QuiltMouse

Since October, I’ve been working on some quilting activity I haven’t been able to share.  I have been part of a group of Quilters that have been testing instructions for making quilt blocks for publication in the Spring 2013 Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 7.

On May 7th, this issue will be available for purchase.  But before that, Quiltmaker’s Blog will host a Blog Tour involving the designers of the 100 Blocks.  Many will showcase their Blocks and ideas for using them in quilts on their own Blogs.

There were several groups of Quilters that were involved in the testing process.  I was in Group #1.  Each Group was given blocks to make, and check out the directions.  No, I didn’t get to test all 100 Blocks.  Our Group had a total of 13 blocks to work on.  Once a week or so, we would be given a set of instructions and were required to make the block, write a review and return the review along with a picture of our block within a week or two.

This was a challenge for me and stretched my block-making skills.  The 12-1/2” Unfinished Blocks were pieced, paper pieced, templates, applique or a mixture of techniques.

A number of the Patterns I tested are featured on the cover.  I can’t wait to share with you the Blocks I made.  Although, not an ‘official’ part of the Blog Tour, I will begin posting my pictures during that week.

Often, while driving in rural areas, you might see a Quilt Block painted on the side of a barn. Well, we don’t have a Barn and today it is suppose to be rainy. So, in honor of National/Worldwide Day of Quilting, I have hung several recent Quilt Blocks in our front window! So I’m off to do some sewing!

In 1990, the National Quilting Association (NQA) inaugurated an annual day to celebrate the art of quilt making.  The third Saturday of March has been designated as National Quilting Day.  March is widely known as National Crafting/Sewing Month.

The NQA has provided a free quilt pattern to celebrate the occasion.  This year the theme is “Celebrate America.” Many guilds and local quilt shops plan events, many of them supporting charitable organizations.

This event has grown to an International Event being celebrated as Worldwide Quilting Day!

So I invite you to join me and millions of others and celebrate Quilting – Visit a quilt show or quilt shop, get together with others and make a quilt, or just work at home on a quilty project!

It’s been a busy month and a half.  After my trip to Williamsburg, I took a fall tearing my left rotator cuff.  This made doing almost anything difficult & painful.

In addition, during the month of February, what sewing I could do was on a project that I can’t share with you yet.  I’ve been testing blocks for future publication – sometime this Spring (Release Date: May 7th).  At that time I will be able to share with you the 13 Blocks that I tested and the Quilt I made using several of the tested blocks.  More on that later. 

This is Monkey Around Fabric by Quilting Treasures. I used this fabric to make a cute quilt that is 69” x 83”.  This quilt had a deadline and I had to have it designed-pieced-quilted-binding on-label added and hanging sleeve attached and mailed out by the end of February.

In February, we went to Hampton Roads, Virginia, and attended the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival.  We got to see some great quilts, check out the many vendors, and visit with Donna & Robert, owners of Fabric Café in Tyler, Tx.

The first week of March, I got two quilt kits from Donna to make for her to display in her Booth at Quilt Shows. One is a pattern that I’ve made before – Nine-Plus-One using Pink & Brown 9-Patch blocks teamed with one 8” Block. 

 The second top used some really cute jungle fabric matched with a zebra print.

This is a new pattern for Donna, and I can’t show it to you until she issues it.

I am slowly getting back into my ‘regular’ sewing. I’ve got some pillowcases I want to make, some baby quilts for Quilting for Good and some UFO’s (Un-Finished Objects) that I need to complete.