Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Easter Weekend - Highs and Lows

I have had the most wonderful Easter Weekend - with lots of sewing and crafting (highs and lows), time with the hubby, a family BBQ, a few glasses of bubbly ...... what more could a girl want?

First up the highs ;-)

Family time - we celebrated the nephew's 16th birthday this weekend



Jessisca, my partner for April for QBSA, asked for a Birdhouse block and provided a link for a paper piecing pattern.  Arrggh!!  I can't get my head around paper piecing ;-(  So I contacted her and she suggested I didn't have to paper piece, but she would love the end result to look like a birdhouse ;-)

So I searched the internet and found a block pattern that I could work with HERE - this is part of a BOM Garden Quilt Along

I normally post tease photos and save the surprise for my partners, but I am just so pleased with the results, I want to share ;-)

Here is the completed block


I have included antique black buttons for the holes to be attached after the blocks have been quilted.

Next for another high ;-)

Shannon, my partner for BSA, asked for an asterisk block and provided a PDF with full instructions on assembly and colour choices.  I was a bit overwhelmed at first, but followed the instructions and started cutting, laying the pieces out how they would be sewn before taking it to the sewing machine.

Let me say, these instructions and photos are wonderfully written and well presented.




Shannon did ask for the block not to be trimmed - so here it is not trimmed as requested - I do hope I have picked bright enough colours - I was so out of my comfort zone with these colours, but I actually like the end result ;-)


Next up, for some of the lows ............ the CraftMad girls are making up a CraftMad Family Quilt and we are swapping 9 1/2" blocks in our preferred colour choices.

So far, we have done a Fence Rail, Heart Strip block - March is a Jelly Roll block by Three Dudes, and April is a Disappearing 9 Patch.  

Well, let me say the first two blocks were fine, but this last two blocks have been very 'testing' for this little mathematically challenged black duck! (loony toons reference here ;-))

In the end, I consulted with mathematically non-challenged husband, and we worked it out ;-)

For Annmaree

For KellyG

still working on the Jelly Roll blocks and will post pics when finished




Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day. 
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-) 
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

5 comments:

  1. Oooh! What fantastic blocks you've made this afternoon Cathy!!! ... I especially love the birdhouses!!! SOOO clever!!!

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  2. Nice cake!!!!! All the blocks look fabulous Cathy.

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  3. All you blocks look great and that cake looks yummy :o)

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  4. Oh the cake looks so yum. Cathy, what amazing work you have been doing. That birdhouse block is terrific. I think I might stay away from the asterisk block that looks very tricky but you have completed it so well.

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  5. Hello Cathy,

    Wow what a yummy looing cake. I bet it was delicious. Great work on the blocks, yes maths does come into it. I preferred English at school over maths.

    Happy days.
    Bev.xoxo

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