Blocks – Page 33 – Artquiltmaker Blog

BAMQG Exchange Blocks

A few weeks ago I talked about the blocks I was planning on making for the BAMQG challenge. Here are the first two. I had an idea for these blocks, but I also had a couple of obstacles to the finished pieces.

First, I had to find the rotary cutting directions. I tried to draw the blocks on EQ7 and wasn’t, initially successful. Through a series of weird coincidences, I found a block in the big Jinny Beyer block book and had a pad of graph paper near handy, which allowed me to visualize the grid. Once I had that, I was able to draw the block in EQ7 (I was surprised not to find it there already there) and EQ7 generated the rotary cutting directions for this Courthouse Square block. Update 10/9/2011: I found that this block is Brackman Number: 2815A. You can see an antique example of this block in a quilt at the Quilt Index.

I used the fabrics I showed in the last post and am pleased with how they came out. I was a little nervous about using the Michael Miller fabric, because I have it slated for another project. I slapped myself and used the fabric since I hadn’t used it in that other project yet and it isn’t as though I have a shortage of fabric. I think the block looks great.

Two blocks wasn’t enough and I still had some fabric, so I looked at the gallery (I apologize if you can’t open the link) that Adrianne made.I found this one in Jinny Beyer’s book also. It is called Multiple Square Quilt and is from a 1953 issue of the Kansas City Star. That book is a useful resource if you love blocks at all.

I am thinking I will make one or two more, but I made a list of all I have to sew this weekend, so we will see how much I get done.

It is kind of fun thinking about blocks in a different way and trying to make them modern. I still have more fabric, so I may make a few more blocks.

Stealing Mom’s Thunder

I bought a lot of food fabric fat quarters (say that 3x really fast) for my mom last spring while she was taking care of Super G and trying not to lose her mind. This is one of the blocks she made with those food fabrics. She made a lot of blocks like the Corner Store pattern I talked about in the review of Pretty Little Mini Quilts, then she didn’t like them for the food quilt, so she redid them and this is block one of the result. Check her blog for progress.

More February Stars for San Bruno

Mom has been busy making more stars. She is trying different patterns, which means I never know what to expect from her! On another note, I told her to start showing some of her 19 (!!!) works in progress on her blog. I can’t wait to see what she has started.

The paper pieced block in the upper left hand corner was made by Maureen. It is really a perfect combination of colors. I know Maureen from CQFA. She is wonderful dyer and fabric printer. She does a lot of really good work in fabric manipulation with dyes, paints, etc and is an inspiration and teacher to others in the group in this area.

Mrs. K came to a party yesterday. She lives 4-5 hours away from me and prepared these reverse appliqued blocks for the drive down the mountain. The stars are reverse applique’ and then she has tied some French knots in each inset of the stars. You can just see them in the photos. I will have to take out some of the basting and trim the backs, but that is ok. I would rather do it when I am ready to sew than have the edges unravel or fray. I know Mrs. K from an online quilt group and we have gotten together several times. She loves handwork and crazy quilting. She taught hearing impaired students for many years in public schools. I really appreciate her effort on these blocks.

Mrs. K also made me a cookie. Check it out! I think I need to have a cookie baking and decorating session with Mrs. K!

We now have over 50 blocks!

Want to help? The background for this project is that one family we know from school and my husband’s cousin were affected by the September 2010 San Bruno fire. We are making 3 quilts: one for our cousin and his wife, one for my son’s friend and one for the parents of my son’s friend.

I am thrilled at how many people are making a block or two. Do you want to contribute some blocks?

All star blocks are welcome!

Block background: dark blue
Block design: Yellow star (any pattern, technique, eg. embroidery, painting, silkscreen, etc)
Block size: 8? finished (8.5″ unfinished) or smaller (we will work with any size)
Remember to sign your block!

Deadline: TBA, probably around the end of March. We can’t do it without you!

25 Stars for San Bruno

I have been expecting some blocks from Chris and SherriD. I was gratified to find them in my mailbox today! We are getting quite a little collection. We now have 25 blocks. I think 5 more and I could make the 3 quilts. I would like more blocks, because some of the blocks are small, but I could make the quilts with 30 blocks total.

Chris is the first one to do applique’ and I really like her blocks. They are very friendly looking. I hope I get at least one more applique’ block so each quilt can have one. 7 more would be ideal ;-), then I can put 3 applique’ blocks in each quilt. The background on Chris’ blocks is exactly what I was imagining for this quilt. I met Chris when she came to CQFA and then we met up at the Modern Quilt Guild meeting as well. She has a great blog. She writes very thoughtfully and had some interesting posts about design classes she has taken recently.

SherriD, from the Lazy Quilter blog, has come through with four more blocks. I don’t know why Sherri named her blog the Lazy Quilter, because she doesn’t seem to be lazy to me. Have you seen her U is for Unicorn quilt? WOW! These new blocks mean I can use them as a kind of border on one side of the one of the quilts. This puts Sherri up to a total of 6 blocks (I think). Isn’t she great? I secretly hope she makes more as I think these blocks will look really good in the quilt. 😉

I am planning on bringing my Around the Block book, some dark blue fabric and some yellow fabric so people can make some blocks at an upcoming retreat I am attending. I hope they will take the opportunity to sew.

I am going to get the Young Man to make a block, too. He refuses to sew, but I am thinking he could paint and then I could print the star on fabric. I haven’t done it yet, but it is on my mind. I may assign that task to my mom.

Want to help? I am thrilled at how many people are making a block or two. Do you want to contribute some blocks?

All star blocks are welcome!

Block background: dark blue
Block design: Yellow star (any pattern, technique, eg. embroidery, painting, silkscreen, etc)
Block size: 8? finished or smaller (we will work with any size)
Remember to sign your block!

Deadline: TBA, probably around the end of March

Frosted Star Blocks Complete

Here are the Frosted Star blocks. After all the drama of this project, I have finally completed a major hurdle.

The next task is to sew the border together. The border is made up of Jelly Roll strips. We’ll see how that goes. I probably need to get a Mary Ellen Best Press refill to get through all of those strips.

The thought of all of those strips makes me think that I am done with Jelly Rolls. Time will tell though. As I love to yell at the baseball players on the radio “it’s not over until it is over!”

Eleanor Jackson on Most Recent BAM BOMWednesday, September 9, 2026
Very cool! Thanks for sharing this. BTW I completed by Birds in the Air! So far it is the best…
JayeL on Flower #8Saturday, September 5, 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We missed you at Sew Day.
Eleanor Jackson on Flower #8Friday, September 4, 2026
WOW, You made my day. What a knock out showing of this new flower. Thanks for sharing. You and your…
JayeL on 26 Projects August 2026 #8Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Thank YOU for reading. It is great to gather everything I have been doing together and see that, yes, I…
JayeL on Everything But the Machine BagWednesday, September 2, 2026
I am sure you'll get through the project quickly once you get started.

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