And yet more testing, but this time there is something different

Diane at Fromblankpages recently expanded her tester pool and I had the good fortune to be included. Almost right away there was a block for testing. What made this call different and I thought rather brilliant was she asked that people make the 12" block and mail it to a central location and that one person would then assemble this into a charity quilt. I have dozens if not hundreds of orphan testing blocks. But I was a little late to the party and sending blocks across the border can take unexpected amounts of time. So I volunteered to test the 9" block. For her designs she uses templates that you precut and then use when you are paper piecing. Certainly cuts down on fabric waste and makes for more efficient sewing time. The pattern is now available (here). Most of the "modern" quilters have put a rainbow spin on their blocks. I opted for a two colour block and I feel that it works. Take some time to visit her blog and view her designs. she is a very talented designer. Piecefully, Joanne

Kristy you do good work

Kristy at Quiet Play (here) has been busy designing up a storm. I had the good fortune to test two of her recent projects. The Star Wars Rebel Millennium Falcon on the right and lower case X above. Kristy has already done an upper case Geo Alphabet and the lower case alphabet is out for testing right now.  She is also part of the Make Modern team and has a couple of small youngsters. I sometimes get tired just thinking about everything she is up to these days. Anyway, suffice it to say, I am a fan. Last week she did a blog post on paper piecing tips if you are thinking about getting started you may just want to have a look at that one.
On her Craftsy store she has several free patterns in addition to the ones requiring a modest payment. All of her patterns are tested before being posted so you know they work.
I am starting to get anxious about my knee surgery that is looming in less than two weeks. Everyone says the first two weeks post surgery are tough and then it just keeps getting better. Right now my knee hurts all the time so better sounds good. Piecefully, Joanne
Linking with Jeanine at Quilt Art Designs (here)

A new game added to the configuration

The February game board is Nine Men's Morris. This one was paper pieced. I still am not certain how I want to "finish" these off so for now I am stopping. Alida included how to play the game in the instructions and that was good because I had heard of the game but did not know how to play it. This is a fun Quilt Along and the instructions have been terrific so far. Add to that there are so many techniques involved and you get (or at least I get) to learn something new.
The last few days have been snowy and windy. They closed the highway yesterday and last time I looked it was still closed. Good time to stay inside and sew or read a book. We just need the roads open next week so we can get away on our holiday. Today is our youngest Grandson's birthday. I explained to him we had not seen the sun for so long I forgot what it looked like. His simple explanation was it is round, yellow and hot, you better not touch it. Piecefully, Joanne

Linking up with Alida, check out the other game boards. (here)
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.ca/2016/02/play-with-me-qal-link-party-month-2.html

A little more testing fun

This lovely 12" paper pieced block was designed by Kristy at Quiet Play. She had a few out for testing and I was able to snag this one. As I have come to expect from her designs it went together beautifully. The one mistake I have spotted is mine and not hers. The other designs she had out were a mermaid, a cat  looking out a window and of all things a pig. I don't know where the other designs are in the testing process but eventually they will be available through her store.
I have done a couple of "I cannot talk about it" tests this month too. Enough said.
On the home front we continue to have our lesser moments. I would show my wrist from the attempted insertion of an IV drip but I might lose the limited readership I already have. I had not planned on a three day stay at the local hospital but that was what happened last weekend. They do look after you well there but I am happy to be home and on the mend.
I taught a strings workshop for my Guild this month and also had my turn for the Scrapbag group project. So a lot of preparation. Both events went well.
Bill and I got away for a shortened trip to Stratford. We went on the light side for this year's entertainment and saw Carousel and Sound of Music. The only down part was that our friend Ray was not well enough to travel from Cincinnati to enjoy the shows. He is hoping for next year. It is the first year he has missed in the 40 since he started driving up here.
I am hoping October brings some finishes. I have 2 three day get a ways with different sewing buddies so maybe there is hope. Piecefully, Joanne

Finally something gets finished

This wee little quilt was a paper piecing test for Janeen at Quilt Art Designs (here). I finished it up with a couple of borders and it is now a good enough size for a small Project Linus donation. I was disappointed in my central yellow star because it rather disappears so I stitched around it with a dark orange and it shows up a little more. The border was a scrap piece donated to the Scrap Bag Quilters that I thought was perfect...oranges, limes and lemons.
The daughter of one of the Kincardine Sunset Quilters is quite technically talented and she made labels for us to use on our donation quilts. All we have to do is add the year.
My two other finishes this week will have to wait. One is a pattern that will debut in the Timeless Treasures booth at the spring Quilt Market and the other project will debut as part of the Stripology2 book that is coming out at Spring Market. I merely tested the patterns for the designers. Piecefully, Joanne
Edited to Link up with Cynthia at Oh Scrap!http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.ca/
Edited again to link up with Janeen at Quilt Art Designs http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.ca/

Testing Patterns for Designers

I tested this block for Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts (here). She had hoped to post the pattern today but as often happens, at our house anyway, life got in the way. So watch for it soon. It is an 18" by 24" block and she called it Fairy Tale Castle. I fussy cut pirates for the windows so mine is called Pirate Castle. I am hoping to get mine quilted and bound this weekend.
Kristy at Quiet Play (here) has a tester group also. I recently tested a block for her that she is planning to use  next year. Lots of little pieces but it fit together well. Both of these young designers are very talented and it is a lot of fun testing their patterns for them.
Well I hope to get the last sentence typed before the power flickers again. We have had very high winds since last night. Not much fun for Trick or Treat. In fact for the fifth year in a row no one came to the door even though I was ready and had the lights on. Piecefully, Joanne

a small paper pieced Retro Fridge

This is a small paper pieced retro fridge designed by Kristy of Quietplay She has a number of small and clever designs available through Craftsy. She also has a free for one month, Block of the Month happening this year on a sewing theme. The last time she asked for volunteers to test patterns I volunteered and the fridge is the one I have done for this time. It is part of a wall hanging with features from a retro kitchen. In fact it is the second wallhanging she has done on that theme. The pattern had many very tiny pieces but went together beautifully. Tomorrow is Kincardine Sunset Quilters Guild as we say weather permitting. they are talking about some snow but hopefully not enough to make it impossible to get there. Piecefully, Joanne