Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Moda Blockheads3 It’s my week for Block 45 Songbird

Happy Wednesday! It’s my week for block 45, Songbird.

As I mentioned last week, we are in the final round of blocks, so this is the last one you will have from me. This is my 3rd time to participate in Blockheads and I love it. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed the journey, each week visiting our blogs, Instagram and Facebook postings.

Songbird

 I have to admit, the real name of this block is Vermont, but I changed it.  I like to connect the block and the name. If you follow me, you know I like a good story. I see things in blocks. Vermont didn’t speak to me, but I did see bird beaks.  Now the weird thing is, I’m not fond of birds, but I do like to listen to birds sing...in the distance.  Yes, I’m weird.

Before you race to download my block, I have a few tips to share, more photos, and information for a giveaway.

I made 4 blocks. One 8”, one 4” and two 6”, to try different fabric combinations, and make notes that I hope will give you the best results. So here are my tips for Songbird:

1. Starch all fabrics before cutting.

2.  I suggest adding 1/8” to each measurement given for half square triangles. Make HSTs and trim according to the pattern instructions  

3.  You will want to select one combination of HSTs and press to the light.   Press the other combination to the dark.  This enables the seams to nest.

4. The diagonal design poses potential seam allowance issues. I have a way for you to test your sewing before piecing the entire block and discovering that your block is too small, or too big. For example, below is the center section for a 6” block as a check to see that your opposite corners reach 6 1/2” marks on the cutting mat. If the section does not go to 6 1/2”, either too big or to small, this is the time to adjust by either taking a wider seam or a narrower seam by a thread or two in the last seams you made to assemble this section. Assemble the remaining parts in the same manner, according to your adjustment if necessary. Your seam allowance may be spot on, I however have a gremlin in my machine  LOL and my 4” was too big. 

Use this guide to measure the other sizes, 4 1/2”, 8 1/2”, and 12 1/2” using either a square ruler, or cutting mat.

I love playing with fabrics....
8” block
Plaids are from Elinore’s Endeavor.
4”block

6” block

6” block

Click HERE for Songbird pattern. 

Please check on our other designers to see what they have made. Links below.

Now for the giveaway....  Remember I said I like a good story? At a time when we are missing family gatherings, and the decision of whether to gather for Thanksgiving is so emotional, and difficult. I’ve been thinking of funny things that have happened over the years at our family get togethers. I’d love to hear one of your funny traditions or memories of  your gatherings.  Something that makes you smile or giggle thinking about it. Here’s one of my favorites from Halloween 2012. 

We hosted Halloween parties for years. In 2012, Matt was a “serial” killer aka “cereal” as you can see inside his suit coat LOL, and my Mother was a black widow spider. My parents always came in costume. Such a fun memory of happy times.  Aren’t you glad I don’t have a photo of my grandfather as he asked my grandmother one holiday why he had on two pairs of underwear. The vision is forever in my memory as is the sound of all of everyone laughing. Smiling as I write. 
A layer cake of my lovely Elinore’s Endeavor will be sent to the lucky winner randomly selected from comments made on my post for Songbird in the Moda Blockheads Facebook group. You will need to make your comment there for a chance to win.

I look forward to reading your funny family stories. Winner will be announced next Tuesday, November 24 in the Facebook group.

NEWS  FLASH!
A new giveaway!
Go to my Instagram feed @betsy_chutchian to enter a chance to win Barbara Brackman’s NEW Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Blocks. All the details are on my IG post. Good luck!!!

Until next time, 
stay safe and well. 
~ Betsy

 

 Corey Yoder - https://corianderquilts.com/

Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/

Betsy Chutchian - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/

  Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/

41 comments:

  1. My funny memory was at thanksgiving and my sister was serving mashed potatoes across the table and her hand slipped and she dropped the mashed potatoes on my head. My nephew was very little then and thought it was the funnies thing and always reminded us of this whenever we had mashed potatoes

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  2. My memory is Thanksgiving. I was 12 and decided to make a cherry pie from the few cherries in the fridge. My uncle Walter ,who was always so kindly towards us kids, was the only one who wanted a piece of that pie. Like a 4 inches across pie! And I never made a cherry pie before...or since. . It seems I should have pitted the cherries. My uncle dutifully pitted each and every one of those cherries while he ate his piece of pie. Happy Thanksgiving all!

