts using the Beary Goosey Block. Some secondary surprises happen when you rotate the blocks different ways. In some cases the peach triangles come together to make even more Flying Geese.  Here are illustrations of a few layouts. 
Left: Paws in the corners;   Right: Diagonal set

Left: Straight set;   Right: Paws together

Left: Streak of lightning;   Right: Spinning 
(note the peach pinwheels where four blocks come together)

I hope you enjoy the Beary Goosey Block and what you can do with it! Check out the other designers participating in the Paintbrush Studio blog hop: 
Monday March 28: Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Tuesday March 29: Host: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs
Today: Host: Stephanie @Late Night Quilter 
and check out today's bloggers listed below: 

Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Shelly @The Carpenter’s Daughter Who Quilts
Amy @13 Spools
Geraldine @Living Water Quilter
Robyn @Hoops & Thimbles
Jan @The Colorful Fabriholic - you are here!
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Margo @MY Quilts and Crafts
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Kathryn @Kupitis
Jane @Jolly and Delilah
Josi @Avocado Quilts
Deanna @Stitches Quilting
Lori @SewPsyched!

Be sure to enter the giveaway, 6 half-yard cuts of the Ocean Sunrise palette from Paintbrush Studio, details at Quilting Jetgirl. 

Thanks, Paintbrush Studio, and thanks, Yvonne, Cheryl, and Stephanie! 
2016 Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop





Monday, March 28, 2016

DWM 3/28/16 & Catching Up

On my wall today: First Saturday blocks, a BOM series from my LQS. We're eight months into the current series, so there are eight of the main blocks (the stars) and eight of the alternate blocks.

The main block is challenging; those side units have a lot of bias seams and points to align with other points. This is not a block to rush to put together the night before (or the morning of) the meeting!

I like the color palette, which is inspired by the Roman road. I seem to be alternating between very bright projects and neutral projects lately.

I missed posting a stash report yesterday. Last week I used 2-1/2 yards for the backing of Positively Radiant. No yardage in. I'll post a March stash report recap and goals update this coming Sunday. After all, there's still a couple of days left in March to add to or reduce the stash....

In other exciting news, I'm participating in the Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop and I'll be posting my block, with tutorial, on Wednesday this week. Meanwhile, check out the details and today's block designers with host Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl. Be sure to sign up for the giveaway, a half-yard bundle of the Ocean Sunrise palette.

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Updates and a Finish

Updates:
My little surgery last week went well and I'm back to sewing and normal activities. Thank you for your kind thoughts and all the good wishes you left in the comments.

The last finish I posted was my Framed Nine Patch (F9P) and I offered to post a tutorial if anyone's interested. Several people left comments expressing interest, so I will put together a tutorial as follows:  
  • Wed. Apr. 6: Fabric selection, cutting, and parent block assembly.
  • Wed. Apr. 13: Cutting the parent blocks into pieces, layout, and reassembly of blocks. Also optional borders.
The F9P finishes at 36" as shown or 44" with optional borders. Either way it's small, a good size for a baby quilt or table topper. Skill level: easy for someone skilled in accurate cutting and scant 1/4" seams.
Framed Nine Patch (F9P)

A Finish:
Since I've been back in the sewing room, I was able to finish the quilting and binding on "Positively Radiant."
Positively Radiant, front

It finished at 51" x 60", lap size for an adult or sofa size for a tween. It will go to Hands to Help, Happy Chemo.

The top used up some partial fat quarters & scraps and made small dents in some of my Kaffe stash. The back is pieced from leftovers. The bold binding is extra wide to hold in all that riot of color and pattern.
Positively Radiant, back

The angle of the sun & shadows makes it look like there's only quilting in one direction, but the quilting is actually a crosshatch grid through the diagonals of the pieced squares. I used a medium pink thread. Here's a detail of the back.

And just because it was a pretty day and this is such a vibrant and cheerful quilt, a couple more photos.
 
 
Link ups: Let's Bee Social at So Fresh Quilts, Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Friday Finish at Crazy Mom Quilts

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Quilting in Progress

I was able to get the busy pink plus quilt layered and pin basted and I've started on the quilting. I'm quilting a simple diagonal grid. It's easy to eyeball it since these squares are only 3 inches, so no marking is needed. I'm using the even feed feature on my new machine, and I think I've got the presser foot pressure figured out. No puckers so far!

I'm halfway done with the quilting and the basting pins have been removed. I'll fill in the alternate lines between these to complete the grid. This quilt will have a soft drape when it's done because the quilting won't be too dense.

