>>>>

Thursday, October 17, 2024

County Clare Lay Out!


Quilter's Yoga Day!

You know how it goes - bend and stretch and twist and reach and....

I honestly think that doing this for as long as I CAN do this enables me to keep doing this.

It's a move it or lose it kind of ability.

At least that is what I keep telling myself.

Design floor.  It's all I've got.  This would not fit on a design wall anyway - I'd never be able to reach the top row.  Beside - I have no design wall space to speak of in the QPO studio.

So design floor it is.

I started out by laying out the blocks - 

First the "right" ones...and then when I was out of those I added in the "wrong" ones and just went as far as they could go.

Funny thing - I have like 4 bloks left over.  And some pieces parts.

How much bigger did I actually think I was going to make this thing?


From here it was pressing fabrics, cutting and adding sashings.

Click to Play:



Oh how I love a good variety of fun neutrals!


Next up - blue cornerstones.

I pulled out my 1 1/2'' scrap squares drawer and grabbed all of the light-to-medium blues. There are some oldies but goodies in here - including squares left from recycled shirts.

I love trimming my small scraps into useable sizes - it just makes sense.  I didn't have to pull a bazillion fat quarters or strips to press them and cut the cornerstones I needed.  I already had this much variety on hand.

Keep feeding your squares drawers!  You will use them - I promise you. You might end up making a bunch of nine-patches or four-patches or checkerboard borders with them if they start to overwhelm you, but honestly.  Cutting the small scraps into sizes I use all the time: 1 1/2'', 2'', 2 1/2'' and 3 1/2'' keeps the scraps somewhat manageable.  

I call these saved squares "Quilt Seeds!" because they can ALWAYS be used somewhere at sometime for something.


This is where I left things yesterday afternoon.

About the time I got all of the cornerstones laid into place the Brown Bird Bee gals started to arrive and I went into full retreat host mode.

I will start putting this quilt top together today.

And if you look to the right of the photo you'll see Ladder Star hanging on the long arm rail.

Guess what happens TOMORROW?!


Pattern Release and Gift-Away starts TOMORROW!

I'll be drawing for two winners who will each receive a Ladder Star PDF pattern from me and a neutrals roll from Cotton To Quilts!

The neutral rolls are fantastic - that's what I dug into to cut the sashings for the County Clare quilt above. The neutral rolls are my FAVORITE fabric grab.

Yes - there will also be introductory pricing.  No coupon needed.  And it all starts right here tomorrow.


Filling in with fans!

This is the the back side of my red/white/blue stars quilt that I've been hand quilting.  

See how I"m working toward the center?

Once it gets to this far in, things start to go much faster. Fewer fans are needed to fill each side as I move my hoop to the next area.

With all that is going on, do you think I can have it done by New Years?

That's the goal!


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I honestly don't know what I would be doing if it weren't for quilting and all it has brought into my life. ⁣
To my quilty friends - thanks for keeping things far from boring! ⁣
1930s Dresden plate quilt found in North Wilkesboro, NC.

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!


 

15 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:14 AM EDT

    I love getting your emails for inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really like the sashing on this- it makes the Irish Chain lines stand out. A fun quilt that's on my list for my next L/E!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dianna Sides9:15 AM EDT

    I love getting your emails for inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for all you do for us. Tomorrow I will be looking forward to the drawing.
    I'm taking a class at a quilt shop in November for a primitive snowman.
    Can't wait.
    Still plugging away with the curtains for the office.
    Have a Sparkling day

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bonnie, I LOVE County Claire.
    Your little videos always make me smile. Thanks for being you!
    Sharon M

    ReplyDelete
  6. Quote for the day! YES IT WOULD!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. When you say life would be boring without quilting, I second that! Quilting was never in my retirement plan; but when a friend introduced me to it, I fell in hook, line and sinker. I don't know what I'd be doing if it weren't for quilting. Life would be depressing without quilting, that's for sure. Thanks for your daily dose of motivation. Thanks for your patterns. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I sew everyday and don't know everyone else is doing without a quilt in mind!! Happy retirement Chris :0)

      Delete
  8. Anonymous2:10 PM EDT

    I’m so glad your cat is no longer there!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. County Clare looks so good laying out on your 'design floor' AND your hand-quilting is gorgeous! I agree that life would be boring without quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Life would be very boring without quilting! I`m retired and quilt every day! Thanks for all you provide to us. Can`t wait for the pattern release tomorrow !

    ReplyDelete
  11. WOW I was going to put my County Clare blocks together without sashing but I love your layout! Think I'll have to go with the sashing :0). Looking fabulous Bonnie :0)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes, indeed.... Life would be so boring without quilting!! I'm loving County Claire! Enjoy the new retreat group; looking forward to the inspiration coming from them! My long birthday weekend has started, hopefully working on my Chilhowie tomorrow! Have a good evening!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your County Clare quilt! It is definitely on my list for my next Leaders and Enders project!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love how your quilt is coming along! Beautiful! This is the earliest I have seen you complete a yearly leader ender project. It must have been a joy to make.

    ReplyDelete

If you are commenting as "anonymous" please leave your name at the end of your comment.

Did you know that ad space on this blog provides for all of the free patterns and free mysteries and challenges at no cost to you? Without ads, this blog would not be possible.

Thank you for understanding the many hours that go into this blog 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. :)