Red Geese for Jackie

Thanks to Jackie's great instructions, these were fun!

Bear's Paw for Mary B in March

A little switch from the reds for March! For my block, I'm looking for blues.

I think the bear's paw is one of my favorite patterns--something about a big, mean bear translated into a soft, comfy quilt, which, when it's done, you can say is a "bear hug" when it's wrapped around you.

I've sent the dotty fabric to each of you for the background, and I'm hoping you'll make the paws out of blues in your stash. Scraptastic or a single fabric, I'll love whatever you choose to do. I made a few practice blocks, shown above, to experiment with just some of the ways you can do these, but the possibilities are wide open.

The block is a pattern from the terrific 501 Rotary Cut Blocks by Judy Hopkins. If you like playing around with traditional blocks, with a variety of sizes, this book is a must-have.

Speaking of sizes, this block is a little unusual. Please note that it will end up being 12 3/4" unfinished, 12 1/4" finished.

Any questions, let me know!

Slacking Geese!

Anything you do on Leap Day doesn't count, right? So, the fact that I'm finally posting a photo of Mary's January circle of geese block (which you should have already gotten in the mail by now, I hope!), its lateness is magically erased at midnight?

I wish that were my only fault, but sadly I'm still working on Jackie's block (sorry, it's coming soon!). Also, March is my month, and that's about 10 minutes from now, and I think I will get a post up about it right in time--but the fabric is in the mail, so you might not have it on the first day of the month. I'm slacking, but I'm trying to catch up! Thank you all for your patience!

Gaggle o' Geese

I put these together without a hitch....still can't believe how good I am getting at paper-piecing. Proves you can master most anything if you keep doing it long enough. Thanks for the lesson, Jackie!

Blocks for Jackie

I can't believe I already have my blocks for Jackie done and in the mail. I am having such a busy month. I just needed a break and felt like sewing these. Jackie, I took to heart your comment about the "wilder the better." I hope you like them. I didn't have much wild fabric in my stash, so I enjoyed going shopping for you. I really liked adding some of these fabrics into my stash. The only disappointing one in my book is the bottom triangle in the block on the lower left. It was a beautiful Japanese print. But, when I cut it, it just came out as a solid red. Oh well...a place for the eye to rest, right? :-) Hope you like them. They were fun to do. I can't wait to see everyone's all put together. Looking forward to seeing the rest!

Sorry the photo is kind of dark. I am having trouble finding good lighting. I'm rarely home when it is light out, and the sun rarely shines in Michigan in the summer anyway. LOL.

Stephanie (Mama Pea)

Block For Mary

Hello Everyone,

Mary, it is done!  Actually, I must confess... I finished it on the last day of January.

I have been procrastinating sending it out because I love it so much and it looks fantastic on my design wall.  But alas, it will be in the mail tomorrow!  

I love it and I hope you do too!

Until Next Time...

Blocks for Mary and Jackie

When Jackie's block packet arrived in the mail, then and only then did I realize that I hadn't yet done Mary's block from the month before!

Seeing as how they were both foundation pieced, and given that I tend to procrastinate on things I'm not especially proficient at, I figured I'd better just jump in and do them both without stopping, or I'd just get even further behind.

So . . . I did . . . and here's Mary's . . .
And here are Jackie's! So glad to be done, and neither one of them was nearly as bad as I had myself imagining them to be. Whew!
Now I have the rest of the month to "rest on my laurels", meaning . . . to work on my Laurel Leaf quilt. I just got another block in the mail today -- thanks Jessica!