My redirected star block is on it’s way to Julie. I was also mailing my cotton robin onward to Helen who will be quilting/finishing the little quilt.   I had already stamped the envelope to Julie and had brought it along to the counter, along with the priority envelope with the round robin quilt.  The clerk asked, “did you want me to check the postage on that?” I was sure the regular postage stamp was enough, but I let her...

First the inspiration.  When I was taking an old UFO to finished top a while back, I decided to add a pieced border made of squares. Sophie’s Ring around the Lone Star I liked it so much, I thought it could be a good idea for a lotto block. like our block, my border is scrappy with a not quite random placement of squares. You might use this month’s B9P blocks as the main dish, for a scrappy quilt made from the complimentary colors...

Once again, some lotto blocks have arrived at the wrong destination … and I have to wonder if there a better way to organize the mailing info I email to everyone each month? Given that sending out personal messages to everyone who participates would be too time-consuming and prone to more errors (by me), I’d appreciate your ideas on how the mailing info could be better, more clear, etc … leave a comment with your ideas (or...

If you have had problems accessing our website today, it’s because I have been updating the underlying template. I believe I have made all the necessary edits in the code for the personalizations that make it the Block Lotto, but if you see anything that looks odd/wrong, please let me know. Unless  I missed something, there shouldn’t be any more disruption caused by me....

One more thing … I’ve just mailed the mailing info to everyone who made star blocks in April. If you made and posted blocks in April and haven’t received email from me, OR, if you do receive the email and see an error in the mailing info, please let me know ASAP!  

So here’s what happened.  First I made one block–the one in the directions.  Then I started wondering if I really could make a block with each of the colors (besides white) in each of the positions based on value.  So I pulled the fabrics I showed in the previous post in what I would be light, medium and dark in each of purple, gray and yellow/gold. After I looked at the photo in black and white, I realized that I could probably...

In May we are making we are making this 4 1/2 by 18 inch rectangular block–a simple arrangement of squares that evoked the elements of Bargello and 9-patch or B9P. The fabric guidelines and my directions for making this block can be found here: Bargello 9-patch Border Block Pattern This block is a good one for testing your 1/4-inch seam and challenges you to see the relative values of fabrics in different colors. The color palette for this...

So sorry, everyone, that my technical difficulties slowed me down and the post with the new block is not yet ready for primetime. I will be posting it today … in the meantime here’s the link to the directions: Bargello 9-patch Border Pattern And an example of some blocks–4 from from Elizabeth...

The block for Apri 2015 was a 9-inch square (finished size) Star block with a made fabric center. Thirty-Two quilters made 122 of the star blocks, which will be sent to our three winners: Barb P, Julie P, and Kathie. In April, one new quilter joined us: welcome again to Elizabeth Co. I made this one. Complete guidelines for this month and link to the pattern are here: We’re Making fabric and Seeing Stars in April   Tag for ALL blog posts...

It seems I have used every last AA battery in my house, so when my Magic Mouse ran out of juice, it made the mechanics of compiling the list and randomly choosing this month’s three winners. Without further whining from me … The winners are: Barb P Julie P Kathie LaP Congratulations, ladies. Look for email from me later today … after I make a run to the store for batteries 😀

It’s a bad news, good news, kind of thing.  I intended to make more star blocks, but it just hasn’t happened, so here’s my one, donated to the pile. On the other hand, I’ve already made SIX blocks for May … playing with different options for colors and values....

I meant to include a note in yesterday’s sneak peek post about fabrics we’ll be using in May, for those that like to plan ahead. For next month’s blocks, I’m giving you a palette of four possible colors–white, yellow/gold, purple and gray–and asking you to pick three of the four for each of your blocks. The fabrics can be solids, tone-on-tone prints or multicolor prints that only contain white, yellow/gold, purple or...