AP&Q Radio

Today I'm  honored and excited to be a guest on the American Patchwork and Quilting Radio program hosted by Pat Sloan, I hope you have time to listen in.  

The live radio broadcast begins at 3pm Central Time (4 pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific) Click here to get connected. 

It's going to be a super casual discussion between two ladies that love to quilt.  Since the theme for the shows this month is how to make accurate quilts, I'll be sharing a few of the things that I do to help me get accurate results. I'm sure Pat and I will also chat about some other quilty topics, and with it being live radio, anything goes! 

After all these years of following my blog, here's your chance to really hear me talk, in person, live, isn't technology crazy!  

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Fat Quarter Shop Snapshots Quilt Along - Block 9 - Quilty Cat

Are you ready for a new Snapshots block?  It's that time again!!  

This month's block is Quilty Cat, my latest favorite.  At the beginning of this sew along I would have thought I would be saying my least favorite, but now that this block is done, I really do like it, even if my house is a dog house.  Funny story, when I first looked at the pattern I thought this block was called Grumpy Cat, which I thought was hilarious.  But it's Quilty Cat, a more appropriate but less entertaining name.

This block is very easy and goes together quickly.  It only has 35 pieces.  I finished this block in less than two hours, start to finish!  I made my block exactly like the pattern except for swapping the navy  sailboat print for the navy circle print. I still need to add some eyes, I'm going to attach some fabric eyes now, instead of adding button eyes later.

Here's a picture of how I trimmed the scrappy blue quilt unit block.

I found it easier to trim with the block set on point and ruler straight as opposed to running the ruler diagonally as shown in the pattern.  

Here are all my pieced blocks.

So about this time during a sew along it's so easy to fall behind, lose interest, or even drop out.  If you're behind a block or two at least piece Quilty Cat this month!  Maybe that will motivate you to finish some of the other blocks, and if not, you'll at least have one more block pieced.  Just because you've missed a couple of blocks don't think you have to wait to piece this fun and easy kitty.  I've enjoyed sewing each block each month, but I have a deadline to blog about the latest block, congratulations to those of you who have also pieced your blocks right along with me! We only have 3 more blocks to go!

I am thrilled that the FQS has already surpassed it's initial goal of raising $10,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its new goal of $20,000. The last time I checked the amount raised was over $31,189, how great is that!  As a reminder, the monthly patterns are a free download, a donation is up to you, the suggested donation is $5.  Here is a link to the pattern, instructional video, donation page, and everything else you need to know.  (click here)  The backing and finishing directions are also now available.

Here are a few more folks participating in the sew along, be sure to check out their bikes.

Pat Sloan of The Voice of Quilting

Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet

Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

Pam Viera-McGinnis of Pam Kitty Morning

Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
Stephanie Kendron of The Modern Sewciety

Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt
Greg Jones of Grey Dogwood Studios
Jessie Fincham of Messy Jesse

And finally, check out instagram, #fqssnapshots for some great blocks and inspiration.

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Voila, it's a finish . . . .

When I started working on this pattern I wasn't sure if I wanted the size that the pattern made or  maybe a smaller wall hanging size.  Once I finished my first 4 blocks I new I wanted a smaller size.

This will fit perfectly on the wall in my kitchen.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 163

The pattern is Viola by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co, but I call my top Voila!

It finished at 46" x 46"

It has approximately 359 pieces.

I paper pieced  my stems and received a few emails asking for directions explaining my process.  Unfortunately I can't show any pictures of the stem block from the pattern, that would be a copyright violation.  But if you have the pattern, trace half the stem block onto a piece of paper, take the curve out the stem, but leave the outer stem placement exactly where it is on the pattern.  Start from the left and move to right, 7 pieces, and you're done, voila!

Sinta and Nicole are working away on their full size Viola's, and I love them both,  check out their progress.  Also, be sure to let me know how you're doing on your progress if you've decided to sew along.

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Voila!!

I made my first Voila block.  I did not pay close enough attention to the pattern and had to do a little resewing.  I'm sure the remaining blocks will go smoother, I think I made all my mistakes with this one.

The pattern calls for appliquéing the stems, I'm not in the mood for appliqué so I paper pieced them.

I am happy with my fabric choices, orange and yellow petals, green stems, and blue baskets.  My background fabric is called Paint by Carrie Bloomston for Windham.

Nicole has accomplished even more, stop by her blog to see her Viola blocks.

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Two Things . . .

Thing One - A few posts back I mentioned struggling with finding a perfect pattern for some of the fabric in my stash, and finding the perfect fabric for some patterns I want to make.  Several folks commented they were struggling with the same dilemma.  When I'm trying to decide what to do with a family of fabric I like to search Google and Pinterest to see what other clever and creative quilters are making with that fabric.  The longer the fabric has been out there, the more finishes you may see.  

I had been looking for a good project for my Figures by Zen Chic for Moda bundle for months and couldn't find anything that suited me, but I didn't give up, I just kept searching.  I finally found a great free online sampler pattern by Sharon at Color Girl Guilts.  (click here for pictures and block patterns)    This made me realize that any sampler pattern is the perfect solution for any family of fabric, you can decide the block size, the setting, and the quilt size, the possibilities are endless!  So if you're looking for that perfect pattern for some of your fabric, look into a sampler! 

(Even though the pattern is a free online pattern, I still checked with the designer to make sure she was OK with me making something very similar using her pattern and the same fabric. )

Thing Two -  When Viola isn't Viola!  When this pattern was released by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company I was excited for several reasons, I love a good basket pattern and have a soft spot for the word "Voila".  When my daughter and I were in Paris, and the cab driver dropped us off at the Eiffel Tower,  he must have sensed our excitement because he said, "Voila".  For the rest of that trip, and trips since, whenever a cab drops us off at our destination we say, "Voila".  So with that in my head, when I saw this pattern I immediately read "Voila", not "Viola", because really, doesn't this pattern look like a "Voila"!  If I had a twin I think she would have been named Viola, it's right up there with Esther and Thelma in my book.  So now you get to decide do you want to make Viola or Voila? I'm making Voila!

But that's not the only problem, in the pattern, Carrie Nelson, the pattern designer, doesn't call those flower receptacles baskets, she calls them vases! Do those bases look like vases to you? So even though technically this won't qualify as my annual basket quilt, and the name is Viola not Voila, I'm still making it!  I hope you are too!

Here's the fabric I pulled for my baskets/vases/bases, 16 different shades of blue.

My petals are going to look very similar to my cheese crackers.

I hope to start cutting and piecing Voila next week.  Nicole has a wrist injury, she's hoping to start next week too.  It's not a race, just join in when you can and sew at your own pace. If you are sewing along let us know what fabric you're using and how you're progressing.  Leave a comment or send an email, pictures would be great! I think Sinta has started but has a busy weekend, look for her update on her blog, hopefully soon.  (Sandy, you've started already but I'm including you in our sew along, or maybe we're joining you!  Send me pics of your progress if you don't want to blog!)

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