learning, growing

I guess when I figure out this block a day thing I will have to follow Bernina's advice and make a "foot book" so i can learn how to use these (expensive +) tools.  i.e. feet.
One of the major problems I'm coming across is 'tapering".   I sew straight and then the last 1/2 inch is never the correct width.  I have learned over the past 3 blocks not to release my left hand and guide the fabric through the foot.  I also have learned to stop watching that darn needle that mesmerizes me and watch the fabric guide.    And, yes I'm using my stiletto and iron more this past month then in 3 years.

check-out the points at the triangles!!!

if you don't want your photos .....

I brought up copyright in photo club tonite.  And, yes everyone is doing it.  The cheaters!!!!  And, it is very hard to trace where an original photograph came from.  The big boys hire these pros to trace:  all online, email, downloading and attempt at copying for about $500 / year.  Many pay for 3 companys  to do their  tracking.  Judges are now saying if you put it online: and they copy it:  it is your loss.  The moral is:  don't put online anything you don't want copied/used by someone else or make it less than: 640 x 480 dpi.  This is going to kill me : going back over all my images and making them under 640 x 480.

A fun block made from a modern quilt pattern

copyright will kill me

Can't believe after all these years I'm still hung-up on copyright.  I know everyone is doing it....For 30 years...especially the past 15 (public school librarian):  I jammed "copyright" down throats of staff and students.  Now........I see all these images online and on greeting cards  and I want to make quilts from them (knowing my art teacher once did art for greeting cards) I can't in my heart of hearts.  How can I take an image from the internet and create a quilt and hang it at "Houston International Quilt Festival" and not get caught...I see copyright infringement everywhere.  Why can''t I  cheat tooooo???
Ugh!

so why isn't this block copyright infringement?  Public Image? FairUse?

star blocks will kill me....

Many years ago, me and George went to this quilt shop in MO.  They had just finished a sampler star quilt.  Me not know how to sew....thought this would be a good idea since each block was on sale for $2 / pattern.  Blocks 0ne through 3 were missing.  I now have the internet and kind my block patterns for free.  Well last nite I tried my first Ohio Star Blocks 1.5 in short.  Went online today:  have you been to craftgemini.com yet.  The family bought a farm and are doing "sustainable farming".  She has posted tutorials online.  Even showed how to use ruler to square the little suckers.  My original directions were way off.  So now I will have to do sample blocks.  Hate buying kits : never enough fabric to do 2.

monochromatic.  I like these modern fabrics and blocks

it's just toooo hot

Not used to high humidity anymore.  Maggie under air conditioner.  Puppy on concrete.  George cleaned the "killing fields" (where cats drag their dead birds, bunnies and squirrels).  me I went swimming.  But, finished my block.
Have you ever visited craftsy.com?  no wonder i can't sew straight.  sloppy sloppy.  Iron my fabric today before cutting and used my stiletto.

block 5

went to local fabric craft shop today to get batting so I can finish some more old quilt tops.  Had a coupon and it was 20% off day.  I walked out w/ nothing.  zip, nada.  Well batting is no longer considered fabric.  couldn't use the coupon.  20% of $15 when:  I can wait 2 weeks and purchase it for 50%.  It sucks.  Gas is going up and now we can't use coupons freely anymore.

now I know this was straight.  It's got to be the camera.  Maybe I need to draw lines on my design board

lazy, summer

Summer is here.  Rain is gone.  Cool weather has disappeared.  Can't believe how dusty our house has become.  Have had the windows open the past 6 weeks.  Forgot the dust.  Now summer is roaring in.  68 at nite and 92 during the day.  House is all locked up and the air conditioning is on.  It will be months before the windows are open again.  Should I dust now or just blow it off (hehe)  until summer ends.  So w/ this blast of heat I've been too lazy to blog.  but, I have been working on my blocks.  Here are my first 9 1/2 ' blocks.  Been experimenting in color.

                                                         have to do these again.  think i could sew straight

                                                            much staighter

                                                           color makes a difference