Blogger Girls BOM-3

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Today is the day for the third installment of blogger girls block of the month brought to you 

I continue to learn, which is a good thing right? Here are my blocks from last month and I made the blocks have different fabrics.
This month I realized “LEARNED” that each month we are making 2 blocks of the same pattern, but the layout makes the block look completely different. Most likely I will not be putting these two blocks next to each other in the big quilt.

 I choose the same fabrics to make month 3 blocks. They look alike but I think placed in different areas on the quilt, they will look different. Thought I would just give it a try.

These blocks are 6″ so the pieces are fairly small. Each section is trimmed to the exact size needed.
I pulled out my Brooklyn Revolver. No I am not a gun toting quilter. It is basically a little lazy susan with a rotary mat on top. It makes it easy to trim without moving the actual item. Keep the ruler and object in place and rotate the mat.
There are several version of these types of mats on the market. I just happen to like and own this one.
 3 months done, 3 more to go.
hope you are enjoying making these quilt blocks.

Here is a link to patterns and the other quilter’s Girls BOM blog posts, 

so you can see all the possibilities.

Enjoy,
Modalissa

Scrappy Nine Patch

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 I have been working on a scrappy nine patch quilt. I guess this is kind of my mindless project. You know when you get that urge to press the pedal to the medal (race car sewing terms?) but only have a few minutes.

 I am using fabrics from Bonnie & Camille, Vanessa Christenson and Fig Tree & Co.

I am using assorted charm  packs and have cut them in quarters OR using mini charms. Chain piecing in sets of 3 so it will be easy to join them all together.

The next decision will be how to put my 9-patches together. Fun, Fun!
-modalissa


charm pack cherry

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sorry for blurry picture on a windy day

 I love love love this new fabric from Me and My Sister. I don’t know why I love it but I just do. Maybe because it was so different for them. Is it retro, is it modern? Some of the prints look like vintage sheets, some are graphic, but each of the prints are down right adorable. I knew I wanted to play with these fabrics but had to no idea what to make. So when the Charm Pack Cherry project came along, I took it as my challenge. I have a niece that is studying graphic design at Texas Tech University, so I thought this would be a prefect quilt for me to make for her. Their school colors and red and black. Of course having a deadline did not hurt either, so here are the details.

 Download your copy of the Charm Pack Cherry pattern, here.
All it takes is 2 print charm packs and 2 solids to make this fun project.

I decided to make my version as a picnic blanket or a throw that my niece can keep bundled up in the car. I used flannel instead of batting.Windy windy day!

 I did some straight line quilting with Aurifil wool thread. This thread works great on my machine. All I had to do was use a size a top-stitching needle. I love the simple added texture the thicker thread gives to this project.

How I thought of picnic I knew that I had to use big jumbo ric rac instead of binding.
Here is the video showing how quick and easy this project is to put together.

No matter how you lay out the charms the project turns out different each time. It is like one of those slice and dice type projects.That is what makes the project so interesting.
by the way, the fabric line is Weeds and it will be in stores in May.

enjoy,
-modalissa

Spell it with fabric

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My friend Mariza holding the beginning of quilt back

I hope you are following along on the Moda designer’s Spell it with fabric blog hop. I am their biggest fan so naturally I think everything they do is the bomb-diggety. I am lucky enough to get to be involved behind the scenes. I will call myself a stage manager for the stars!!
One of the moda stars, Gina Martin created symbols for the blog hop. These are extra shapes that were done after the book was created. So be sure and check out her blog post on Feb 27th to download those. She also went over the top and drew up all the numbers which Moda will be posting links for, but I just couldn’t wait to TEST the instructions.

What should I make? 
First I thought I would do a sweet little 0-9 wall hanging but couldn’t decide on fabrics.
My oldest son and his wife are expecting their first baby in June. They are not finding out the sex of the baby, so again the struggle, do I go blue, do I go pink, do I go neutral? Well it finally came to me.
I could start on the back of the quilt with the date of birth. The year is not going to change, so I started out making 2014. I really really wanted to show you how fun and easy it is easy to make any of the ABC’s or numbers using a ruler I am obsessed with,Folded Corner clipper.

The way the ruler is designed it includes the seam allowance, so once you cut it is then time to sew.

 

No more marking seam lines. Lay your fabric square on top of the fabric, right sides together. Line the ruler along the edge and cut.

There are lots of ways to piece ABC 123 blocks and this technique eliminates some bulky seams.

Truly takes about 10 minutes to make this block from beginning to end.

Big simple shapes making the finished blocks measure 8 x 10.

Did I say how much I love making these blocks?

Stay tuned to see the finished project once baby Alexander is born.




 enjoy- modalissa

how many slices in a pie

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I have never really liked baking pies. 
I love  eating pies.

