Grandmother's Choice #8: Rocky Road to Kansas

Rocky Road to Kansas is a variation of Amethyst, which was the second block.   Hmmm....  it will be a challenge to make these two blocks look differently than the first two.

If you remember I got BlockBase for my birthday (there was a special + free shipping)... so I decided to check this block out in this handy-dandy software.

I selected fabrics for the first block and used the measurements from BlockBase to cut the pieces and...  oh my, the block went together so smoothly.   Seams/corners matched mostly, no pulling of fabrics, lies flat, and is the right size exactly!    Wooo hooo!

Then.... on to the block with the 1930s fabrics.   I decided to piece the arms of the star and ended up using the templates from Amethyst.   What a difference....

 

I had a time piecing this one.... and I'm sure you can see the lumpy block.   In fact, one side of the block is noticeably smaller than the opposite side.    However, I don't feel like taking it apart to day.  I am recovering but it's time to go hold down the sofa for a bit and watch a movie. 

I am pleased with the results from using measurements from BlockBase.  No more downloading templates... I'll find that block in BB and use those measurements.

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Heath update:  I've turned a corner and am feeling better... and would estimate that I'm about where I was last Saturday afternoon/evening.... when I knew I was coming down with something.  I can't say at this point if I will be up for work on Monday.... I'll just have to wait and see.

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Thought I'd share this with you all... gave me a chuckle!

 

 

Grandmothers Choice #6: Aunt Eliza's Star

I again figuratively tiptoed into Blogger to check out this week's block....   *ahhhh*    ...not too bad!

I'm starting to get a handle on using the Art Nouveux fabrics and, with this large center, I had the perfect opportunity to fussy cut another large flower.

I had (what I considered) a very large 1930s print that I thought I wouldn't be able to use but by jingo!   This was the very block to incorporate that large print!

 

I had fun at my granddaughter's birthday party yesterday afternoon and have a photo to share of the birthday girl and her new tote...

 

....all in all, a very nice day!

Grandmothers Choice #4: Kansas Sunflower

This week's block was Kansas Sunflower...  not only does it have LOTS of tiny Y-seams but also has lots of little diamonds and triangles!  (Thank goodness the curved seams aren't a problem because of all those years and years of dressmaking.)   

I almost didn't make this block but then.... I remembered that part of doing this BOW is "learning something new." The first block took 3 hours of trying to figure it out...

 I finished it... it's pretty bad.... but I got it done!    It took me at least 4 hours to recover and be willing to make a second one.

 

The second block was easier.... not "easy" but easier.   I could not get the center to lie flat and tried to press it into submission.   I'm hoping that the fabric will relax in a couple of days.


Nope... I didn't give up tho...   now I need me some easier blocks to work on.    I certainly hope Ms Brackman is posting the really HARD blocks early 'cause if she's saving harder ones for later...  I'm in BIG trouble.

Grandmothers Choice #3a: Union Square

Not sure why I decided to make two of each block but I'm liking the challenge of making two with such different fabrics...  

I kinda wish I had used the darker orange fabric in the center 9-patch... but oh well!   Not making this one over....

Grandmothers Choice: #3 Union Square

After last week's Y-seams, I was grateful for a more forthright block to work on...   Union Square!

In fact, participants in the Civil War BOW made this block last year.

Amazing how much different fabrics change a block....


My DIL sent me the following photo of one of my grandsons after a tough loss in soccer yesterday... a game where he scored the only goal made by his team...  recouping on the sofa...

...and this is why we make quilts, yes?

Grandmother's Choice: Block 2a

Someone on the Flickr group commented that I was "fast" getting the blocks done...

...but when you wake up at 6:00am and are ready to go at 7:00...  you can get 'em done!  Especially when you have a lot of sewing to tackle over the weekend!