Throwing in the wrench (Monkey Wrench #36)

Today is one of those days when things just don't seem to go right. I was working on a quilt for a custom order and I miss measured and now I have to buy new fabric all over again, setting me back a day. I can't go to the store till my husband comes home from work.  I had hope  to finish the quilt by Friday. But I am going to push to have it done by Monday.  To top it all off. I spilled some spoiled soup all over the counter this morning (I was cleaning out the refrigerator),woke up with a headache and a slight fever, and I didn't sleep well last night. Oh, well .. Maybe I should take to easy the rest of the day.  But a few good things have happened today:  a sparrow came to my window to say hello while I was cutting out fabric this morning, tweeted then flew away, and I  also finished 2 letters and they are ready to go out in the mail. Hopefully they will bring cheer to those receive them. Oh I almost forgot- my whole purpose in writing this blog, I did another quilt block. This one is called Monkey Wrench.

I always loved this quilt block. It has so many neat eye catching patterns to it. It looks complicated but is really not. I have finally decided to make a quilt for myself from this pattern. I've been saving and collecting certain fabric to make a quilt and I finally settled on the Monkey Wrench  pattern. So here's the Monkey Wrench I made to go along with the pink/red sampler quilt I'm making.  It is another 12 block but for what ever reason, I can't figure it out, mine turned out to be 11.25 unfinished. I just don't understand. I was careful and measured  my fabric just right and used the quarter inch seams. I don't like cutting thing that have a 7/8 of an inch measurement in them- gets a little tricky when using a rotary cutter. Despite everything it turned out well. The fabric is red with little white Fleur-de-lis design.

Monkey Wrench

Here's some examples Monkey Wrench quilts that I pulled off the internet. There is a lot of them. You'll see why I like it so much (hope you do too). This pattern is also called Snail's Tail. I especially like the cat one below.

Love the colors!

Here is a bright and bold scrappy quilt with stars.

Did I ever mention I love blue and white quilts.

A Family to call your own (Baby Bud #35)

 I wonder if anyone actually read my blog? Well I guess somebody does because the number of view keeps going up and up each week (at least in terms of the number of views).  Please do leave comment (s) or send me a private note.

My husband and I have been married for four years now. We do not have any children yet. I've always dreamed of being a mother someday.  I've always loved children, holding and rocking them, taking care of them, teaching them, showing love and so forth. It seems so natural to me. Over the years I have had many people tell me I would make the perfect mother. Every time I hold a baby or child it stirs up certain desires in me.  Unfortunately. Due to certain medical reasons I am not sure if I can have children or there's a very slim chance I still could conceive naturally.  Sometimes I wonder why can others so easily  get pregnant and I can't, even those with more serious health issues. Sometimes I feel like less of a woman and a failure to my husband who wants children too. Some days are better than others, and some days I feel really down. I don't understand God's plan in all of this. However, despite the down times I am trusting in God, because his plans are good and the best there is and way better than any plan man or woman can come up on his or her own. Today's block Baby Bud made me think of this topic.

Baby bud  the quilt block is very simple but can make some really wonderful designs.  Here's the one I made of pink and brown: I  just love this pink fabric I have about 4+ yards of it and I got it at a super bargain too, it was only about $2 a yard  (originally $9.99 a yard) at  Hancock Fabrics. It has a old timey, Civil war, feel to it. Though I need to find some coordinating fabric to go with it.  The brown calico piece in the middle I fished out of my scrap pile and is the only pieces if have of it.  

Click for the picture for the pattern link

 

 

 

 

 

Here is one pattern placement for this block I really like. Think I am going to make several baby quilts out of this pattern

This would be about 24 in square. Add a few borders and voila the perfect baby quilt

  

I just love this quilt! It has inspired me to make a yellow quilt next.  I like the prairie point edging on this one too.

Kings X (#34)

The letter X: X marks  spot in a pirate's treasure maps. X lets you know you are here.  X marks a answer on a test. X means do not enter, danger or caution.  X is apparently a punk rock band that formed in the late 1970s. X means multiplication, X is the 24 letter in the alphabet.  X is found between the letter Z and C on the keyboard. There are X-rays and there there  Generation X (those born after the baby boomers, my generation). X means the end of a conversation and related to it, X often marks the death of a character, or to sign papers instead of a signature.* Either way X is used to mark and signify something of noteworthy importance.

