If a picture is worth a thousand words.....

Sarah is holding a link up for your favourite tutorial, or recipe to use while stitching or technique. The photo above is a simple attempt to explain my absolute favourite go to block for a community out reach quilt. The block is made using bricks. The ones in the photo are 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" but you can use any size brick...2 1/2" by 4 1/2", or 3 1/2" by 6 1/2". Some of the reasons I like this block for community outreach sewing is that it is relatively easy to organize a kit. All pieces are cut to the same size. As you are sewing it is self correcting. When the blocks are assembled into rows they are set so that the centre pair is vertical then horizontal and the repeat. this means there are very few places where seams have to meet. a bonus for some stitchers.
Steps for the block:
1 Sew two bricks together along the long edge of the brick.
2 Add a brick to the top and the bottom of previous piece.
3 Sew two sets of bricks together on their short ends.
4. Add these pieces to the sides of your step 2 piece.
I like to start with a big pile of bricks and then I can scatter the colours through out the quilt. This one will be a wild a crazy one but they can be made in just about any colour arrangement you could imagine.The quilt below was made with 2 1/2" by 4 1/2" bricks.

Brown bricks

Willow Weave a Mystery Quilt Along Finish

Almost a year ago Doreen of Aunt Reen's Place (here) held a mystery jelly roll quilt along. I thought I would join in and the quilt you see is my result. Of course everyone else finished theirs ages ago. It turned out to be much larger than I imagined. At this time I plan to donate it to a raffle sponsored by my local University Women's group. It was decided that this year two of the interest groups would assemble a basket or container that reflects the interests of the group and that this would be available for an in-house raffle at our end of the year meeting. My book group was on the list for this year. So who does not want to snuggle under a lovely big quilt while reading a good book? There will likely be some liquid refreshment and of course some chocolate in our container. With any luck we will raise some funds for the larger group to help off set our meeting room and speaker expenses. Piecefully, Joanne

A new challenge for spring, make that a couple of them

Spring must be in the air although from the snow on the ground and the current temperature you would NEVER know it. Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict (here) has started her Hands to Help challenge. Please consider how you can turn your quilting talents into something to help someone who is less fortunate or who might be ill. Sarah has identified three specific charity groups for the challenge but has also left it open for other options, especially for those of us who find putting a quilt in the mail to another country a problem.
Then Paula at SassyQuilter (here) is starting a triangle quilt along. I have some Angry Birds fabric and I bought some Kona solids to go with them and I think they will be just the ticket. I sure hope to see some new sewing in the near future. Piecefully, Joanne

A little testing fun, combivan flower child style

I tested this pattern for Juliet over at Tartankiwi.(here) When I saw the draft of the pattern I could only think of the hippie days of my distant youth. So flowers were called for. There are some issues to be worked out with the pattern for printing in North America. Different paper sizes around the world can be a pain at times. But Juliet is on target to fix the problem. It was a fun pattern to make and the only real issue was margins on paper size. I am looking forward to trying more of her designs. Piecefully, Joanne

Good Night Irene sew along

I am making slow but steady progress with this sew along. I have many more 16 patch blocks done than I do the in-betweens. I have been assembling them as leaders and enders so sometimes it takes a while to have the variety one wants for a scrappy quilt.
We have had a very busy month and as a result no many posts to the blog. Our Grandson's were here for a week in February and then last week for their March Break. My goodness it seems quiet here today. Terry of Terry's Treasures who is running the Sew along would tell you there is still time to join in. For information and how to directions see her blog  (here). I am really hoping that some of my massive collection of UFO's will change status to completed and donated in the next few weeks. Piecefully, Joanne