A Trio Of Blocks

After a trip to the grocery store in the rain, I made some HSTs  for a block Randy had published on Wednesday for her Sow-A-Long.  Oy, those HSTs are too small for my tastes.  I've tried ironing them and flattening with books when still hot---I'm sure steam would do wonders but I've never been able to use it without distorting the block.

I must have misread and cut the squares way too large cause I had a lot to cut to get to 1.5 inches trimmed.

And here's the 6-inch block finished.

I decided not to make the second block Randy posted and went with this one instead.  It's still 6-inch, of course---I think it's called Framed Pinwheel. 

And this is Thrifty.  Nice and easy after those HSTs on the first block. 

Talk to you later~

Looking Forward

I'm a new reader of Barbara Brackman's blog.  I stumbled upon it one day just Googling Civil War quilt blocks and have been hooked ever since.  She is the authority on Civil War fabrics and the history of textiles of which I am sure you know!  She sponsored a Block of the Week in 2011 that included a Civil War history post every Saturday along with instructions for a block.   Anyway, about a week ago she announced she will be doing another Block-of-the-Week this fall this time centered around the "fight for women's rights."  It sounds like it will be a fun way to learn more about this important phase in history.  I am hoping she posts more about the fabrics popular in this era as the summer progresses.  More about the project here.
Talk to you later~

Stop It, Moda

Ya know, I've been trying really hard to not purchase any more fabric and 'work from the stash' but that darn Moda!  Take a look at this line to be released in July:  Coquette by Chez Moi. 

And of course, they just had to ship those precuts, layer cakes, jelly rolls, and charm packs to further inflame my passions.  I mean it's one thing to see pictures of coveted fabric but to go to your LQS and see it in person.  Just look at those yellows.  And I don't even like aqua but these are to die for.

:Sigh: I resisted but I do not know for how long.  What about you?  What fabric do you find irresistible?
Talk to you later~

The Constant Blogger

Today is the final day of participation in the Blogathon 2012---I did a post a day for the month of May.  I not really sure my goals were met (increase readership [I did gain a follower then lost one] get over my self-consciousness with regard to writing, write better, and stop being so damn lazy already) but it has been interesting.  At times it felt like an unpaid job, and at other times it was a piece of cake, at times I whined I had nothing to say (thanks for listening, Natalie) but amazingly did say something, at other times I woke up and actually looked forward to posting.  All told, I don't believe I'll be joining Bloggers Anonymous anytime soon!

I've learned a few things about myself along the way.  Writing doesn't come easy to me, it's hard work.  I'm still trying to decide if I like it.  I take myself way too seriously and coupled with my perfectionist ways, are not a good mix.  Many times I avoid posting because I am lazy or, get this, I cannot come up with a post title!  There is much I need to work on. And I think posting two to three times a week is what I should aim for.  That's it. 

Thanks for visiting ~talk to you soon~

Sewing

Here's the latest Sow-A-Long block that Randy posted this past Sunday.  I think I'm cheating with that brown dotted fabric lumping it with the Civil War reproductions but I couldn't resist using it.

I pressed all the seams open and that helped immensely getting the block to lay flat.  The blocks are all six-inches finished.

Because the HSTs are small, two-inches unsewn, I've been making them a bit larger and then trimming them down to size.  I originally used a small square ruler but it kept slipping until I tried my very large fifteen-inch square ruler.  It looks silly but is really stable!

Next up, more work on my Ugly Fabric Challenge---the green batik being the ugly one.

This is the collection of uglies I received.

And part of a block I made.  I am having a difficult time working in my favorite, the vegetable print on the lower right.  I have until October to figure something out. 

Lastly, a picture of some baby heirloom tomatoes.  I've been seeing these recently at Fresh Market and thought I'd try them.  My understanding is they are not hybrids and are from historical seeds, the way tomatoes used to look before big agriculture got involved.
Talk to you later~

Wordle Day

It's Wordle Day at Blogathon 2012.  Wordle is a service that generates a word cloud using the text most frequently found in the analyzed text.  Make your own here.
Thanks for stopping by~