Although I'd like to finish and bind it this week, I know I won't be able to because I'm having a little minor surgery on my wrist tomorrow so I may not be doing much sewing or quilting for the next few days.

Preeti from Sew Preeti Quilts came up with a wonderful name for this quilt - Positively Radiant. I love it! Thank you, Preeti.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Monday, March 14, 2016

Back to the Busy Pink Plus Project

Next up on my list of goals for this month is to get this one layered, pin basted, and quilted. It's still on my design wall from a couple weeks ago, and you can see the binding I'm auditioning peeking out on the right.

The backing is ready. I just have to clear floor space so I can spread everything out and pin, pin, pin. Not my favorite part of the process, but an essential one.

I'm participating in Hands to Help again this year, hosted by Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This quilt will go to Happy Chemo. I think I'll name it Positive Vibe in hopes that it sends some comfort and cheer to the recipient.

 
Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times; Check out the other design walls over there.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Too Good to Pass Up

Last Monday I took the first how-to class for my new Bernina, held at the shop where I bought it. Great class, but I need to practice some of what I learned so I don't forget which function does what and where to find the icons for them. My new machine is described as a computer that sews, and I'm so not good with computers. But I can master this!

The shop mostly sells and services long arms and sewing machines, but they do have a small fabric selection, including a sale shelf. I scored a terrific low volume background for only $5.99 a yard and a cute FQ for only $1.50. Too good to pass up, right?!! So two yards of the low volume came home with me. I'm still enamored with neutrals and achromatic color schemes so I'll definitely find a use for it. The dots are black, grey, and camel.
 
 

The FQ is just too cute to pass up and I have other prints in my stash that it will coordinate with. The red in the photo is actually more pink than it looks here.

Since I finished the F9P baby quilt (see previous post below) I can count out the backing and binding.

So, for this week:
IN: 2-1/4 yards
OUT: 1-1/2 yards

I'll tally the totals at the end of the month, but I'm still in the black for the year. That will change in Paducah next month! Linking up with Judy's stash report at Patchwork Times.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

F9P Baby Quilt

Updated 3/28/16: This quilt is my OMG for March so I'm linking up with Heidi at Red Letter Quilts for. Check out everyone else's successful goals & finishes over there.


We're supposed to get a lot of rain over the next few days. A lot - maybe some flash flooding in low-lying areas.

I hurried to finish this small baby quilt so I could take some outdoor photos, but the wind didn't cooperate yesterday and the sun was bright. For what they're worth, here are the pics:
Framed Nine Patch in sun light 

F9P with a little help from the wind

The wind was just too much so I gave up. This morning I thought I'd try again. It's not actually raining, but it's very damp, so I put down plastic to protect the quilt from dampness and dirt on my deck. It's grey and cloudy today so it makes the colors in the quilt look more pastel.
F9P, 36" x 36"

This was a UFO from a few years ago, but it became a priority to finish. My hairstylist is expecting a baby girl and she's decorating the baby's room in coral and peach, including Kona Salmon. The prints in this F9P coordinate with Kona Salmon, particularly the one I used on the back.
F9P Back

So now I just have to get a card and a small baby trinket, and gift wrap it all so I can give it to the mom-to-be at my next appointment.
F9P ready to gift

I did not take in-process photos because this was a UFO that was started before I began blogging. If anyone is interested in a tutorial for the Framed Nine Patch process, leave a comment. It uses nine fat quarters plus backing and binding and finishes at 36".




Sunday, March 6, 2016

Stash Report 3/6/16

Just a quick note -
IN this week: 2 yards wide backing. A LQS had a Leap Year Sale, one cut at 29% off. Yay for sales and discounts!
OUT this week: nothing I can count yet.
I'll tally the totals at the end of the month, but I'm still well in the black for the year so far. However, I am starting to plan my Paducah trip with my friends, so that will definitely change next month.
Check out the other stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

One Monthly Goal for March

Heidi over at Red Letter Quilts is hosting One Monthly Goal. This is my first time linking up, but I really need to get a certain project finished this month so I've declared it my OMG for March.

This project was on my UFO list for this year. It became a priority when my hairstylist mentioned she's decorating her baby's nursery in Kona Salmon. These prints coordinate perfectly with Kona Salmon. I was able to piece together the flimsy in February. Now the OMG for March is to quilt, bind, and label it so it's ready to be gifted. The baby is due in May so I need to gift it to her at my April hair appointment.

Check out everyone else's OMGs over at Red Letter Quilts.