L13

Today I had to do the house work blessings jobs I didn't do yesterday - or last week for that matter. I did get a little done tonight though:

L13

I did use far fewer seams than the pattern called for. The pattern has the white background cut in four then sewn together again, and a full circle on the outside ring, with white on white in the blank spaces. That is too much fussing for me on this block.

Snow day = sew day

Since school got cancelled with all the snow I decided to sew all day - well, after I slept in, ate, and shovelled twice.  I'm sure I've got over a foot here - haven't measure yet but it's over my boot tops. I'm afraid of what will happen when the plow goes down the street and closes in the end of my driveway. The plow hasn't been down yet and people are getting stuck.

D1 - paper pieced and turned out much better than the last paper pieced block

H7

J5

K6 - paper pieced this one too

D4

This is just regularly pieced - I'm taking a break from paper piecing - at least until the next block that requires it.

D4

Paper Piecing Gone Awry or Maybe I Should Keep My Suggestions To Myself

My friend L was trying a paper pieced block the other day and lamented on her blog about how it didn't turn out quite like she wanted. I've done some paper piecing so offered some, what I thought was sage, advice.
I should follow my own advice more carefully.
Behold, A9, too small and choppy on all four sides - which I can fix with sashing - but it is a rather sorry sight at the moment. I, however, am not sorry enough to throw it out and start again - not after 2 evenings of sewing and all this paper piecing!
My problem on the edges lies with my pieces being a bit too small.

A9 

However, I've stuck it to the design wall and I'm carrying on. Better finished than perfect.

I made a design wall

I have wanted one of these for awhile. I used this tutorial by Elaine and bought the flannel from her too!
My foam insulation is purple, from Home Depot - 1" x 24" x 96" and I trimmed off a little more than 10" so it would fit in my space. I had to get a friend with a van to help me get it from the store. They were around $14 each. All together it cost about $40 for the materials and took about 2 hours.

sewing room before the design wall

taping on the flannel to the insulation

design wall up with one lonely quilt block on it

I put the ironing board back in front of the design wall, cause I don't have any other place for it (yet).

F8

At one point in construction, F stood for a number of things - those side diamonds were a pain. And I'm off in the upper right corner. Oh well, sashing will fix that little boo boo.

F8

Dear Jane scared me for awhile

I got myself back in the sewing room tonight - it's been awhile. I've been eyeing this block for awhile, with fear. Then I did it - took about 1 hour and I'm happy with the results. Lesson learned - don't be afraid.

E11