Monday, January 14, 2013

I'm Back at Home and Back at It . . .

I think I've come up with a plan for my 100th quilt. I've known ever since this quilt was on my radar that I wanted to create my own pattern for my 100th quilt.  Most of the ideas I played around with were for a medallion quilt using different blocks surrounding some sort of center.  I'm still going with my medallion quilt idea but I've decided to go with a one block quilt.  I think out of my first 99 quilts I have less than 10 one block quilts. I usually get bored half way through a one block quilt, but I have a few ideas that will make this one block quilt a little different and fun, I hope.

Here are the pieces for that one bock, and these are the pieces for my center.


I'm feeling pretty good about my latest idea because I have a plan, if I don't like this quilt I won't finish it, then it won't be my 100th quilt!  Let's hope I do like my latest idea and that I don't drag out this 100th quilt thing all year long.

Several folks ask me how I knew how much fabric to buy for my project since I didn't even have a pattern.  I'm starting with a fat quarter bundle and a layer cake of two French General families, Rouenneries Deux and Chateau Rouge and I know my quilt is going to be scrappy.  But if I need any additional fabric I feel confident that I can track some down or even use something from a new French General line, they all seem to go together.  I think you could do this with other families of fabric too, like Fig Tree fabric and Bonnie and Camille's fabric.

My background fabric is from the Rouenneries Deux by French General for Moda family.  The front of the fabric is just a shade darker than the back of the fabric.

The strip of fabric on the right is the back of the fabric.  So far I've sewed three pieces using the wrong side of the fabric.  (yes I fixed them, do you need to even ask?)


When the sun is shining brightly, the difference between the front and the back is obvious, but if it's a gray day, like most days in January where I live are, it's easy to get it wrong.  After resewing my third piece I made this little "cheat sheet".

I have these two pieces of fabric laying right next to my sewing machine under my Ott light.  Before I run any pieces through my sewing machine I'm checking the background fabric against these.  To make it even more mindless I even marked them, "F" for front, "B" for back!  I've not had to resew any pieces since I came up with this method.



I'm a little behind on my email and blogs, my husband and I took a trip last week to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary.  I have no idea what I was thinking getting married the first of January, after all the holidays the last thing I'm usually wanting to do is plan another holiday, but the change of pace and weather were nice, I'm glad we celebrated but happy to be home.  My Christmas decorations are down, but not packed or put up, oh well.

I thought it would be fun to see if you could guess the one block I'm using for my 100th quilt.  Leave a comment with your best guess and I'll put all the correct guesses in a drawing for a pattern of your choice from the Fat Quarter Shop. The block goes by different names and I'll accept them all.  If the Fat Quarter Shop will ship to your address you're eligible to enter.  I"ll give you all week to think about it.

It feels so good to have nothing on my radar but sewing, the holidays are great, but there's something to be said for weeks calm and quiet, I plan to make the most of mine.




27 comments:

  1. well love the fabric choices and I am sure its going to be great!
    my brain is not working yet, I need another cup of coffee before I could guess....
    happy sewing I agree with you things finally calmed down here and I am back to my own schedule I plan on making up for lost time in the sewing room :)
    Kathie

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  2. Hi Thelma,
    Pretty sure l know what it is, but rather than spoil the fun just yet, will email you with my answer! Love the fabrics!! It's going to be stunning!!

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  3. Hi Thelma,
    Welcome home! I missed your posts and wondered if you were out of town.
    I can't figure out your block at this point but I love the fabrics and your flying geese are always so perfect! I know it will be beautiful and I can't wait to see it!
    Susan

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  4. I really don't know but the first thought when I saw the pieces was carpenter's star. Love the fabrics and hope you like it as it develops!

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  5. Some sort of star is the closest I can get...maybe a variation on the Ohio star? Whatever it's going to be, it's going to be gorgeous! Have fun!

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  6. Looks to me like you might be doing a variation of carpenter's star more like a Swoon block. I am loving it so far!

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  7. I'd say Wyoming ValleyStar but for the rectangle pieces.

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  8. I am going to guess at Swoon or something along those lines. I think marking your front and back fabric swatches was a very good idea - there have been many times that I wished I had done the same! Happy Anniversary too x

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  9. Love, love that fabric and is going to be gorgeous. Anyway, I also think some type of a star...but perhaps more like a sawtooth or mariners star. Whatever it is, bet it is going to be beautiful.....