The question now is how then are you marked?  I am not referring to  necessarily a physical mark, though it could be. What defines or marks you, your character, your environment, your interests, your future, your past, your present, or what ever it might be? As Christian and follower of Christ I am a daughter of the KING. He place his mark on me (figuratively). It is a permanent mark that can never be taken away. I am glad of this mark becasue I am set apart. Leviticus  20:26 says: "Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine."

 So today's block is called the Kings X. I tried to do a little research on the history of the block and could not find very much information. From the examples I've seen of this quilt patter seem to be from 1900 and on. The block I did as you can see from picture below was done in rusty red colors and is another 12 inch block. It came together  rather quickly. I am pleased that my seams and points match up almost perfectly. Fairly soon I'll have enough red/pink blocks to make a quilt.

Click the picture for the pattern link,

Here's some other example of a Kings X quilt taken from the web. The pictures are also links to the website they are found on. The way these ones are made is slightly different than the one I made, which was reworked to make the pattern simplier.

Here is a beautiful antique blue and white Kings X quilt. It kind of has a dizzying effect on the eyes.

*Taken from the Wikipedia article on X

Friendship Block (#33)

More than half of my life ago (seems strange to say that) in my mid teens I came to know Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. A real relationship that was deep and personal had begun and it continuing to this day.  I had always grown up in the church and church and my friends in church were pretty much my life. My parents were actively involved in the church and often my brothers and I got roped into helping, even if it was at 5am on Easter morning.  So I had a good upbringing and nothing out of the normal happened, nothing traumatic. I was a good person, though very quiet and shy, and stayed out of trouble and did all my homework and chores without complaining ( well,  most of the time). Even with all the church involvement Awanas, Pioneer clubs, vacation Bible school, and so on, it all really didn't stick. I knew the facts and was sensitive to spiritual things but  hadn't made that heart connection until my mid-teens as I has mentioned before. It was being actively involved with youth group and  especially Young Life that in the Spring of 1995 one day I came to know that all that I was taught  and learned was really true- Jesus did really come to earth, die, and rose again just for me. He loves me so much! It was kind of like a light was suddenly turned on. Praise the LORD! And so I continue to this day to seek the LORD as I serve and worship Him. I've come along way since that quiet and shy person in my early years.

You are probably wondering what in the world does my personal testimony has to do with today's block Friendship block. It's not so much the name of the block that relates but what I embroidered on the inside. It says Isaiah 40:31- 

 "but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint."

During that Spring of 1995 I clearly remember one time one of our leaders saying for everyone to open their Bibles to Isaiah 40. And from there we sang the exact words from the Bible, especially from the later part of the chapter. I thought it was so cool that we used the bible as a hymnal/song book.  I still remember the tune too, and if you ask me I just might sing it to you one day. 

So without further ado, I present to you silly songs with Larry, oh wait no wrong thing.. haha.. I present to you today's quilt  block Friendship Block. I have done it in all reds and whites this time with a smattering of green and yellow in the plaid fabric.  As always click on the picture to go to the pattern link. Remember to abide the terms and conditions on the pattern link.

I didn't do so great on the embroidery on this, but it's still legible.

I chose to do a little bit different color placement then on the pattern that I linked to. As with any quilt block, play with he color placement. It often creates many different looks. 

Here's a  quilt that  has a neat idea. For the center block  use it to spell out a word or a message. In this quilt it's down the middle.  The letter blocks on the the same website as the pattern. And no I pulled this off the internet and didn't make it for my brother whoshares the same name.

And here's three quilts I recently finished. On the third one you can see some of the block from this blog in the quilt.

Pinwheel (Block #32)

Whirling right along... It is windy and a tad bit nippy here today. The one tree, a walnut tree, in our yard is already starting to dropping and the neighbor's tree across the street is starting to turn yellow.  I am really enjoying the cool  breeze coming in through the window. Time for hot chocolate and pumpkin spice things. Fall is here!

 So then the block of the day Pinwheel fits right in. As you can see from the design , it's not too hard to imagine a pinwheel spinning in the wind.  The pattern itself is another oldie but goodie and is a staple in most quilter's repertoire. It make  a fantastic baby quilt if done in pastel colors. This one I've done in a dusty pink floral print.  Seems I have a over abundance of red and pink scraps of fabric. I am thinking I might make a baby quilt once I get 9 or so different blocks make. This is a 12 inch block. As always click the picture for the pattern link.

 
Here's some interesting quilts I found online using the Pinwheel block. Click the picture to go to the website.

I like the use of pastel yellow, even with some of the bold colors in this quilt. This is quite a cheery quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

This quilt makes good use of the many pinwheel patterns out there. 

