November's Challenge Block

This month's challenge block was selected by my friend Daisy. I was able to assemble it last week after I discovered I didn't have any solid-like red fabric for my Round Robin Challenge.

The block is called Puss In The Corner 2 and it went together very quickly. I modified the block by reversing the light and dark print and although I had planned to use my white-on-white fabric for the corners, I wasn't paying attention as I was sewing and skipped over the substitution. The center square would make a great home for an applique or embroidery design.

Here are my monthly challenge blocks to date. I can't wait to see what December's challenge block is.

Ever Have One of Those Days...

When you’ve built up the momentum while you’re working on a project only to discover you don’t have everything you need? And this one thing you don’t have prevents you from progressing? Total frustration!

I was working on my Round Robin Challenge. I’ve completed my drawing. I’ve traced all my appliqué and cut the shapes out. I even started to pull out my fabric selection! STOP! How can it be? I know I have some somewhere! I don’t have any RED! Not one little piece of a solid like red…

So here I sit, On Hold. Waiting… I’ll have to go into town on Friday to pick up some red fabric.

This little break has provided an opportunity for me to work on a few other things. I’ve taken pictures but I’m not going to show all of them to you today because I need something to show you while I’m working on my Round Robin Challenge… After I buy some red fabric, of course.

Last Saturday I was in Anacortes for our November sew-in. Although I had several things I planned to work on, I only accomplished one.

Some of the members of an online group I participate in were at a weekend retreat and one of our members challenged the remaining members to make as many Jake’s Heart blocks as possible. I thought I did quite well by assembling four blocks, until it was announced on Monday another member completed fifteen. Boy was I lazy!

Above is a picture of my four. I used 30’s reproduction fabrics because these will be used in a comfort quilt for one of our members who likes 30’s prints. I think the fabrics go quite well together.

I’ll have another picture to share with you next time. Hope everyone is sewing up a storm.

Absence...

I haven't been very good about keeping up with my blog posts the last couple of weeks and I apologize for that. I haven't forgotten you... I've been working on my Round Robin Challenge and since I can't post pictures, I haven't posted much about it. Hopefully I'll have more to share with you later in the week. Hope the you're busy sewing!

Working in Secret

I’ve been busy in my sewing studio, spending a couple of hours a day on a project I can’t share. Oh, I can tell you a bit about it, but I can’t show any pictures. Bummer…

One of the quilting groups I meet with each month has started an annual Round Robin Challenge project. Traditionally, Round Robin challenges require member’s projects to make its rounds among a group of participants and each participant adds an additional ‘round’ or part of each member’s quilt based on the challenge instructions before it finally arrives back to the originator. For our challenge, the quilts are not passed around. Instead, each participant completes each round on their own quilt. Sounds like fun, huh?

My friend Susannah is leading our challenge and we received our first set of instructions at our October sew-in. Our challenge is to complete a 22 ½” block using a Christmas carol as the theme. Since most Christmas carols are full of visual imagery, it was quite the challenge to pick just one.

If you close your eyes as you’re naming Christmas carols, an image appears for each one. For instance, the carol Winter Wonderland might conjure up visions of trees covered in freshly fallen snow, a bluebird flying away, some bells, a snowman, and maybe even a fire. All seen as people are walking along a path littered with footprints. Another example is the carol It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. The lyrics talk about looking for all the signs Christmas is here; candy canes at the five and dime, toys in every store, holly hanging on your door, very visual. I could see a small town, maybe something out of the 50’s. Snow covered walkway, store windows dressed for the season, and neighbors greeting each other as they walk among the shops.

My theme is based on the Christmas carol I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Of course, seeing an image in my mind is easier than putting it on a 22 ½” block. I think this is one of those times when I have to keep reminding myself it doesn’t have to be perfect.

I can’t wait until December 5th so I can see what everyone else has done.