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 couple of test blocks and things I am learning

These are two blocks I tested for Kristy over at Quiet Play (here) .
She has done a whole series of geometric designs. I love turtles and asked her to do me a turtle sometime when she had a moment and you can see the result. A lovely little turtle. The elephant was part of her most recent call for testers and this is the one that I learned something on. ROOKIE paper piecing error, print actual size no scaling or sized to fit. So my elephant is a tad too small. but here is my problem, on Windows 10 I can't find the instruction to make it actual size. It is one thing to realize your error, it is another not to be able to fix it.
Looking out the window this afternoon is not a fun experience we are in a Snow Squall Watch and there is all kinds of snow blowing around. I can live with that as long as I don't have to go out in it. so for today I am OK but I do need to go out tomorrow. Maybe it will be nicer? Piecefully, Joanne

Edited to say: Problem solved!

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

September brings out the Lion, too late to be a Leo

I tested this block for Kristy at Quiet Play when she was getting ready for her Zoo Animal series. So it was done a long time ago. He was a challenge because of the set up for his mane. I was trying for different colours. I got it more or less right. All short comings would be mine not the designers.
Other than that I have been working on samples for the store (Shoreline Quilts in Port Elgin), doing some testing for Fandom in Stitches and for Cora's Gypsy Queen Mystery. What I really need to do in the final third of the year is finish some of my tops. My 60+ year old Bernina has officially died or at least that is what the repair man said. He indicated the motor was the problem and that could not be replaced because of the age of the machine. That is the machine I did my machine quilting on so I have not come to terms with how I will deal with this problem.
Piecefully, Joanne

Testing, testing

This is a charming double decker bus Kristy from Quiet Play (here) designed. She emailed  her tester group about a week ago to let us know she had some blocks ready for testing. I picked the bus and it was still available. She has done a whole series with a London theme. They are out at various testers and should likely be available through her Craftsy store soon.
I am almost caught up again with my Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks volume 10 testing. No that is not a typo, volume 9 is available now and Volume 10 will be out in the fall. In the middle of all this my machine ground to a halt. I believe some thread is wrapped around a spot I cannot get to. Or at least I am hoping that is the problem. I phoned my service people and I can take it in for a look see tomorrow morning. So instead of hanging the wash on the line I will be spending 4 hours in the car taking my machine in for servicing. At least it is looking like the weather will be OK and I will get in a little visit with the Grandsons. Piecefully, Joanne

Testing for talented designers

Kristy at Quiet Play (here) is a talented young Australian designer. I have had the good fortune to test a few of her paper pieced blocks. She will be releasing a set of Aussie animals and another set of Woodland creatures in early February. All the blocks are currently out for tested. I asked for a Koala this time and must have been at the front of the line because that is the pattern I got.
After this little fellow was done I dug through the scrap pile to find an old panel with Koalas on it. I was able to find it and to make this wee little baby quilt using the block and the rearranged panel pieces. Piecefully, Joanne