Block play

Yesterday's post mentioned recent block testing I've been doing in between other projects.  My regular readers know that I'm always on the lookout for new blocks to play with . . .  and I'm so easily distracted by squirrels that cross my path.  That makes for a dangerous combination sometimes.  I've been steadily working on the applique pieces for Beach Bums this week but I've also played with some "new to me" blocks.

At Sew Vintage last Saturday we had a little demo of making "puff" blocks.  These are not stuffed with batting and are only 3" square.  The technique was published in a magazine several years ago, and a small finished project was displayed in the quilt shop classroom this winter.  Several of us expressed interest in learning how to do these.  

I cut a dozen 5" squares from each of 2 fat quarters, plus smaller squares from muslin for the back of the puff.  A little machine stitching, plus a little hand stitching and we have a puff square.  In the displayed project in the shop this winter, there were little pearl buttons sewn into the centers, and I had a bag of peart buttons.  I may need to use smaller buttons instead of these big pearls.  We'll see.  These will make some good hand stitching in the evenings - if I ever stay home, which hasn't happened much this week.

Another squirrel/new block is small (6" finished) and paper pieced.  Confetti Star is a free block from Amy Friend at During Quiet Time.  A big thank you to Needled Mom blog for sharing info on the block.  You know I can't resist a star block of any kind.  The first version I tried out was in red, white and blue.  But wouldn't this be a great block for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge?  Of course some orange scraps joined the party right away.  

There is no chance that I'll ever run out of scraps - or be bored.