Sew Many Stars!

I love Ohio Star blocks.

Over the years I've made them in so many different sizes with many different variations and colorings.

But these little cuties?  They are screaming YES YES YES at me with each one I make, and I am getting more and more excited about this project.

A fun combination!

I was asked yesterday in a Facebook post what method I like to use for my quarter-square triangles. 

The answer is simple, of course!  My favorite tool for half-square and quarter-square triangle units is my own Essential Triangle Tool.

It works with the Scrap User's System strips I already keep on hand, it saves fabric and time and increases my accuracy. 

The only time I don't use it is if I need BIG BIG units that go beyond the size the ruler cuts.  Which is not often.

This close-up shows a favorite brown scrap saved from the late 1980s. ⁣

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I loved this fabric then, and I love it just as much now perhaps 35 years later. I think this is the last of it, and I've found a place for it to live in this star block.

So what happens now?

Hopefully there will be some laying out and webbing going on!  And my mind is starting to swirl around border ideas.  Which has me bringing in some math to make it all work out.

But there will be more time for that later.

Merry & Bright!

The December Quiltvillians are on their way!

While housekeeper Susan worked her magic yesterday downstairs, I started pulling out holiday quilts and décor and switching things up.

I love how Pine Tree Point looks here in the Hen Den, with happy festive pillows for the chairs.

I've also pulled out holiday runners, toppers and other holiday quilty items to warm the space up.

There is some more to do today before welcoming everyone - and I'll be on it this morning.

Is it worth it to decorate for Christmas for one group, one weekend?  YES!  Yes it is!

Because this is the holiday cheer I'm counting on to ignite the spirit of the holidays and carry me through New Years - with no retreats happening.

I need the boisterous laughter, friendship and continual sewing to ring in my memory as we say goodbye to the 2021 Quiltville Inn season, and look forward to our first retreat of 2022 that happens in February.

Our first beta test retreat happened 2 years ago - ALREADY! - and I'm glad we decided even then to keep January open with no retreats due to the high possibility of inclement weather and treacherous driving conditions in this corner of Virginia.

This morning's sunrise

This time of the year I love the gentle awakening as dawn slowly creeps through my window.

I don't like the cold - but there is beauty even in the barren trees.

And the birds!

We are having to fill our feeder daily as the little hungry buggers are putting on quite a show while Ivy watches though the sliding glass porch door from the inside.

Today before the ladies arrive I'll be working at my big desk to get most of Rhododendron Trail Part Two ready.  There are graphics to draw, photos to edit, text to write, and then a PDF made of it all.

If I start today, I can finish tomorrow and it will be ready for Friday!

How are you coming on your units?

Did you get a chance to enter my  IronEZ Gift-Away?

Click to Yesterday's Post to read all about it and get your entry in.  We'll be drawing for 3 winners on Monday 12/6/21!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I set in this morning to bring a little bit of holiday cheer to my surroundings.

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This photo is a close-up of a hexie table runner made by my mom. I taught her how to do English paper piecing and she has never looked back!

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it touches my heart to realize that most of the things I cherish have been made by the hands of those I love.

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There is a definite need to be creative within the human spirit.

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The things we make with our hands we also make with our hearts!

Have a Terrific Tuesday, everyone!