LHQSQ Blocks

I made two more blocks for the LHQSQ 2.0 quilt along.   A Left-Handed Quilter posted two more blocks this morning and I decided to use those two in my sampler also.  The blocks are the Hourglass and the Attic Window blocks. This is not the Attic Window that immediately comes to my mind, but it is called an Attic Window in Electric Quilt.
While looking at her blocks I saw that I could combine a couple of shapes and cut pieces with my Accuquilt Go! cutter.  One of those shapes is the chisel for the Attic Window.
Unfortunately, I neglected to pay attention to the orientation of the chisel shape.  So, my attic window block is a mirror image of hers.  I also mirror imaged the Hourglass block just because. Ha ha.

I am slowing accumulating enough of these blocks that I should soon get to start on the sashing and joining.
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A Little Love

In honor of the day --you know February 14th - today......that mushy love day,  I spent a little time sewing and practicing my free motion quilting as well as some straight line quilting.  I used an orphan block that had a little heart appliquéd on it as part of the design.  So here is my little table mat.  It is a bit bigger than a placemat.

You can see that I echo quilted that little heart applique.

The original block was part of a jelly roll race quilt that I started and realized that I didn't like all that much. I prefer the back of this more.

It is always good to make a small simple piece to practice your free motion quilting before you jump into quilting a project.  Normally I just do a practice sandwich, but this works well also.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A New Video -Accuquilt Go! Cutter

Over the weekend,  I was planning to cut some 2 1/2" squares from some layer cake and charm pack squares.  So I decided to do a video showing my method using the Go! cutter and the 2 1/2" strip die as well as the Go! Qube die for 2 1/2" squares.

This video has also been added to the Tutorial Video tab so that you can find it again easily.
You can also subscribe to my YouTube Channel to be notified when I have new videos.

I have added social media buttons on the left hand sidebar for your convenience.  I hope you like the blog redesign.

I have also added a page tab with all of the current Island Batik Ambassadors and blogs/websites.
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Sampler Blocks

The  Left-Handed Quilter Sampler quilt along is moving along and I have made a few blocks.
This sampler is based on the nine-patch grid so each block is a type of nine-patch. In honor of that, I have included a basic nine patch with the other blocks.

From left to right the top row is: Friendship Star; Blue Chains, Aunt Malvernia's Chain Variation
The second row is: Greek Cross Variation,  Basic Nine Patch, Contrary Wife.

So, for this I have only nineteen blocks left to go.  Actually, I did make a Churn Dash. It seems I never get those to come out correctly.  After ripping out seams several times, the fabric frayed and distorted so that it is a quarter inch small in some areas. I will put it in the sad orphan blocks for future use.  Maybe I will try again on the churn dash for this little quilt.


Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Oh My Stars

For February the Island Batik challenge is called Magnificent Minis.

After some deliberation, I decided that I would do a field of wonky stars.   Then I looked at the fabrics I was given to work with and decided to make it a little more interesting by dividing the field into four colors.  Of course, I didn't want to do it as four squares, so I thought a while longer and decided that I could divide the square in two diagonals.   Making one diagonal - that was an easy thing to do.  But on the other, it took some planning and careful fabric choices.

Here is one of the photos I took of this mini quilt. In case you are wondering this little quilt is 22 1/2 inches square. Each star block is 3" finished - so each star point section is started with a 1 1/2" square and finished at 1" - that is possibly the smallest piecing I have ever done.

But since we had a sunny warm day, I decided to go on a photo "safari" with the mini quilt of stars.  My location of choice was a local park that has a lake.  There is also an old covered bridge there.  So I put the quilt against the wall just inside the bridge, hanging it over one of the boards.

Wow, I love how that shot came out. 

But there are more photos.  

I stepped to the back of the bridge and put the quilt on one of the guard rails.  Before I could take the photo,  a visitor landed on top of the bridge, so I included this photo-bomber. 

Do you see that lovely gray heron?

I tried to get a photo of the heron sitting on a small ?rock? in the lake but he flew as I snapped the photo. 

There is also a nice spraying fountain in the lake. 

I think it made a nice backdrop also. 

And a couple more shots taken in a friend's yard. 

The fabrics are all Island Batiks.  The batting is Hobbs 80/20 Heirloom. The thread is Aurifil for both piecing and quilting. 

Of course I am required to tell you that I was provided the fabrics and the batting for making this quilt by Island Batik and Hobbs Batting at no charge to me.  I also used Aurifil thread in the construction and quilting, but that thread was already in my stash.  

I would like to thank Island Batik,  Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread and Accuquilt for being sponsors of the 2019 Island Batik Ambassador program. 

Throughout the month, the Ambassadors will be sharing Magnificent Mini quilts.  Here is a list of other Ambassadors with links to websites for each. Enjoy the journey with us. 

Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen

Gene Black ~ Gene Black (you are here)

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Connie K Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River

Anja Clyke ~ Anja Quilts

Tina Dillard ~ Quilting Affection Designs

Becca Fenstermaker ~Pretty Piney

Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter

Barbara Gaddy ~ Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Dione Gardner-Stephen ~ Clever Chameleon

Sarah Goer ~ Sarah Goer Quilts

Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts

Lori Haase ~ Dakota City Quilter II

Joanne Hart ~ Unicornharts

Mania (Magdalini) Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for Quilts

Carla Henton ~ Creatin’ in the Sticks

Stephanie Jacobson ~ Steph Jacobson Designs

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Joan Kawano ~ Moosestash Quilting

Kim Lapacek ~ Persimon Dreams

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Leanne Parsons ~ Devoted Quilter

Bea Lee ~ BeaQuilter

Toby Lischko ~ Gateway Quilts & Stuff

Bill Locke ~ Studio Bill Locke

Denise Looney ~ For the Love of Geese

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack's Blog

Kathleen McCormick ~ Kathleen McMusing

Carol Moellers ~ Carol Moellers Designs

Karen Neary ~ Sew Karen-ly Created

Lisa Nielsen ~ Lisa Lisa and the Quilt Jam

Jackie O’Brien ~ If These Threads Could Talk

Laura Piland ~ Slice of Pi Quilts

Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde

Vicki Schlimmer ~ Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Sherry Shish ~ Powered by Quilting

Anita Skjellanger ~ Quilt in a not-Shell

Laticia "Tish" Stemple ~ Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

Jennifer Strauser ~ Dizzy Quilter

Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations

Terri Vanden Bosch ~ Lizard Creek Quilts

Alison Vermilya ~ Little Bunny Quilts

Sandra Walker ~ mmm! quilts

Suzy Webster ~ Adventurous Applique and Quilting

(Debora) Anne Wiens ~ Seams like a Plan

Geraldine Wilkins ~ Living Water Quilter

Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.