Some of This, Some of That

Working on the commission quilt, I had to pull some white solid from my stash - another 1/2 yd gone. Made two more stars and 4 more hour glasses - another 1/2 yd.  Made an SS block 

- another .03 yd for a total of 1.03 yards used last week.  That brings me back to  a YTD total of 41.86 yds.

Over the weekend I was able to get back to my ancient WIP and hand stitched two motifs and prepped another - way behind there as I wanted to do one a day. I've also started on the actual star round for the Gwennie QAL - meaning I'm prepping the applique that goes with those hexi stars I made.  

In making the commission quilt I discovered a trick if you need to cut two diagonals and you don't have a rotating cutting mat (I do, but I can't find it!).

 Place your block on-point on your (stationary -lol)cutting mat. Line up the ruler from point to point. Make your first cut.

Now move your ruler horizontally to line up to the other two corners. Make your second cut.  LOL - it took me forever to stumble on this trick of not having to contort myself to cut that second diagonal.  It may be an old trick to you, or you've seen it done elsewhere (if so, congrats). I'm just so glad I found this as now my cutting is more precise.  That's always a good thing.



So what are you up to?  Leave me a comment and I'll come by.  Off to link up to some parties (tab above). And  heads up:  I'll be having a welcome back WIPs Be Gone this Friday with giveaways!

FMQ-ing Again

As you faithful readers know, I make baby quilt tops for St Anne's Sewdality.  Starting this month we're going to try a different process.  Other members will make tops and I will quilt them.  I'll get to practice more FMQ-ing that way (and start linking to FMQ Mavericks again).  Here's the first top (one I made) that was sandwiched and given back to me:

 After all the straight seams were SITD, I did loops around the octagons and serpentined (sp?) around the owls.

I then made four leaf motifs in the cornerstones and then stippled the outside border.

There are cute little flannel owls on the back, too.  

BTW: "I'm participating in the Pink Doxies new link up, #BraveQuilter. As part of the #BraveQuilter link party for September, I going to try a new applique technique (for me) as seen in Lara's book, Crafted Applique ".

My Design Wall and Gwennie

With my two weeks of traveling in August and all the other crazy stuff of the past month, I only finished 3 stars for my next round of my Gwennie Inspired QAL. They're the blue and yellow stars on my design wall.  The fourth is in the final stages of being constructed.

Those hourglass blocks are the first of my leader and ender quilt blocks (as per Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville).  The four sawtooth stars are for a new medallion quilt I started.  The block assembly instructions are from Barbara Brackman's Star in a Time Warp BOW she did last year.  They are a snap.  I don't usually like working with triangles because of the bias, but if one just guides the fabric in doing this star, no problems.

I hope to get back to my Gwennie Inspired this month in between working on the commission quilt I'm hoping to finish soon.  What are you up to?