My mom’s coconut cream is to die for, but baking pies for my crew never seemed to be enough 
food so it was not my go to dessert.

So when  I was playing with the Dresden plate project sheet that Moda was doing with Printemps by 3 sisters, I wondered how many ways can you slice a Dresden plate. See where I am going this…..


I knew the width of the strip used would make a difference in the overall size of the blades which determines the size of the Dresden plate. All this really in depth research was performed using one ruler, Simplicity/EZ Easy Dresden by Darlene Zimmerman.

EZ Quilting Tools Easy Dresden Quilt Tool Set


Complete instructions on how cool this ruler is, shown here.

Using only one ruler I knew that my angle would be the same 
and I would need 20 blades.

Enough with the stuff I should have paid more attention to in high school geometry,
lets get to the fun part.

look closely at the difference in the pic above 
and  the pic below.

The only difference is whether you start measuring 
with the top of the
ruler or the bottom of the ruler. 
(it is okay to look at the pics again.)

Here is an example of the two blades stacked on top 
of each other. Since I cut them from 
the same width of fabric they are the same length.

The plate blocks measures 18″ across with a 
5 1/4″ opening in the center.

This one measures 15″ across with 
a 2 1/4″ opening in the center.

The blocks lined up beside each other 
showing the 3″ difference between the size.

This is them on top of each other showing 
how cool a layered dresden plate would be.

combining two of the most popular and forever 
classic dresden plates
There doesn’t seem to be much difference in sizes 
of the overall Dresden plate and the centers. 
 I measured them and it was about a 3″ difference
 which really adds up.
Big Dresden plate measures 18″ with a 5 1/4″ center opening.
Smaller plate measures 15″ with 2 1/4″ opening.
Adding paper pieced hexagons makes this 

into one shabby chic quilt.

quilt made by Debbi Duckworth

Printemps is headed to stores now so ask for the fabrics and patterns at you fav store or just dive into your scraps 
and have some fun making all sizes of Dresden plates.

I wonder how big to cut the blades for one huge Dresden plate?

All this is making me hungry. I think I will call my mom and see if she has some pie.

Enjoy
-modalissa

Wishes Quilt Along

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Picture used with permission from Fat Quarter shop

 WISHES fabric collection is designed by the creative team at Sweetwater.
I am sure that when they were creating this fabric line that it would be the
inspiration
 of Fat Quarter Shop’s latest quilt along project
supporting the Make a Wish foundation.

This project is special to me because of my youngest brother. He was born with a rare birth defect, Arthogryposis, which is basically shortening of the muscle tissue.  He has very little muscle tissue around his elbow and knee joints.  His entire life he has know nothing other than full leg braces and the ordeal of being different. 
I did grow up seeing the struggles and blessings that families go through.
The help and support for families, especially children, whether  through Scottish Rite Crippled Children’s Hospital (which is what brought my family to Dallas) or Make a Wish Foundation or any of the many great organizations is a perfect reason to quilt along.
So I decided this was a Quilt Along that I wanted to be a part of. 
 The blocks are 14″ and easy to put together. Each month FQS also has a 
youtube video on how to make the block. Here is a link to block 1. 

Thankfully, my brother is a a feisty, happy and healthy man to this day.
To learn more about the quilt along, visit Fat Quarter Shop.
To make a donation to Make a Wish, visit Kimberly’s Quilt-Along-Donation-Page.

Here is info for block 2. Yikes, I am already behind.
To read more about the inspiration behind this project, please visit moda’s blog.

enjoy
-modalissa

Quilt Acronyms

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Don’t you love quilt retreats? I I do know that I do not get to go on enough of them.
This past weekend one of the gals in my office went on her bi-annual retreat with the same group that she has been retreating with for over 25 years.
She brought this Quilt Acronym game in to work.
 I am sure you have seen this all over the internet but I thought I would share with you here.
An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word. 
These components may be individual letters or parts of words. There is no universal 
agreement on the precise definition of various names for such abbreviations.
Can you fill in the answers above?
Example: BOM- Block of Month
I have included a link to a printable PDF if you want to print it 
and test your fellow quilters knowledge.
Ready for the answers?
 I hope you had fun exercising the brain. 
Now get back to quilting.

Traveling Patch Worldwide Fabric Exchange

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 Do you love Dots?

