Design Wall Monday

I finished the pattern test for Tammy Silvers and I am very happy with the results! This is made using her guided improv technique, and it is really quite easy, as well as addictive.😊 Tammy has this pattern available for pre-order in her shop. 

While working on this, I've been doing a couple of other projects too. I'm working on my 2019 Color Challenge quilts and I'm slowly plugging along. The first quilt has much more work involved in the layout, but I know that the results will be worth the time and effort. 

The second quilt layout is quite a bit easier and I know that it won't take long to put that together. I have much of it cut already, but just have to sit down and sew it. I hope to have both of these quilts done in a couple of weeks, but we'll see.

I am also finishing up a couple of projects for the upcoming Virtual Cookie Exchange hosted by Carol over at Just Let Me Quilt. 

Here's a sneak peek at some of the fabrics I'm using. 

Of course I'm playing around with some cookie recipes too.  :-) 

What are you working on this week?

Check out some Quilter's Eye Candy at

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making.

Progress

I've made some progress using the fabrics I showed in my last post. 

This is a pattern test for Tammy Silvers and I am really liking the results. I'll be away from home for a couple of days, which means no sewing for me; but I should have the top put together this weekend. I can't wait to share it with you!

Yummy Fabrics :-)

I'm starting a new pattern test for Tammy Silvers and love the fabrics I'll be using.

You can see a smidgen of the pattern below, but I'll be able to show the whole thing very soon. 

I'm off to make some pretty awesome stars. I'll be back soon with more pictures. :-) 

A Finish and Design Wall Monday

Do you remember these fabrics that I was using for some secret sewing?

I used them to test Tammy Silvers' (Tamarinis) Where My Heart Is pattern.

I finished the top and am very happy with the results. (Someone asked me about the center fabric, but I didn't have the information with me to check. It is Woodland Daisy, a Michael Miller Fabric. 

I had commitments that took me away from home (and my sewing machine), so I couldn't work on this for over a week. I was chomping at the bit because I already knew exactly how I was going to do the quilting and I really wanted to get this done. 

The quilting is very simple and although the pattern suggests that the binding be the dark green, I opted for the orange Dot Grunge. 

The pattern includes instructions for three size options:

Wall Hanging - 22" x 39" 

Large Wall Hanging - 44" x 46" 

Lap Quilt - 44" x 61". 

I made the small wall hanging, but I think I'm not going to use it as a wall hanging, but as a table runner instead. It's a great size, so it can be used as either one!   

As with all of Tammy's patterns, this is well-written and includes really good cutting instructions and awesome diagrams. This will be available in Tammy's shop very soon. I'll let you know when that happens. :-) 

Here's what's on the design wall today!

This is the beginning of my version of Bonnie Hunter's Idaho Square Dance. A couple of friends and I went to Bedford, PA to take a class with Bonnie last year (Aug., 2018) and we had a very productive time. Check out this video that Bonnie made of the workshop. :-)  

I have had all of my log cabin blocks completed for quite some time, but I got sidetracked and put away from Idaho Square Dance blocks. I needed to do something for a demo at Chestnut Ridge Sewing recently and decided these blocks would be perfect. 

I have most, if not all, of the units just about ready to complete the blocks so I decided to put this on the design wall and get busy. I do have other projects that need completed, but this will be my leader/ender project and that means that the blocks will completed in no time at all. 

Bonnie just announced the colors for her new mystery quilt and I really feel like I should make some headway on this quilt before I even consider starting that one.  :-)

What are you creating today?

Check out some quilters eye candy at 

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making

Color Challenge - November

It's time for the November Color Challenge and just like all the other months, this is a beauty, especially since this flower is one of my absolute favorites!

To play along, go to Jen's blog for the block pattern and instructions. 

You won't be disappointed!

November - Yellow - Black Eyed Susan

Black Eyed Susans are said to symbolize encouragement and motivation. 

So how did this flower become known as "Black Eyed Susan?"

No one knows for sure, but legend has it that it all comes from an Old English poem of the post-Elizabethan era, written by John Gay (1685-1732). 

All in the downs, the fleet was moored,

Banners waving in the wind.

When Black-Eyed Susan came aboard,

and eyed the burly men.

"Tell me ye sailors, tell me true

Does my Sweet William sail with you?"

There are several stanzas, explaining that her William was on board, "high upon the yardarm", and quickly scrambled down for a fond farewell with his lady love. It seems he was off to the high seas, but promised ardently to be safe and true:

Though battle call me from thy arms
Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms
William shall to his Dear return.
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye.

It certain seems like William has motivation to return safely to Susan, and he is encouraging her to be strong in his absence. I like this poem!

While it appears that the British may have appreciated this beautiful flower first, it has become a popular garden flower here "across the pond." Due to its gold and black colors, matching the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, the Black Eyed Susan became Maryland's state flower. 

The flower is still revered today. The winners of the Preakness (an American flat thoroughbred horse race held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland) are awarded a robe of Black Eyed Susans instead of a horseshoe of roses.

War of Will, 2019 Preakness winner
Photo from the Washington Post 6/4/19

Back to the challenge - 

Here are my fabrics - a solid light yellow from my stash and a fat quarter of Sunshine Starlet from Blank Quilting. (I've been using fat quarters from the Starlet line for each month and I'm still happy with my choice.) I'm thrilled that I've been able to use stash fabric for my solid every single month! 

I love to see all the units of a block sewn together and ready to be laid out and sewn together to create a finished block. It motivates me to sew. :-) This month is simple - half square triangles and squares!

The completed block! As usual, I just love how the Starlet fabric sparkles. 

Just like every other month, I've sewn the original block plus a second block that has the opposite or different fabric placement. 

It's a subtle difference this month, but it can make a big difference in a final quilt layout.

Check out these other bloggers who made blocks this month, and be sure to come back to see what we create next month! 

Patterns By Jen

Kathy's Kwilts and more

Tuning My heart Quilts

The Quilted Diary