Picket Gate Corners

I did it! 

Even though worn out erasers reminded of my old persistent math teacher, I dutifully bent once again over the fractions and geometrical shapes scratched on my graph paper. He had never quite convinced me of math talent, but through his many practice sheets, at least he gave some knowledge on how to figure out a new block for my quilt!
So, today...I finally have my picket fence corner blocks!

My concern was to square off my "Butterflies in a Garden" quilt border just like a garden fence!

I drew what I was picturing in my head with the desire to have easy geometrical shapes fit together nicely, finishing with an 8" block for each corner. It was the corner post that challenged me because I wanted the picket fence to meet in the corner, turn sharply and finish with the sky still above the fence.

As I worked, I wrote a list of needed measurements, and cut them out for a sample. 

2 blue rectangles....1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch each
1 blue square...1 inch sq
1 white square...1 inch sq
1 white square....2 1/2 inch sq

These pieces gave me a 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch square.

Then I attached this square to a block made of 3 fence posts trimmed to 3 1/2"tall. This gave me

half of my finished block. I then attached this half to 3 full length fence posts going in the new direction for the continuing look of a fence border.
This little HST made an interesting little post on top of the corner post, and left sky on the outer rim of my border.
I didn't need to change my measurements for fence posts. I found I could just cut my prepared fence posts in half, using the bottom half for another corner's 3 1/2" tall fence posts.
Making fence posts can be found at this site:
http://debi-peacebypiece.blogspot.com/2013/05/making-my-picket-fence.html


Because of the fabric I purchased, I needed to constantly be alert of the NAP. The skylines can best be seen in the above small square, where they turn the corner with the post. Please notice also the look of wood splinters in the white. This changed direction for me along with the seam.
This may be a tad bit OCD for a quilter, but it mattered! So, to keep me from making many mistakes, I ironed each blue square in half, then put them in dishes for RIGHT or LEFT.
I like the result of seeing little wisps of clouds floating horizontally as you would see on a summer day.

I cut, measured over and over, ripping out a seam here or there, and squaring over and over...but finally, with a big sigh, I have a perfectly squared 8" block, with a little bit of flare for a corner post!

I assembled all corner blocks, liking how nicely they came together. So as I leave my sewing center...
all four CORNER blocks sit waiting for the rest of the picket fence!

PS. I think this photo best shows all the lines in the nap and how I turned the fabric to match the horizon lines of the sky! I also like the splintered wood look of the white posts.  
This hasn't been squared yet. :) (no quilting police allowed)

VIrtual Bee Quilt Block #3

Adding this post to WIP Wednesday and "What are you doing?" Block Hop (click on links in right column), because TODAY...I'm busy in my sewing room.

I am cutting out the pieces for Block 4.
Thought you'd like to see that the colors are working together (photo of 3) with the soft blue swirls for a background...

Wa-hoo!
It's FRIDAY, and I've finished another block for the Virtual Quilting Bee and Sassy Quilter's challenge.

This one went together very easily and was so fun!

My greatest challenge seems to be choosing the fabric for each particular block.

My stash is the Multidot & Delight Layer Cake.

I spend a considerable amount of time placing fabric here and there before I settle on the pieces.

To make things less confusing for me in this decision process, I begin each block with a background from the "soft blue swirls" fabric.
The instructions are awesome!
I don't know what the final result will be yet, but so far, these fabrics seem to be making a pleasing array of design.

I'm so glad I chose to join this Virtual Bee and Challenge!

If any reader still desires to jump in and join us, click on one of the links above and start cutting and assembling your blocks. Make sure to connect with us so we can see your blocks and join you in this fabulous group's
                 "oooh and ahhhh"!

Virtual Bee Block #1 and #2

Along with the Sassy Quilter, I joined the Virtual Quilting Bee, hosted by Amy at Diary of a Quilter.
The goal is to do a block every Friday until we've caught up to the original group.
Today, I proudly display 2 of my blocks.  

Sherri at A Quilting Life gave us the pattern for Block #1.



And Block #2 was designed by Amy at
Sukie Don't Ya Know



For this project, I've chosen Multidot by Windham Fabrics through MSQC, ordering a Layer Cake and then, a yard of soft blue twirls for the background and their dark plaid for contrast. 

This Virtual Quilting Bee is so fun!

Thank you, "Sassy" and Amy, for inviting others to join you! I'm really having fun as I hop from one designer's blog to another.
Thank you also, dear designers! I'm learning from your great instructions and photos.
The best gift of blogging is I'm finding more and more friends in this wonderful corner of the quilting world.
If you're interested, the Virtual Quilting Bee button is in this blog's right column. Click...and come, join us.

Wednesday Workings

Good morning, Wednesday! 

