Third Times the Charm

I've been trying to put the Teddy Bear Quilter BOM blocks together so that I can write the pattern for the setting which will be released at the same time as the 5th and final block of this series.

And I went into the process of making the setting blocks needed with a color idea in my mind - big mistake!  The setting blocks are 6" pieced blocks that are floated in the background fabric.  There will be 4 different block patterns used to make these.   The fabric picture in my mind was a background fabric that blended with three of the blocks and then a fabric that was a little darker so that the viewer could just see the pieced block.

First two times (yes twice!) the blocks just didn't fit what was needed to finish off the wall-hanging.

First try - had the pieced block totally blending into the fabric I was using for the background.   Definitely not the look I was going for.  And to add insult to injury as it were, one of the fabrics was not cooperative because there were lots of skipped stitches in these blocks.

Decision was to not use these in this project.  Probably will end up using them as a background for an applique block at some point.

Second try was a little better, but eventually I decided not much.  Background here was a batik white with some blue in it.  Second fabric a blue/aqua/purple batik.   

While I can see the pieced block better here, and the pieced part does float like I want it to, the background just doesn't look right with the background fabrics of the BOM blocks.  So these too will be used in a different project in the future.










Third round of fabrics - Got the cream TOT batik yesterday afternoon on the way home from work.   The other three are from my stash of batik scraps. 

Top right is similar to one block background, and the gold is similar to the bear fabrics.  So while they look good with the background fabric I've decided to not use them.

I will be using the bottom right fabric in the pieced portion of the setting blocks.  It truly is a scrap that I found somewhere and is a funky shape and all I've got of it, so I'll have to be careful when cutting the pieces I need out of it for the blocks.

Gratitudes:

1. Having a working washer and dryer at home

2. For a long holiday weekend!

Upcoming Row Along Blog Hop: My Happy Place

Starting September 4th will be the fourth Row Along blog hop that Marian at Seams  To Be Sew has hosted.  This year there are 42 designers that are designing rows that will debut in the Row Along blog hop.

Last years theme was "Christmas Carols" and I chose to interpret "We Three Kings" in my Row.  If interested you can find the pattern for that row for sale here in my Craftsy shop.


The theme this year is "My Happy Place" and I enjoyed designing a row for it.

The format for the Row Along blog hop is much the same as last year.  Rows from multiple designers will be showcased on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting September 4th and going through October 4th.   There will be a Show-n-Tell of completed rows on October 9th.  Each designer will share their pattern for free in a PDF downloadable format and there will be a giveaway specific to their day as well.

As a reminder - designers will be sharing their row pattern for free for a week past their blog posting date.   Some will have it for sale after that time, but not necessarily all.  So be sure to follow along closely and get those patterns that you like while they are available.  And don't forget to leave a comment if you like the patterns or just to say hello.   All of the designers love to hear from people who read their posts and 'buy' their patterns.

The list below gives the participating designers and links to their blogs.  Get ready to have fun starting next week!

Thursday September 6, 2018
Pretty Piney | Ms P Designs USA | Creatin’ in the Sticks
Freemotion by the River | Any Pattern

Tuesday September 11, 2018
Barbara Dieges | Upstairs Hobby Room
Quilt Art | UlaSewing / SzycieUli

Thursday September 13, 2018
Pumpkin Patch BC | Sew Incredibly Crazy
A Quilting Chick | Patchwork Breeze

Tuesday September 18, 2018
Just Let Me Quilt | Elizabeth Coughlin Designs | Quilt Fabrication
Renee’s Quilting Addiction | Made By Marney

Thursday September 20, 2018
Clever Chameleon | Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Heleen Pinkster Quilt Design
Cynthia’s Creating Ark | Seams To Be Sew

Tuesday September 25, 2018
Songbird Designs/Brenda’s Blog | Powered By Quilting | Kissed Quilts
Happy Sewing Room | Sew Joy Creations

Thursday September 27, 2018
BobbininQuilts | Daydreams of Quilts | The Quilted Snail | Scrapdash

Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Words & Stitches | True Blue Quilts | Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse
Meanderings Along Lizard Creek | Creativeblonde

Thursday, October 4, 2018
Quilt In Piece | Jaded Spade Creations | Mountain Meadow Designs
Masterpiece Quilting | Pamela Quilts

Gratitudes:

1. Found the right color of fabric I need for swap blocks.....who knew that a light blush pink could be so hard to find.

2. For the three months that I've been in the house and having found most of my missing stuff.....

A Finish!

