Alternative bullseye setting

I was playing around with a different way to set these little blocks and found something I kind of like.

Here is the original pieced block, with everything meeting.

This is with the blocks turned around and some "solid" 4-1/2" squares down the center.

I kind of like it!

Maybe we need a Linky thing to show everyone's work!!

Local quilt show

I went to my local guild's quilt show over the weekend. There were some quilts I thought were great.

First is my friend  Claire's quilt based on the blocks she made during my sow-a-long. I love how she made the border!

Then I saw this quilt with some very small pieces! I think the squares are maybe 1@!

I am a big lover of Lori Smith's patterns. I loved this quilt:

Do you remember the Just Takes 2 project a bunch of us did? It was done in red and white . Here is the original color scheme followed by a version  in 1930s fabrics. I really like how it turned out that way. She substituted some blocks and I think I actually like it better with the 30s fabrics. Maybe I'm still sick of it!! Mine is with my machine quilter!

Look what I found!!!

I'm making a quick trip up to Oregon and will be meeting my friend and machine quilter Sandy Lachowski for coffee.

I couldn't go empty handed, ya know!!

So I went into my closet to the pile of tops needing quilting. Okay, there might be a few!

I found this top, which I do not even remember  making!! I had to find fabric to add the last border (no small feat: that purple/blue is a very hard color to match)

Anyway, I decided I actually like the quilt now!!

Bullseye

I will post an alternative setting for this quilt in the next day or so. In the meantime, here's the simple way to do it!

Note this is a very cozy quilt!!

Our son is underneath my quilt, as he was suffering from a miserable bout with the flu!

What I've been working on

I have wanted to make this quilt after I saw my friend Pat's quilt last fall. It's a simple 25-patch out of 2-1/2" strips, simple dark/light fabrics.

I kept making more blocks! I was having so much fun that I lost track of how many blocks each row should have!!

I hope to have it all assembled by Monday.

Quilt for Emma

When I was in Georgia at the retreat, one of the projects I really wanted to get done was a quilt for Emma.  I mean, she's almost 18 months already!

I used the same pattern I made Ryan's quilt. A very simple 9 patch. The centers are pink.  The corners are dark.  The blocks are 3" finished.  I love how it turned out.

Now I'm going to have to start thinking about a quilt for the new baby #3, arriving at the end of March!

I also will show you what I else I worked on at the retreat. I'm trying to finish it up first.

Bullseye Quilt, Part II

I am sorry I am late in posting the instructions to the second part of the sew-a-long for the Bullseye quilt.  It took me longer than I expected to catch up after returning from my Georgia retreat.

The next step involves cutting more circles and sewing them on.
Remember there is a total of 3 circles sewn onto a background.  There are no restrictions on colors. You just want to be sure you have SOME contrast.  Your background can even be dark, if you want! You also want them to be varied! Definitely not all the same colors, value or prints.

Here is a picture of my second circle after having been sewn on. It's light.

Remember I like to cut out the extra fabric from the back!  Cut close to your stitching line.

Next comes the third fabric. I use the smallest circle (3-1/2") and place it on the top of the fabric to make sure I have enough fabric for the size of the circle.

I fold both the paper circle and the fabric into fourths. I lay the paper on top of the folded fabric, mark the line for the edge and cut away. I'm sorry it's turned around. I can't figure out how to turn it the right way. But you get the idea anyway.

Next you sew the blue circle on top of the light fabric. Sew approx. 1/4" from the edge although it doesn't have to be exact.

Cut around the back to get rid of the extra fabric. I recommend trimming the block down to 9".  Then you can cut the block into quarters. I lined up my ruler at 4-1/2" right in the middle so you will have 4 parts.

I made 48 blocks for my quilt. I set it 6x8.  The blocks finish at 8" so it's a nice lap sized quilt. Obviously, if you want it larger, you can make more blocks!  Next time I will show you a couple of different ways to sew the quarters back together -- you can completely change the way it looks.

Check back in two weeks, Feb. 21st!!!

Have a great weekend. Stay safe wherever you are!

Pincushion exchange

One of the fun things we did in Georgia was participate in a pin cushion exchange. The pressure was on to make something unique and special since everyone does such amazing and creative work.

It was great fun! The "latte" is actually a pin cushion, complete with coffee beans!

Mine is the first one I'm showing, made with wool from a Bird Brain design.

The next step in the bullseye quilt will be posted tomorrow! I'm still unpacking!

And we had the darlings overnight!!