« July 2008 | Main | September 2008 »
Thanks to the Craftzine blog for pointing out this thorough set of tips for machine-quilting that was put together with fantastic tutorial images from the Anyone Can Quilt blog! Don't stop at the end of the post -- some of the comments are extremely helpful as well.
We have an interesting assortment of blocks to release this week. The one that stands out the most is definitely the swastika-esque Feathered Pinwheel four-patch. I don't recommend making this one as a stand-alone block on a pillow or anything, but with a whole quilt full of these, the swastika disappears and a really neat pattern shows up. I hope all five of these new blocks will spark some creativity for you!
Many of you are very familiar with Amy Butler and her beautiful fabrics. And here are some more to add to your collection. A beautiful group of solids. I'm always looking for the right pink or yellow to offset some of my fun patterns, but usually I'm disappointed when I'm hunting around the fabric store. Now we have these luscious colors to choose from! Fabric candy!
Did you find your missing piece in there?! I'm pretty sure Kacie will be looking into those lovely mist and slate colors for her latest quilt for her little guy!
Okay, so I'm not exactly planning to retire anytime soon, but I did give my notice this week that I'll be done with my day job at the end of August!
Although my ultimate reason for quitting and not finding new employment has to do with the little guy who is due to arrive in December, one of the perks for me will definitely be more time for quilting! Since my interest in quilting came along only a few years ago, I've managed to keep it alive one quilt at a time in the form of gifts that had to be done (sneaky - I know!) and it has worked. But, I've not had time to really experiment just for fun, or go stroll through fabric shops or quilt shows just to see what strikes my fancy. Hopefully the next few months will be so full of inspiration that the quilting will continue as much as possible even with the new family addition.
I've had some great jobs over the years, but getting to work on my other interests is definitely the fulfillment of a dream for me. Maybe someday they'll provide income, but just the joy of spending time doing what I love will be a great start.
Have you had an opportunity recently (or do you have one coming up) to spend more time doing what you love?
This week's five blocks are all twists on some of the most recognizable, classic quilt blocks.
I've found that block names may vary even though the design is the same, or the designs may vary for blocks of the same name. The history of most quilt blocks is so evolutionary, many of them are hard to trace definitively. In my opinion, the actual name of the block is not nearly as important as the use of it. If it strikes your fancy, it's yours for the making no matter its name.
I hope you can use some of these blocks in the projects on tap for you. If you use any of the blocks listed on Quiltivate, We would love to hear your feedback on how they worked for you ... and see the pictures of your finished projects! This community is more valuable when everyone shares their work and experiences. So, thanks for being here!
