Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Week 19 and 18 Moda BlockHeads

Happy Wednesday!
Between an old out of date computer, blogspot changes, and secret sewing for a virtual Quilt Market, I have fallen behind on my blogging.  I need a new computer.  How does one shop for a computer during a pandemic?? I am not a techy person, so not sure what I will need, or want or what is even available. 

Lets start with Brigitte's Compass Point, block 19


My version is 6"

A mixture of Nancy's Needle, Sarah's Story, Susanna's Scraps and the pink is from Harriet's Handwork...lol the pink was at the top of the scrap basket. and the right size. LOL


for the pattern and Brigitte's tips.

Now Jan's beautiful applique which is missing a leaf....Thought it was stitched, but in transit for the photo, it fell and I didn''t notice.  oops


 http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
 for Jan's pattern and her awesome applique tips, if you haven't already.


The pile, minus Compass Point.

Here is a first look at Elinore's Endeavor, the subject of my weeks of secret sewing.


Thanks so much for your patience with me and this old computer.

The surprise I have been talking about should post to Instagram sometime today or tomorrow.
So, be watching. :-)

Until next time,
~ Betsy



Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
  Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/



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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Happy Moda BlockHeads day! It's my day Crossroads by Betsy Chutchian

Crossroads, my block for Week 17 of Moda's Blockheads 3, unintentionally
 seems to fit where we are. So, where are we? Yes, it is Wednesday, but I compose the post on Tuesday. A friendly, innocent question on Monday reminded me that this week was MY week.  I knew that...last week. But, I was busy with some secret sewing and completely lost track of day and time. Do you wake in the morning and struggle to remember what day it is or, is it just me?
Friends will say "have a good weekend", like there really is one, a weekend, I mean. Weekends seemed to end when husband retired, now quarantine confirmed it, ended.
And the country is opening, with all the uncertainty for health and economy.
I pray all will be well wherever you are.  

Crossroads.
When you suddenly have to make a block, you start pulling fabrics.  Wow, I had so many combinations I wanted to try. My pattern has all four sizes, so there you have it...I made four blocks.
Below you will see color options for you to make in any size block. Of course, I'm here to inspire. I look forwand to seeing your combinations on Instagram or Facebook.


Let's look at the 4" first


All fabrics from Nancy's Needle

Flying Geese are super tiny. `1/2" x 1" finished


Now the 6"
Mostly Nancy's Needle, light blue is from Sarah's Story



 Flying Geese are 3/4" x 1 1/2" finished.

Now this one is 12".  
It is huge to me. Flying Geese are 1 1/2" x 3" finished. I forgot to take a photo of the flying geese.
 The red print is from Nancy's Needle and the rest from Sarah's Story.

I played for a while with the 8" block.  I love indigo, but was it too much indigo?


Flying Geese are 1" x 2" finished

 and settled on a very slight Crossroads variation with stitch and flip corners.
All fabrics are from Nancy's Needle.

 Will I use all these blocks in the quilt, probably not, but it was certainly fun playing with the possibilities.


Tips... 
Starch your fabrics before cutting parts.
For whichever size you wish to make,  I like to add 1/8" to geese rectangles and to squares for sky 
before cutting.
 Our technique is for stitch and flip corners to make the flying geese units.
Sew as directed in the pattern and press to the corners before trimming away the excess. 
Next, trim to the size indicated for each size block.
I love using Block_Loc Flying Geese rulers but couldn't locate the 1 1/2" x 3" until I was nearly finished so I trimmed with my 4 1/2" square and it worked fine. Adding the extra 1/8" ensures that you will have a 1/4" seam at the top of the goose.  You won't want to cut off his nose when sewing.
I hope you enjoy my block and  making flying geese. I love flying geese.

CLICK HERE
for the link to download my pattern, Crossroads



Design wall is still full of other projects.  I prefer the blocks up on the wall so I can see where I'm going with the colors. Fingers are crossed in hopes I'm choosing colors wisely.


 Please visit all our designers to see what they have made and check on the 
BlockHeads Facebook group.

Thank you all for stopping by.

Until next time,
Stay safe and well.
~ Betsy

Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
  Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/
 Robin Pickens - https://www.robinpickens.com/

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Moda BlockHeads Block 16 by Sherri McConnell, Dream

Happy Moda BlockHeads Wednesday. Yes it is Wednesday, right?? All the days are running together, one is the same as the next. So, hope you have had a good week.  Busy here, secret sewing occupies most of my days. Isn't it a nice diversion to stop and make just ONE block?!?

This week Sherri has designed for us a fun and fast block she calls Dream.  


Isn't it sweet? Dream. I think we are all dreaming of good health for our world, friends, family and community.

This time you will have 4 sizes in the pattern, so decide the size block to make and go with a scrappy palette or or keep it simple and you will have this block done super quick!

