Winter Pines Too

Here's my version of Winter Pines as found in Black and White Quilts by Design. I used a very bright red for the cornerstones. I just love the way it turned out. The black and white fabrics paired with the paper piecing imparts a crispness to the top.

I would have had this posted earlier except we have been having cloudy, windy, or rainy weather which made getting good pictures tough.




I've decided to pass on the leftover scraps. If you are interested, leave a comment on this post and I will randomly select a winner Saturday morning. The scraps are assorted sizes, not large enough to make these trees. Many of them are suitable for half square triangles.

I think I've mentioned our cardinal before. I think our house was built right in the middle of his territory and he's not about to cede any of it! I brought my camera last time I was folding laundry. He actually sits there and watches me.
Thanks for stopping by and for all the nice comments about Winter Pines Too.

Black and White

As I mentioned yesterday I started a project from the book Black and White Quilts By Design by Kay M. Capps Cross. It is paper piecing, something I swear I will never do again after completing the one I am working on.

But this project was so appealing I had to give it a go.

It calls for 20 8 inch blocks. And I had enough of a variety of blacks and whites in my stash that I didn't have to buy any. These are my blocks so far.

This is why I always say I will not do paper piecing! See that 'problem' at the end of the polkadot piece? Aargh! I find myself doing this quite frequently. And of course it is never one of the last pieces sewn so it would be easily corrected!

So far I have had 4 blocks with this problem! Does anyone else do this? I think I must zone out, lost in thought just cruising along listening to music or an audio book. The author suggests using Sulky Soft 'n Sheer rather than paper for the foundation. I am not familiar with this product but apparently it is a permanent, lightweight, nylon stabilizer that you don't (can't) remove. Less bother with paper pieces and worry over distorted stitches. Now that's appealing. I plan on finishing the top today so completed pictures tomorrow. And be sure to check out The Black and White Quilt Challenge Project to see lots more Black and White projects.

Success

Tried a new recipe yesterday straight off the King Arthur Flour sack! I just started buying this brand and really like it. The loaf turned out nice and moist with a fine grain to it. The rising was a bit lengthy, don't know if it had to do with the dough being all whole wheat flour with no white, or the chilly house.

I did finish that sewing wallet I made for the Black and White Challenge Project and am pleased with the results.

That fabric with hearts where the yellow flower head pins are is the replacement for the Andover black dots on white that I had problems with bleeding. No problems with this fabric with the Pellon Fusible Fleece. In hindsight I guess the other fabric just had an excess of dye that did not wash out entirely. I actually think I like this fabric choice better.

Here's the back.

Thanks for dropping by.

Just One of Those Projects...

A few months ago I joined the Black and White Challenge Project. There's a badge in the right sidebar attesting to such. The minimal requirement established by the project's founder is to make one project using black and white fabrics with one accent color to be completed in 2009. Well, I do plan on making a quilt but when I ran across this cute little sewing wallet I thought it would be a great Black and White project. What's this? I need something called Pellon 987F Fusible Fleece? Stood in line for 25 minutes on Saturday at Joann's to get some cut. That in itself was a mistake. I forgot I'd encounter all the tourists. But I digress. Back to the matter at hand.

Gathered all the supplies, chose the fabrics and accent color, a pink Batik, and got started. I fused the fleece onto the wrong side of the front of the wallet with no problem.

Then I fused the fleece onto the wrong side of the back of the wallet. Ack! The black dots bled! Darn, must not have washed the fabrics before hand. Well, let me go wash and try again.

As you can see the dots still bled, not as much but it's still there. The only thing I can figure out is the adhesive must have interacted somehow. Has anyone else used this product and had this problem? I will have to try again with another fabric as I am all out of those dots.

Sewing wallet project comes from this magazine.