Practical Orchard

  Binding, binding and more binding.  Sometime it seems like that is all that I get done.  Thank goodness that I quit doing it by hand years ago.  I would not be able to keep up.  Besides my hands gave out some time ago so I bind only by machine.   Being busy is a good thing, not a complaint.
  After a busy day, it is nice to do a simple block.  Today's block is Practical Orchard.  You can mark your diagonals first and sew, then cut if you like.

Practical Orchard

  

Cutting
  Light Medium fabric
    four  2 1/2" sq.
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice  use 2 triangles for hour glass

  Dark Medium fabric
    four 2 1/2" sq.
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice  use 2 triangles for hour glass

Relax and enjoy,
  Terry

No Name Patch

  For Christmas, my daughter gave me a book that is a quilter's mystery.  She thought that it would be something that I would enjoy.  She was right.  I enjoy quilting and also a good mystery.  What more could one ask for in a book.  Anyway, I started reading Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks over the weekend. So far so good.
  Today's block is No Name Patch.   It is made of 4-patches and square in a square.

No Name Patch

Cutting
  Light fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq.
    four  1 7/8" sq.  for the sq. in a sq.

  Light Medium fabric
    eight  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

  Medium fabric
    four  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch
    eight  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for the sq. in a sq.

  Dark fabric
    four  1 1/2" sq. for outer corners in sq. in a sq. 

  Have fun and find a good book.
  Terry 

Double Pinwheel

  The end of the year is counting down.  One of the things that I have always tried to do is to complete the lingering projects from the year.  That does not mean that I finish all my quilt projects.  These are the ones that I am making for the shop or was commissioned to make for a customer.  This gives me a good feeling to begin my year anew.  Since Christmas has pasted, I have been able to concentrate on them.  Tomorrow, I have one quilt left to bind.  Yeah!! Next, on to the projects that came in this month that have 2018 deadlines.
  For now, it is block time.  Double Pinwheel is one of my favorites and a great one for any skill level.

Double Pinwheel

  Cutting
    Light fabric
      one  4 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice

    Medium fabric
      two  3 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

    Dark fabric
      one  4 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice

  Well, there is still time to finished one more before the new year begins.  Have fun.
  Terry

Weathervane

  Our customers have picked up their quilts in time for Christmas.  So the next couple of days will be slow with the exception of a husband or friend purchasing a gift certificate.  This gives us the time to get some of those odd and ends done before the new year starts.
  On New Year Day, check out our online only fat quarter sale at junctionfabric.com.  
  Moving on to today's block-- Weathervane.  It is made of an array of HST, flying geese, squares and rectangles.  You have done all of these before.

Weathervane

Cutting
  Light fabric
    four  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for HST
    twelve  1 1/2" sq.  use 8 for the flying geese

  Medium fabric
    eight  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles  use 4 for the flying geese

  Dark fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq. for center
    four  1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.

Have safe trip if you are traveling for the holidays.
  Terry  

Fancy

  Almost forgot to blog but as you see I did remember.  I spent the day making candy for Christmas.  This is something that I enjoy doing each year.  It is not good for the waistline but it is the holidays.
  Gentleman's Fancy is today's block.  It looks much like a square in a square.

Gentleman's Fancy

Cutting
  Light fabric
    three  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice for 12 triangles

  Medium or Dark fabric
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice for 4 triangles
    four  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for 8 triangles
    one  2 1/2" sq. for center

Take time to make something fun.
  Terry

Maple Leaf

  The snow has melted or maybe the wind has blown it away.  I forget how windy the fall can be.  The leaves have all moved to the next state.  So how appropriate that today's block is Ozark Maple Leaf.  Once again a great block of squares and HST.

Ozark Maple Leaf

Cutting

  Light fabric

    two  2 1/2" sq.

    four  1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST

    six  1 1/2" sq.

  Medium fabric

    one  2 12" sq.

    two  1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST

    three  1 1/2" sq. 

  Dark fabric

    one  2 1/2" sq.

    two  1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST

    three  1 1/2" sq.

Enjoy the block,

  Terry 

Triplet

   Well, I didn't get my tree decorated.  I spend the day sewing Christmas gift for my family, that was more important.
If I keep up the work, I may have everyone taken care of by Christmas.  I hope that you are getting your holiday ready to enjoy with family and friends.
  Today's block is--Triplet.

Triplet

Cutting
  Medium fabric
    two  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice creating 8 triangles, you will use 6 of them
      two  2 1/2" sq.

  Dark fabric
    two  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice creating 8 triangles, you will use 6 of them
    four  2 1/2" sq.

  Terry

Project Runway

  Just watch another episode of Project Runway.  I am not sure why I like the show unless it reminds me of when I sewed prom and wedding dresses.  I think it is more the awe that I feel to think of what they can design in a short amount of time.
  Today was another day of finishing old projects.  One more quilt ready to be quilted and another sewn together but not quite done.  I am not sure how many more projects are hidden in my sewing area.  It does feel good to clean a spot & get something finished.
  Let us proceed to today's block.  I picked London Roads for it's different look.  It looks like houses going in a circle or is it arrows going in a circle the other direction.  You decide.

Cutting

  Light fabric
    one  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
    two  2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
    one 2 1/2" sq.
    four  1" x 2 1/2" rectangles

  Dark fabric
    one  3 1/3" sq. cut diagonally twice
    eight  1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rectangles

That's all for now.
  Terry






    
    

Phoenix Bound!

In just a few short days, Terry will be headed down to Phoenix for their HUGE quilt show.  Officially called the Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival, it is held January 26-28, 2017.  Over 150 vendors will descend on the Arizona State Fairgrounds to provide seminars, workshops, and prizes.
In the meantime, she is packing up the trailer.  

She's filling it with all the goodies she wants to show everyone. Finished projects, kits, fat quarters, rotary cutters... 

She'll pack them up, and load them in and out of the truck with these convenient storage carts.

And then she'll be out of here...

Photo Credit:  Cody Lere Photography

and pulling up to here!  

Photo Credit:  3009 Investments

Those of us staying back at the shop might be a tad bit jealous.  Sturgis in January is a smidge colder than Phoenix.  But the show, I mean, the shop, must go on.  We are still open to serve our customers in the area and online.  

We can't wait to see what Terry finds down in Phoenix.  We'll try and post some pictures of this great show.  Terry hopes to see some of you there!