Paperweight

A pattern I picked up from Aardvark Quilts called Paperweight. It's my latest attempt at some more modern looking designs using more modern looking fabric. This quilt had 2 of my least favorite techniques. Cutting with templates and set-in pieces.

I never cut with templates (I know, I should never say never). I make the template, and find a ruler that has the same angles as the template.

Then I use a glue stick to glue the template to the back of the ruler and cut away! Here's the 45 degree angle,

And the 90 degree angle.

The pattern had you piece each of the hexagons then set in the background shapes. Instead I was able to make square blocks by splitting the octagons in quarters.
And the air is back on! Hallelujah! Still too hot to be outside. I'm finishing up my machine quilting project this weekend. Come back next week to see it - and for a give-away. Have a cool weekend!!

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Fabric Play...

Back when I worked in a quilt shop, one of my favorite things to do was coordinate fabrics to make up bundles. We folded them into "tulips" and made cute little packs of 8 fabrics that worked beautifully together. My friend Jean used to line her bundles up on the counter like this waiting to be folded and tied. I always thought it looked so pretty and when I pull fabrics from my stash for a project, I often lay them out just like that!

When it's 92 outside and your air conditioning is on the fritz - except for the sewing room - you start looking for things to do. I played with fabric for a while today!

Different color combination for me. I've noticed some pretty black, grey and yellow room designs on HGTV (while sitting in the sewing room) and had to try it out.

Now this looks tranquil.
I guess I'll stay cool and keep sewing!!

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Questions...

Safety pins removed...

Finishing up a quilt from this awesome Martingale book. Can you guess what's coming?

Which came first?

I made this block for absolutely no reason. What to do with it now?

Anyone need some Black-Eyed-Susans? (Note: the haze is not an artistic photographic technique - it's our air!)
Have a great week!!

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Sew Picture Perfect

If you love beautiful pictures of quilts and all things sewing... head on over to Sew Picture Perfect, a new blog dedicated to sewing related photography.

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New Wave Weekends

My New Wave quilt is done! It uses several pieces from the Weekends line. I just love how Summery it looks!

You can download the pattern from Oh, Fransson here.

I love this bicycle fabric!

It's quilted using a design from "Absolutely Fabulous Echoed Blossoms and Blooms". So easy and I love how it looks. (Sorry, I'm loving too many things in this post)

It may be hot outside, but things in the sewing room are just Hunky Dory.

Have a great week!

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Joseph's Coat

This is my latest applique project. You may be thinking the same thing that my friend Milly said at quilt guild this week when I showed it -"Shoot me!". I may be crazy, but I'm really enjoying a little different method of applique. This uses a Floriani wash away stabilizer instead of my traditional freezer paper. The edges are glued under instead of needle turned. It's very relaxing applique once all the prep work is done and I'm really enjoying that!

If you feel a bit crazy, too - you can get the first 4 steps for making this quilt here: Don't Look Now - Joseph's Coat quilt along.

A couple of readers have made a block from my tutorial on the last post. This is Anne's from Batiks by the Bay. Anne's back in Australia and quilting her little heart out. It's called a cushion in Australia.

Shannon from Pieceful Kwilter also made a beautiful, modern-looking block. The block is awesome. I think she's making a whole quilt out of that one!

In other news Rossville Quilts has kitted up my table runner from the Moda Bake Shop. For $20.50 you can get the whole thing including backing.

I'll be at Jackman's this weekend doing a book signing of my newest book "Flowers All Around". Illinois on Sat. and St. Louis on Sun. Hope to see some of you there! They're having a big sale, too!!

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Winner and the block

The winner of the book chosen at random is - Duff who commented on June 29th at 3:48. Congratulations!

Everyone liked the red and white block so much - I thought I'd share the directions for making the block. My original was a 15" finished square which would be great for a pillow. I'm also including a 12" finished block which is probably a better size for a quilt.

Cutting: (measurements in ( ) are for 15" finished block)

RED:

A - 1 square 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" (3" x 3")

E - 4 squares 2" x 2" (2 3/8" x 2 3/8")

F - 4 rectangles 2" x 3 1/2" (2 3/8" x 4 1/4")

I - 2 rectangles 2" x 9 1/2" (2 3/8" x 11 3/4")

J - 2 rectangles 2" x 12 1/2" (2 3/8" x 15 1/2")

WHITE:

B - 2 rectangles 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" (1 3/4" x 3")

C - 2 rectangles 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" (1 3/4" x 5 1/2")

D - 4 rectangles 1 1/2" x 2" (1 3/4" x 2 3/8")

G - 2 rectangles 1 1/2" x 7 1/2" (1 3/4" x 9 1/4")

H - 2 rectangles 1 1/2" x 9 1/2" (1 3/4" x 11 3/4")

You'll sew the pieces in alphabetical order! Piece A is in the center. Sew the B's to opposite sides and repeat with the C's. You can press the seams any way since none of the seams meet. I pressed toward the dark.

Next, sew piece D between 2 E's (make 2). Repeat with piece D between 2 F's. Sew these units to opposite sides of the block center.

In the same manner sew pieces G, then H to the block.

Now you know how to finish - sew the I and J pieces to the block.

Ta da! Easy, right? This block needs a name other than "the block". Any ideas? If you make it into anything - a pillow, a quilt, a table runner... send me a picture or link to your blog if you post it... cindy@hyacinthquiltdesigns.com

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