Swoon Block #1

I couldn’t resist Camille Roskelley‘s Swoon block. I tried, I really did. There is a Swoon-a-long going on Flickr, organized by Imagingermonkey. I kept hearing about it and finally gave in.

The original blocks are 24″. I didn’t want to make blocks that large. I resized the pattern down to 16″. Thank you, EQ7. The size is actually good for me. The patches are reasonably sized. I can make 2 blocks from the half yard fabrics I have selected.

This block is similar to Rolling Star and Star of Bethlehem, according to EQ7.

I didn’t have a lot of time to work on the block, but it was on my design wall so I kept thinking about it. I decided to make more than one block and just see what evolved.

I think these blocks have 90 pieces if made the way I cut it the first time. It was easier, because I used the Triangle Technique for all of the triangle squares (half square triangles). The sewing is probably the same with that technique, but I don’t have to handle as many pieces.

Swoon Block #2

Friday, I had some time. Good thing, because I was about to lose my mind. I just sewed on and off while I listened to an audiobook in between errands and other obligations. I finished the first block and, then, finished a second! One thing I realized was how hard it is to match up the pieces of actual fabric with my block picture.

I printed out a life size version of the block so I could use it to measure the half square triangles. I wanted to use my triangle technique and various speed cutting rulers.  EQ does not calculate for specialized cutting techniques. I thought the life sized version would help. It does, actually.

Swoon Block #1 - finished

My two finished blocks look similar, because I cut some of the half square triangles wrong. See above on the life sized version.

They weren’t failures, but I couldn’t use them in the first block, thus the second. I am going to try some of the other fabrics next time. You probably knew that. I do plan to use other fabrics. I think I may have enough to mix these 3 in with other fabrics, so there is some continuity.

Swoon Fabrics

I have a group of fabrics that will be sherbety and fun. I bought them during the summer. This will be a good project for them.

I also think I will try different ways of putting the blocks together. In Block #1, I made all half square triangles (using my Triangle Technique). On the next one, I will make Flying Geese instead of half square triangles. That will give me the opportunity to try out Deb Tucker’s Flying Geese ruler, which has been sitting on my desk for months!

I decided I would try cutting a big square for the top center portion (see the pink polka dots on Block #1). On Block #2, I used the technique where you sew a square diagonally across the corner to another square on Block 2. This cut down on a few pieces. With 90-93 pieces, the fewer seams the better. It will be a good exercise to try and figure out the best way to make these blocks.

Fun Swoon blocks:

• Imagingermonkey Block
• Little Bluebell post and block

Search for swoon quilt block and you will see a wide variety of wonderful renditions of the Swoon block.

Split 9 Patch #42

Yes, this block is very similar to the Split Rectangle 9 Patch. Both are very easy blocks. I am playing with simple lines to make well known blocks a little different and to show you how easy it is to design your own blocks.

I seem to be on a 9 patch jag these days. I have a few more 9 patch blocks up my sleeve. Gear up, because they will get a bit harder.

Rotary cutting directions for Horizontal Split 9 Patch are posted.

If you have made blocks or a quilt from these patterns, please post a link in the comments section of the relevant block or on the AQ Block-a-Long Flickr group. I would love to see what you have made.

February Donation Blocks

I am really enjoying making these 16 patch/postage stamp blocks for the BAMQG Charity Quilt project.The beneficiary of our quilts is the Lucille Packard NICU. Apparently, they use the quilts (and other kinds of blankets) to cover the incubators and keep out the light. Each baby who leaves receives a quilt or afghan or other kind of blanket to take home.

I take as many kits, which consist of 16 2.5″ squares, as I want and sew them together into 16 patch blocks. Last time I only took one, but this time I took 4, which was all the red kits available.

They made great leaders and enders and I really was able to put the blocks together very quickly.

Definition: A gift or a present is the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to social cohesion. Economists have elaborated the economics of gift-giving into the notion of a gift economy. By extension the term gift can refer to anything that makes the other happier or less sad, especially as a favor, including forgiveness and kindness.

gift basket

Present

“I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Birthday gift

gift bag

Christmas gift

“We’ve got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can’t just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it’s going to get on by itself. You’ve got to keep watering it. You’ve got to really look after it and nurture it.” – John Lennon

gift wrapping

gift tax

gift registry

Give the Gift of Music – iTunes ad

gift card

“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” -Buddha

gift box

“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” – Albert Einstein

Please post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog, and how your work relates to the other responses.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.

Creative Prompt Response #125: Dark

The angle is off a bit, which put me off adding many more details. I have to ask my mom how to make it better next time. See what you can make of the original prompt.