It's the middle of my week where I can announce what project is near my sewing machine, and what I hope to accomplish by Friday. 
I have assembled my set from the
  SWAP BLOCK
"Butterflies in the Garden" and I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

My goal was to have rows of the same color varying in shades of color and as close to how it would naturally look in a landscaped garden. 

Next, I added the 1" chocolate tone-on-tone "dirt" border around my garden. Today, I will add the 2" green grass tone-on-tone border. 
It will be ready to add the picket fence, I hope next week, when I finish my pile of Picket Fence Blocks! 

So, one of my projects this Wednesday - Friday is to add to this pile of picket fence posts!

I'm also working on my Virtual Bee blocks, but that's another blog post. So, hop on over to the next entry and see my just finished blocks! 

Making My Picket Fence

1. I cut white logs...2" x 8"
     Cut strips of WOF 8" first, then
     Cut 2" logs from strips 
I cut blue squares 1.5" x 1.5"
       Cut WOF 1.5" strips, then 
       Cut 1.5" from strips 
2. Press squares on diagonal.



3. Put 1 square on a log


4. Sew along diagonal.

5.Trim Seam to 1/4"



6. Press new corner open



7. Place 2nd sq on the log,
         covering opposite corner

8. Sew 2nd sq on the diagonal,



9. Trim seam



10. Press open



11. Finish assembling 5 posts




12. Assemble 5 posts for finished BLOCK!

                                                
                    And there you have it.

"Butterflies in the Garden" Fence Post Block

SAMPLE border for garden

While waiting for the butterflies to fly north to my garden, I gathered supplies for my border. I decided to keep the same theme of tone-on-tone, yet keep the floral fabrics within the garden.

Off I went to shop for fence posts fabric.
I found white-on-white in a splintered wood look.

Then, I found a soft blue that looks like a summer sky with soft wisps of clouds floating lazily.

I already had the grassy green, but after some thought, I wanted to trim my quilted garden as I do my flower gardens. I love the intense outline of dark brown chips along the border, so I browsed the store for a dark tone on tone. I found a piece that actually looks like the shades of browns cast by the chips!

With all the fabrics in hand, I began to design the border and fence posts for my butterfly garden. I'm so excited to work on these blocks.
The actual blocks will be five fence posts with blue sky, measuring a 7.5" block. I will first border my garden blocks with 1" strips of brown, then of 2" strips of green and finally, add my "white picket fence outlined by a sky blue" block rows.
My binding will be also made in the soft blue.
My quilting plan is to stitch crossbars along the posts and then use grassy green thread to make strands of grass along the fence in FMM designs.

So, thank you "Block Swappers"! Your blocks are vivid and beautiful! I've squared and arranged my rows of floral fabric blocks.
My Butterfly Garden awaits my diligent work on the fence.

Small projects

As I wait for the Butterflies to wing their way north to my floral garden, (previous post) I decided to put quilting aside for a week or two and focus on some cute little sewing projects. After all, why would I be given the precious gifts of grand daughters and ignore the possibilities of sewing adorable little outfits?

I wanted to make a jumpsuit for the birthday of our sweet 1 year old grand daughter. The blue of this fabric reminds me of her beautiful eyes and I know her mommy loves blue! I began my sewing projects with this little outfit. I'm quite proud of the changes I made in the pattern. I put cuffs on the legs to keep it fitted over her shoes. I also left the collar off and made a ruffle of the short sleeves. The fabric makes it dressy, but it's no frills for play.

Her mommy made some bibs from terry cloth and scrap fabric which just needed my sewing machine to add a little touch of Velcro as fasteners. The little one finds sleepy comfort rubbing terry cloth with two fingers in her mouth. Using terry cloth backing makes great washcloth cleanups when the meals are done.
Here are 2 of the little bibs!

I found adorable fabric to replace a favorite outfit that had long since become too small for our third little overseas princess. It was her favorite Grandma-made outfit, but sadly had to be passed on. To dry the cascading tears, I promised to replace her Dora dress as soon as I could. I searched in several stores before I found any Dora fabric, and was thrilled with this vivid dark shade of burgundy with blue butterflies. It is a reversible outfit, so I found some matching blue for its backing.

The calendar page turned over to May while we visited the little one in a southern state. It was wonderful to see the azaleas and dogwood in full bloom and enjoy the southern sun and hospitality. We returned home on the first of May only to be met with spring rains and the predictions of SNOW (?) brought by very cold winds.
My Butterfly Garden blocks hadn't arrived yet, and it's too cold to plant the transplanted day lilies, so the rest of this week, I hope to finish the Dora dress and get it in the mail.

I love being a grandmother with a sewing machine! The joy of sewing somehow brings the little ones with their conversational questions and contagious giggles right into my sewing room while I dream of them receiving and wearing these adorable creations!