Remember how I said we were considering skipping around on the blocks in order to leave all the applique blocks to the end but decided to just be brave and go in order? Well, that brought us to block #4 and the first of the applique blocks. I had never done machine applique in my life and certainly not with my new machine. Terry and ShaRee had limited experience and honestly, we were all shaking in our boots. It was ShaRee’s turn to be the team lead and she took care of us splendidly. We had previously chosen the fabric for this block so she traced all the patterns and even provided us with a sample tulip on scrap fabric so we could test out our blanket stitch. Those samples all turned out great and all our machines did a beautiful blanket stitch. [Read more…] about Ode to the 1930’s-blocks #4 & 5
Scott and Sue Family
Ode to the 1930’s-blocks #2 & 3
After our first block, we were a teensy bit aggravated at the pattern. It’s awesome, but the designer mostly cuts squares into triangles and sews them together. This causes stretching on the bias and wonky squares, and doesn’t utilize all the quick half-square triangle and flying geese methods available. So Terry decided to work through block #2 in scrap fabric in preparation for our sewing day and see if she could identify some easy piecing techniques. It requires some figuring but she did a great job and the block went together much faster and straighter.
We selected a focal print for the centers and fussy cut them so that the flower really showed up and then used the suggested color scheme of yellow, pink and green. This block is kind of a star in a star as the green center pieces form a star and then the whole thing is a star. [Read more…] about Ode to the 1930’s-blocks #2 & 3
Ode to the 1930’s: A Sampler Quilt
You may recall that my quilting partner, ShaRee, and I spent 2014 making barn blocks into quilt tops. We have embarked on some new adventures that I will write about later. We meet every other week to sew so we decided we could invite a friend to join us and do a project with all three of us on the other week. I mean, YOLO, right? So in January 2015 we embarked on our grand adventure. We decided on “Ode to the 1930’s: A Sampler Quilt” by Lori Smith, www.frommyhearttoyourhands.com. It’s a challenging quilt with lots of piecing and (gasp) applique. But the purpose of working together is that two, or in this case, three heads are better than one and we all learn from each other. We each have different tricks to teach other and we can learn! [Read more…] about Ode to the 1930’s: A Sampler Quilt
Gentle Spectrums 2015
February is here and it’s time to sign up for Carolyn’s challenge! I did half of this challenge last year and this year I am signing up for it all, both A and B. [Read more…] about Gentle Spectrums 2015
Sue’s Reading Stats for 2014
Books read: 139
Pages read: 43,972
Of the books read:
- Non-fiction: 7
- New-to-me authors: 36
- Continuing series books: 26
- Re-reads: 20
- Audio-books: 37
- Various book club reads: 17
- Challenges completed: 10 of 10
- Ongoing tally of Newbery winners: 70 of 93
- Books set in states: 25 of 50
- 5 star ratings by me: 27
2013:
150 books; 47,936 pages; 7 non-fiction; 29 new-to-me authors; 25 series; 32 re-reads; 49 audio-books; 6 of 6 challenges completed; 64 of 92 Newbery; books set in 25 of 50 states
2012:
196 books; 56,851 pages; 11 non-fiction; 55 new-to-me novelists; 95 series; 25 re-reads; 25 audio-books; 6 of 6 challenges completed; 64 of 91 Newbery
2011:
132 books; 39,641 pages; 15 non-fiction; 42 new-to-me novelists; 54 series; 12 re-reads; 33 audio-books; 0 of 0 challenges completed; 59 of 90 Newbery
2010:
152 books; 46,899 pages; 3 non-fiction; 37 new-to-me novelists; 25 series; 19 re-reads; 28 audio-books; 5 of 5 challenges completed; 50 of 89 Newbery
2009:
73 books; 23,576 pages; 3 non-fiction; 31 new-to-me novelists; 36 series; 5 re-reads; 48 of 88 Newbery
2008:
79 books; 32,031 pages; 8 non-fiction; 15 new-to-me novelists; 31 series; 19 re-reads; 42 of 87 Newbery
2007:
44 books; 17,069 pages; 3 non-fiction; 8 new-to-me novelists; 15 series; 13 re-reads; 38 of 86 Newbery