Block Doctor is IN

A friend wrote me recently.  She was so frustrated.

Her blocks had a health problem - they were not coming out the expected size.  

She wanted to participate in a block lotto ...  but her blocks were not coming out reliably to the required size.......  I tried to give her a few tips, but I could tell she just felt like "what is causing this to happen"??????  She needed INTENSIVE CARE ,  lol.

So I asked her to mail me the block.  And i put on my 'BLOCK DOCTOR'  coat.  

She sent Three blocks - one looked perfect.  But another, which should measure at 12.5 square, was not close.    It was 12.25 - well, the top row of the 9 patch was 12.25.  The middle and bottom rows were larger.  

This photo is more informative -  see how the seam curves down on the left side?    aha, there's the problem....

So - the autopsy began, and I took apart that row of blocks, and laid them carefully one on top of the other - and this is what I saw:   

Aha:  diagnosis:  the blocks, which were supposed to be 4.5, range from 3.5 to 4.0 to 4.5

That will certainly cause an uneven block.

MORAL OF THE STORY:  Cut the blocks and stack them - if they are all supposed to measure the same thing - UH OH -  back up and re-cut.

cut precisely,  sew straight - that's the gist of the thing  :)

the reality is a bit more difficult.

isn't it????

Keep trying

Kathleen

January ????? egad how did that happen?

 Exactly HOW did it get to be January?   

I keep being tempted to say farewell to this blog - but then I remember how much I have enjoyed other blogs and continue to look forward every day to reading these little capsules of quilter's lives.

So - here we go - a little capsule of my life.   Just for you.  

I have completed two quilts since the New Year.  And for the first time, I set up a folder on my desktop and am determined to keep track of every single finish - well, we shall see, won't we?

First was this delightful barn quilt.  Someone made it and gave it to Jo Kramer of jo's country junction blog fame - and she passed it to me for quilting and donating.  I adore it - and now that it is all finished, I'm sending it to a program that provides quilts for Syrian and Afghani refugees, people who have and are suffering so much.  I just know it will be loved!

The other fabulous news is that this adorable kitty is better.  We spent about six months doctoring her through a kitty liver disease.  We had to syringe feed her 4-6 times per day.  But now she is eating reliably on her own, I am so glad.   

To take the excitement over the top - my new quilt, 'Bodega Bay', is in California, and will soon be shown in the Road to California show.  Here's a photo:

Yep, I am a busy girl.  And I can't wait to be even busier....

there is a quilt on the machine calling to be now, 

but i am going to pop some popcorn, snuggle up in a blanket, and invite a kitty on my lap to watch the late-night news.   

you take care now and stay well!

Kathleen

Chasing a Deadline !

 Hi All,

I am madly chasing a deadline, with no idea if I will make it...  so, i thought i would waste some time here on the blog, lol !

Last winter I made this very small piece...  I like it  a lot, so I have decided to make a biger, more carefully -crafted version.

Then i decided to try to do it by the deadline for QuiltCon - which is Oct. 31.  

Here's the model small piece:

So - digging in my greens again, i started the background;

And now the background is complete !

The orange design is reverse applique, so now the piece is all covered with orange fabric, and I am beginning the hand work.....  wish me luck, this takes a while !

I'll be back when this looks more like something !!!

Kathleen

A Prize, Some Art, Some Food, and Some Friends !

 Sometimes, it's just a great day !

The Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza opened yesterday, and my piece, 'Bodega Bay', won a prize............. yipee !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Here's a list of all the prizewinners - what an honor to be among so many wonderful quilts...

https://www.quiltfest.com/upcoming-shows-and-events/pennsylvania-national-quilt-extravaganza/new-heading-page/2017-quilt-competition-winners/

The day continued with some art and some food............  all with good friends..........

That incredible piece behind us is the work of a local artist - here's some info about her !

(128) A Virtual Ice Dyed Art Exhibit - YouTube

And there was a great lunch to be had as well !

I am so grateful for every piece of yesterday !

Kathleen

Bodega Bay

 Do you know where Bodega Bay is?  

It's in Northern California - a beautiful spot where the hills meet the Pacific.

It's also the place where the movie "The Birds"  was filmed.

So - when I began to work on this vintage tablecloth, i lived in California, and gave it this name because of the beautiful birds embroidered on the cloth.

Do you see the bird?  

I believe this tablecloth is a Madeira cloth, appr 50 inches square.  I have been working on it for 5 years, with lots of stops and starts.  

Next weekend it will be off in the mail to its first competition - the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza.   

Good luck, Bodega !!!

Kathleen

Tiny Houses

 oh friends, I am having fun !  😁

I must be honest...  a friend of mine said "I am making a mini quilt for the fair"...

and then someone at the guild mtg said "there never are many entried in the mini quilt section"

BAM - I was going to make a mini quilt ----  my competitive spirit just jumped up and seized the day !!

i found a pattern in a book on mini-quilts by Carol Doak.  

Easy Paper-Pieced Miniatures book by Carol Doak (thriftbooks.com)

you can see the tiny house quilt on the front cover.

So i made a tiny tree and a tiny house just to see how it went...

hmmm. not too hard, but a little boring..........

what if the houses were PINK????

oh THAT's better !!!!

Stay tuned... and we'll see if i can build a tiny village !!!

Kathleen

Hands2Help Again - even this year !!!!

 WELL..............  

Somehow, nothing this year has been on schedule..........   but the important things needed to get done.

And this one is important to me...

Hands2Help  .   

I have done it every year.  Including this very difficult year.   

This one is finished.  Was a kit from Connecting Threads many years ago.

This one still needs quilting.  Was also a kit from Connecting Threads - also many years ago.

These will both go to the charity "Covered in Love".  

OK, let's see if I can make some more of this year "normal".   

Kathleen