Split Rectangle Nine Patch #41

This is similar to a nine patch, but split with rectangles in four of the blocks. You must use two different fabrics in the split patches and they two fabrics should have a lot of contrast.

Rotary cutting directions for the Split Rectangle Nine Patch are posted.

If you have made blocks or a quilt from these patterns, please post a link in the comments section of the relevant block or on the AQ Block-a-Long Flickr group. I would love to see what you have made.

Creative Prompt Response #138

I like to think that I am writing a story with my drawings and, as such, one drawing is sometimes not enough for a scene. This response is related to #131: Hills.

I used the Inktense pencils my mom gave me. I thought about add a bit of water to make the sunrise more watercolor-y, but didn’t want to chance it with the kind of paper in the drawing book.

Read the original prompt and see what comes to your mind.

Creative Prompt Response #137: Baby

When I decided on this word for the week, I was thinking of the New Year and how it is often depicted as a baby. When I went to respond to the prompt, I could only think of the large prams that one sees in London. Mine looks large enough for quintuplets, but perhaps they will bring use a good year.

Definition: Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate (or craniate) animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups. Most fish are ectothermic (“cold-blooded”), allowing their body temperatures to vary as ambient temperatures change, though some of the large active swimmers like white shark and tuna can hold a higher core temperature.^[1][2] Fish are abundant in most bodies of water. They can be found in nearly all aquatic environments, from high mountain streams (e.g., char and gudgeon) to the abyssal and even hadal depths of the deepest oceans (e.g., gulpers and anglerfish). At 32,000 species, fish exhibit greater species diversity than any other class of vertebrates.^[3]

aquarium

fish tank

fish sandwich

freshwater fish

plenty of fish

fishy

fish recipes

fish species

fish games

San Francisco Fish Company

clown fish

Fly fishing

Babelfish

Mary Poppins: Close your mouth, please, Michael. We are not a codfish. (quote)

fish supplies

The Fish

fishing gear

take me fishing

old fishing hole

Big Fish (2003 movie)

fishing

Did you add links to your art? Contributed to the Flickr Group? Have fun and link to your responses! Ask a friend to join, too! You can do the prompts together.

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog, and how your work relates to the other responses.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted. Post yours and get kudos!

Creative Prompt Response #133: Green

I think I have started a little mini-series within my series of responses. This image is related to a previous one for CPP #101 : Pink.

Creative Prompt Response #140: Birthday

In responding to this prompt it occurred to me that just drawing something was not the point and that I needed to, in fact yearned to, immerse myself in the drawing. I found that drawing the details of the cake took my mind away from the place I sat.

2012 Gift Bag

In cleaning up the fabric avalanche, I found a piece of marginally Christmas fabric. It is a little pale to be a gift bag, because eager eyes can see through it, but I made a gift bag anyway.

This made me think about my Christmas fabric and after looking through all that I had, I decided I needed to make bags out of it. My ribbon can is also overflowing. I don’t need anymore gift bags and the family is pretty well set, so I decided to try and encourage YOU to start using gift bags for your holidays. To encourage you, I will offer a prize of a variety of gift bags in November for anyone who participates. Most of them will be Christmas bags, because that is the fabric I have.

In order to participate you must:

• sew gift bags. No tape, staples or glue. Any fabric works
• post a photo to your blog or Flickr (or other easily accessible web space) of the gift bags you made
• put a comment with a link to the photo of your bag or bags in this post or a post related to the gift bag challenge. Each gift bag challenge post will say something like gift bag challenge

I will:

• keep track of participants
• post a tutorial and ideas for making gift bags
• on or around November 15, I will draw a name or names (depending on the number of gift bags I have to give away) of the winners

You may:

• enter more than once, but the limit is 10 times, which is about the number of months until November
• embellish, embroider to your heart’s content
• use any pattern you want including my tutorial

Rules subject to change without notice and my discretion.

Rectangle Nine Patch #40

This block could be interesting with as little as four fabrics and as many as eight fabrics.

Rotary cutting directions for Rectangle Nine Patch #40 are posted.

If you have made blocks or a quilt from these patterns, please post a link in the comments section of the relevant block or on the AQ Block-a-Long Flickr group. I would love to see what you have made.

cake

birthday wishes

gifts

birthday cards

All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.
George Harrison

Today is your birthday!

Happy Birthday

“A friend never defends a husband who gets his wife an electric skillet for her birthday.” Erma Bombeck

Definition: A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth.

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog, and how your work relates to the other responses.

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to post your responses. Are you already a member? I created that spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses. Please join and look at all of the great artwork that people have posted.

Creative Prompt Response #122: Dress

Partway through this drawing, I decided on another response. I may do another, but I am behind, so I may not.

See the original post.