Hunters star block

 

My iPad is not letting me put the curser where I want it to share instructions on constructing the hunters star block! Argh!!  I sewed it the easy way by sewing the diamonds to the trapezoids both were cut from 1.5 inch strips. I cut the angles of the trapezoids using the companion angle, I marked lines on the companion angle so I could line up the fabric for exactly the right size trapezoid.  I sewed those skinny segments together then added the large triangles.  Those were cut from 7.5 inch squares then cut in half diagonally. The blocks were trimmed to 8.5 inches.  Easy—no paper piecing, no y seams I don’t stress over which way the seams are pressed, if they didn’t butt together I flipped one over, those little indiscretions will be inside the quilt. Who will know?!?  —Ann—

Faerie doors

My very talented younger brother made some faerie doors for the little girls. I saw some in Ireland last summer that were very cute but made out of very thin wood, I could have broken them with my finger tips. He used cedar wood, I painted them with acrylic paints watered down more like a stain and son put them in the trees. There is a cavity in the backboard big enough for a little treat. 

More little treats were placed behind the doors before we headed home.

The magic of childhood. —Ann—

 

Blocks are sewn

 

 The blocks are finished!! Those fabrics and colors are so cheerful a little spring in the sewing room. Some days it feels like spring other days not so much. Sewing these blocks was slow sewing because I had everything arranged on my design wall and the challenge was keeping them in order. Then twice I forgot to move the needle one click to the right so I ripped fortunately I also forgot to shorten the stitch length.  Amazing how that tiny difference in the seam allowance made in the size of the block, by moving the needle the block was bigger than the predicted 8 1/2 inches so I could square it up to exactly 8 1/2 inches without it I would have been squaring to 8 1/4 inches. Lots of things going on the rest of the week and next.  —Ann—

Spring on the design wall

 After days of cutting all these parts I found a muscle in my back I didn’t know I used for cutting with the rotary cutter. It’s been a long time since I cut that much fabric. As I was stretching to place more segments on the design wall……..thinking I need to stand on the step stool to finish the top 2 rows……..I imagined myself stepping off the step stool and tumbling to the floor…….don’t want that to happen. Instead I will start sewing and move everything lower on the design wall. This is not going to be speed piecing to keep everything in order. Slow down and enjoy the process. 16 blocks sewn today 64 to go     —Ann—

Spring colors

The design wall is blooming and every single piece of this quilt will be on the design wall before anything is stitched. Every time I look at it I move pieces. I need to cut more pinks and purples and maybe introduce a couple new fabrics because when it is gone it is gone.  I still feel like I have put a very small dent in the stash. Another snowy/ rainy wet day here. It was a good day to play with fabric. —Ann—
 

Another snow day

 

Another snow day in the sewing room lots of pieces cut but still need to cut more. The snow came with rain then as fine as sifted sugar then it came down in big globs and then sifted sugar again then it quit!  Some activities were cancelled so extra time in the sewing room. It feels so good to work entirely from the stash. —Ann—

Spring?

Its spring on my design wall outside is a different story. This looks like a quilt that every single piece is going on the design wall before I sew anything. I already see pieces I’m going to move and I have a lot of cutting left to do but that’s as far as I got today my monkey brain was all over the place, just work in little bits. Tomorrow I start on the purples and the greens. Snowy days can be productive days. —Ann—