Two Bucks A Block Quilt Layout Plan

In my last post I had a set in stone plan to start pressing and cutting for the alternate block of my 2 Bucks a Block quilt.  I couldn't wait to see this quilt come to life.

The 2 Bucks a Blocks are all made from various lines of Lori Holt fabric so I pulled every Lori background print in my stash but came up one short of what was needed for my quilt. Well poo.  Oh well, any ole low volume print will work.  The green polka dot in the very back of this bin is a Moda print and it plays well with the other fabrics.

On Monday evening, right before heading to bed, the background fat quarters were starched and hung up to dry in the sewing room.

 

By the way, take a look at my fancy curtains...they’re one yard pieces of fabric pinned to tension rods. HAHA! They look good compared to the paint supplies scattered on the floor. The paint supplies should be out of my sewing room by Friday.  Yeehaw!

Tuesday morning, right after a cup of decaf coffee and still in my pajamas, the pressing party began. It took nearly an hour to press 38 fat quarters. I’ve been saving these for years for just the right project, I'm excited to finally put them in a quilt. 

You might be wondering about the plan for the Thangles quilt blocks. Nothing complicated, just a simple, scrappy chain block.

After coloring the chain blocks in EQ, the plan changed. The scrappy chain didn't set right with me.  It seems to take away from the blocks, so maybe using a single fabric for the chain blocks would work better?  Don't you think it frames the blocks and allow them to become the star of the show?

 Time to dig in the stash to find a piece of Lori Holt yardage. I don’t buy yardage much these days, but I knew I had a few larger cuts of her fabric. This green one was the only piece large enough, and I’m not too fond of the larger print for a square that will finish at1.5" in the quilt.

Maybe I could use the scrap pieces but stick to just one color. If I let go of the self-imposed rule of only using Lori Holt prints in this quilt, I might have enough of the green or light blue scraps. Of course, the cutting and piecing would be more labor intensive.  Then there’s always the option of buying new fabric! ...sigh... My excitement was quickly crushed by adult Lea Anne, who promptly scolded me for even thinking about it. She’s such a party pooper.  So, I guess I'm working with what I have on hand.  Maybe later today I'll look for non Lori Holt yardage.

Pin It

Quilting Is My Therapy ~ Much Needed Therapy

After weeks without quilting, I was turning into a cranky mess. My back, grumbled from all the furniture shuffling during painting and staged a full protest. Clearly, it was time for a break and some good old fashioned fabric therapy. The 2025 Thangles “2 bucks a block” from our local quilt shop was just the ticket. I’m behind on my blocks, and the final one drops this week!

 Instead of making one block a month for this BOM, I decided to make two each month because I prefer making big quilts. So, the 12 block BOM has become 24 blocks for me. I made the blocks for 2 or 3 months earlier in the year.   For the remaining blocks it took a couple of days to cut the fabrics and prep them to be sewn with the Thangles papers.  I was in no hurry and took breaks as often as needed to rest my back. 

Normally, the mess in my sewing room would bother me, but not this time. I simply turned my achy back on it and enjoyed playing with my beautiful fabric...pure bliss!  

The tiny Thangle blocks finish at 7.5" in the quilt, which means they’re fidgety and leave little to no room for error. Taking my time, I pinned like my life depended on it and savored every moment. Each block took about 30 minutes, sometimes longer, thanks to the distraction of Christmas movies playing as I sewed.

By Wednesday of last week, I took a break from sewing and headed to the kitchen to start prepping the Thanksgiving feast. We spent all of Thursday visiting with family and eating. By Friday, I was back in my happy place making more quilt blocks and watching more Christmas movies...Elf...several times...I love it!

The quilt shop created a pattern for those of us who love big quilts and chose to double the blocks. The pattern was great, but I enjoy putting my own spin on things.  I experimented with designs using the 24 blocks. After six or seven ideas, I settled on a quilt set on point with an alternating block, but it needs 25 Thangle blocks, not 24.   I could have made another of any existing block, but instead, I decided to design a brand-new one, the one shown below with the arrow.  