Here's a quilt done in what look like civil war prints. I like the homeyness of this one.

 

Attic Window (Block #31)

Today I am so exhausted and emotionally drained. It is just one of those days when I really have to push myself. My brain wants rest - it is overworked, my eyes want to rest on something pleasant,  like the peaceful cool green of the country side.  Living in a large city makes me miss the trees and mountains that were such a easy distance before.

And so I pushed mysef to keep going and make today's block, Attic Window. It was another one of those blocks I was trying to avoid making. But like it or not I had to make it. I'm doing all the blocks in order as they appear in on the Quilter's Cache website. It's really a wonderful resource for quilters and has so many quilt blocks with directions and other useful quilting tips. Today's block Attic Window was a little tricky. It has those off set seams that I am realizing very quickly that I am not fond of.  But all in all it turned out OK. Look at the picture, it is a little uneven in some areas. There is one little spot where it has a slight wrinkle. I like the over all look of the block. It certainly has a 3D quality to it. And so here is the one I did. Click the picure of the block to get directions.

 

 

Here are some exmaples of what a whole quilt might look like. Some of these really just pop off  the page. For those who like geometrics and tesselating designs this  block is for you.

This is really amazin. It truly looks like you are looking out the widow at a turkey .

The Green and the red make this one really eyecatching

 



The use of famliy photos in thsi was is really neat

 





Log Cabin (BLock #30)

Today is my 30th block! Only a million more to go...   Anyhow today's block is a oldie but goodie, Log Cabin. It harkens back to pioneer days when pioneers built log cabins as a form of shelter for their families and animals.  The block itself resembles logs stacked one upon each other.  Traditionally the center square of the block is done in red represents perhaps the hearth or fire place which was the center of the home. The "logs" were often traditionally done in light and dark fabric, symbolizing sunny and dark sides of the cabins. The pattern itself goes even further back to ancient Egypt and mummification. Check out this website for more information.  I grew up loving the Little House on the Prairie books and television series, and countless historical films. And later on I bought an American girl doll, Kirsten (a pioneer girl from the late 1850s), when I was 16 years old. I hoped to pass the doll on to my daughter someday and instill a love of reading and history.

And so here is the block that I made.  Click the picture if you want  instructions to make this block. Thanks once again to quilterscache.com I used the 7 inch paper piecing option.When I printed it out it ended up being 6.5 inches unfinished. Seeing the picture now, I notice I forgot to clip a few threads or remove excess threads. Sometimes you just don't notice things until you take a picture of it.  The layout options for this block are too  numerous  to name or show examples of, but I did  add some below the one I did. Some of them are really fantastic and eye catching.

Log Cabin

 

Here are a few example I found online.. Click on the pictures for the website links.

A simple country quilt. I really like the change of quilting directions in the borders.

This one is done in light and dark scraps.

This is a lovely fall and Autumn quilt. I love the added tough of the leaf blocks.

I love anything that is blue! This one is really quite lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bow Tie (Quilt Block # 29)

It's seems like such a long time since I've last updated this blog, June 5 to be exact. But now I plan to go forth once again with this project that I started. Things got really busy for awhile there. I had lots of orders for quilts as well as dealing with some health issues between my husband and I. Things are at a much better place now and onward I go with Quilter's Block.

 But secretly I  must confess I was avoiding making this block, because the seams went together in a way I never tried before. But lo and behold I forced myself to do this block today and you know what? Surprisingly the Bow Tie block went together rather quickly and was not as scary as I first thought. So here's to trying new things. The seams were a little tricky on this one.  This is a 12 inch block. I think it would do much better in a 9 or 6 inch block. It kind of reminds me of a big floppy  bow on a clown.  I normally don't buy or use children's prints but I recently found this cute print at Handcock Fabrics on the clearance table. Originally it was $8.99 a yard and I got it for $2.00 a yard. I loved it and bought enough for a baby quilt which I recently finished. I'll post pictures at a later date ( I haven't given the quilt to the person yet and don't want them to see it.) 

 Click on the picture if you what the  pattern  to make this block. Thanks again to Marcia Hohn of Quilterscache for posting directions for this block.

Bow Tie quilt block

Here is a quilt I had done in all purples for a custom order.The Bow Tie  block is is different size and done in a slight different way. There are so many ways to place these block, each will have it's own look. Take a look at the second picture to get another idea. Both of these quilts I made.

Wow, I'm up to 622 views. And you can add Spain, Malaysia, and Norway to the list of countries from which people view.