Sampler Sew-A-Long Block #11

Step 1:  You will need two fabrics, one light and one medium to medium dark.

Step 2:  Cutting instructions

             From light fabric cut two, 2 1/2" squares, one, 1 1/2" x 8" strip, one 6" x 1 1/2" strip sub cut into 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips, and four 2 7/8" squares.

             From dark fabric cut two, 2 1/2" squares, one 8" x 1 1/2" strip, one 6" x 1 1/2" strip  sub cut into 1 1/2" x 2 1 1/2" strips, and four 2 7/8" squares.

Step 3:  Sew the light and dark 8" strips together and sub cut into four 1 1/2" strips.  Out of the 

             2 7/8" squares make 8 HST's using your favorite method.  Sew the 1 1/2" sub cut strips to the

             two light and dark 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips.

Step 4:  Arrange each section as shown in the top picture and sew together to complete your block.

Enjoy!

Dee 

Learning Curves!

Recently many new things have come into my life that have presented learning opportunities for me.  I've noticed the older I get the harder it is to eagerly jump into learning new things.  Not sure why that is because I would normally consider myself to be an open to new ideas kind of gal.

The most recent "new" in my life is a new desktop computer.  Our son gave us a gift certificate at Christmas towards buying one.  We have had our last one well over 10 years and it was no longer supporting the new systems upgrades, etc.  It will be off to the Apple Store for classes for awhile so that I can know how to use this wonderful tool.  The new touchpad instead of a mouse is pretty awesome.

In my quilt world I am trying to embrace the modern quilting and what that exactly means.  For a traditionalist like me it is challenging.  Hopefully soon you will see some results of my labors.

I encourage you to learn something new or at least try something new.  It is a renewing process and keeps your mind alert so the experts say.

May this Valentine's Week be filled with love and friends.

Dee

Sampler Sew-A-Long #10

Step 1:  Choose 3 fabrics, one light, one medium, and one dark.

Step 2:  Cutting:  From light fabric cut two, 2 7/8" squares, one 1 1/2" strip WOF, two, 2 7/8" squares        cut in half diagonally once.

From medium fabric cut one 1 1/2" wide strip WOF

From dark fabric cut two, 2 7/8" squares, and 1 scant 3 3/8" square

Step 3:  Sew the light and medium strips together lengthwise and sub cut into sixteen 1 1/2" strips. Sew these strips into eight  four patches.

Step 4:  From your light and dark 2 7/8" squares make four half square triangles.

Step 5:  From your dark square and diagonally cut light squares sew together the center square in a square section.

Step 6:  Sew two of your four patches according to the picture below.  Make four sets.

Step 7:  Lay out your block according to the picture at the top of the blog and sew together as you would a nine patch.

REMEMBER TO SEND PICTURES OF YOUR  COMPLETED BLOCKS!

They're Arriving!

Getting the first seed catalog in the mail this week took me directly back to childhood.  The Burpee seed catalog and Jackson Perkins Rose catalog both came this week and brought a lot of daydreaming and joy to this old girl.  When I was young and the catalogs would start arriving I would take a pencil or crayon and circle all my favorite flowers.  I vaguely remember showing them to my mom in hopes she would order them all.  She did order seeds but certainly not all the flowers I had circled.  When the seeds arrived in the mail there were far more vegetables than I ever circled.  My mom however did plant zinnia rows along our garden each summer and I did love those cheery flowers.  I'm not sure I can say that they made the hoeing or pulling weeds during the summer months any easier but they were a joy to look upon.

This week as the snow continues to pile up and smash all kinds of records for Michigan snowfall and cold temperatures I certainly enjoyed looking at the beautiful flowers and roses and dreamt of past gardens and hopefully future ones to come.

There are far too many busy days ahead to daydream for too long.  Three new beginning classes coming up, a class at a local guild this week and another guild later this spring, hand applique and several classes based on my patterns.  Throw in preparing for a retreat at the end of February and I realize I better get busy and stop all this daydreaming.

May you enjoy days of sunshine and warmth if that is your preference, or days of rain or snow if that is where your joy lies.

Blessings,
Dee