Disappearing Rail Block

 A while ago I found a pile of 2 1/2" strips of primary colored print

fabrics and wanted to use them in a baby quilt.

I thought if I added primary solid fabrics to these strips and made

some rail blocks they would make a nice baby quilt.

WRONG!!!

This is so ugly!

I tried rearranging the blocks, adding sashing,

putting them all in the same direction and they were all ugly.

Great!  Now what do I do with them?

Well, over the years I've made a number of Disappearing Four Patch Quilt.

What if I cut these blocks up and put them back together?

Would that be more pleasing to the eye?

 

Here is the creation of the Disappearing Rail Block.

(Is this already a thing? I can't find anything like it online.)

 

 

 

 

 

I took two coordinating blocks,

 

 

 

 

Cut them diagonally in both directions...

 

 

 

Switched two pieces with each other...

 

 

 

 

 

Stitched them back together...

 

 

 

 

Trimmed the block down to 5 3/4" blocks...

(It was the largest size I could make.)

 

 

 

and this is what I have!

I kind of like these!

 

 

 

 

I took this stack of blocks (well part of it),

added some fun polka dot sashing and cornerstones

and this is what I have!

 

 

 

 

 

Oh.... this is MUCH better!

 

 

 

 

There are a lot more blocks to use, so we shall see where else they end up.

 

 

Happy Quilting!

2023 Patriotic Table Runners

 For the past I don't know how many years

I've made a patriotic table runner or topper for

my siblings in memory of our dad.

He was one of the most patriotic people I know.

Usually I make them and gift them around July 4,

but this year we were all together this past weekend

and I'm not sure when we will be together again until fall.

I had time to get them done and decided they could use them

for Memorial Day this year.

A while ago I saw this design on Shabby Fabrics,

but didn't like the muted fabrics they used.

Out came my stash and the cutting began.

 

 

 

These went together very quickly!

When I had all of the blocks finished and on

my design wall, I thought about making

a big quilt with all of the stars,

but decided I needed to get these finished.

That may be a project for a later date!

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't measure the size of these, but they are big.

If I were make them again, I'd use 2" squares instead of 2 1/2" squares.

 

 

 

 

The one I'm making for myself isn't finished yet.

It's going to be a four star table topper.

 

 

The Gridster Queen Bee for May asked for this block

from the Whirligig pattern by Emma Jean Jansen.

Emma Jean graciously gave permission for the block to

be used for the bee block.

 

I chose yellow for my block and it sure put a happy smile on my face!

Happy Quilting!

Wedding Quilt Finish

 On my husband's side of the family

we have one niece,

who is getting married in the beginning of June.

My usual wedding gift is a quilted Christmas tree skirt,

but this niece is Jewish, so that would not be appropriate.

Since she is the only cousin on my husbands' side,

and there are 11 cousins on my side,

I decided to make the bride and groom a quilt for their bed. 

After consulting with them on colors, design preference, etc.,

I designed a quilt on EQ8 (my first one!!)

and began making blocks. 

 

 

 

The floral fabric in the HST's was the focal fabric.

All of the other colors came off of that piece.

 

 

 

 

It was so much fun to come up with different blocks

to make for each round.

I started to get a bit carried away and reigned myself in before

it got out of control.  :D

 

 

 

 

The quilting was done by Jennifer at Peaceful Hill Quilting

and it's beautiful. 

 

 

The binding and label were finished last night,

so it can be wrapped and delivered.

 

 

 

I chose this backing fabric because my niece is a history professor.

She loves words!

 

 

Happy Quilting!

Pineapple Quilt is Finished!

 After working on this quilt on and off for over 2 years,

the quilt my husband made me make is finally finished!

The reason I call the quilt this is because when I started making 

the pineapple blocks, I had only planned on making enough

for a wall hanging.

My husband came into my hidey hole and saw it hanging on my

design wall and said it would make a really nice quilt for our bed.

At that point I started teasing him and telling people

he made me make the quilt.

I am not sorry at all!!

 

 

 

I started out with a jelly roll of batiks and quickly

realized that I would need more fabric...

a LOT more fabric!

 

 

 

 

The collection of blue and green batiks began

and blocks were slowly made.

 

 

 

 

 

Throw in a move for us, two moves for my daughter,

two moves for my mom and other things

and progress halted for a while.

I decided this would be my quilt camp project

for last fall and the rest of the blocks were made.

 

 

 

I used the Pineapple block ruler from Creative Grids

and really liked the precision that gave me.

 

 

 

 

 

I sent it off to Rebecca Grace at

Rebecca Grace Quilting and she worked her

beautiful magic on it.

The binding was the perfect finish for this quilt.

 

It isn't on our bed yet because we are having our bathroom

redone and things are a MESS.

Hopefully it will be on the bed soon.

Then I will need to decide what to do about pillows.

 

I am linking to Design Wall Monday.

Happy Quilting!

 

 

Escher and Kaffe

 I can't get enough of these Escher patterns made with Kaffe fabrics.

Kits can be found at Quilt-agious quilt shop,

but I'm not sure that they sell just the patterns.

Usually I order a kit and switch out some of the fabrics,

but this time I loved them all.

 

 

 

One needs to be very organized to make these patterns.

A lot of baggies, pins and clips were used in the construction.

Once the backing fabric arrives,

it will be ready to send off to Rebecca Grace

for her to work her magic on quilting it.

Escher and Kaffe..... it doesn't get any better!!

Happy Quilting!

 

The Wedding Quilt

 This past weekend I FINALLY ironed and prepared the backing

for the wedding quilt for my niece.

She is getting married in the beginning of June and

time is running out!

 

 

 

 

 

This is a queen size quilt made a little larger

so it has a nice overhang.

