Oops

Here's what happens when I don't carefully read directions carefully.  

This block 

becomes this block.  

A quick lesson in how to add a half inch on both sides when I failed to think about the finished size needing an extra half inch.  It isn't a perfect wonky cross but I couldn't quite figure out how to pull that off.  I had a hard time picking a color to add that would go with the colors.  I added the blue to the original blocks and decided to just keep the blue going.  Next time I will pay closer attention.  

Just because I think it looks neat, my daughter took a picture of the outside of a drawstring backpack I made for her cousin.  Although sometimes letting her have the camera means we have a whole bunch of pictures of her nose up close, she does end up getting some other shots from interesting perspectives.

Wonky crosses

Here is a sample block for my work project.  They ask for staff art every year so a few of us decided we should try to make a staff quilt.  After much deliberation about the quilt pattern that any experience level could manage, we decided on a wonky cross quilt using either Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial or Jennifer Jenkinson's of That Girl That Quilt.

These are the colors that I received for Sew.Bee.Create this month with the directions to make something wonky or improv.  I made some wonky triangles and played around with them on the design board.  This was my first real attempt to have a design that requires filling in the spaces and matching things up.  

My process.  I taped a 15" square to the design board and started placing triangles.  By popular vote of some family members, the diamonds/kites won.

And then I started second guessing myself after I used up nearly all of the grey solid and made a wonky cross block just in case.  It did give me more practice for the work quilt, but I wish I would have had a bit more grey to tone it down a bit.  I have decided to go with the attitude that I won't be upset if my blocks don't make the cut for any of the projects.   

Last but not least, the HST for the Lynnebobsquarepants quilt for MJ are nearly all done and ready to be assembled.

Please excuse the lovely layout of this post.  Things just aren't quite working out with the layout of pictures and text today.

A new start

1.5 blocks out of 20 completed for my LynneBobSquarePants quilt for MJ.  Instead of rows, I'm sewing each quadrant of the block and joining the four at the end.  The fabric is Poetica and Oval Elements with some other Art Gallery fabrics thrown in.  I am trying not to count how many HST I will need to trim to size by the end of this.  I don't think I want to know.  And oops, I started this before I finished the Chevrons.

Make Life Chevrons

After two recent quilt finishes, I decided to pull out scraps from previous projects and make a Patchwork Chevron Quilt designed by Jeni Baker of In Color Order.  Since I had leftovers from a jelly roll, I sewed nine patches of 2.5" squares and 6.5" squares of white fabric.  The chevrons above are randomly placed at the moment.  I'm planning on adding 7 more chevrons to make a 4x4 grid instead.  If I can squeeze out enough leftovers, I'll make it 4x5 but I don't think I'll be able to pull that off.  My quilting plan is to try the orange peel quilting method from Oh Fransson!.  I wanted to try a small project before taking on a twin size quilt for my niece.  No intended recipient, but depending upon the size, I may keep this one for O.

But this weekend is beautiful so I think this may be as far as I get until later in the work week.

Daisy Chain Strings

The string quilt is finished thanks to my mom sewing the binding for me.  I still need to improve my picture taking skills.  The color isn't very good and there really isn't much detail.  Perhaps if my quilt holder was a little more willing to be helpful.....

Pattern: slight variation on Valentine by Elizabeth Hartman
Fabrics: Daisy Chain by Amy Butler; Kona: Navy, Olive, Sour Apple, Pear, White, Robin's Egg, Azure, Peacock; Moda Light Jade, Free Spirit  Jade
Backed in Robert Kaufman Olive flannel
Bound with Kona Navy
Quilted by me in an all over stipple
Pre-washed size:  58x70"

It's not a new project, I'm cleaning

 I sent out way too many strips for my bee quilt and had extra uncut fabric as well as strips remaining.  So, instead of trying to organize the container of strips, I chose to use some 12" cheap scrapbook paper and make a lovely string quilt.  I'll either run out of strips or out of variety with what is remaining.  Maybe I'll add 5 more blocks to make it around 55x66.  There is a lot more room in the container so I suppose I can chalk this up to cleaning rather than starting a new project when the other one is still not complete.  And for some reason, I thought string quilts were a bit more time consuming than it ended up being.  Or, I need to wait to say that until after I tear all the paper off the back.

The colors are so much better in real life and not well represented in the picture.

Nearly done....

 I've spent some time attempting to get this quilt nearly finished.  One more block to go and that one will be coming in the mail.    I'm trying to completely finish a project before starting another one but that isn't too easy.  One more block was made since this picture was taken.

 My niece could probably use a twin size bed quilt mostly likely using Lynnebobsquarepants.  Ever since making the Project Linus quilt using Pat Bravo's scraps, I've been wanting to incorporate more Art Gallery fabrics in my quilts.  This stack is mostly Poetica with some Oval and Nature Elements thrown in.  Pretty good for someone who likes blue, purple and pink.  Unless I make a baby quilt to donate first, I think this is my next project.

And April's bee block for Lisa.  I tried to be very careful about matching points especially because I know I am better when I can trim things down to size.  There wasn't that luxury this time with the directions.  It looks pretty good in the picture.  Yay!

A final project that also has yet to be started.  Every year there is a call for staff art to be displayed at the main office.  Traci and I decided it might be kind of cool to get together a group of us and each make one block to contribute to a quilt to be displayed.  We have about 6 months to accomplish this and it is the fun part, fabric shopping.