Be My Valentine

Be My Valentine is definitely an appropriate name for today's 8-inch block, number 45 of 366.  It is another variation of a log cabin block and you know, I'm really starting to like these for never having done them before.  I'm also thinking four of these would make a really cute wall hanging, and even just this one would make a fun pillow.

I also tried some machine applique with the tops of the heart, and I found it rather enjoyable.  There are about four Don't Look Now! designs that I would love to try, but she uses machine applique, and I've always been a bit leery of it.  I'm thinking now I might just have to attempt one of her patterns.

I'm linking today with Fabric Tuesday and Pat Sloan.  Happy Stitching and Happy Valentine's Day!!  --Kristen

Design Wall Monday, Log Cabin Heart, and My Way of Doing Hexagons

How's that for the world's longest blog title? :)  Evidently it must mean I have a lot to talk about today.

First off is the design wall.  I did finish another block for my son's quilt, and then I realized I didn't cut enough half-square triangles, and then I realized I didn't have enough 2-inch squares for the corners...and then I realized I only had 5-1/2 inch strips left and you can't get 3-7/8 strips and 2-inch strips out of 5-1/2 inches.  After a major panic attack and cleaning session, I did find another fabric that I had bought with the rest of these and just never cut (I think the cutting became tedious and I gave up.)  Lesson learned, keep all of the fabric for a project TOGETHER.  Oh well, I found it, and my sewing room is neat and organized so everything is good.

Today's block is 4-1/2 inches, is called Log Cabin Heart, and is number 44 of 366.  Less than a week and I will be 50 blocks into this project.  :)

Now for the hexagon flowers.  When I put my hexagon flowers together I start by sewing all the outer hexagons to the center one.  This way I don't have to stop and start my thread, I just keep sewing all the way around the center hexagon, and I can take the time to match up my designs on the outer petals.

I will usually have about 10 with the middle's sewn before I start working on making them a complete flower.

The seams are then easy to stitch, you do one, knot and snip your thread and move on to the next seam.

You can quickly move around the flower and within minutes all six seams are done.  Because you already did the matching of patterns when you sewed around the center hexagon, you don't need to worry about which hexagon to add next.

I was in the car for an hour and 20 minutes on Saturday and finished 6 hexagon flowers this way.  I can't wait to hear how it helps you make these cute flowers quicker!

I'm linking today with Judy at Patchwork Times.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Rail Fence and Some Hexies

I spent a large part of the day in my sewing room...cleaning.  It is never a fun thing to have to clean it out, but it always feels good to have an organized space to be creative.

Today is a 12-inch Rail Fence.  I think this would be a fun block to use for a quilt too...you could line up the stripes different ways and make some interesting designs.  I actually think it would take longer to figure out your block placement then it would to piece the blocks.  It is number 43 of 366.

Here are hexies 111 through 116...I can see that 140 flower mark getting closer and closer.  I worked on them in the car yesterday as I didn't get anything ready for binding.  I will have pictures tomorrow of how I put them together, which really seems to speed up the process (at least for me).

I almost forgot my stash report for this week, which isn't much, but should definitely be improved next week.  I am linking with Judy at Patchwork Times...

Used this week:  0 yards
Used year to date:  2.5 yards
Added to this week:  2
Added to year to date: 22 yards
Net used for 2012:  -19.5

It is the beginning of another week...and a holiday week at that.  :)  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Some More Progress and Underground Railroad

Today was an eventful and fun day.  We traveled to my son's last basketball tournament of the season.  They played well and won a game, so we all had a good time.  I worked on some more hexies, but I will show those tomorrow.  When I got home I was motivated to see some progress on my son's quilt...

I finished six more blocks today.  As I don't have a picture of the finished quilt, I didn't realize that when I put the blocks together the squares on the corners would line up.  I didn't take a lot of time laying them out now, but they are striking.  I still have a lot of blocks to put together, but I know the whole family is really looking forward to this one being completed.

Today's block, Underground Railroad, number 42 of 366, is a 12-inch block, and I really wish the photo did the fabrics justice.  I used Darlene Zimmerman's fabrics yesterday and today and this one is a lot brighter in person.  It went together easily, and I would love to do a whole quilt with this block too...however, my husband nervously asked me tonight just what we are going to do with all these blocks (I don't think he ever thought I would make it this far).  I just smiled and said, "wait and see."  :)  I'm actually thinking of heading back to the sewing room to see if I can finish just one more block for my son's quilt...Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Lincoln's Cabin Home

I wonder if Honest Abe's real house was as hard to build as this one was.  I should have known because I've heard all about how fun this block is for the Just Takes 2 quilt.  That one was paper pieced so I was pretty excited when I saw this block was pieced...that is until I had to use templates.

Maybe it was just too late in the day to be working on it...or maybe I was just too tired, but those templates were something else.  Oh well, it's done and I will move on, except I have to make another one of these blocks for my Just Takes 2 quilt.  I'm going to wait until tomorrow to decide which way to make it.  This is a 9-inch block and is number 41 of 366.  Happy Stitching!! --Kristen

Lincoln's Platform

Today's block is one that I can honestly say I have never seen before, at least not with the squares around the border.  I love this one, and I think what really makes it for me is the fabric.

I have no idea why I chose to use 30's fabrics for this project, but I have to say, I am so glad I did.  They are just so cheerful and happy, and how could a person not smile when they look at them.  I can imagine being a little girl and choosing some of these fabrics for a special dress, and I know these blocks are going to make some wonderful quilts.  I did notice that it really is a necessity to have your seams right at a quarter inch to have the squares and the sashing line up.  Now how do you suppose women long ago kept their seam allowances the same, especially if they were hand piecing. They really were talented weren't they.  This is block 40 of 366 and is a 10-1/2 inch block.

Have a wonderful Thursday evening or Friday where ever you are in the world, and thank you so much for sharing these blocks with me!  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen

Kansas Troubles

I never looked at the name of this block until I went to type it now, and it fits.  I had no trouble getting it together, it was actually rather easy, but I did have trouble getting the light just right for the photo, and that is all my problem not the camera or the block.

And well, Benny decided he needed to help too.  As you can see it is a huge block, 16 inches in fact.  As I was working on it I started thinking that it would be fun to make it into a pillow, but then there are quite a few of these bigger blocks and what fun would it be to put them all into one quilt.  Not so many blocks would be needed, and I could easily have a bed sized quilt or a really nice wall hanging with just a few of them.  We will see, I'm getting a little ahead of myself here.  But it is always fun to dream. :)

Here it is minus Benny.  It is block 39 of 366.  I'm linking with WIP Wednesday and Made By Me Wednesday.  Happy Stitching!!  --Kristen