Last month I said it was never too late to catch up and I have managed to do just that with one of the two samplers I started in January.  Here’s another look, in better light, at my full/queen-size quilt in progress.  I’ve sewn all the individual modules together … getting ready to have all the blocks and all the modules assembled, to make sewing it all together into a quilt top next month.  It’s pretty easy to guess...

Here’s what almost done looks like on my design wall.   I’m never home anymore when there’s enough natural light in my sewing space … so the photo isn’t the best.   As you can see, this month’s Easy X blocks are used in pairs in my quilt layout. I’ll post the official update with all the layouts this...

If you made woven bars blocks in October, you should have email from me with the mailing info you need to send them onto the winners. Please contact me ASAP if: You made blocks but did not receive the email You see a mistake on the mailing info sheet As I said in the email, I think it would be nice if the winners had received their blocks by the Thanksgiving weekend, so they could spend some time playing with them and decided on a quilt design....

I have a birthday coming up this month and it’s a big one … the kind with a big fat ZERO at the end of it. I haven’t yet decided how I will be celebrating … so here’s your chance to give me some ideas and win something nice for yourself. Someone from the group–who asked to be anonymous–has put together this prize package for one lucky winner.  There are some nice fat quarters, YLI silk thread, a couple of Sulkys,...

I am usually better at mentioning the traditional names for blocks, even when I’m not a stickler for always using them. This month’s block is historically known as Road to Tennessee.  Andie has a tutorial for making a 9 inch scrappy version from charm squares on her blog here: Road to Tennessee Block Tutorial...

I love the happy coincidences that happens when you have an idea and then start seeing it over and over … as a reminder or a push to move forward.   Yesterday Julie W sent a photo of the November blocks she’d made, including a mistake block–made by re-arranging the 4 units that make up the Easy X block.    She thought it was an interesting option for people using this block for their own quilts.   Apparently, Cathy thought...

In November we’re making a 7-inch square (finished size) Easy X block in jewel tones with black or very dark background.  Karen made this block. I definitely see colors of Jade and Malachite in that fabric. Download the color guidelines and block pattern is here: Easy X Quilt Block Pattern Tags   Add the tag easy X to all your blog posts about this block. The category should be blocks when you are posting photos of your blocks to...

The block for October was a 7 by 14-inch (finished size) block called Woven Bars.  It comes in two variations (called A-Block and B-Block) that, when alternated in a quilt layout, form the woven pattern. Complete guidelines for this month are here: Weaving Neutrals in October   Tag for ALL blog posts about this block: woven bars   34 quilters made 151 blocks which were won by 6 winners: Cathy, Pat, Nancy, Wilma, Laura and Debbie....

(I have no idea why that phrase just popped into my head!) The winners are: Cathy Pat Nancy … a newbie! Wilma … who recently returned to playing along Laura …  an 11th hour poster, who posted her blocks less than 24 hours ago Debbie … who played along for YEARS before she won blocks and has become very lucky this year! I will double check the numbers when I’m home tonight, but I believe Cathy will receive 25 blocks...

I don’t know yet how my new job, calendar and work environment will effect the drawing tomorrow … the good news is that a library is within walking distance so if I am foiled by firewalls and blocker software and can’t do what I need to do on my phone, I have a back-up plan. So far, 139 blocks have been made and posted.  Which means we will have 6 winners!  The target set size is 24 blocks (which is the equivalent of 48 7-inch...

I will be finishing up the directions for the November Block–another quick and easy one–and sending them out later today (or possibly first thing tomorrow). If you want to start getting fabrics together … we’ll be making a 7 inch block from two fabrics in a color way we’ve used in the past: BACKGROUND – Black solids or black-on-black prints or VERY DARK fabrics in other colors. JEWEL TONES – color-saturated, rich...

Jeannine from Chula Vista, California is also joining us this month, but hasn’t yet sorted out posting.  So here are her first two blocks.     Welcome Jeannine!  She will be posting an practice post/introduction later this month, but I wanted to make sure that she was included in the SNEAK PEEK later today (or maybe first thing...