(We are having some work done in our house

and there is dust everywhere.

Therefore, I didn't want to put it on the floor!)

 

 

 

This is my own design, done on EQ8.

It's the first time I've really worked with EQ8 and

I really enjoyed the process.

 

 

This quilt is going to the quilter tomorrow,

giving me time to get it bound and ready to

deliver in June.

Happy Quilting!

This, That and Tula

 For the past week or so time spent in my Hidey Hole

has been hit and miss.

I had a couple of small things to make,

so was able to get those done.

The first of these were a couple of clothing items

for my littles.

My daughter asked me to make little Miss O

a strawberry dress.

Twist my arm!!

 

 

Once the dress was made,

my son in law asked if I could make Mister M

a matching shirt.

I didn't have a pattern for a boys shirt

and OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!!

It has been a long while since I have bought a pattern

and the cost is ridiculous!! 

I could have bought 2 shirts for the price of the pattern.

I did find a reasonably priced pattern and got his shirt made.

Next on the agenda was to make the April blocks

for my Gridster Bee Mate.

She asked for wonky stars with a black background.

 

 I'm telling you... wonky is not my thing,

but I forged ahead and am happy with the results.

They will go in the mail soon.

 

 

Next up was to get the Tula HST quilt finished.

 

 

This is the first time I've used Tula's fabrics

and may be my last.

 

 

 

 

While I'm pleased with the results of the quilt,

I had to work hard to get it to come together. 

 

 

 

This will be donated and will brighten someone's day.

 

Happy Quilting!

Carrot Patch

 The other day I needed something quick and easy to make

and had seen some of these carrots on social media.

There is a free pattern for these at

Shabby Fabrics with a tutorial, as well.

Out came some orange and green fabrics

and my carrot patch was made!!

 

 

 

These just make me smile.

:)

 

 

 

The stems have pipe cleaners in them to give them some form

and body. 

 

Bring on the bunnies!!

Happy Creating!

New Escher Quilt

 I am obsessed with these Escher Quilt kits that

Quilt-agious quilt shop sells.

This is the third quilt I've made in the 

Escher series and want to make all of them!

Usually I change some of the fabrics out

to make it my own,

but I loved all of the fabrics in this kit.

This quilt is called "Escher Connected", 

made with all Kaffe fabrics.

 

 

 

There are a lot of parts and pieces to these quilts

and one has to stay VERY orgnaized.

Twenty four different blocks were made

and placed in labeled baggies to keep them organized.

 

 

 

It is SO much fun to see this quilt come together!
It goes from a pile of blocks to this!

 

 

I can't remember how large this quilt will be,

but Quilt-agious sells the kits in several different sizes.

 

The sewing of rows has begun.

So far I've had to use my seam ripper only a couple of times!!

That's GOOD!!

Happy Quilting!

Crossroads Veterans Quilt

 This latest quilt is from the never ending box of scraps

from the Pineapple Bed quilt I made for my bed.

This quilt is the third quilt made from these fabrics

and I don't think this one will be the last one.

I had won a jelly roll pack of these fabrics a long time ago

and decided to use them to make pineapple blocks.

I quickly realized that I loved this color palette in

the  pineapple blocks and began to add more batiks to the mix,

including another jelly roll pack of these fabrics.

Once the pineapple quilt was finished,

I realized I had a lot of these 2 1/2" strips left.

Libby at Life on the Hill showed a quilt she had made

from a free pattern, Crossroads, by Free Motion By the River.

It was perfect for the leftover 2 1/2" strips I had.

These blocks went together so quickly and were so easy to make, too.

 

 

 

A quilt group in my area makes quilts for the local

Veterans hospital and they want the quilts to be 48x60". 

I started making the 12" blocks and soon had enough

for a quilt.... minus one block.

UGH!!

As I was looking through my box of scraps,

I found enough little pieces to make four 6" blocks.

That would work!

So, a little added pizzazz is in the corner of this quilt.

 

 

 

Backing was found in my stash

and it was quilted and bound last week.

Once it's washed, I'll give it to one of the members

of the quilt group for the VA hospital. 

 

 

I see other quilts using this block in my future!

It's a great block for donation quilts.

 

 

Happy Quilting!

"With Love" Baby Quilt Finish

 Mary at Needled Mom Quilts made a quilt using

Gigi Thimbles pattern "With Love" a while ago

and I had to get the pattern.

One of my nieces is expecting her third daughter

in April, so what a perfect time to make this quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

I had a bundle of fat quarters that were waiting to be used.

The pinks and reds worked perfectly for this design.

The greens made a nice lattice.

 

 

 

 

For the border, I added a flange inside the binding strips

for a little extra pizzazz.

 

 

 

 

 

These little flowers were fussy cut for the centers of the hearts.

 

 

 

 

 

While looking for backing, I found this print in my stash.

I have no idea how long I've had it or where I bought it,

but I love it for the backing of this little quilt.

 

I'm ready for this little one's birth!

 

 

Happy Quilting!

 

Scrappy Jabob's Ladder Finished

 This quilt just makes my heart sing.

I love the colors, the batiks, the design and the quilting.

It was made from the scraps of a queen size pineapple quilt

I made for my bed and love that I was able to get

two quilts from these fabrics.

(At least one more is coming soon!)

I have wanted to make this quilt for years and am so happy with the finish.

 

 

 

This design was so simple and quick to make

and is so striking, I think.

Making nine patches is one of my favorite quilty things to do.

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer at Peaceful Hill Quilting

quilted it for me and did a beautiful job.

 

 

 

 

 

I found an ombre for the backing and love it with the front.

The binding is the same fabric as the border.

 

 

 

This quilt measures 71" square and was going to be donated,

but I think I need to keep it for a while. :)

 

 

Happy Quilting!