I chose a scrappy mix of Susanna's Scraps, Sarah's Story, and Nancy's Needles.
This block is 6"



for the link to Sherri's pattern Dream.
Thank you Sherri, I had fun making your block!


and here is the growing pile.
Blocks had to come off the design wall to make room for secret sewing blocks.

Thank you all for commenting on the BlockHeads book give away!
Congratulations to Janet for having the winning number!

Be sure to visit all our designers, links below.

Sorry this is a short post.  Lots of fun stuff in progress.

Stay well and Stay safe and sew, sew, sew....

Until next time,
~Betsy

Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
  Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/
 Robin Pickens - https://www.robinpickens.com/


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Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Happy Week 15 Moda BlockHeads Starry Eyed by Corey Yoder

Today is Corey's day, and I'm having blog issues. Photos are disappearing and there is a giveaway! Yikes. Let's see if what I post will last...

Starry Eyed
designed by Corey Yoder 


 this week I made a 12" block
Thanks Corey, it was fun to piece!


Click Here 

for the link to Corey's blog and be sure to visit all the designers for your chance to win.

and here is the wall o'blocks


Yes, I moved them around.

and now the giveaway...
the kind folks at Martingale are offering an ebook of our Block Heads book!
If you would like a chance to win, leave me a comment to that effect and your email address so I can notify you if you win .  I'll pick a random comment on Sunday.
It's a great book full of 6" blocks.


Until next time...
stay safe and well

~Betsy

Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
  Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/
 Robin Pickens - https://www.robinpickens.com/

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Wednesday, April 15, 2020

BlockHeads3 Week 14 Summer Breeze from Joanna Figueroa

Happy Wednesday! are you all caught up with BlockHeads 3?  Thank goodness I am! LOL. I love this week's block, number 14...Summer Breeze by Joanna Figueroa, of Fig Tree Quilts.  

As I said last week, I see images in the blocks, well most of the time.  That's how blocks were created, an image, stitched into a patchwork design. I just take it a little farther with a story. 
When you see Joanna's blocks think about what you see.
The first image, for me, comes from its name, Summer Breeze. I think back to summer evenings as a kid. We all  played outside every evening, Capture the Flag, or Kick the Can, mostly.  I loved those cool, dark evenings. Cool, not in temperature, but cool from the warm breeze that hit the mist that had fallen on fell on me, as I crouched in hiding, beneath Daddy's long row of mimosa trees. When in bloom they have a heavenly scent and drip this fine, but sticky, mist. One of the fabrics in my block, reminds me of the pretty pink mimosa blossoms.
And, when studying the block design, I see a spinning shape, like a child's pinwheel blowing in the wind.  Then, I thought of Daddy's tops, spinning tops, and placed them in the photo.  Comments last week from Krya and on Instagram mention tops, in connection with Daddy's marbles, so...


The glass one, was my Mom's. It came with candy inside originally.
My parents saved a lot of things!

Fabrics are from Sarah's Story and Nancy's Needle, which YAY, is now in shops.
I made the 8" version this week.


Click Here

for the link to Joanna's blog to download the pattern and 
learn about her inspiration for Summer Breeze.

Thanks Joanna! I do love your block,and it was so much fun to make.
Be sure to visit all our designers to see what they have made this week.

Quilt is growing...won't be long and the blocks will outgrow the design wall.


Lastly, I'd like to share some photos I have taken of the quilts for Nancy's Needle and the booth from last October in Houston when Nancy debuted.
In case you didn't know, Nancy was my great great great aunt. She and my great great grandmother Lizzie were sisters and, Susanna was their younger sister.
Lizzie's family called Nancy, Kate, after her middle name Catherine.  Reading LIzzie's journals took a bit of deciphering to figure out exactly who was who.  Regardless, it was easy to see, they all were proficient seamstresses and quilters.

A Quilt for the Babe

Pins and Needles

 Travelers Welcome, on the table and School Daze on the green stool.

On the cupboard is Good Neighbors.

The booth.  On the right, Chasing Geese and County Fair.
Also, my friend Julie at Bits 'n Pieces made the very pretty star quilts. 
You can find them on her website. www.bitsnpieces.net

You know, I do love to photograph quilts as I use them in decorating the house.  It's been a fun diversion these quarantine days to change the quilts and make new displays.

I haven't forgotten, there is still a fun little something to come....
But, have to mix in some Nancy's Needles time  and start some secret sewing.
Never boring around here!

I even made masks for my daughter Rachel, husband Craig,
 and my darling grandkids, Madison and Reed.  

They did a pick up Saturday. Easter goodies and Madison brought us queso and chips. There's a story... for another time... Social distancing with Mimi and Grandad, of course.

Until next time, 
stay home, stay safe, stay well

~ Betsy

Sherri McConnell - https://www.aquiltinglife.com/
  Lisa Bongean - https://lisabongean.com/
Lissa Alexander - http://modalissa.com/
 Robin Pickens - https://www.robinpickens.com/


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