I put the finishing stitches in the binding on this critter last night.

Details -

59 different fabrics

Blocks were from a swap back in 2014.

Red E beads were used for the tops of the pins in the pin cushions

Backing fabric is an older Hoffman print that was in my stash.  Binding is a remnant I picked up at some point.

2 buttons


Gratitudes:
1. No storm is predicted today

2. For progress in getting things done

Goals For the Next Couple of Weeks

Lots going on these days that I need to keep focused on getting done, and these break down into several categories.   Will I get them all done probably not, I can but try.  =)




Blog / General -
-- "My Happy Place" Row Along - scheduled date is around the 20-something of September Prep and schedule post
-- My introduction and "story" for Benita Skinner of Victoriana Quilt Designs "Meet and Greet" Blog hop in September.  Her blog can be found here.  This is due sometime in September (don't know date yet), but I want to have it ready to go. Prep and schedule post
-- My post for an Art Quilt Blog Hop that will take place in November - this is a ways off, but I want to dig out the quilt I'm going to feature and get some good pics of it in preparation for the hop.
-- Remember that I'm meeting friends on Saturday morning for a time of fellowship, antique shopping, and lunch


Pattern Designing:
-- Teddy Bear Quilter #5, BOM for Sept. - This needs to be designed and the sample block made.
-- Write pattern for TBQ #5 and send for review
-- Complete pattern for "My Happy Place"


Quilting -
-- Get baby quilt on frame quilted and binding onto it
-- Finish sewing the binding down on the quilting wall hanging. - completed
-- Sew binding down on "My Happy Place" sample - completed
-- Make filler strip for Scrappy teddy bears


Commissioned/For Sale Work:
-- Get quilt onto Frame (Ruthie's) and quilted
-- Make credit card holders for two sale passport holders
-- Start work on three commissioned passport holders

House:
-- Get towel holder up in master bath
-- complete caulking around fixtures in bath's
-- clean washer
-- clean up dead branches in back yard
-- Get yard mowed

Gratitudes:
1. Having plenty of things to keep me busy

2. Having a house to work on even when I'd rather be quilting

A Finish And Going To Extremes

Finished this UFO this weekend.  And it's off in the mail this afternoon to it's new home. 

Stats -
41" square

60+ different fabrics

This was the 2nd project made from bonus triangles and scraps from a wedding quilt made several yrs ago.

Finished off these 9 blocks.  They finished out at 15" because that is the size ruler that I have.   The teddy bears are from a panel that I won from a blog posting.  The fabrics used to bring them all up to a common size are all scraps and used most of the light blues that I had in my scraps.   Trimmings off each block were used to make other blocks so very little went into the trash as I worked.

Light blue is definitely something I don't have a lot of, and what is left is almost totally in the turquoise range now. 

I will be adding a narrow sashing between the blocks in a medium blue I think.  Probably cut at either 1.25" or 1.5".  Then I have one panel  to make to go between two of the rows with some applique on it before i start putting it together.   I'm planning on a small border of the same fabric as the whatever I use for the sashing.

And for a complete change of scale. I made these quarter-square triangle blocks from bonus WOW triangles and blue scraps.   These are 1.5" unfinished and will be featured in the next teddy bear BOM.   Any guesses as to what she'll be doing?

I also managed to get the binding sewn onto two other  projects but no pics of them.

Gratitudes:
1. For my face not hurting now that the storm front going through the area yesterday..

2. For the rain from the storms over the weekend

August Block of the month - Jane and Ann

Meet Jane and Ann who are showing the quilt that they finished during the quilt retreat.

You can find the pattern here on Craftsy.

Enjoy the block!


Gratitudes:
1. Progress in getting things done today.

2. Payday came!