Lotto blocks from Betty, Kristen & Terri

Terri's blocks were the first to fit my post office box (last week). I picked up blocks from Betty and Kristen today. Check out all the wonderful fabric choices.




Hover over the image with your mouse to see who made it, click for a larger image.

Penny Pincher Progress Report

I should be working on purple PP2 blocks ... but what I really want to do is piece the scrappy red back I have in mind for this top and quilt it.

These scrappy blocks came from coast to coast, with a couple from England. Thanks to Pat R, Pat H, Colene, kate, Michelle, Susanna and Linda for making the blocks that found their way to me and to this little 40-inch by 60-inch quilt.

12 times 3 is (not) 48

Last weekend I finally started on my blocks for Kate's half-square-triangle sampler swap. I started with the black and red blocks, so that I could include Kate and Michelle's blocks with the sets of June lotto blocks they won.

Each of the sawtooth square blocks contains 12 HST units and one large one ... I started doing the math and realized I'd be making 260 HSTs by the time I'd finished my blocks for the swap. It was daunting ... so much so that when I started making HSTs for the three red blocks, I multiplied 12 times 3 and came up with 48 ;-)

After recovering from that mistake, I proceeded to sew right side to wrong side when making the pink block, decided I was too distracted and put the blocks away until today.

Things in the studio went smoother today ... and I'm happy to report my new status: 169 HSTs done, 91 HSTs (in blue and neutral) to go.





With each color I find myself saying, I wish I would have decided on this colorway ... these are going to be very pretty quilts, I think.

July's Patriotic (Lotto Block) Thing

The block lotto pattern for July is Marcia Hohn's original, That Thirties Thing. This paper-pieced block seems designed for a red, white and blue color theme.

It's one of those blocks whose odd angles becomes much more interesting when assembled into a top--imagine something like Marcia's illustration of the completed quilt (at the bottom of the pattern page linked above), but better, because it will have all the richness of a scrappy quilt.

If you're new to paper foundation piecing--also known as paper piecing or simply pfp--be sure to check out Janet Wickell's Introduction to Foundation Piecing on the Quilting site on about.com and look at the annotated in-progress photos I took while making this block.

Scotties Go to Good Homes

Congratulations to the winners of the June Block Lotto drawing, Michelle and Kate.

Michelle's daughter Katy liked the block and has a birthday coming up ... Kate already has a baby quilt in mind for someone. I'm feeling a little like someone with a large litter of pups, getting ready to send them to a couple of new homes.

Laura's Blocks

I picked up Laura's blocks yesterday, just in time for the drawing.

Blocks from Colene

Colene's blocks arrived late last week ... just in time for Colene to receive the SNEEK PEEK for the July block.

Blocks from Kate

Here's Kate's blocks (including one made from cat and mouse fabric ... what a funny girl ;-)

Blocks from France and Michelle

I have the lamest of excuses this month--my design wall was covered with Penny Pincher swap blocks that I had arranged and rearranged, and when I was finally happy with the placement, I was afraid to take them down. I sewed them together this afternoon, so I could, at long last, take photos of the wonderful Scottie Dog blocks from France and Michelle (and Kate and Colene).

What Was I thinking?

After a couple great decentrlized 10" squares swaps, I decided to join the fun and host one for everyone who sometimes goes into their stash and comes out asking themselves ...



Sign-up by Monday June 26. Fabric squares must be mailed by July 15.

There's still room for a few more questioning quilters.

Blocks from Janet, Lee Ann & Vanessa

Here are some more beautiful doggies–made by Janet, Lee Ann and Vanessa–that have been hanging out in my studio ... waiting for their close up.

I couldn't resist mixing them up for this virtual scottie 9-patch. Hover your mouse over each block to see who made it; click for a larger image.

Amy's Blocks

My pup has company. Yesterday I picked these Scottie Dog blocks from Amy.

(click for a larger image)

The fabric with wavy lines in the dog on the right is pretty well matched at the seams too. Amy, I'm in awe ...

Arf Arf - It's Scotties in June

The lotto block this month is Scottie Dog. When I was choosing blocks for this round of the lotto, I was thinking sampler--though I suspect I'm the only one making a sampler quilt from them--and I thought this guy would add some whimsey.

I guess I'm just a sucker for a whimsical block, because since making this one, I keep thinking that I want to make a small wall-hanging from these blocks ;-)