I’m finally caught up on the quilt blocks and plan to grab the last two sometime this week and finish them ASAP.  I’ve pulled some scraps of Lori Holt fabric along with a few fat quarters with hopes to find time to start on the alternating blocks.  We’ll see how it goes, as my back is feeling much better after the week of quilting therapy, so it’s back to tackling the home updates.

 

Pin It

Fuzzy Offenders

Hello Quilty Friends!  The Flea Market Jelly Roll Strips are all cut, de-pinked ready for action.    

Trimming off the pinked edges was a little more tedious than expected.  And OH MY WHAT A MESS it made. A pretty little mess, don't you think?  Am I the only one that admires the bits of scraps in their trash can?  

After tossing the cute little visible scraps in the trash it was time to tackle the invisible scraps.  It's shocking how much lint couldn't be seen but would've shown up on the white background fabric.  A quick rolling with a sticky tape lint brush took care of all the fuzzy offenders.  Now it's safe to start cutting the background fabrics later today.

Pin It

~ Fall is in the Air~

Hi Sweet Quilty Friends!  We had some unseasonably cool weather last week.  It only lasted a couple of days but it was long enough to get the love of Autumn kick started.  Well going shopping at Hobby Lobby was also a big help.  The fall decor this year is loaded with black gingham.  Yeah gingham!  You all know my love of gingham....ANY COLOR!  The starts of a new series of quilt patterns has begun.  Inspiration is a funny thing, you just never know when or where it will happen or where it will lead once it strikes. 

While prepping my fabrics for cutting I had to stop for a bit to read every word on this fat quarter from the Autumn Love collection by Riley Blake.  It brought a smile to my face and a calming in my heart.  Not every fabric has this overwhelming effect, especially fabrics in gray and black...colors I rarely use.  Of course fabric makes me happy but blacks and grays?...not so much.  

It really is the little things that make the difference.   Could this be the start of a new love affair with darker colors?  Or is it just a quick fling?  Only time will tell.  For now I'm loving where this inspiration is headed.

~ Lea Anne ~

Pin It

~ Bee Skep Pin Cushion ~

Happy Friday Quilting Friends!  Its a Friday finish and a FREE-BEE for you!  

EDITED ON 1 22 2022

The Bee Skep Pin Cushion tutorial can now be found on my YouTube Channel.  Click the image below to go to the video tutorial.

Mr. Podunk has been a bee keeper for a few years.  I've been wanting to make a bee quilt but something always keeps me from designing one.  So when Jacquelynne Steves asked if I would like to be a featured blogger for her new Save the Bee's Block of the Month I was elated!   If you would like more information about the Save the Bee's Block of the Month CLICK HERE.

While waiting for the Blog Hop to start I stitched up this super cute and easy Bee Skep pin cushion.  

The little queen bee was a last minute idea that turned out adorable.  I will not be giving instructions for the bee but I will tell you a funny little fact about it.  This sweet little queen bee body is made from a cinnamon capsule.  It's a pill filled with cinnamon!  Cinnamon is good for regulating low and high blood sugars.  I usually run on the low side.  Anyway....with a black sharpie marker I drew some lines on a piece of scrap yellow fabric.  Then glued it to the capsule.  A black button with yellow head pins made the head.  The only thing holding the button is the pins stuck into the capsule.  The wings are 2 layers of fabric fused with Heat N Bond Lite in between them.

  

 Now what does every Queen Bee need? ..... Worker bees!

After about an hour of searching for Bee pins I found them....in Jacquelynnes shop!  Geesh....I should have looked there first.  NOW OUT OF STOCK Click here if you like cute pins...she has several different style of pins with different heads.

Awe.....that's better.  

~ Lea Anne ~

Pin It