Here We Go - Mary on Lake Pulaski's January Block

I knew you all love both applique and paper piecing so it was hard to choose...but.....

I chose

PAPER PIECING!!!!

 

ETA:  12 1/2 inch block - 12 inch finished block

• Pattern is from www.piecebynumber.com
• I washed all the fabric I'm sending so don't use anything else (let me know if you need more). 
• I've included the printed pattern on vellum so it's easy to remove 
• I printed out an extra copy of the design and cut one of them up so I could use it as templates for the fabric. I put the template on the fabric and cut slightly bigger around it for the seam allowance. I found that this method ensures that the fabric is the perfect size and is less wasteful than judging by eye.

• If you have trouble tearing your paper off, simply spray lightly with water, wait a few seconds and it rolls right off.
  
  
  Here are some great paper piecing tutorials:
   
  http://machenundtun.blogspot.com/2010/05/circle-of-geese-block-tutorial.html
  
  
  http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/2009/08/tutorial-paper-piecing-block.html
  
  
  http://www.twiddletails.com/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=21
   
• Have fun and email me if you have questions.  You packet is going out in the mail today.  
• Happy New Year!

Leaves for Shelly

My fingers are a bit sore, but with Helen's encouragement (thanks for coming over to sew today!), I pushed myself to finish this block for Shelly tonight, so it can get in the mail before the new year. 
Sorry for the bad lighting in the pic, but I knew I should keep the momentum going and just get the blog post done now..

Shelly, please ignore my bloggy whining about this block, it really was a fun one to do, and I'm grateful for the challenge you gave us.  I had forgotten how much I like applique and was excited to rediscover the style and my water soluble marking pen (hope i got all the blue lines out, btw).  You have inspired me to add some applique to my current project, and if it turns out half as cute as your laurel leaf quilt will be, I'll be satisfied.

Can't wait to see all the blocks together.

Jessica's Blues and Browns

Hello again, all! I stayed up last night and worked on Jessica's blocks. I got half of the block sewn together before I went to bed. I got up this morning and finished it. I figured since I'm in "sunny" (not so much today--and brrrr, it's cold!) Florida, I would take the photo outside on a bush near our hotel.

This was a fun, quick and easy block to put together. (I just realized the block us upside down in this photo. Sorry!) I hope you like it, Jessica. Like I said, I went shopping for some fun blues yesterday to add into the block. I was SOOOO disappointed that I had to find a quilt shop here in Ft. Myers and had to fabric shop. I surfed on the net to see what was here and found a place called Quilt Lover's Hangout. When I got in there, I realized they were just featured in the most recent issue of Quilt Sampler's Ultimate Shop Hop, where they feature 10 of the best quilting stores in America. For good reason! It's a great shop! I was in a hurry to get back and sew, so I didn't spend too much time looking around. I'm planning to go back, though. :-) I'll do a review of the shop after that.

I also got to christen my new Featherweight on this block. That was really fun. So, this is the first block I've sewn on it. (I'll blog about that on my own blog shortly. I couldn't get the second photo to load properly here, so you'll have to check it out at www.peasinapod.typepad.com if you want to see it. Sorry!)

Anyway, thank you, too, Jessica for your patience, understanding, kindness, graciousness, etc. on my tardiness. You guys are great. I will look for a post office and get this in the mail to you!

Best,
Stephanie

Bringing up the rear...

I finally finished Shelly's block. I want to thank Shelly for being so gracious, kind, patient, and understanding with my tardiness. It really wasn't that this was too difficult. It was just that my life went haywire with all my traveling at work over the past few months. I knew it was coming....it wasn't unexpected. My inability to "handle it" was somewhat unexpected for me. I apologize to everyone for getting so behind....especially to Shelly and Jessica.

I used scraps from the cowboy quilt I made a few years ago. I blogged about it here, if you want to see it. I thought these scraps should belong to Shelly. It just seemed right. :-) I hope you like it, Shelly. I'm sending along some of my little leftover scraps. If you need more, just let me know.

I really think this is a beautiful block, and I cannot wait to see how Shelly puts it together. It's going to be amazing. I loved sewing all the applique parts on by hand, too. I love handwork.

We had a long car ride to Florida for the holidays. I had already had all the leaves sewn on one branch. I did the second branch in the car on the first day of driving. That night in the hotel room, I made the rest of the leaves (I use the starch method...sorry, Shelly, my needle-turn skills really suck). I finished sewing them on during the second day of our trip. It really helped make the car ride pleasurable. So, thanks, Shelly!

Now, I'm on to Jessica's blocks. I am in Florida and forgot to bring some blue scraps with me. So, I had to go shopping today for some fabric for you. Oh, darn! (LOL) Found a GREAT quilt shop here, so thanks for that! I sewed up all the half-square triangles tonight and have two of the four rows put together already. I should have your block done in the next day or two.

Next, I need to find a post office so I can get these blocks off to you gals. More soon!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

Stephanie

Snow Balls for Helen

I enjoyed working with your lovely, delicate whites.  This will be one beautiful quilt!

Here's To You Helen!!

Going in the mail tomorrow:

 

From Jessica

Jessica delivered her delightful Snowballs in person. No snowball fight, tho. My aim is not good enough to take her on, and besides she is such a sweetheart. Can you read the words on her fabric? "Thrifty - Kind - Obedient - Love - Cheeriest - Friend"... That's Jessica, thank you very much!!!

For Helen

Hello Everyone,

Beautiful red and white blocks just in time for Christmas!

They will be on their way to you tomorrow, Helen!  I hope you will enjoy them and that they will make a great addition to your quilt.

Merry Christmas!

Until Next Time...

Two Colors for Jessica

It was a treat to get to work with blue and brown this time.


It made me painfully aware that my stash is sorely lacking in bright blues. I have TWO entire bins of blues, but they're all dark, or tend toward green or purple. I had a hard time finding some that were just right. Does this mean I need to go blue shopping?

laurel leaves block

For Shelly. I am sooooooo happy to see this block completed!

This block was challenging for me, even with a little applique experience under my belt. Shelly, it's a good thing I love you so much!! :)

Jessica's block

Here is Jessica's block. It is stunning. The blues are so rich looking. This will be a fabulous quilt. Bonnie

HSTs for Jessica

I also finished this in the actual month of November, just slow to take a picture of it. This quilt is going to be great! Luckily I'll get a sneak peak of some of them all together this weekend...

Just In Time For Jessica

Hello Everyone,

I finished it officially in November!  This little beauty will be on its way back to Jessica today.  It was fun to make.  I used my HST tutorial that you can find by clicking here.

If you would like to read more about the block you can click over to my blog, I have a few more photos and detail.  This will be a beautiful quilt, Jessica.  Enjoy!

Until Next Time...