If you have made and posted Diagonal Bars blocks, you should have received the very late and sketchy sneak peek from me … except for Barbara–I am getting a “closed account” message from the (old?) email address I have for you.  I’ll look for a different one … or you could reach out and touch me to make sure I have it. As always, this is a good time for everyone to check to make sure that I have attributed the...

I hurt my back yesterday and so I’m not quite ready to send out the sneak peek … and I’m moving very slowly this morning.  I’ll be sending it to everyone who has posted blocks so far as soon as I can. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know to start thinking about fabrics. The June block will be a rectangle,  7 1/2 by 14 1/2 inches, to finish at 7 by 14 inches when sewn into a quilt.  You will be able to make...

I cannot believe we’re almost half-way done … except for the putting it all together, deciding on a quilting design and quilting it, of course 😉 I learned from my mistake last month and pulled out everything I’ve done so far before choosing fabrics this month.  This time, I am second-guessing a choice I made in an earlier month and may still end up re-making blocks–I am reserving judgement for a couple more months to see what...

If you have been around a while, you probably remember the Violet blocks we made in August, 2011.  You might remember that I was using Google Docs around that time, too, as a place to store Block Patterns.  The Violet block was a popular one, both for the lotto and for lots of other quilters, especially after the block and projects made from it started popping up on Pinterest.   Because the pattern was updated, I removed the old sneak-peek...

This month, we add Diagonal Bars blocks to our quilts. Small Crib Throw Twin F/Q King Diagonal Bars Blocks 4 4 8 12 12 20 Triangles-in-a-Square Blocks 3 3 6 9 9 12 Star Chain Blocks 1 2 2 3 4 5 Bead-on-a-String 3 6 7 10 13 17 Double Chevron Blocks 1 2 3 4 6 8   In all the quilts, this month’s block appears in groups of four sewn together as a 4-patch–the orientation of the bars is up to you.   Here are the quilt layouts for each...

I happened to flip through an issue of The Quilter while shopping tonight and this Jewel Box quilt jumped out at me because … I saw our April block, Triangles in a Square in the center of those Jewel Box blocks, and then realized how you could construct a variation of the traditional Jewel Box design by making that block and alternating it with a block constructed from four 4-patches. You would cut the squares for the 4-patches 2 1/4 inch...

I started making the Diagonal Bars blocks for my Mod-Mod Throw quilt, using the Rainbow Scraps Challenge color of the month: Green.  Here’s my first of eight blocks. A couple of quilters have emailed me about their problems with the block coming out the wrong size, so, as I made this block, I paid close attention at each step looking for answers for them. Technically speaking, when you put a 5 inch square (the finished size of the 5 bars...

Christa said (in a comment) that she is sometimes inspired by the Block Lotto.  I find that I usually get ideas for using the blocks as we make them, too. As part of the Rainbow Scraps Challenge, each month, I have been making a single, super-sized (10 x 15 inches) scrappy Oak Leaf block in the designated color of the month. This month’s color is green (bright or dark). I don’t know why I settled on this particular size, but it...

I mailed my blocks to all five winners today at noon. Since last month, the postal clerk shared that Canadian customs often holds up mail, when I got to the counter today, I asked if they knew anything about the slow mail to Mexico.  It was a different person behind the counter.  All she could tell me was what her computer told her … that it would take 10-15 days.  Since the block I mailed to Mariella a month ago still isn’t there,...

Here are the 7 blocks I’ve made, put on point on the design wall.   When they’re arranged like this, they remind me a little of the Zia symbol on the New Mexico state flag. I’m donating my...

It doesn’t really feel like spring lately in Northern New Mexico, but I know that when it returns, I will feel inspired by the blue skies and blooms. How about you?  Are you inspired by nature?  Do color ideas sometimes come from the clothes you are wearing?  Do you go to a guild meeting, quilt show or retreat and come home full of inspiration and ideas for new quilts you want to make?  Do you look for quilt design ideas between the...

For May,  we are making a 7-inch square block called Diagonal Bars in blue with cream. This is one of the  blocks that Debbie made as part of the sneak peek. The block pattern directions include a template for paper-piecing in addition to traditional rotary cut and sewn directions: Diagonal Bars Quilt Block Directions In May, you can make a maximum of 9 blocks to enter in the Block Lotto Drawing.   Tags   Add the tag bars to all your...