Kim and the crew from Prairie Stitches Quilt Shop have come up with a fun idea. A worldwide traveling fabric exchange to celebrate National Quilting Day, March 15, 2014.
 Kim has done these types of exchanges before. They are the quilt shop that did a massive
 triangle exchange with Edyta Sitar making and exchanging thousands of sewn half square triangles. They definitely have the logistics experience.
Back
This swap is much easier. 
You don’t have to sew a thing to swap.
Just send  60- 10″ squares of “quilt store quality” fabric to the shop. 
The squares can be cut from one fabric, cut from your stash or an assortment 
of dots as long as it totals 60.
Package each of your squares in a separate envelope and send all 60 to Kim. 
Here comes the fun part….. as if dots are not fun enough.
Write a little note and include it in the envelope introducing yourself or 
just saying hello to a new friend somewhere in the world.
Kim’s crew is going to handle all the shipping here and abroad. 
(details about shipping costs on attachment below)
Each person will receive 60 separate “Polka Dot Pal” envelopes.
Once you have all these fabrics, there will be inspiration and projects 
with what to do with your new treasures.
If you are interested in joining the fun, please read the complete set of guidelines, please click here. Must sign up by March 15, 2014.
-modalissa

Blogger Girls BOM month 2

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Today is the day for the second installment of blogger girls block of the month brought to you 
Blues and whites certainly seem to be the colors of the year. They colors are everywhere including the cover of the pottery barn catalog. 
Indigo, indigo indigo. 
 So I have chosen an upcoming 
collection from Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts for my blocks. 
The line is called Snowbird.
TIP: There are only 2 sizes of triangles used for these blocks. One size is cut on the half diagonally. The other is cut diagonally in half twice. This makes the triangles be cut on the bias going the right direction to avoid stretching, but it also makes them almost the same size. So be careful when sewing them together. It is easy to get them mixed up. Ask me how I know. Yes, I had to redo my blocks.
Here is a link to patterns and the other quilter’s Girls BOM blog posts, 
so you can see all the possibilities.
Sorry my post is late.
Thanks to Verizon for fixing my wifi, 
Enjoy,
Modalissa

Fear

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 I have a draft written that was going to be my new years post. The post was all about a problem I have, paralysis of analysis.  According to Wikipedia this is described as……  
the state of over-analyzing (or over-thinking) a situation so that a decision
 or action is never taken, in effect paralyzing the outcome. 
I don’t have this problem at work but just regarding my blog. Will it be good enough, does anyone really read it, what do I have to offer, are my pictures clear, etc etc. In January I was just contemplating taking my blog down. Either do it right or don’t do it all.
You see my problem?
Then this over analysis continues because of who I work for. I wonder if I should put a disclaimer on each post to reflect the classic saying that you see right before those late night infomercials.  
The opinions shown here do not reflect the views of station ABCD or some jibberish like that.
Oh wait there is more.  
When your job is also your hobby it is hard to separate. What I may be working on right now will not be out in stores until months later so keeping it under wraps is tough. Waiting to blog about something 3 months later just doesn’t seem to have the same 
gusto when I sit down in front  of the keyboard.
Then yesterday something great happened. I am not going to over- think it.
I was listening to American Patchwork and Quilting’s Radio show. Jennifer Keltner and Jody Sanders were talking about the No-Rules Round Robin article in their February issue. 
102110027_600A
photo used permission of allpeoplequilt.com
The round robin was a pretty big deal. Big name quilters like Terry Atkinson, Gudrun Erla, Kari Carr and Terri Degenkolb were all apart of this event. They each started with a piece center and passed it to the next person to add to the quilt. These ladies all have pattern companies 
and are constantly creating and inspiring all of us. 
Then Jennifer said the F word. 
Yes, she said Fear. 
She talked about how each of these ladies were afraid that their part 
of the project may not be good enough. 
Wowser, I just thought about FEAR the rest of the day
 and how I too had fear about my blog.
So I am going to quit over-thinking my blog posts. 
Several years ago I was at a luncheon and the keynote speaker was Ree Drummond of Pioneer Woman. She was asked about how she started her blog. She said she started it so that her mother could stay up to date with what was happening with the kids. Ree also added that it was weeks before anyone left a comment. When she first received this comment, she thought for sure it was her mom. Who else would have been reading her posts and why in the world would anyone other than her mom leave a comment.
 I follow Ree’s lead and I am going to write posts to my mom. She loves everything I do. She knows of my quirky sense of humor. However I know not to look for a comment from my mother. 
She still calls the computer mouse a rat.
I know that the only way to be good at something is to practice, practice, practice.
  I am going practice writing more so I will blog more often!
I am going to practice photography by taking tons of pics of everything!
 My family is going to love that part.
I am going to share my own opinions and make the disclaimer here and only here.
My opinions are my own and no others. 
Please don’t hold it against the company I work for any of my grammatical mistakes.
I am going to blog about what I am working on, hoping not to make anyone sad that they have to wait a couple of months to have the fabric. Seriously, the movie industry shows trailers 6 months in advance and we still rush to see the show on opening day.
Thank you for bearing with me during my moments of fear-therapy.
Mom, I love you and the kids are doing great.