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  3. The cherry pie story reminds me of the time I had my in-laws over for Thanksgiving dinner the first year after we were married. My sister-in-laws teenage friend asked me if I made good pies. My answer, of course, was yes I did make good pies. After all, I majored in home economics in college and had won prizes at the local fair. My cherry pies for that dinner ended up with all the tapioca chunks still solid white and crunchy instead of clear and thickening up the pie. I have never used them since to thicken pie.
    I love how you checked the size on the diagonal on your mat. How ingenious

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  4. My favorite Thanksgiving memory is from when I was probably 8 or so. My mom made dinner rolls, but forgot to add the leavening (yeast, baking powder) and the rolls ended up being hard as pucks. So instead of eating the rolls we ended up playing baseball with them across the table using our arms as a bat. It was hilarious. Every meal since then if you ask someone to pass a roll they will toss a single roll instead of handing the basket over and you have to catch it.

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  5. My favorite holiday get-togethers are at my house in the country. We eat a wonderful dinner, grab a beverage and coat, and head off down the country road to walk it off before pie. Not funny but fun with lots of laughter.

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  6. Thanks for all the fun stories this morning. I can't give a Thanksgiving story, but how about a Sunday dinner? My Dad was a Pastor and my mom sang in the choir. One Sunday she got the roast beef in the oven before leaving for church, went about herding us kids to get ready and out the door. I was sitting in church when I saw her face turn panicky and she mouthed the message that she forgot to turn on the oven! Luckily we lived one a couple blocks away!
    I loved your fabric choices and thanks for the tips!

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  7. One Thanksgiving as the dinner was in the final stages, sis doing the cooking that year, when making the gravy, she reached into the cupboard and grabbed the big yellow box of cornstarch, when she added it to the pan
    it all frothed up, what she had added was baking soda instead.
    Look forward to piecing your block, love your fabrics.

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  8. Thank you for sharing your stories... I am thankful for sitting around the dinner table and sharing what we are thankful for from the past year... I know this year i am thankful that our home and business did not burn in the oregon fires... the fire got close but spared our place. Thankful for all who helped us move our business out of the fire zone just in case the fire kept coming our way. Thankful for all the firemen and firewomen who fought on the front lines to keep us safe. It has been a trying year but there are blessings in the trials. Many People who step up and help in times of trials. I am grateful.

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    1. What a year it has been. I’m so thankful you are safe and for all the front line responders. Watching tv reports were heartbreaking. Thanks for sharing 5his. xx

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  9. On Thanksgiving day my mom set the turkey on the kitchen counter while she attended to other things. Our dog Pandi had different ideas. He pulled the turkey on the floor to eat. My mom caught him before he ate the turkey! We still ate the turkey!

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  10. At thanksgiving we go around the table to say what we are thankful for. When my son was 3 he was a very picky eater and when it was his turn for giving thanks he was thankful for milk. He's 27 now and it still makes us laugh. He is no longer a picky eater and he is a wonderful cook.

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  11. While I loved the good food at the THanksgiving table, the treat of the day was for my mum to unveil a craft project to make in the afternoon. We cousins had such fun making things out of pine cones, thistles, acorns, leaves, etc. Mum is where I got my love of quilting and creating of all kinds. Thanks for a great block with a myriad of color combinations.

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    1. Perfect. I’d rather do crafts than be stuck watching football. Every summer I picked a different craft..xx

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  12. One Thanksgiving my mother, who was a RN, had to work at the hospital that day so we planned on having an evening meal. My Dad was in charged of putting the turkey in the oven so it would be ready around 5. I went to my parents home around 2 o'clock so I could get the dressing and mashed potatoes started. I walked into the house but didn't smell the turkey cooking. Dad had put the turkey in the oven but forgot to turn it on. Needless to say my mother wasn't too happy with him when she got home from a hard day of work. This is one of my favorite Thanksgiving memories and always makes me smile. It showed me that its not about the food but being with family that really matters.

