Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Boy's Nonsense.

A new month and a new block!

This month’s block is called ‘Boy’s Nonsense’.  I have found a tutorial online which gives a very clear explanation.  There are two parts to the tutorial but don’t worry it is a very simple block.  The first part is an explanation of how to choose the tones and the second part is about how to put the block together.

The tutorial has listed the amount of fabric you need to cut for a whole quilt.  I have listed below the amount you will need for 1 block.


I would like half of us to make blocks with light corner triangles and half to make them with dark corner triangles.  

Team A,  Light Corner Triangles
Jennifer, Micalea, Anthea, Katy, Linsay, Stephanie.

You will need the following fabric;

White –   3” x 3”   Cut 2 of these then cut them on the diagonal to make 4 half square triangles.  These are the small triangles at the top, bottom and sides.

Light fabric –   4½” x 4½”   Cut 2 of these and then cut them on the diagonal to make 4 half square triangles.  These are the triangles at the corners of the block.

Mid tone – 5½” x 5½”   This is the centre square, just cut 1.

Dark – 5½” x 2½” Cut 4 of these rectangles.

Team B, Dark Corner Triangles
Amy, Amy, Jamie, Claire, Pam, Donna Jo.

You will need the following fabric.

White –   3" x 3"   Cut 2 of these then cut them on the diagonal to make 4 half square triangles.  These are the small triangles at the top, bottom and sides.

Dark – 4½" x 4½"   Cut 2 of these and then cut them on the diagonal to make 4 half square triangles.  These are the triangles at the corners of the block.

Mid/Dark – 5½" x 5½"   This is the centre square, just cut 1.

Mid tone – 5½” x 2½”   Cut 4 of these rectangles.

Colours

I would like the white to be a crisp white.  It can be tone on tone but try to avoid creams.
Otherwise, you can use any colours you like.  Like Katy, I prefer modern fabrics and I avoid reproduction style prints, especially in browns.  I have loved the use of fabrics with text in them over the last year.  If you want to include one in your block then that would be great.

I haven’t made a demonstration block yet because this month has flashed past very quickly.  As well as moving house, I had my purse (wallet) stolen out of my bag in the supermarket yesterday.  A man asked me a very long question about some meat, then I turned back and looked at my bag which was hanging on the trolley and I thought, ‘I bet someone took my purse’ and they had. Rats! I am sure they were working as a pair. The time that I had set aside yesterday to finish off things like quilt blocks was spent cancelling my bank cards and going to the police station.  I have finished the stack of books block and I will post it this afternoon. 

I am hoping that May will be a bit calmer than April.  I will email my new address.

Happy Sewing Everyone,

Linsay.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Stacked books block

Here is my stacked books block - it may have already arrived in the post as it has taken me a while from sending it to now as we had visitors. It took me ages to position and reposition, to get the colours in an order I liked and to work out best colour lengths to use but I was pleased with how it turned out. I think it will look a pretty amazing quilt and can't wait to see it finished! Claire

Friday, April 18, 2014

Hi All, My computer works again!

I'm back! It turns out that there was a computer problem.  My husband has updated the browser and now I can load photos again.  What a relief!
Although I haven't written anything for a long time I have been reading everyone's posts.  It was lovely to see Donna Jo's first post and all her beautiful work.  This year's charity quilt looks great and I am looking forward to making the block as well as this month's terrific stack-of-books block.
My other news is that I have moved house.  I have moved about 10 km from one Swiss village to another. The new village is called St Légier.  It is very close to my girls' school and to Claire's house.  In fact Claire lives so close to me that if I was in the Australian cricket team I could probably throw a cricket ball to her garden.  We can have crafty get-togethers whenever we want.
I have posted a couple of photos of my new sewing room.  I spent a couple of hours trying to sort it out but, as you can see, it probably needs a few more hours work.  I put all my fabrics in one shelving unit and I am surprised by how much fabric I own.  Once I clear a table I will be able to start on this month's block. 
Tomorrow my family and I are going to Istanbul for the Easter weekend.  Calum thought that by the time we had moved house and unpacked that we would need three nights away to recover.
I am very happy that I can blog again.
Bonne Paques! 
Linsay.




Sunday, April 13, 2014

Jennifer's Blocks for Katy

I'm leaving for the US tomorrow and wanted to have a few sewing projects finished before I left.

Here is Katy's block:
It took a little more planning and tinkering than I originally thought but I loved sifting through my scraps and playing with the color values and layout. I was wondering if any of these same fabrics were used in the blocks that I made for Katy's first International Stashes quilt. I continue to be thrilled with all of the variety of projects that our group choose each month. Thanks girls!
 
