Chocolatier update

 I like to keep myself motivated and realized I haven't touched this project in ages!  I got sidetracked by my nephew's eagle quilt-or maybe it was the Ramonas.  Anyway I made these blocks in February and never posted them.  I also cut out more blocks and they've been sitting on my cutting table ever since!  I need to just knock them out so I can finish this darn BOM. So to encourage myself I've made another checkoff jpg to keep me going.

BOMing along

Two more blocks from the Chocolatier Quilt.  These feel so tiny after making all of the PA Dutch blocks.  I did remake the pinwheel block as the center was about an eighth of an inch off.  It was really bugging me.

I also bought a new pressing stick at the Saturday sampler at my LQS.  This one is only nine inches instead of my 18 inch one.  It's easier to use on this small blocks.

I've already started on the next set of blocks.  And my unfortuate Arrowhead block is going to be remade-again!  This is what it looked like before:

on the other BOM. . .

So now I'm working on BOM #2.  This one isn't nearly as old-this is from 2017!  I blithely made one block and then (as usual) I got stuck on the next one.

I don't remember the name of this one but it was fairly easy to sew.

This block is the arrowhead.  I had a tough time (obviously) with this one.  I still didn't get it right but decided to move on.  My sister recommended I try to make the block with some other fabric just to check it out.  The base for the arrowhead is 2 x 2.5 inches.  I bet I am sewing it together with the wrong orientation.  I hope I can try it out tonight but I have a cub scout committee meeting.  I started on the corner blocks this weekend and finished one.  I'll try to take some pics tonight.

Back at work

I'm back at work today and the boyos are back at school.  It was downright chilly though.  I couldn't believe the size of these icicles.  This is very unusual for us.

I kept slogging away at my blocks yesterday and I am happy to say that I completed all of the blocks for this BOM. This was my penultimate block called Journey's end.  I had to re-stitch one of the corner triangle sets repeatedly though.  I just couldn't get it right.  It's still not perfect but it will do. 

And this cottage block.  I had thought it would be the most difficult block and I was right.  Part of it was that I wasn't very accurate in my cutting back in the day and part of it was that the top of the cottage and the chimneys didn't fit together properly.  It took a lot of trimming, resewing, trimming, resewing to get it looking like this.  I'm really proud and happy that I finished all of the blocks.  Below is a really bad cell phone picture of all the blocks. Next up I need to do the sashing which is such a snoozer!

Unexpectedly

So we have another day off!  It is literally freezing outside with leftover ice from yesterday so the schools called it off for another day.  In actuality it is a beautiful, if cold, day with clear blue skies and bright sun.  My toes are freezing in my slippers!

So I have two blocks left to make. The little house was already cut out.  I'll have to double check and make sure it was cut out correctly before I sew.  And last night before calling it quits I cut out block number twelve!  I would like to finish these two blocks today.  I really want to do a quick quilt kit but I should at least do the sashing before moving on.  Otherwise I risk this being an UFO for even  longer!

an icy day off. . .

So the boyos' schools were closed and mine was too-so we had an unexpected day off.  I kept on sewing blocks. I started with the one from yesterday. I made the mistake of leaving too many pieces on my cutting table and had a few bad moments when my math looked off.  Then I realized that I had the wrong pieces in my hands and shoved them into the bag of extra fabric.  Happily I finished the block.  And took a photo to send my sister.  Hmmmmmm.


Something looked off.  I never noticed it!

So a quick correction was in order. ;-)

Then I moved to the next block.  I had fun trying the pieces in different ways.  Any of these three would make a great block.

And this one is called Crossroads.  I actually reversed the red and blue colors when I first made it-and it spiraled the wrong way. So I cut it out again and made it properly.  

Jo's 2018 BOM Challenge

Jo at Jo's Country Junction is hosting a BOM Challenge.  It's not a new one but rather you're supposed to pull out an old BOM you've had hanging around and knock it out.  I know that I have at least two.  The Pennsylvania Dutch one from 2009 and the Chocolatier from last year.  I'm starting with the PA Dutch because it's my oldest one.

So PA Dutch.  I thought I had made three blocks but it turns out I had completed four!  So that was a nice surprise right off the bat. 

Then I pulled out my patterns and realized that I had cut several blocks  (five I think) out already!  I was pretty excited then.  I became less so as I realized that I was not very good at cutting nine years ago-I cut a lot of pieces incorrectly (to small usually or I didn't follow the directions properly) so it took a little doing to figure out how to get started.

First block:

This one I had cut the setting triangles incorrectly and the four patches were too large.  So some trimming and new triangles were required.  I really like this block.

Second block: This block was pretty easy.  I just had to make sure I followed the directions.

Third block: this was a little bit more trouble.  I had cut the small blue squares too small and didn't realize it until I tried to sew the central block together.  I also found the setting triangles a little dodgey to sew.  Still I'm proud of it!

Block Four: This block I totally cut wrong.  So I had to do a ton of math.  Like two and a half hours of math, sampling and unsewing.  Will try to finish this block on Tuesday.