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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tara's finished block and my quest for you...

Here is Tara's block, all sewn and pressed and ready for the post.  Seeing how we are in the middle of a blizzard, that may have to wait until Thursday.  I am quickly trying to post all this before we lose power.  The winds are howling outside, the snow is falling and blowing, and it is c-c-c-cold!!

I love Tara's idea for her blocks...I was sorely tempted to send out a repeat performance, but then I came up with a really wacky idea.  I hope you don't mind playing along.

I decided at the beginning of the year that I wanted to come to some serious decisions about UFO's.  I need to either finish them, pass them on, or re-purpose (recycle, really) them.  I spotted one UFO on the shelf a couple of weeks ago and decided to take a peek in the bin and make a decision about it's future. 

Have you ever heard anyone refer to a project as having "sex appeal??"  Well, this project didn't seem "sexy" to me anymore.  In fact, I'm not exactly sure what I really had in mind when I cut out all these lovely 30's fabrics a few years ago.  Sometimes I just pet fabric and cut out shapes, lost in the fog of fabric lust...

So I have come up with a plan for you to help me make lemonade from lemons.  I came up with a new plan using the pieces I have, and cut some of the solid green to help make it all happen.  Since the green was in the bin with the UFO, I must have intended it to go together at some point.  Lord, I miss my mind!

Using the 4-patch units I already assembled, some additional 3 inch squares, and some solid green rectangles, I have come up with the following block idea.

The 4-patch unit measures 5.5 inches square (unfinished), the rectangles are 3 x 5.5 inches (unfinished), and the squares are 3 inches (unfinished).
After laying out the pieces, I sewed them in rows first.  On the top and bottom rows, I pressed the seams toward the green rectangles.  On the middle row, I pressed the seams away from the 4-patch unit, again, toward the green rectangles.
After assembling the rows, I pressed the seams toward the outside of the square, away from the 4-patch unit.  The final block should be 10.5 inches square (unfinished).
I am going to join the blocks by making sashing from additional 3 inch squares of 30's fabrics (I cut TONS of them out, for some reason...), using solid green squares as cornerstones.  I think it will be simply stated, but brilliant! 

Now we are having "thunder snow" - it's definitely weird out there.  It is after midnight here and everything outside is a white blowing blur.  Weasley, my cat, seems a little concerned (I am too, truth be known...).

I will get these posted on Thursday, weather permitting!!

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)


3 comments:

  1. Love it! And I love 30s fabrics! Can't wait to play with yours-- can we add any?

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  2. Teresa
    I got your fabric in the mail today! I can not wait to make the blocks. I will try one with fabric I have too!
    beebe

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  3. here I am three hours later....I finished your blocks and will put them in the mail this week. Love them and I know you will end up with a beautiful quilt. I can not wait to see pictures of your progress.
    Have a great week.
    beebee

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