Strip Pieced Mariners Compass block

I took a class at Quilted Strait yesterday on how to make a Mariners Compass block via strip piecing. I have avoided this block as I didn't want to mess with those long triangle templates nor do paper piecing.  Robin (Robin Ruth Design) has created a method and ruler that totally rocks! 

She has two rulers, Skinny and Fat. I bought the Fat one.  It makes compasses in 16 sizes: 6 - 36 inches!  So great. 

I  managed to take a few pics in class.  Here you can see how the ruler is used to make the cuts that make the points.

  

This is after all the piecing is done. Still amazes me that I pieced this without templates.  

This is my final compass block.

I've done a fair share of curved piecing in my quilting life but this is only the second time I have sewn a complete circle into a circle.  Is it ok to say you're proud of yourself?   :)

Not sure yet if I'll turn this block into a pillow or make more for a quilt.  

 I am thrilled to add compasses to my block repertoire.  

If you ever have a chance to take a class from Robin, do.  She is an excellent teacher.  Everyone one of us in class was successful in creating gorgeous compasses!

Linking up to Sew Fresh Quilts: Let's Bee Social.  :)

Small Indian Blanket

I finished my small Indian Blanket top the other day.  I love this pattern so much and wanted to see if a smaller version would still look good to me.  And it does!   Happy dance.  

Now to get a back pieced and get it to my long armer.  

Design Wall Monday - Urban Beads

I finally put the rows together on my smaller Indian Blanket quilt (which I'll post tomorrow) so I have been sewing my Urban Beads blocks into rows. I have 9 rows done and 3 more to go. I'm hoping to finish those rows today. We'll see how the day goes! :)

I'm loving the saturated colors of these In The Beginning modern solids.  Yum!

Ok. Back to sewing. 

Check out what others have up on their design walls here. 

Pineapple and Fox

I made a couple of small blocks that I thought I'd share.  One is a block I made for an online friend.  She recently lost her Mom and many of her online friends are making blocks for a comfort quilt. Pink and green with white and 8 inches were our guidelines.

I made this little fox:

The pattern is called "Lil' Fox" by Artisania.  You can find the pattern here.

The other block I made was just for me!  :)

I saw this pineapple mini on the Dear Stella blog (free pattern).  It was a last minute "throw in the box" project for when I was on my Yaya vacation earlier this month.   Its only 8.5x11.5 inches.  I love fast little projects like this.   I think I'm gonna hand quilt it in a diagonal cross hatch.  For now I'm just enjoying looking at it!

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 19 & 20

I just got back from my annual girls get-away. So much fun!  I didn't finish any tops this year because I was piecing curved blocks and that took most of my sewing time.  I did finish these two sampler blocks from the series.

Block 19 - Rahab

Rahab is a 10 inch block.   

Block 20 - Potipher's Wife

Potipher's Wife is a 15 inch block.

I switched fabric placement again in both blocks. I want all my backgrounds to be lights so every time they aren't I change them!  :)

Downton Abbey Mystery Quilt

The mystery is over.  I finished all the blocks.

Blocks from weeks 4, 5, and 6:

Each week we could choose between two story paths.....or two blocks.  Or do a combo of each.  I never did a combo.  The result of all that choosing is the final layouts will look different for each participant. 

This is the one that best fits the blocks I made:

 I never really loved the fabrics so have chosen to not take the time to finish the quilt.  I'll put the blocks and left over fabric in my give away box.  

I had fun with the mystery.  Ebony did a great job with directions each week. The Facebook group was also fun.  I'm glad I participated.  But now back to my other projects and fabrics I adore!

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 17 & 18

Two more blocks that I forgot to post.

Block 17 - Jael

I don't really like this block pattern so I made it scrappy (pattern calls for one fabric for the rail fences) in order to make it happier to me.  It worked.  Still don't love it but at least I like it now.

Block 18 - Tamar

One of my favorite parts of making these blocks is going into my bin of low volume fabrics that I've been collecting this past year and pulling a new one for each block.  This pin fabric was from an Aneela Hoey layer cake I had.  So cute here.

Both Jael and Tamar are 10 inch blocks.

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 15 & 16

 Oh boy have I been lax on posting!

Block 15 - Miriam

The construction of this one caused me trouble the first time (turned out 1/4 inch too small) for some reason so I had to remake it. I drew it up in EQ7 and used the measurements from there. All but one part was the same but that one part was enough. 

Block 16 - Deborah

Love the scrappiness of this one!  

Both Miriam and Deborah are 10 inch blocks.

Downton Abbey Mystery weeks 2 & 3

I've been forgetting to post pics of my blocks from the Downton Abbey mystery quilt along!   

So far I am keeping up.   :)

I've been having to take pics inside and that is making for less than perfect colors.  But you'll get the idea.

Here are the four blocks from week two. They are all 12 inches.

For week 3 we had to make eight blocks. I only took a pic of one.

You can see how bad the color is by the difference in the pink in the two pics.  Same fabric.  

All 8 of these are also 12 inch blocks.

Today the clue/directions were given for week 4.  Sixteen blocks (6 inches) to make this week.  I can't wait to see how its all going to go together.

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 13 & 14

Here is block 13 - Asenath

 Asenath is a 10 inch block.   

Block 14 - Jephtah's Daughter

Jephtah's Daughter is also a 10 inch block.  

I have used most of the fat quarters I had with this collection. Now I'm going to be needing to repeat them and paying attention to placement so no two are next to each other. I don't like when that happens!

