It's All Doniene's Fault

I've learned to vicariously enjoy QALs/BOWs/BOMs by seeing all the lovely photos that folks post on their blogs.   I was particularly enjoying Temecula Quilt Company's Summer Star Sew Along, proud of myself for not jumping in automatically until....  I saw Doniene's post about her completed star blocks!

 

Photo swiped from Doniene's blog:  Now It's Just Quilts!

Doniene's assembled blocks assembled finish at 16".... and I thought....  pillow cover!    I particularly liked the reverse star in the center and, since there were only 8 star blocks in this QAL... I had the perfect way to have a 3x3 block grid!

I have a LOT of small scraps left from the CW quilt, the tumbler quilt, and the hourglass block project (still in progress) and since the blocks finish at 4"... I have the perfect way to use some of those scraps!

I did some sorting and organizing of the small scraps and made my first star block... it will be in the center...

One down, eight more to go!   Thanks for the inspiration, Doniene!

Grandmother's Choice: Block 1, second version

Yes, I am certifiable but I did decide to make two versions of the same block!  This time I used fabrics from my stash of 1930s reproduction fabrics.

This block was challenging in that I don't have what I would call "dark" darks.... or any "light" lights...  

...so this block presented its own challenges.....  but it was fun!

Grandmother's Choice: Votes for Women

Barbara Brackman's new block of the week Grandmother's Choice: Votes for Women kicked off yesterday with the posting of the first block:  Grandmother's Choice!    In addition to interesting history of the fight for women's rights, including cool photos...  Ms Brackman posted four versions of this block for us to drool over...  uh... use as inspiration!

This is my first block, done in the Art Nouveau line by Blank Quilting (2009), which has been maturing in my stash.

The fabric selection part of making this block was the hardest.  I have a limited selection of fabrics... six prints and four solids... and it was tough.   I almost threw in the towel but that deeply ingrained steak of determination (aka: stubbornness) prevented me.

I am planning on making two blocks each week... one from this line of fabrics and a second from my stash of 1930s repro fabrics.   

This ought to help keep me off the streets and out of trouble...

PS - You can check out the blocks others are making on the Grandmother's Choice Flickr group!