Not Working Harder....

just smarter!

Well, mostly! But more on that soon...

I've been making Month #5 block of "Delilah" quilt,

while "Alice" sits in a corner and sulks, 

because she didn't turn out as pretty as hoped!

I commented that these North Star blocks seem to 

take longer to cut out than piece.

So I thought I'd share how I managed to make the 

cutting a bit quicker.

I cut rectangles of each fabric 

(here are the measurements for each shape:)

T19- 2" x 5"

T20- 2" x 4"

T21- 2.75" x 5"

and layered them in groups of four, flipping the 

template as required.

Rotating these smaller pieces of fabric is much easier than turning oneself inside out cutting around all these corners!

Pressing seams open makes for a block that lays flat 

too.

A completed block from the back....

and from the front!

This one is quite subtle, which I like!

This wasn't the smartest bit of sewing of the day.....

needless to say a bit of 'un-sewing' was required!

Ah, that's better!

Here are they are together,

and a group shot of all my blocks so far!

Two more of these to make and Month #5 is 

complete!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

All work....

and no play, makes for little sewing time!

On my desk at work- gifts from special friends!

I have my Month 5 Delilah templates, and some new 

fabric waiting....

And fabric ready for binding Chucky!

Cutting this out probably took as long as the sewing 

will take!

But I hope to be back with a flimsy finish soon!

Happy days!

SUZ 

Rainbow Stepping Stones

is finished!

So many favourite fabrics...

 and long forgotten scraps...

And in all it's rainbow goodness!

finishes at 72" by 68"....

Simple straight line quilting, about 2 inch apart.

Inspiration from here.

 "A Very Hungry Caterpillar" fabric for backing,

and binding.

And on this pleasant winter's day...

a Hellebores- Winter Rose!

Happy days!

SUZ

Indecision...

Do you ever finish a project, 

 (my Random Stepping Stones quilt is finished)

More photos to come

and not know what to start next?

Too many choices, too many ideas!

I have been collecting solids for a few months now...

But what pattern to choose?

Or what to make from my "Alice in Wonderland" 

stash?

What about making something with my black and 

white fabrics?

Any ideas gratefully considered!

In the meantime, I might just make a few more 

bandana bibs for Eli!

Happy days!

SUZ

Fairhaven blocks...

named for a well known Victorian beach!

There were three of these to make this month.

And I knew before the templates even arrived that I 

was constructing them my way!

Making all those Chuck Nohara blocks taught me a 

lot about block construction.

There was no way I was cutting these weird shapes, 

even with the templates. 

And piecing all those curves!

So I made 3.5" HSTs...

laid out my orange peel shapes.....

joined some sections and used applique to finish 

them off!

So I have nine blocks now, and its time for another 

 group shot!

I believe the next round of blocks, five in all, can be 

machine pieced!

Yippee!

Happy days!

SUZ

A Friday Finish!

My "Rollercoaster" quilt has been finished for a 

couple of days now....

Quilted with Aurifil #1231

but today the sun came out for me to get some 

pretty photos!

I love everything about this quilt, despite it being 

started during a rather 'down' time of my life....

hence the Rollercoaster name!

I quilted it with a wavy line, 

which you can see quite clearly here...

  It's a little like the track a 

rollercoaster runs on!

I was thrilled to find the backing online,

at a bargain price!

The backing is "Sun-sational" by Maude Asbury

and the label is bordered with a precious scrap from 

a special friend!

I bound it with a white spotted black fabric.

The quilt finishes at approximately 54" X 72",

and is now living happily on the back on my sofa!

Linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday
Finish It Up Friday
Needle and Thread Thursday

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Gridster's Bee- June and July

For June, Mary asked for Confetti Stars...

made from this tutorial.

I have made this pattern before but didn't realise 

that when I'd printed it out, it was a little small!

But the pattern I'd traced was used for my own 

Gridster Sampler quilt blocks....

For July, Carol wanted a block to help her celebrate 

America's special day...

And I made a practice block first....

to become part of my sampler!

The very easy-to-follow tutorial can be found here.

And here are all my blocks together!

Happy sewing!

SUZ