Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I made quite a few at the beginning of the month, but other things got in the way of making more. My bin of 2.5 inch squares is overflowing, so something has to give.
These are the last blocks for the BAM BOM 2025-26 project. I know I showed them on Tuesday, but they turned out not to be the last blocks. I decided to re-make the Friendship Star Wreath block with the darker background.
To make these Flying Kite blocks, I used the Fat Quarter Shop directions from a sponsored 2014 (2013??) sew-a-long. I thought the directions made cutting pretty easy, despite the leftovers generated.
I have made this block before and it was always a pain to piece, so I was willing to deal with the leftovers / waste / extras if the cutting was easier. I have a lot of respect for people who figure out how to cut blocks out more easily.
I cut a few extra pieces and decided to make a second block for the top. I may make more, but for the moment I need to finish all the ‘required’ blocks.
I also wanted to show all of the blocks I have made for this quilt.
I looked over the combinations my sister and I worked on to get some ideas about a top. I don’t know if I will try to finish a top before the Layout Party or if I will work with everyone else on my layout.
On Sunday, I did some clean-up projects. It seemed like a good thing to do after finishing the Pandora Charisma #2. I needed to tidy up my workroom any way.
First, I made a label for the Quilt for Valor quilt. I haven’t shown that one here yet, so stay tuned.
Next, I got out my BAM BOM fabrics to make the last block. This is the Flying Kite (AKA Spinning Wheel) pattern. I made two and I really like them.
Leftovers from the Four Patch Fun quilts have been laying on my cutting table. I finally decided to get them into blocks. I have a few leftover blocks from those quilts and plan to make a donation top with them. Getting these leftovers pieced will add to the donation quilts.
I also tidied up after finishing the Pandora Charisma #2. I put the pattern, leftover fabric, etc away as well.
In between the above photos, I continued to work on the Pink Color Strip donation blocks. I think I have made 60 so far!!! Twenty more and I can make two Sidewalk quilts.
I saw a star made with lots of triangles. I used that as my inspiration for my most recent BAM BOM blocks, Birds in the Air.
This grouping is made up of 12 blocks. I may not arrange it this was, but I am enjoying looking at it.
We distributed the schedule for finishing the tops made from these blocks, so I need to get serious about making more blocks, or not.
I quickly made the Bow Tie block before the meeting deadline last weekend.
This is not a favorite block design, however I am, again, being a good guild citizen and making all the blocks.
I used the Mini Simple Folded Corners Ruler** and it went very quickly.
We are nearing the end of the BAM BOM, so I need to get serious about my blocks. I need to re-make the Friendship Star wreath and see whether I need to make more blocks.
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I visited Cyndi for another Sew Day on Tuesday. Beforehand I prepped Flower #6 to work on there.
Having done all the cutting, etc. I was able to finish the block while I was there.
This is a good project for me to work on when I go sew with Cyndi. I can still talk and chat while I pay attention to piecing. The block takes a long time to piece which means that I don’t have to bring 12 projects to make sure I have enough to do.
Six blocks down, six to go. Progress!!!
I have slowed my Potato Chip block pace, but am still making them. I think the EPPic got in the way a little bit. However, when I got back to the Potato Chips, I realized, I was at the end of my rectangles!
Great job, me! I achieved my goal of using up those rectangles, though I still have to make quilt(s) from the blocks. They will need sashing and I am thinking I will try to pick a split complementary color rather than just using white. I don’t know, though, as I don’t have a destination for this project. Donation quilts, maybe? We’ll see.
In planning to go over to Cyndi’s house for a Sew Day, I decided to get back to the Sad Quilt / Country Revival. I thought I could sew one block and then I wouldn’t have to haul a ton of stuff over to Cyndi’s It has also been awhile since I worked on it.
Since it has been so long, I had to remind myself how to everything. I made some cutting errors and had to re-cut, but the piece is ready to sew.
I have been collecting various blocks using 2.5 inch squares for forthcoming donation quilts. I finally had enough of the green half 16 patch blocks to make another Sidewalk quilt.
I started putting the blocks together in chunks on my small design wall, but couldn’t look at the whole thing until Cool Four Patch Fun was off the large design wall. I did a fair job spreading dark and light greens across the quilt. I don’t think this will take me very long to put together. I might have it done for the next meeting.
There is a lot of white in this quilt design. I think I need to try one where the large center blocks are a different color. White isn’t great for a donation quilt and I am sure I can find enough of whatever color to make a good looking quilt.
I finally got some of the Cool Four Patch Fun blocks up on the design wall. I found I needed to finish the 1-2-3 Mosaic table runner before I could put the rest up, so I started working on that.
At the moment all of the block pairs are done and I am just waiting for design wall space to do a little rearranging and then sew the top together.
I am continuing to make potato chip blocks as I am determined to use up all the rectangles I cut. I ran out of pink rectangles, but still have tons of the blues, so I am cutting more pinks as I go along.
I am thinking of making some blocks with just blues. I have to think about how to make the design show up.
I finished the second of the May/June blocks the night before they were due. I try to make them before or as soon as we announce them, but I didn’t this time. As a result, I almost didn’t make the deadline.
In addition, I ended up remaking the X Plus/Lozenge block. Now I have two of them. I’ll use the first one on the back. I don’t want to make it into something else, because the piecing is less than stellar, but it will look fine on the back of the quilt.
I made the Drunkard’s Path/ Quarter Squares right away. I was in the frame of mind with Chaos with a Twist, so took the opportunity to make a few more in my BAM BOM fabrics.
A lot of people are participating, which made me really happy! There were some fantastic blocks shown.
I finished Old Town a few months ago, but never posted about it. I think my quilt holders have been busy or out of town. After winning Second place at the Fair, I realized it and knew I needed to get it done.
Old Town is finished! Yay! LOL!
Old Town is the 2024 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt. I played along and sewed many of the blocks together at the BAM Retreat, then finished it up at home.
Colleen quilted it for me and here we are. I was really pleased to get second place since the category in which I entered it (quilted by another) is packed. This was a much easier quilt to quilt than Patchwork Palooza since once I decided how to quilt a block, I just had Colleen quilt all the blocks the same.
Lupine is finished.
It is a little large, so my quilt holder had a tough time. I hope to remember to get some guild members to help me get a better photo.
The poor quilt has been languishing between travel and other more urgent projects. In the middle of all the chaos I finally was able to sew the binding down.
In record time, Lupine is back and ready to bind. I took the quilt to her in mid-March. Colleen did a great job quilting it. I am pleased.
I’ll be glad to get this off my list. I have enough time to enter it in the Fair, but I am limited to two quilts quilted by another, so I’ll have to wait until next year. 🙁
The only thing I have left to do is bind it. I started the other day, but have to actually sit down to bind and I haven’t had a chance. I also need to get DH to hold it up so I can take a photo.