One of Four

I have long been an admirer of Ruth McDowell's work since I saw a wall hanging of a spear of asparagus that someone made using her pattern.  I now have all her books and I've decided that I need to start trying to make practice quilts in that manner.  Her method of piecing involves freezer paper - much like Cynthia England's.  I can't call it paper piecing in a sense because you are not sewing through the paper but next to it.  And I've had some experience doing that when I quilt my quilt tops.  So, from her book Piecing Workshop ( and not her first book either) - here is my first of four pieces that will eventually be one wall hanging - sort of in the old style of potholder block quilts.  Here is Autumn:

Ruth's is around 6x9 but I made it 8 1/2" x 11 to qualify for my guild's challenge for Journal quilts.  Here is what I wrote about it for the journal entry:
"My favorite season approaches.  The relentless heat of summer turns our world from green to yellow, even brown, and waits exhausted for the first cold night.  Then the chilly air works its magic. Nature bursts into the many colors of autumn.  Caught in the kalaidoscope of change, I hardly notice the first grip of winter approaching." 

I'm linking this to Esther's WOW, Connie's FMQ by the River,  and Fabric Tuesday.  You'll find their links on the right side bar.  Enjoy!

Design Wall Monday 9/24/12

On my design wall is the 4th VA lap quilt. They don't want them bigger than 36 x45.  It's just laid down for now.  Some of the blocks are sewn together - this started as a tube quilt.  But I had to insert the fussy cut wilderness block so some seams are not there and some have been ripped.  What do you think?  The lighting isn't too good.  You'll need to click on the photo to enlarge it.

I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times and Lyn's Boms Away.  Don't forget the book giveaway is still on - click here to see it.  What 's on your design wall?

Stash Report 9/23/12

First, the book giveaway for this week ends Wednesday, midnight. The book is Minuatures to Masterpiece by Nancy Srebro-Johnson. The quilt on the cover measures only 20 1/4" square!  You can see it here and still comment or link for a chance at the giveaway.

Second - I  bound my other two VA wheelchair quilts. This has been a long time in getting done (January is when I think I started). They measure 36 by 44, and here they are folded and ready to hand in at the next guild meeting. 

This week was spent finishing quilts for which I had already counted the yardage in my SR. I put together a charity quilt with St. Ann's flannel, so that doesn't count. I worked on my applique, but that was too miniscule to count.   Even the binding on the two VA quilts was only the back brought forward, so 0 yardage there.   Here are my numbers:
Used/Donated last week: 0.0 yards
Used/Donated YTD: 139.19 yards
Added/Bought last week: 0.0 yards
Added/Bought YTD: 35.54 yards
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Net Decrease YTD: 103.65 yards.
How are you doing on you destashing? I'm hoping you did better than I did! I didn't dare open my fabric coffins - maybe this week.    I'm linking to Judy's Patchwork Times.  Go on over and see how others are doing.