dog days are a barking

dog days of summer are here

just to hot to breathe.  just to hot to sleep.  just to hot to walk dog.  not to hot to sew.

fun block and actually is 12 1/2" if you a make sq.  not quite 8 in and trim down.

3 squares stack on top of each other and cut pt to pt.  4 triangles  7 5/8  (i did 8 ")
stitch lt to dark.  stitch med to light

4 rectangles 2 1/4 x 7 (remember rectangles don't need increase in measurement)

tools

Went with photo club to dog agility.  Oh how much fun.  I love watching the dogs jump and run through tunnels.  Learned how to use my camera today.  ISO, Aperture, manual.  oh my!!!!  All the stuff you forget when you get lazy and let the tools do the work for you.  Teacher even had me use a tripod.

fun block to do.  So if it's 12 1/2"  each segment (1/2 sq triangle) has to be 4 1/2 in.  So Again:  I cut each sq. 5" and then trimmed to the perfect size.  What a great secret.

a conundrum

having an art exhibit coming up in Sept.  Small pieces.  Can't decide?  mini quilts, animal quilts?  embroidery, etc. etc.  should it be monochromatic?  a theme?  whimsical.  Have to make up my mind this week!!   8 pieces.  Yikes.

a fun block to do.  4"   middle.  2 x 4" retangles and the rest are 1/2 square triangles.

a block a day. Ha!

This little sucker took me three days to get it right.  Stars are not for the weak or feeble.  But, as I work through these I am discovering improved skills 10 fold. Slow. Stiletto.  No tapering (your dead if you let your hands release)  Pressing not ironing.  But its done.  Spent a lot of time w/ seam ripper

Finally finished.  So when these 12 beauties are done:  I think I will wait a few months for the skills to sink in and try again.

life just happens

Looking for inspiration for quilting blocks and have found lots and lots of people have quilt blocks in all sizes and colors.  Geez!!  I guess everyone wants to attract traffic to their websites.  Me...I just like quilting and being inspired. 

 There has to be an easier way to do this w/ the center on point.  ended up w/ lots of biases.   dark center 4 3/4 in.  corner sq 3 1/2 i and then two 5 1/8 squares cut to make 4 triangles.  UGH!  light 3 7/8 cut to make 4 triangles. 2 5 1/8 sq cut to make 4 triangles.  The photo doesn't do it justice. It is a beautiful block:  took me all day.

This block was hard to construct.  All the angles. First try I flipped the brown.  Then I did not have enough left over at the points for a clear 1/4 inch seam.  I just gave in and moved on.  Blues:  5 4 1/2 in squares (don't need to cut larger).  2- 4 7/8  sq. (i made a little larger than 5 inches.  Yellow 4 7/8 sq (not mean I sewed 5 in sq).  brown 2 -  4 7/8 sq (5in)

Actually and easy star to do.  Looks complicated.  So if its a 12 in block:  The corners need to be 4 in.  Cut strips 2 /12 in.  That means you need a 4 in middle.  But you can't cut a 4 in sq.  One of those math phenomenoms: Directions say 4 7/8.  Me I cut them a little larger than 5 inches.  I have room to wiggle to trim to a perfect 4 1/2