Here is the charity block:
Thank you again Katy for taking on this project this year. This was a quick block to put together and I think it is going to be so charming with all of the fussy cut centers.  Thank you too to Amy (Canada) for the tip in the comments section on what size to cut the squares for the HSTs, I also started out with 3.5 inch squares for the HSTs and then I remembered your advice.
 
And finally! Here is the 2013 top that I have been procrastinating on:
 
I just have not bonded properly with this quilt, I haven't been able to get excited about it, maybe not modern enough for my tastes? I'm not sure. What do you think of it?  I could not stand to have it just sitting on my shelf either. All I needed to do was add two more zig zag borders and I finally did that last night. Now I am going to take it to the US with me tomorrow and send it to Amy (USA) and have her use her new long arm quilting skills to quilt it for me. I have given her free rein to do what ever she thinks would look best for the quilting part. No pressure Amy but we will all be looking forward to seeing what you decide is best for it. Here is the backing fabric I ordered to go with it:
 
I hope you are all doing well!
Love,
Jennifer
 
 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Anthea's Stacked Blocks for Katy


It is always delightful to arrange bright colours which made it fun completing this block for you Katy.

Before I started, I was rather worried that sewing up long thin rectangles would show up any errors and yes some of my seams do look rather curvaceous.  Look at the top of the block!!!  My scant 1/4 inch seams are a bit too scant in places and so the whole thing is a tad too long.  Hmmm.  I might sit on this for a bit and un-pick the worst offenders, redo and then mail it off to you Katy.

I'm off to the vegie patch now.  There is a fair bit of precursor groundwork to enjoy before my Autumn planting.

Anthea xx

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Post for Donna Jo

I am so grateful to have Amy (USA) help me post my blocks (so far) on the International Stashes blog.  I’m not very computer oriented and my last child left for college last fall…I can’t tell you the things I have done without while she has been gone!  It has been good to be a part of this group as I am not enjoying being an empty-nester.  It has also been good for me as I seem to have forgotten how to be creative lately!  Thank you Amy for helping me post these blocks.
 
January
Jennifer’s Giant Modern 9-Patch:
 
This was a very hard block for me because I guess that I am to rigid (Not cut with a ruler???  Impossible!).  I love 9-patch blocks though, and even though the color choice could not have been further than my comfort zone, I am intrigued with this quilt and look forward to seeing it completed. 
 
February
(USA) Amy’s LeMoyne Star:
 
I should share that when I first began quilting, my first quilts were mostly maroon and blue.  For years…  I still love blue the very best!   I wasn’t paying very much attention to “which” Amy this block belonged to, and hadn’t mailed it yet as I needed to fill out my customs form.  Imagine my surprise to find out that Amy lives very close to me and I was able to deliver my blocks in person and meet Amy.  Having spent two years in the ex-pat community (England and Indonesia), I love red, white, and blue!   I am sure that this quilt will be especially touching when completed.
 
March
Anthea Green Whirlygiggles
 
These blocks are so cheerful.  We have had the longest winter ever (it seems) here in Iowa.  I will be interested to see how you set these blocks.  I didn’t have any “funky-er” greens, and the local shop really didn’t either…but these greens I think are interesting.  I didn’t square them up as you will probably have several sizes. 
 
April
Katy’s Stacked Books Block
 
This was so fun!  I have tons of novelty and bright fabrics.  I have never seen a quilt like this before. 
 
2014 Charity Block
 
This will be a very cheerful quilt.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Sneak preview of 2012 HST Value Quilt

Couldn't help but share the beginnings of how my quilt top is going to look!!! This is the value HST exercise you all so patiently participated in last year with me during my month. I had a lot of fun rearranging all of the HSTs into an arrangement I think is most lovely to the eye... Each print delights me. I'm going to give this quilt to my momma...shhhh, don't tell her yet. I aim to give it to her at Easter. We'll see!



Question for all of you...right now it's just shy of a queen size quilt - would it look ok with a border? What kind of border would you put on it? Some of the backing fabric? Or a solid, to really frame it? Help!!

Last night, I went fabric browsing at my local fabric shop and found out they're closing, so all fabric was 40% off... even on sale, this fabric was waaaaay too expensive ($CAN 25 a meter) at the local store (I think given the cost of shipping from fabric.com it is still a bit cheaper, but not sure... anyway, cost be darned, I fell in love with it. I think it will make a pretty backing, and I have enough to make two pillow cases. It's from Henry Glass Co & Inc, and the designer Amy Hamberlin.


Spring seems to finally have sprung here in Ottawa, Canada. The snow is melting slowly off the driveways and I can see the sidewalks now...

Love, Katy