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  10. Congratulations on your anniversary! My parents were married January 1, 1944. They had to marry in secret because my father was in the Apprentice School at Newport News Shipbuilding and the director of the school forbid the young men to marry. He would kick them out if he found out. They had to go up to Pennsylvania, where my mother was originally from, and marry there during the long holiday weekend so the marriage wouldn't be published in our local papers. My father then left the school that summer to join the army and my parents faced many separations during the first year or so of marriage. They were married for 50 wonderful years until his death in 1994, just a few months after celebrating their anniversary. I like hearing of others who chose to start out their new year with a marriage. My 21 year old son just attended and provided the music for a friend's marriage this past January 1st. This couple too will be separated during their first year of marriage when he leaves for Afghanistan in June, when they had originally planned to marry. I only hope they are blessed with a long happy marriage as my parents were. By the way, so many of the young men in the Apprentice school quit to join up, even though they were exempt by virtue of working in an industry necessary for the war, and were married during their time of service, the director was forced to drop the ban on marriage when they returned from war to finish their schooling!

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  11. There is a lot of wonderful things about a winter wedding... but celebrating anniversaries would be a "con". My anniversary is near the end of November... so sometimes it coincides with Thanksgiving.
    After I cut my background fabrics I go through each stack and face them all up... otherwise I have a heck of a time with it... especially when a lot of light is coming in the room. If that starts to fail me, I will resort to your method.
    I think your palette for #100 is gorgeous and beautifully rich. I am thinking that baskets will be your main block. I'm probably way out in left field, but that's my guess.

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  12. No matter what it is it's going to be beautiful! I'll guess an Amish Star.

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  13. Happy 36th Anniversary Thelma ! I think Winter weddings are SO beautiful !

    Just love your choices of fabric for your 100th quilt :-D

    My guess is baskets , especially when I see the one floral focal point piece of fabric I think baskets !

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  14. Very clever idea! I will have to remember that for next time I'm using a solid like that. And a guess at your block for your 100th quilt... I don't know. to be honest, I don't know many of the block names. If I see it and I like it, I make it. LOL!! Happy Anniversary too! One of my cousins got married 2 years ago on 12/31 so that they could ring in the new year as a newly married couple. It was a FUN wedding!

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  15. I'm not even going to attempt a guess, but whatever you have decided, it will be wonderful! I had to giggle at your idea of not making it your 100th quilt if you don't like it... great strategy!

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  16. I'd guess an Ohio star or variation thereof. However, those beautiful HSTs could be any number of blocks. Can't wait to see what you are making!

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  17. I think it's an Ohio Star variation. Having made many myself, that's what I see. I love your fabrics and can't wait to see your progress.
    Debbie R.

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  18. Welcome home and Happy Anniversary .

    I love the fabric's - have done a few wallhangings in these myself.

    I don't have a clue as to your block choice but will be watching your blog for the results.

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  19. Happy Anniversary! I know what you mean about celebrating an anniversary around the holidays. My husband and I just celebrated our 20th on December 27. It is nice to usually have some time off to celebrate it during the holidays. A crazy time of year though! Your block.......hmmmmmm...........maybe Birds In The Air?

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  20. Thelma, Happy Anniversary to you and your husband. I think that celebrating a Wedding was a great idea to start a New Year. Our 43rd Anniversary was Dec 20th. I love your fabric choice for your 100th quilt. I can't wait to see your Swoon Block quilt for the 100th.
    JaneN

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  21. The best wedding I ever attended was a New Year's Eve party given by good friends. A half hour before midnight, they assembled the 50 or so guests and surprised us all by getting married--right there in their living room by a minister we all thought was just another party guest!! I always thought their anniversaries must be wonderful watching everyone around them, no matter where they are, celebrating. Happy Anniversary! I can't wait to see your 100th quilt!!

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  22. Congratulations on your anniversary! I'm looking forward to seeing this quilt. French General fabrics are so elegant; I'm sure #100 will be a winner.

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  23. happy three dozenth anniversary to you and Mr. CnD!

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  24. Happy anniversary! I love your fabric choices, I would guess your block is carpenter/swoon block.
    JudithH

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  25. Congratulations! I am guessing Jacks on Six block, and can't wait to see what the pieces make. My hubby and I celebrated our 36 years together. Time flies, can't believe it. Happy New Year! Butterfly George

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  26. Happy Anniversary! You are so creative that it would be hard to pick a block, but maybe some kind of Star, as there are so many to choose from.

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  27. I can picture what you block might look like, but don't know the name of the block. Can't wait to see the block. Happy Anniversary! You were in love and probably couldn't wait to get married and maybe January was good time for you.

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