Bunny Hill BOM #8 Coming in Under the Fence!

I know, I know, what the heck does "under the fence" mean? In Texas, it means, just in time or at the last minute. My version of Bunny Hill's August Block is finally finished. This month the theme is CupCakes. I had a hard time chosing fabrics for this one. I don't know why. It looks better now that I have put on all the finishing touches, but I still am not completely happy with it. I am posting it just so I can say I am finished, but I may do it over if it does not look good with my other blocks. My version of this one and the February blocks are my least favorite.



I always go to the Flickr group to see the fabric choices of other people who are participating. I go there hoping to get "Inspired". Inspiration is what I always get. Go HERE if you would like to see how diverse the same block by different people can be.

My handle this month is a two color vintage rick rack laid on top of an extra wide rick rack. The lacy trim was hand made around the turn of the century. Two of the cupcake holders are wool. My usual Blanket Stitch is around each piece with "Cherry" buttons topping each cake. The embroidered leaves are Lazy Daisy stitches centered with a Bullion Stitch. I hope I spelled that right!. I thought my Lady Bug was too dark, but somehow (and this always happens), it looks better as a jpg. on the computer. Why is that? Thanks for looking, as always, especially to Anne at Bunny Hill for sharing. See the button on my sidebar. She is such a talented and generous lady.

OK--here is the story as it actually happened. I have this Wacky Friend whose blog you can find HERE. She gave me a heads up on an opportunity to be a block tester for one famous quilter, namely, Marsha McCloskey, of Feathered Star fame. I have made one feathered Star quilt. This one--all the stars are from Marsha's early book. I discovered when making these stars just how important 1/4 seams are. I discovered that if a perfect 1/4 seam is accomplished that blocks fit together without alot of effort. I learned Marsha's method of bias strip half squares all about partial seams. I guess I am saying that this quilt really was a turning point in my quilting career, if you can call it a career (right!).

I decided to email Marsha, just to take a chance that Icould get in as a block tester for her new book, called FEATHERED STAR QUILT BLOCKS that are REALLY HARD AND TAKE A LONG TIME TO MAKE. She ask me if I wanted easy, average, or extremely difficult--you will never guess what I said!! I said, "I am sending you a pic of my feathered star quilt and I think I can make any block that you can throw at me!" Did you read what I said, ------can you believe this?????------ I panicked!! What in the hell was I thinking? Anything she could throw at me? Marsha McCloskey is the Feathered Star Queen!!! She makes stars inside stars inside stars, using tiny, itsy, bitsy half-squares. Please tell me I did NOT say this!!!! I called my friend, Kathy and cursed the day she was born telling her that she had gotten me into this and she was going to have to get me out!!! She laughed, as she always does, and told me that she had complete confidense in me and that I could do it! What the hell is SHE thinking now, to say such a thing to me! It doesn't matter, I think. I have to do it as I have already "POPPED OFF" (which seems to be a habit with me lately).
Our upcoming Wacky Retreat was a perfect opportunity to "get her done". I received the pattern and instruction just in time to take with me. The first thing I noticed were very very many 1/16th measurements. OHMYGOSH--my rulers only have 1/16th marks on the outside edge. I decided to go ahead and rotary cut the pieces and use the provided templates to make sure they were the right size and shape. This proved to work really well. After much muttering 9/16s over and over many many times-----------
The block began to take shape. Of course this was the second day and then-------------suddenly--------------------------- it became a block.


Nothing makes me feel better than a quilting challenge accomplished.

And I did it without the ruler that Marsha is selling especially for use to make her blocks in her new book. YYEEAAA! I love it! The next time you see this block will be in my Wacky quilt mixed among my Red White and Blue Block Swap blocks. Thanks for reading my little story and I hope you take some quilting chances really really soon.

MY OWN BLOCK OF THE MONTH? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I have enjoyed all the wonderful free Blocks of the Month this year and often thought how great it would be to play payback. I have always loved to draw, but never thought I was very good at it. My stuff seemed to always look remarkably like someone else stuff. I sure don't want to be accused of stealinsomeone elses design. I promise you I drew this all by myself. I wasn't even looking at an image when I drew it. I am planning for each month to be a boot appropriate for the month that includes applique and embroidery. This block is not finished. Mostly the embroidery is missing. I would love to hear your first impressions. Please don't be kind. I want to know honestly if you would devote your time to this BOM for a year.


Hope your August is going great and you are getting all your activities in before school starts. That won't be long!! The recent rains we have had in Texas have made all look beautiful which is so unusal for this time of year. If you are visiting us remember that our Augusts are unually dry dry dry and not green with everything blooming as it is now. ENJOY and thanks for dropping by Molly's Place.

SUNBONNET SUE CALENDAR BLOCKS

These are the individual blocks from my Mom's Sunbonnet Sue Calendar Quilt, the quilt that inspired my Sunbonnet Sue Sunday posts. I wanted to repost new photos of each block so that you can see the details. I will add the remainder of the blocks as they are posted in the appropriate SSS post on the first Sunday of each Month. The next will of course be September.
Be sure to see this month's Sunbonnet Sue Sunday on the previous post. This is today's second post. Blogger is not my friend today and would not let me move my pictures to the bottom of the post as it has always done. I gave up then decided to put these pic in a seperate post. Sorry for the inconvenience.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SUNBONNET SUE SUNDAY #18

It's Sunbonnet Sue Sunday time and I am just now beginning my post. No research ahead of time, no previous thoughts as to what I will include----oh boy--well--first the result of a quick search was successful in finding a pattern that I don't think I have seen before. I don't remember as well as I use to, but if I have included it, I apologize ahead of time. The pattern for the block at left is HERE. I love the Holly Hobby look of this one. This pattern did not evolve as a quilt pattern, but a cover for a yearbook. A quilter patterned it (of course!) and posted it for all us Sue lovers. How wonderful quilters are. We all share our sh----- stuff!

These two are so dimentional!! Look closely at the embroidery floss hair, real dried flowers, lacey undergarment and who knows what the boots/shoes are but doesn't look like just fabric! the folds in the fabric for the apron, buttons on the jacket, maybe wire on the basket. Ok on to more`-`-`-`-`!

Go to the Sunbonnet Sue Blog to find some really neat history, patterns and quilts. You can stay here for a-w-h-i-l-e. The author is a collector of articles pertaining to Sunbonnet Sue and she buys and then researches the items. She has bought penny squares from Ebay and then found the exact picture it came from. This site is a MUST.

I wanted to post new pictures of all of Mom's blocks that I have shown you in previous posts. I have a new camera and I took new photos and thought you would be able to see more detail with new pics. But Blogger is not cooperating with me today. I am not able to move the pictures down to the bottom of the post as I have always been able to do. Maybe it is a glitch that will be fixed soon. I will post Mom's August Block--------

It's a warm Sunday in August and Sue's beau walked her home from Church. As they visit in the yard, he offers to give her a push in the swing. He pushes her high until she could touch the branches of the tree. Her beautifully embroidered bonnet shields the sun from her face, but her ringlets blow from underneath the back of it. Is it proper for an eyelet petticoat to peek out from a lady's skirt? It doesn't matter today! Sue is having too much fun!
Next Month Hopefully I can repost all the blocks thus far so that you can better see them. Until then--Happy SunBonnet Sue Sunday and Have a great AUGUST!!!