Batik star block

OK - one more block with blue in it for RSC15. This is one of 4 unfinished blocks from a past Saturday Sampler.  Now there are only 3 of them left to do.

I'm not absolutely sure why these got set aside because I love star blocks and I love sewing on batiks.  It was probably because there was an applique snowman block that went with each of these and I wasn't too fond of applique at the time. I'm getting better at it.

The snowman blocks are not done either, but are now destined to become something separate from this star block project. I can deal with making a smaller quilt out of the 12 star blocks and doing something else with the appliqued snowmen later.  So 1 UFO has become 2 smaller UFOs.

Quick Strippee baby quilt

I forgot to post a photo this weekend of the finished baby quilt for a BFF of my younger daughter.

The pattern is called Quick Strippee and is from one of my favorite quilt bloggers: http://blog.maryquilts.com/ .  It's a great fast pattern that lets you showcase a fun print that you don't want to cut into little pieces.  There are 5 rows of the cute Paris print separated by the pink and black strips.  The Paris print was selected because it's pink (baby girl) and because the mom's nickname is "Frenchie".

The baby girl is due in April and this is ready for the baby shower the friends are planning. Hope she likes it.

Block Swap

My coordinating fabrics are selected and last night I made a decision on the block design.  During my lunch break today I laid out these fabrics to determine the location of each color in my block. I think I have a plan.

Now - I have 6 months to make my 13 blocks, but I hope to get them done by the end of February so that I don't end up procrastinating and run out of time.

A new block swap

This beautiful brown floral is the focus fabric for a new friendship block exchange that I'm doing. There are 12 of us participating - some via long distance even.  We don't even all know each other - YET. But it will be fun getting to know everyone and working towards that exchange of blocks.  

The rule is that we must select a block design and then use this fabric to make 13 of that block. When we meet in June to exchange, we'll each end up with 12 unique blocks - 1 from each of us.  The 13th set will become a donation quilt that we'll make for a local group. Right now we are leaning toward donating it to the local scholarship auction. 

I've purchased some coordinating fabrics to start working on blocks over the weekend. There are some really lovely shades of aqua and pink in this focus fabric, along with creams and golds and browns.  I'm ready to go . . . except I haven't made a final decision on the block design yet.

Retreat sewing

Heartland Quilt Guild held a "Let it Snow" retreat on Friday night and all day Saturday.  I was only able to attend on Saturday, but that time allowed me to get a couple of big tasks checked off my list. First, I got all 36 pigtail blocks sewn together into a flimsy. 

After adding the last 2 rows I laid it out and realized that I had goofed and didn't have the white sections meeting. So I "un-sewed" those rows and fixed the problem.  And I cut enough strips to make another 10 blocks for my Trip Around the World. 

I'm linking up to Judy's Design Wall Monday at: http://www.patchworktimes.com/ 

Sunday Stash Report

I can report a good dent in my stash this week although I already know there will be some purchases next week since I need to choose some coordinating pieces for a new project that I'll blog about later in the week.

In this week:  0 yards

In this year:  21.75 yds

Out this week:  11.75 yds

Out this yeear:  12.5  yds

Net for 2015:  -9.25  yds   (stash is still winnning)

I finished 2 pillowcases today, and 2 quilts this week.  The fall mystery quilt gave me 7 yards used  and  today I finished the Paris baby quilt which was another 2.75 yards used. I'll post a photo of the baby quilt this week..

The rocking chair

This photo was taken near Whitehall, Wisconsin in about 1928. The little girl in the wooden rocking chair is my mother and the baby that my grandfather is sitting by is probably my aunt June or maybe even the younger sister Lois.  Mom would have been about 4 in this picture.  My mother told me that her father made this rocking chair himself, and since he was a cabinet maker/carpenter/farmer I'm not surprised. It's a very sturdy, but simple chair from very common wood (pine probably).

That rocking chair is one of the few pieces of furniture that made the move to Minnesota with the family in 1930.  And it was always in our house when I was growing up. Years later my own children sat in that rocker at my mom's house. When she died in 1991 there was no doubt in my mind that the rocking chair was coming home with me.  And right now that little wooden rocker lives in my basement office/family room area where I can enjoy it every day. 

The quilt draped over it is one my paternal grandmother made for me in about 1958 or 59.  And my grandchildren can rock in a chair made by my grandfather for his children almost a hundred years ago.  So 5 generations of my family have touched this small piece of furniture. I'm so glad it is still in the family and that I can feel the connections with my ancestors.