The Quilt In Progress

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I have  started the block trimming and sewing.    Lots of scraps!  But now that I have a decent place to work with a cement floor, it’s much easier to keep things swept up

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I decided to make sections of 12 blocks-2 rows of 6-and then I will join 4 of them to make each quilt top which will be 6 blocks wide and 8 blocks long. (Finished blocks are a foot square so the quilt will be 72 x 96 before binding.

 

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Since I had so many colors of fabric, I decided to use white in the overall design to give the eye a rest.  I’m glad I did, because this is going to be a busy quilt.

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Studio Birdie seems to be enjoying all the activity and bright colors.

 

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I am wearing a wrist support  because I am doing a lot of trimming and I don’t want my wrist to suffer.

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I find that it’s helpful to break up the trimming with the pressing and the sewing.  I am managing to keep all the thread under control  but I have a feeling I will be picking loose threads off these quilts for a long time.

 

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      I started out sewing 2 blocks together then joining to make strips of  6 and then joining this to another strip of 6.  But last night,  I joined a two block section to another two block section to make a four block piece and I sewed three of these together.  It seemed a little easier to line up the seams with the latter method, but I am still learning.  Any tips would be welcome!

 

The Sistine Quilt Saga or 85 Blocks Done!

 

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I now have 85 Wonky (and I do mean WONKY) Log Cabin blocks made.

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The next thing I must do is trim them all to size with my handy dandy 12 and 1/2 inch block template.

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I got a pinking blade for my rotary cutter to keep fraying edges to a minimum

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As you can see, I have not bothered to limit  the color palette

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I just tried to have fun with every block I made.

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  Boy these quilts take a long time!  Will I ever finish?  But I really am enjoying the process.And I feel honored to be using the sewing machines and tools of my Mother and Mother-in-Law   My plan is to make two twin-sized quilts, each 6 blocks wide and 8 blocks tall or  72 by 96 inches.

In the meantime, if anyone has any tips for a newbie quilter like me, leave a comment.I will keep you posted.

Is Spring Finally Here?

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I saw this sign in the window of the Morning Glory Diner a couple of weeks ago but I admit that at that time Spring seemed so far away. Then yesterday, I saw my neighbor Bob outside starting work on his sidewalk garden. That means that Spring is here and that soon Bob, Loki the cat and Barbra the macaw will be hanging out by the Koi Pond. This year new family addition Calypso the cockatoo will join them. I can’t wait. Until then, here are some pictures I took at the Macy’s Spring Flower show now on display in the Wanamaker Building Grant Court. Enjoy!

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