BOOT BASH BLOCK #8

BOOT BASH #8 is finally finished.  Please find the link on the right sidebar.  The boot top stitching is done with freezer paper templates adhered to the wool and then stitched around with 6 strands of embroidery floss.  Any less sinks right down into the wool.  Less would work for cotton.  So not happy about my machine stitching on the boot top but no time to redo.  Have to work for now, but YOU do better, ya hear???

Thanks for all the comments and prayers for my family.  Our little family is still in turmoil, but we are pulling together to heal.  I may have to raise my grandsons--still not sure of the outcome.  At any rate, my quilting life has slowed down considerably.  I am going to do my best to finish my Boot Bash Block of the Month, but will have to do it in my own good time so please be patient with me.  Oh "by the way"--this is the newest pic of me.  A bit frazzeled, don't you think???

Quilt Inspirations has inquired about doing a special post about my blog and Boot Bash.  I will let you know when it is posted so that you can travel over to take a look.  I am excited about it.  They have a great blog.  Be sure to visit.  They have a great TEXAS quilt up right now and some great "FREE" patterns.

While I am here, let me show you that I finished another Henrietta Whiskers block. You know, the one by Bunny Hill?

I now have six blocks finished and one more almost done.  The newest one is only a dream at this point, but not for long. 
Ok, now for my Civil War Block World. Poor Barbara--I am so far behind, but have done four more. I will post them here and hopefully on the Flickr Group sometimes today along with Miss Henrietta and friends. Sorry, forgot to crop--no time to fix them. WHEW! Baby's awake!

 BLOCK 19, Missouri Star

 BLOCK 18, Union Square

 BLOCK 16, Whitehouse

BLOCK 17, Comfort Quilt

Civil War Blocks update--Blocks 13, 14, and 15

Clink the post title to go the Barbara Brackmans blog where she is posting a Block of the Week complete with Civil War history.  She also has a Flickr group where you can see all the followers blocks.  It's a great way to see fabric choices before you start your block.  I have considered doing a tutorial, found out that American Homestead has been doing one weekly.  She is doing an excellent job.  You will find a link on her sidebar called "Civil War Blocks".  Mine are as follows.

LITTLE BLUE BASKET, BLOCK # 13

FOX AND GEESE, Block #14 

 FORT SUMPTER, Block #15

I did lack one block being caught up and then---------Saturday came and a new block was posted.  Now I lack 2 being caught up.  --you want to talk about my boot blocks?  You say you want to know if I am finished with May and if it will be posted on the first as it should be?  How about my Henrietta Whiskers block--you ask if I am finished with it?  Well, No, no, and ---uhhh----no.  Sorry about your and my bad luck.  I better get off this computer and get to work!!!!  Right now!!!!

 

Yesterday was a Beautiful and Successful Day--Even if I Had to Clean the Bathroom!

Sid had to bring a baby calf home because his mother could not feed him.  A couple of days in the barn and he was ready to come out into the sunshine.  The back yard was a perfect place to be where I could keep as eye on him.  As it worked out, I didn't have to , as that job was taken care of by my LULU.  When I let her outside, she went straight to his side and didn't leave it all afternoon.  I have named the calf Waldo as he hides in the bushes and if you don't know where he is, you have a hard time finding him.

 She sniffed--

 She sat with---

 she protected---

 She played with---------------Waldo.

While she took care of that job, I played "catch-up with Barbara Brackman.  I WAS behind by several weeks and now only lack two being back on track.  See my results below.  I did not make all yesterday.  Only the last two.

 Not real happy with the center of this one, but may make it over, or maybe not!  lol

Not thrilled with my fabric choices here, but there again--want to get caught up before I decide to make it over.  I think maybe it would have been better if the pinks were swapped...........pondering

 This one was a bit of a challenge, but then I love a good challenge.  I always cut the triangles bigger and trim down and I didn't make these big enough the first time.  More about this problem at the end of the post.

 This one was simple enough, but as I was looking thru others blocks on the Flickr group, I noticed that most of the pinwheels were light and the backgrounds were dark.  I chose to do my opposite. 

Let me tell you that I have considered doing tutorials for these blocks, but I found a blogger who is doing such a fantastic job that I don't think I could add anything-----except my oversizing trick.  As  you can see this works well and then you trim down to the exact size, in this case 8 1/2.  You can always trim down, but you cannot "grow" fabric.  BTW--find all the tutorials at American Homestead.  Click on Civil War on her right sidebar. 

 Basket block is next  Hope I can get two blocks done before Sunday--At least I will be able to say that I am caught up for a week at least.
Doctor with Sid tomorrow and Waco Quilt Show on Friday.  See all you soon with progress and fun!!

CIVIL WAR BLOCK #6--RICHMOND

Well, after reading tips from participants on the Flickr Group, I thought I would have an easier time, but not so.  First I will show my block, then I will elaberate on the perils of making it.

I have to agree with one piecer who said that this block does not lend itself to an 8 inch block.  I guess the best thing to tell you is that each section of the 9 patch has to be 8 1/8 inches.  As for the 4 patch units, if I were going to do them over, I would make the 4 patch 2 1/8, then add oversized triangles and trim the finished block down to 3 1/8 inches.  If you are careful, you won't lose your points doing it this way.  I am sorry I didn't make pics, but just got too involved in the process.  I did barely lose a few of my points, so if you made your original 4 patch 2 inches, you would have less trouble with losing your points, but they also might float a little.  This would be better in my opinion, but it's which ever you consider the least of two evils.

