Friday, April 27, 2012

Friendship Star Mini


Recognize this?!

It is a miniature version of the block for this month. (If you weren't there, I showed to the guild on Tuesday night.)

I've entered it in the weekly Quilting Gallery contest. Each week they host a contest with a different theme. This week the theme is wall hangings.

Weekly Themed Quilt Contests

I'm not sure what the definition of a wall hanging is....but this baby is too big to be a mini and too small to be a throw. It measures 23" x 23" and hangs on my living room wall. I love the way the scrappy background adds dimension to the stars and the quilting adds some twisting and turning that I hadn't noticed in the pre-quilted top.

Voting goes through the weekend. Please stop by and vote for my baby.

 

 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

And the winner is.....

Brenda Stewart

Congratulations Brenda.

She won 17 complete blocks, 8 kits, and about a yard of uncut fabric.




If you have a Chocolate Bunny block, either completed or still in kit form, please forward it to Brenda.

She is in the book.

 

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

"How cool is that?!"


Remember good ole "Brain Dead"?

I painted him in an up-coming fabric line by Moda.  This is what he looks like in American Jane's "ABC 123".  To be released later this summer.

Moda describes the line this way....
The circle of life has many new beginnings starting with a new calendar year. Spring brings new life. Fall brings a new level in school.
And so with Julie Andrews, we go back to the very beginning and begin with ABC. What looks old is new again with these vintage prints and fresh colors. Simple shapes, squares, rectangles and triangles are as easy as 123. Have fun making a new start on a new day.


I submitted the idea to Moda Bakeshop....and they like it!  This Quilty Friend baby is going to be a featured make on their blog.
Moda Bake Shop
How cool is that?!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Month 11 - May 2012 - QF Friendship Star

Happy Birthday FQG!


General description of block:  This is a classic friendship star block made with Quilty Friends basic corners.  It uses nine patch construction.

Cutting directions: (21 pieces)

FQG - this months kit is purposefully subtle.  Our pinwheels will not pop as much as they usually do...this will allow our stars to shine.  Frisco Quilt Guild is, after all, the friendliest little guild in Texas!  Add dark coordinating colors from your stash to make the stars and white or off white for the background.

from dark (floral in kit) -
  • Cut 1, 5 1/4 inch square.
  • Sub-cut this square diagonally into 4 small triangles.
from light (pale blue in kit) -
Cut 1, 5 1/4 inch square.
  • Sub-cut this square diagonally into 4 small triangles.
from background (white or off white) -
  • cut 2, 5 1/4 inch squares.
  • Sub-cut them on the diagonal into 4 large triangles for corner blocks.
  • cut 2, 5 1/4 inch squares for edge blocks
from coordinating (dark blue, green, yellow, etc.)
  • cut 2, 5 1/4 inch squares for edge blocks
  • cut 1, 4 1/2 inch square for center


Piecing directions:
Corners -

  • Sew one dark and one light small triangle together to make one large triangle.
  • Being careful not to warp the triangles, iron seams open.
  • Sew each set in the same order. The finished large triangles should be identical.
  • Using the right angle to align the pieces, sew each two colored triangle to a large single fabric triangle. Trim the excess seam allowance (this should all be from the large single fabric triangle).
  • Being careful not to warp the triangles, iron seams toward the large single fabric triangle. (The side with the least number of seams) Trim square to 4 ½ inches.
  • Make 4 identical squares


Edges - These blocks are the dreaded "half square triangle"  you can make these blocks however you want to...however, I've included the directions for those who are new to this block.

  • Draw one diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of each 5 1/4" square of  background fabric.  (You should have 2)
  • With right sides together, sew  background squares to coordinating squares just shy of 1/4" from the line on both sides of the line.  This will result in a square of fabric with two parallel lines of stitching about 1/2" apart running diagonally across the square. 
  • Cut along the drawn line creating 2 triangle shaped pieces from each square.
  • Being careful not to warp the triangles, open the triangles and iron seams toward the darker fabric.
  • Trim squares to 4 1/2" inches.


Block - Assemble block according to the picture being careful to make the points of your star go in the right direction.  The points on opposite sides of the block should be parallel to each other.
  • row 1 & 3 - are the same.  Corner square with bisected corner on the outside; middle square with background to the left; corner square with bisected corner on the outside.
  • row 2 - Edge square with solid, contrasting corner on upper right; solid center square; edge square with solid, contrasting corner on the lower left.
  • Assemble rows to make one 12 1/2" block.  (actual size, including seam allowances.)