Around the block

The house top has progressed some. I added another round, and then decided the center needed to be changed so I took out the plain block and substituted with a star block.

I have some ideas where to go next, but I have to think about it awhile so I've moved this off to the side to let it percolate. 

Building blocks

Lots of unpicking and sewing to make the block above, and I still couldn't get it quite right. Not happy at all with the little puckers and the size. It was an eighth of an inch off on one side. I mentioned that to my husband and his response was, "That's a lot." Yes, it will definitely add up if all the blocks are like that. Redrafting was called for. 

Much better now, although since the photo above was taken I have redone some seams trying for a more accurate 6 1/2 inches all around with better point matching. That's the thing with solids and small blocks: The imperfections are magnified. 

I learned long ago that if it bugs me, I need to fix it. Otherwise, every time I look at that quilt I will see the things I don't like and wish I'd taken the time to fix them. Much easier to redo at this stage then after it's quilted, bound and on the bed. But I have a three strikes you're out rule too. If it isn't noticeably better after three attempts, another try isn't likely to make a difference. I may be anal, but I'm not obsessive. Ha.

I love it when a plan comes together

Loved this fabric when I saw it at my local quilt shop.

Came up with a plan fairly quickly. Based on the height of the houses.

Some house design research.

Sketches. Lots of pondering. Life. Work. Etc. And then finally a start.

12 1/2 unfinished quilt center in progress.

C'mon to my house

This weekend I made a few house blocks for Bumble Beans (see sidebar). It was fun digging through the scrap bin looking for pieces large enough for the different parts, that sort of went together colorwise and that had an animal on them. The animal wasn't a requirement, but I thought that made the blocks more fun.

I learned something in the process: I have more cow-themed fabrics in the scrap bin than other animals. (Not all the cows made it into the houses.) I'm not entirely sure what this says about me, but I didn't know it until yesterday.

Now I need to get them in the mail.