Starting more star blocks

Yesterday it was so hot out and I just didn't venture out.  I need 28 more of these blocks so I got the finished ones out and measured them and started cutting. I slowed down and decided since I hadn't measured them or wrote down measurements when I made the other one I would just cut one and sew it together.

I did this because I wanted to make sure I had the right measurements. I had bought fabric from the thrift store and used the strips that were cut so I need to be sure the measurements I was measuring were right. 

I got it right so last night I cut out another one with fabric I had pulled out. Trying to use smaller pieces that need to be cut up anyway. Today will pull more fabrics out to get this closer to being done.

I have been lurking on Pintrest and found several block designs I think would really look attractive using the method of quilting. The QAYG isn't as attractive with every quilt block.This method I am using works for individual block as or 4-patch blocks sewn together.

We finally are getting away from all the heat with rain. NE of here is Rockford Illinois about 50 miles and they had flooding. WE got a lot of rain quick and more to come today and tonight. We need the rain but not gully washers

I am going to try and get more of these blocks cut today and keep on sewing 30 minutes at a time. Chris

To hot to sew

I am still around, but I have stitched a stitch in awhile. It has been so hot and I just don't go into that room. We have A/C I know it is an excuse.

We have had the girls quite a bit over the last couple weeks. Mommy hasn't felt real good. In fact ended up in the ER last week. She got into Wild Mustard which has an effect of leaving watery blisters on the skin like poison ivy and can make you miserable.

So we have had the little ones while she recovered from that. She had no idea she was so allergic to it.

We had Father's day dinner yesterday and everyone had a good time. There was 10 of us for a big meal. We BBQ ed pork loin chops on the grill.

Still suppose to be hot today. I have a little kitchen cleanup and then I hope I can get to some cutting today. I have some more star blocks to make to get this quilt farther along.

Hope you are in a cool place and can enjoy the day. Chris

Hi, It has been awhile

Hi, how are you? I am doing ok. The saga goes on. I don't get to much time to myself anymore, but that is ok. 

I have had these blocks made for a couple years. Decided to QAYG method would work on them. 

Then a couple months later I figured out what the next step was going to be. I added sashing strips and get them all sewn together. 

Here is the quilt top so far. I cut backing strips and top strips and sewed all the blocks into rows and then connected them. I like the look this is coming out to be. I need to now figure out what kind of border widths I need and get them cut and quilted then I can do the connecting sashing again. This method is good if you can do a block  by block method of QAYG.

We have been busy doing things together to get stuff done. We are down to pulling weeds from tree seeds that have blown in. That happens each year. 

Hope you are all well and getting to your projects. I will pop in another day. Chris

Changes

Times have changed and my satisfaction with showing my efforts in quilting are no longer necessary.

I have been a member of a Facebook page and realized it is constant competition with the next person. I have learned to satisfy myself I don't need the competition any more. I still need to satisfy just myself.

My lifestyle has changed and the efforts to write a post and find subjects to stimulate a response from anyone is more than I want to put myself through.

I have some followers from the beginning and I do appreciate them very much. The ebb and flow of blogging seems to be more than my time can support right now.

I have stepped back from being even in competition with myself and others over this. It was becoming a bad job I was beginning to hate. I love to sew, but I need to sew my way and not in competition with myself or anyone else.

I still read your blogs and  applaud your efforts.

I will just close the door on this blog but not delete it in case my mood towards my efforts changes.

Please understand I have really appreciated your comments and support over the time I was here. About 9 years of sharing has drained me and I need to focus on other things in my life.

Thank you for following me. This was my way of contributing to the quilting world. Chris

It has been eight days

I will be honest. Not a whole lot of anything about sewing has happened. I have started to go into the sewing room a couple times each day and get called away.

I did get about an hour before cooking supper tonight. I am working on a QAYG method with some blocks that are already quilted.

I cut some sashing strips and didn't cut enough so in the morning I will get the rest cut. I need just one more. Then the assembly will be started.

The weather has finally turned to be nice during part of the day. It is suppose to be 32 degrees again in the morning. But them it will be pushing 70 during the day.

We need rain very badly. The farmers are in the fields and the cloud of dust follows them as they try and plant. They have called Red Flag Day. Meaning high danger of fire. Dry and high winds are making fuel of the dried grassed and real danger to others now.

We are not to get rain in the next few days, but until then we watch for smoke and hope nothing happens.

If the ground ever warms up maybe the grass seed we planted would grow. We have been watering to get it to germinate, but nothing yet.

Hope you are seeing Spring weather finally. Chris

Planned or unplanned?

This is so unplanned as far as colors. It is random rectangles sewn together to make these blocks. I am in the process of making a few more. I made 7 this morning in about 70 minutes. The rectangles are already cut. Pickup and sew is the method for this type of blocks. 

To me this is a planned block because you I had to work on cutting the sections and this was planned for the star. I very seldom make this type of block because I don't have enough of the background fabric to complete the blocks. 

I have the QAYG quilting done on the blocks and need to get the sashings cut and assemble the quilt top to see how much needs to be worked on the borders. 

The sun is out and we are going to go out today and plant some grass seed in bare spots. I hope the sun is shining in your World. Chris

Some finds in cleaning

In my cleaning I came across all these blocks. Some sewn into rows. I need to lay them out and get a handle as to what size they are. 

I think it is close to a full/queen size. Queen maybe needs a border yet. 

These logs are 2 X 3.5 inches in size. It uses up a lot of scraps for this block. I enjoyed whipping them out. I could use them as leaders and enders or just power through them for easy sewing. Making the blocks there are no matching seams, but a 1/4 inch seam allowance was necessary to keep the block square. 

Sometimes when cutting strips up I will have an odd size left and I cut cut them to meet this size. They can be used for a couple different blocks. Small rail fence, this block and also piano keys. So this is a size I keep adding to a tub for later use. 

The more different colors the merrier. 

Well we will see what I find in there today. Chris