Design Wall Monday - Small Indian Blanket

I played with the Indian Blanket pattern from the Angled class I took.   I'm going to be teaching this as a class in March so wanted to create an optional small version.  

I used mostly Aneela Hoey fabrics.   I sewed the two top rows together after I took this picture.  Its 42.5 inches wide.  Not sure yet what the length will be.   

I'm really loving this!

Linking up at Patchwork Times here.

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 11 & 12

Block 11 - Naomi

Naomi is a 10 inch block.  No changes to color placement.

Block 11 - Judith

Judith is a 15 inch block.  I made a couple of changes here. I wanted the star to be the dark (its light in the pattern) and I wanted the mediums to be all the way around forming a "circle".  

I need to get a picture of all the blocks I've made so far and see what they look like together.  I've been coloring in the black & white outline drawing of the quilt with colors I'm doing so hopefully the color balance will be ok.

The next two blocks are cut and ready to sew.  :)

Downton Abbey Mystery Quilt Along

I saw a link for this Downton Abbey themed mystery quilt along back in December and was intrigued.  I don't do many mystery's because I have yet to love a final quilt.  I do, however, love the process. And I love Downton Abbey.  And I love doing group projects.  So I jumped in and joined the fun.  Each part of the mystery is released with a new episode on Sundays.  

Part one was last Sunday and here is the resulting block:

Its huge.  20 inches.  I'm thinking it might be the middle of a medallion setting.  We shall see.

I bought a kit of Downton Abbey fabrics for the top from the Fat Quarter Shop.  I didn't care for all of them (not a purple gal) so subbed in some others.  

I also ended up changing the fabric placement.  Something I tend to do a lot of.  Really hoping it doesn't mess up the look when I add on other parts.  There's always the seam ripper, right?   LOL!

There is still time to sign up for the mystery if you want to play along. Check it out at LoveBug Studios.

Purple Owl

When my grand daughter was asked what she wanted for Christmas, one of the things she said was a purple owl.  She is 4.  :)    My daughter put it on the list with a little added note that said "Mom, maybe you can make one?"    What's a Nana to do but make one.   I'm not a stuffed toy maker so searched the Internet for something really simple.  

And this is the result.

I used the free pattern and tutorial from We All Sew by Ashley Johnston. 

I made mine with quilting cottons and left off the center strip (made it easier).   Miss Heidi was so happy and that makes this Nana happy!!!

Perfect Zip Bag

I embroidered the October girl from Sarah Jane Studios (Her Month by Month patterns) for my daughter and decided to make it into a zippered pouch for Christmas.

I like to do simpler outline embroidery.

I wanted the embroidery to be the main focus so I only added a little bit of patchwork.  

And just a litte band of patchwork on the back.  Gotta have patchwork! 

I used Elizabeth Hartman's "Perfect Zip Bag" pattern as its my favorite go to pattern for zippered pouches.  I've made several now and can get them done quickly. 

So fun to make!

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 9 & 10

Block 9: Bathsheba

Bathsheba is a 10 inch block.  

Block 10: Esther

Esther is a 15 inch block.

I stuck to the patterns of both blocks this time.  :)  

I have the latest two blocks sitting here by my sewing machine.  Should get them done this weekend....we shall see.  

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 7 & 8

I am a bit behind on my WOTB sampler blocks.  Holidays and new grand baby have taken precedence.   Here are the last two I made.

Block 7: Rebekah

Rebekah is a 10 inch block.  I changed the color layout on this one. I wanted a light background...pattern called for it to me a medium hue.  I really like how it turned out.

Block 8: Ruth

Ruth is a 15 inch block.   This is another block I changed the fabric layout (wanting light backgrounds) and also changed out the middle.   I'm not in love with this one.  That dark orange just isn't "singing" to me.  But I'm gonna hold off re-making until the very end in hopes that it all looks fine in the final quilt.   

Mini Quilt Swap

I participated in the latest round of the Mini QT Swap on Flickr.  These are minis that are at least 9 inches and no bigger than 18 inches. The theme was "Tis the Season".  My partner, Marilyn, has received the one I made for her so I can show it to you.   I decided to make a block from a quilt pattern by Anne Sutton that I have called "The Night Before Christmas".  I have all the fabric for this quilt and thankfully my partner loves French General fabric!   

  I hand quilted a little in the star and around all the applique.  Then I added some "stars" with Perle cotton in the upper half.    It turned out really cute.

This is the mini Marilyn made for me:

She included so many things I love:  little hexies, fussy cuts, applique and hand work. 

Its perfect! 

Women of the Bible Sampler Blocks 5 & 6

I made up blocks 5 & 6 right away.  Hoping to stay up with this block of the month.   So far, so good. 

Block 5: Hagar

Block 6: Jezebel

Both of these are 10 inch finished blocks.  

This free block of the month hasn't been going for long so its not too late to sign up at Little Quilts.

Lined Drawstring Bags

I've had the pattern for Jeni Baker's Lined Drawstring Bags for over a year but didn't make one until the Twas' The Night blog hop.  It's what I chose to make for the hopper I sent a gift to.  Now that my day is over I can show you it.

Then I made another one yesterday.  A bit smaller and this one only took me an hour.  Partly because I knew what I was doing and also because I didn't make the handles but used some ribbon instead.

 I love these bags.   

The pattern has 8 sizes to choose from and directions for creating your own custom size.

You can also see how Sara Lawson added an outside pocket to it here on her blog.

I'm gonna have to try that on my next one.  :)