"CATCH UP"

I am playing catch up this morning--have you ever had to do that?  I need to update you on my Marsha McCloskey free book status and talk about block 5 of the Tree Time Free Block of the Month. Let's start with Marsha.  This is very exciting.

Yesterday, THE package came:

Yes and the book is very beautiful, but more like a booklet I'm thinking! 

As I open the cover, I can't believe my eyes!

Yes, it's true--it's autographed!  A very heartfelt message.  I am just thrilled!!  Upon further inspection, I can see that this book is filled with beautiful stars, wonderful information, and diagrams.  She even gets into telling how to draft these wonderful stars.  Doesn't look really hard either. Aslo, the best part is, that I think she actually used some of the information I gave her as a pattern tester.  I can't be for sure until I have had more time to study it, but I will report more later,

NOW ON TO TREE TIME.

This block is again, simple, but FUN.  The only new stitch is the Buttonhole Wheel.  It's a buttonhole stitch worked in a circle.  You will find a video HERE.  Remember this is a learning experience!  Practise a new stitch a little and pretty soon you are a pro.  This stitch is fun and quick.  I went all the way to the center of mine, as she mentions in the video, but of course you can "Make it Your Own".

Thanks for all the support during this Tree Time BOM. 

REMEMBER MARSHA, MARSHA, MARSHA?????

Remember that I was a pattern tester for Marsha McClosky's newest Feathered Star Book?  The one called, More Really Hard Blocks that take a Long Time to Make?  Well, her newsletter arrived yesterday via my inbox and in it she reveals that all testers are getting a COPY OF HER NEW BOOK?  ISN'T THAT JUST TOO COOL?  I thought it was just a labor of love!!! 

Now, if you want a copy too, you will have to BUY ONE (sorry about your bad luck). you can now get one HOT off the presses.  Just click the word HOT and it will take you straight to the place where you can order the new book ------------------------------

 @  http://www.marshamcclosky.com/  Be sure to travel around the site to see all the feather blocks that were sent in by testers AND be sure to look at her new background fabrics which are just lucious.!!

My friends and I will be making Feathered Stars next weekend at a get together, so be ready to see all the beautiful blocks that we will be posting.  We have all ordered Marsha's new FS ruler which proves to be a real help when measureing and cutting out the intricate pieces of the beautiful stars.

I am also working on a few tips to make the process a little easier for me and plan to pass these tips on to my friends and hopefully on to you via my blog really soon. 

Remember to go see Erin.  She will guide you through making a Feathered Star with some beautifully made tutorials.  If you follow her guide step by step, it will not be overwhelmed and before you know it, you will be making Feathered Stars Too.

Good Luck, friends--and may all you never lose your points!!!!!  We all need all the points we can get!!!!
Are points anything like marbles?  Because I think I lost those a long time ago.~~~~smile

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!!!

A few posts ago, I reported that I had been prompted to be a pattern tester for Marsha McCloskey and her new book on Feathered Stars.  That I did and worked on it during retreat at Alford Inn.  This was my report to Marsha in the form of an email:
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha--this is what I have been muttering under my breath for the last two days. LOL Also I have begun to drool uncontrolably, I have a twitch in my left eye and all I can seem to say is 1 9/16th---1 9/16th---1 9/16th.

I am just kidding. I have been working on my Feathered Star Block for the last two days at a quilting retreat in Van Alstyne, Texas. It is in an 1880 home with an inhouse Quilt Shop and have really enjoyed myself. I have attached a picture of my block.
I did not find any measurement mistakes anywhere. There is a typo error on the page starting Star Points: Paralleograms---7th line from the top--in () included should by including.
I had trouble rotary cutting the Paralleograms, but have to admit that I didn't read your instructions before hand, thinking that I already knew how to do it. I didn't. It is so important to read instructions. I suggest you put this plainly at the beginning of your book in bold letters! LOL
I did not have a ruler with 1/16 measurements. This was a real problem. I rotary cut the pieces then used the templates to measure them. This worked great. I seemed to be right on, and the block sewed together just fine. I think it would be a great idea to put a sticker on the front of the book suggesting that the quilter purchasing the book buy your new ruler and the point trimmer. They are not a MUST, but a really big HELP! I started to order them and wait until I got them to make the block, but my retreat was really a perfect time to get all of the testing done, so I didn't.
On the diagram/chart page beginning with Feather Star with 25 Patch Center. There are two pieces in the block labeled with S4. A square listed in the chart is S4 and in the Bias-strip Piecing box the 1 9/16 inch x 1 9/16th inch half square is also S4. I suggest you change the letter/number of the half square in the box and on the star diagram.
One more little thing I will mention is that I marked the placement (P1 and RP1) of the paralleograms all the way around the star diagram just to keep me from gettin confused and making a mistake. Also where the pieces looked like they were the same, but are not. You may not want to change this, thinking ones who need this done can do it themselves.
I did not trim the pieces as I did not have a point turner.
Thanks for this opportunity. If I can help you in any other way, please let me know.
Molly

I received Mrs. McCloskey's newsletter and she now has pics up of most of the blocks that were tested.  Mine is included!  Go visit take a look at all the beautiful blocks.  The name of the book is "RIGHT ON"  Feathered Star Quilt Blocks II, The Best of the Grid Based Stars. More Really Hard Blocks that Take a Long Time to Make.

Go HERE to see my block on her site.  It is called a

Feather Star

or click the title of this post for the page where all the blocks are listed.  Enjoy and don't be afraid to tackle a Feathered Star.  They have a bad rap.  They are doable.  If you can stitch with 1/4 in seam consistantly, you can make any block.  Later Gators.

Until Next Time---Molly

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.