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  13. Wow! People have funny stories. Your blocks are lovely and so accurately pieced. Thanks for the tips 😀

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  14. I really love this block, and you are so kind to give us hints on how to square things up.
    I've teared up and laughed reading these stories. Our family always gathered at Mom and Daddy's house for holidays, and Daddy would set up the video recorder in the dining room to capture the event. Mom always asked me to make the pies, and I usually made at least 3 or 4 different kinds. In the video you can see that I was pretty particular about cutting the pies, fussing around the pie table, and you can hear Daddy in the background saying "Linda Lou please come and sit down". He said this several times as I laughingly told him I was almost done. Little did we know that was Daddy's last Thanksgiving with us. I love watching this old video and hearing so much laughter, but I have always wished I had simply sat down and spent that time with Daddy instead of cutting pies.

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    1. Sweet story. I too laugh and get teary eyed. Thank you.

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  15. Betsy, thank you for being generous with your time and energy to contribute for all three Blockheads. I have enjoyed everyone of them and sewed some really special blocks. Enjoyed reading everyones posts. Living in the same town as both of our parents, we were always expected to be both houses for Thanksgiving Day, which always made for a rushed time at each. But, it was always good to see everyone.

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    1. Thanks. We lived one block from our parents. I married the boy next door. To end the pressure to be both places, we hosted Christmas for more than 30 years.

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  16. long ago as a child, my grandmother's house was the place for thanksgiving...2 tables jam packed with aunts, uncles, cousins and the most delicious repast to suit everyone's favorites....when i think of thanksgiving that always comes to mind even tho nearly all who were there are now gone...thanksgiving is family...

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    1. Love it. Similar to my childhood memories...flowing family.

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  17. What wonderful stories! My Gramma's birthday is Nov 22 - it often falls on Thanksgiving day. I have many good and funny memories of many Thanksgivings - but I miss her every year now that she's been gone 8 years - and I look forward to Heaven and seeing her again there! I'm glad for most of my adult life we were together for Thanksgiving and her birthday - as well as her final one. Who knew it would be the last?! Make the most of time together quilter friends. :-) xo
    Thank you Betsy! A lovely block as usual.

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  18. As a new bride, I decided to make Thanksgiving dinner for my new in-laws. I didn’t realize the heart, livers, and whatever else was wrapped inside the bird. I also didn’t realize there was one of two places it could be found. I didn’t look in the second cavity of the bird. Needless to say, they remained in the bird during the cooking process, only to be found once we started carving the bird. Oops!

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  19. I got lucky. Mom warned me. Good memory.

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  20. I am now older than my grandmother was when this Thanksgiving memory was created. For years when I was little we would go to my grandparents house, as nd some years to my uncle Milo’s house. They both lived in similar bungalow houses in Detroit. My uncle was a math teacher and my aunt was a kindergarten teacher. I was a small child always but would eat a surprisingly large dinner on Thanksgiving. What I remember is eating and while the adults would clean up I would go find a place(on the bed amongst the coats) to snuggle up and take a nap. Not really funny but funny that is what I remember.

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  21. The most memorable Thanksgiving for our family was the year the garbage disposable broke as we began to clean up. Our guests numbered 15 which is about the usual size we entertain on that day. We could not use the kitchen sink. Fortunately I had a laundry room on the first floor just around the corner and that was where we rinsed the dishes before loading the dishwasher. Other remaining dishes got washed there as well. The following day my husband with a friend installed a new disposable!!! 👏😘

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    1. Crazy, similar story here, sink stopped up. Food scraped in the sink to go down the disposer...except we don’t have one! Everyone left immediately...without dessert. LOL

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  22. Such beautiful fabric arrangements in the quilt blocks! We had guests over for Thanksgiving one year. As I was bustling around the kitchen my friend asked if there was anything they could do I suggested he get the casserole out of the fridge. That term can mean two things, the kind of container, or the contents. He didn't think we needed another casserole (type of mixed up food) with every thing else. I was referring to the vegetables in the container.

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