If you have joined this Block of the week, good luck on this one--  if you have a comment about your success or perils with this block, I would love to hear them.



LET'S KICK THIS THING!! I'VE WORKED ON IT ALL AFTERNOON! 300 FOLLOWERS? SERIOUSLY?

Spent most of the afternoon on Block 5 of Barbara Brackmans' Civil War Block of the week.  I am trying really hard to keep up with this one.  So far---so good!!  Let me say that this cowgirl cut the pieces of block #4 just as they were posted.  Complete confidence set in and that block went together like a charm.  I had my little fabric pieces starched stiff just like I like them and my 1/4 inch foot in place and things couldn't have gone better-------BUT aaaaarrgggggggggg!  That block was 1/2 inch too small!!!  I could go into all the shoulda, coulda, wouldas with ya but it wouldn't do that block any good.  I threw all my "good sense and "from experience knowin what to do" to the wind.   Like--  figuring what size that center block has to be to make the block the right size and making it happen   kinda stuff so that block is trashed.  I did remake it -cutting the triangles larger than the sizes posted to make room for some error.  You can't make fabric grow, but you can trim it down to fit.  At least that is MY way of thinking  piecing. 
Let me show you a few pics of this days piecing of block 5.  It actually went pretty well.  I have to say that my piecing of Feathered Stars experience really helped me out with this block.
TIPS
1. Starch the pieces as squares, then make the diagonal cuts.  They should feel like paper when you pick them up.
2.  When you can, cut the outside the section or block triangles bigger than posted.  You can trim them down, but you can't grow them (if you don't know what this means, leave a comment and I will try to help you understand.
3.  Press seam allowances of small piece strips open.
4. Trim your block segments to the appropriate size before you sew them to the next segment.

 Here you see the strip segments of a section of one quarter of the block.

 Seams are pressed open.  The triangles on the end and the yellow triangle are cut oversized.

After the segments are sewn together, the section has to be sized.  You can't trim the two sides where the points are, but you trim the diagonal seam--trim 1/4 inch from the points. 

Here you can see where I trimmed.

The unpieced triangle is cut oversized.

 Place right sides together with the pieced section--
See that it is oversized?

 and stitch--slowly--while holding it stable with you left hand as you aid in the feeding of the fabric with your right hand.  I couldn't show you where I put my right hand and take the picture too--sorry!

 The finished section after the left triangle has been trimmed to fit.

The finished Kansas Trouble block

I ask myself why I love blogging so much and my answer is easy.  It's you, the readers, the followers.  Those who enjoy reading what I post.  I now have 300 followers.  I have a feeling it is basically because of the word "free" that comes up from a search.  Gotta love that.  I am the one that benefits from my own posts.  I refer to them regularly to refresh my memory about how I did one thing or another.  My hope is that my methods will help someone else.  The above Western Fat Quarters will be given to a person whose name I draw from the those who comment to this post and tell one other person about the Give Away.  Ask the person you tell to mention your name when they comment.  If your person's  name is drawn, you will get a special surprise.

FEBRUARY--I'm A Little Ahead For A Change!

BOOT BASH BLOCK #2 is up and ready for you to take and stitch.  I hope you like it and if you do, please LET ME HEAR YA!!  WOOP WOOP~~~

Machine or hand stitching is interchangable.  There is optional embroidery to do on the boot top in case you don't want to use a fabric that provides the decor.  There may be a problem with the size the January block printed out.  FYI--The block is to be 8 1/2 inches and should fill the space.  ENJOY!!

Caden had a birthday this month.  Nana kicked in with some cupcakes for a school party.  I thought ya'll might want to see them.  They are not professional, but I thought they were cute. His name is Caden and is now 8 years old.  He told me he needed 27 because he needed to feed his class and all the other 2nd grade teachers.  I wonder if that is the rule---LOL 

I am behind on my Civil War Block of the Week that is sponsored by Barbara Brackman.  I did get block 4 finished today  I love the way the fabrics worked in this block.  Sadly enough it is too small.  It is suppose to be 81/2 inches and this one is 1/2 inch too small.  It is back to the drawing board.  I hate working with odd sizes of strips (1/16 inch--shish) and triangles for this very reason.  Math is not my strong suit to say the least.  I will cut my center square pieces bigger this time and trim down to the right size and then add my sides and oversized corners.  Bigger is better I always say.  At lease when I can trim down. 

TEXAS TEARS and I'm crying too!  LOL  I won't show this block again.  My second one will look just like this, BUT, it WILL be the right size. 

I want to close this post with a picture of a quilt made by a dear friend, Annie.  She is a member of my Wacky 6 Pack Quilting group.  It is a Texas quilt made up of blocks made by our group.  Mine is on the top right--a Texas steer.  This quilt has been quilted twice.  The first time by someone who--well--let's just say she did no do a vey good job.  Annie had to pick out all the stitches and then take it to another quilter.  Not a pretty story, but it's a very pretty quilt. 

No Bitchin, just stitchin!

Civil War Block #3

The third block was posted YESTERDAY!  Click HERE to find it! I opted to use  "not the traditional kind" of applique, but I got~R~done quick.  I had to dig out MORE of my Civil War Repro fabs.  I had forgotten about my Red, White, and Blues that I had stashed in the closet (no--not the oven--I actually USE it). 

We are getting a long time coming, much needed, soaking rain.  It is a very lazy day.  I have a pot of stew on the stove and enjoying a little stitching.  I hope your day is as nice.