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Happy May!!

WELCOME TO THE 2012 HGTV FORUM BLOCK OF THE MONTH!

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The theme this year is MAKE IT YOUR OWN!!!

ivy_cottage (Camilla) and I (CBQ, Little Red Hen) are 'egg'-cited and thrilled to be working with you on the BOM this year!

You are not swapping, exchanging or anything else, just make the blocks we suggest every month, show us a photo of your work, and be entered into a drawing for a wonderful prize. ALL board members are welcome to join us!

SEW ... each month, we will be doing a block from Quilter's Cache. We will also reveal some smaller blocks that you can make and join to your 12 inch block.




Credit: Marcia Hohn has graciously said we can use blocks from The Quilter's Cache again this year. Please read her Terms and Conditions at: http://www.quilterscache.com/. And follow the below guideline. "Should photographs of items made from Original designs be posted on your group website, they should also be clearly marked with the name of the pattern As I have it named, and that it is from The Quilter's Cache/Marcia Hohn." (Since you'll post your pictures in this thread, you will be covered by that statement.)



The smaller blocks are totally optional~ you can make what we suggest, make something else, or not make any at all! Make it your own!




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This year we will challenge you to stretch your skills, ideas and creativity, while sewing and even trying new block patterns as well as methods. We are here to help! Use this thread to post your questions, problems anything related to the BOM~ and we will try to answer them for you.

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One other important note~ we are NOT presenting you the blocks in any order. January's block will not go in the upper left hand corner of your quilt! Just to mix things up we are presenting them in no particular order, but if you join us for the year, in December we will reveal the layout we have chosen.

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Step One~
Now ... without further clucking ... HERE'S the MAY BLOCK ~~

Georgetown Circles

*****when you make the center of the block~SAVE the triangles you cut off and sew them again to make HST's~~ you will use them in part 2!****

Step 2~ the mini blocks will be posted below this post~~

SO Y'ALL COME ON AND HAVE SOME FUN!!!
AND DON'T FORGET TO POST THOSE PICS WE LOVE PICS!

NOTE: If you have trouble posting pictures, or have a challenge with resizing them to post, you can SEND THEM TO ONE OF US VIA EMAIL, and we will BE HAPPY to resize them and post for you !!!



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May Finishers

Handie Ann
STinMT
sister sue
alexemmarose
patty j
royalboomer
DJBrown
Anael7621
Becky from NY
Chlynn1129
Sew Happy
SusanJ93
SDgranny



13 finishers so far!! Whoohoo!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BOMchicks,

Step 2~~~

Sashing~ cut 2.5 inch strips. 2 are cut 12.5 inches, 2 are cut 16.5 inches. Sew to block.

checkerboard

You can make nine patches and reverse nine patches. Make the checkerboard all one color, or do like I did and cut a bunch of 1.5 in squares. I had a lot of little scraps and this was a way to use them.

Cut 28 light 1.5 inch squares
29 dark/medium 1.5 inch squares

**notice in my photo that you don't sew them all together~ keep out one 9 patch of squares to sew to the flying geese.

Bow-tie blocks

For each bow-tie you need;
2- dark 2 inch squares
2- dark 1.25 inch squares
2- light 2 inch squares

Draw a diagonal line on the 1.25 inch squares and sew them to a corner of the light 2 inch squares. Sew together like you would a 4-patch block. Each bow-tie will measure 3.5 inches square before you sew them together.

Make 7 total and add a 1.5 inch by 3.5 inch strip to the bottom. (or you could add a little set of 1.5 inch squares).

Flying geese

Cut three large rectangles in your colors 6.5 by 3.5 inches.

Cut a total of 6 background squares 3.5 inches square. I cut 2 from 3 different backgrounds.

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the background squares. Sew on the line making the flying geese. Press the center one to the 'goose' and the other two to the background 'wings' (they will all join together much easier.)

Save the triangles you trim from the corners! Sew them again and cut them down to 2.5 inch HST's.

Add the 9 patch to the top of the flying geese and a 1.5 x 3.5 inch strip to the bottom (or sew together 1.5 inch squares).

HST units

Using the HST's you saved from making the large block, and the ones you saved from the Flying Geese, (remember to trim them all to 2.5 inches). Sew 8 of them together. (You will have two leftover ~save them. )

Cut a strip 1.5 inches by 16.5 inches or sew together scraps to make this strip. Add it to one long side of your HST's; sew to your block.

Okay, I know y'all don't like these small units~ next month's will be larger! Pat yourself on the back for a block very well done!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: BOMchicks,

Oh WOW that's another lovely block. Did I tell you I don't like those tiny squares?

Oh Boy... you did say this covered the next 3 months right!

HA! You two are tooooo funny!

No break for the summer... mwahahahahaha

And just so you know, I have a bit of catching up to do as well. CBQ comes by her name honestly, you know. I've said before, I think she must have house elves or fairies that help her!

Be back in a bit with our winner... need coffee!

ivy

I just went to the LQS and bought some Christmasfabric. One with lovely stripes, I didn't have the May block in mind I just thought it's great for my BOM

... and the April BOM winner is...... STinMT.

Congratulations!!! Please send me a pm with your mailing info.


Back to sewing, on line shopping, house chores, just a bit more coffee! Hobby Lobby opens in four minutes... coupon in hand... I'm on a mission.

Any of you used this batting... Thermore by Hobbs?

ivy

Congrats STinMT

No Ivy, I don't know Thermore, sorry.

In Step 2, the names of the small blocks to make
won't open for me. I can click on anything else
that's in blue and they open. These won't. Is
something locked? Sorry I'm probably not being very technologically adequate in explaining this. Thanks for your help.

twoboysgrammy, those blue words aren't links to click but just headers. The description of what to do is below the blue words. Just keep on reading and you'll know what to do

Oh my I like the looks of this block and I even like the minis around it, but I'm not doing those. Think we just need to take one step at a time.
Happy May Day. Remember when you got construction paper flowers from the little kids? Miss that a lot. I went and picked some lilacs today. My house smells lovely.

Congrat's STinMT for being named the winner for April. I just printed out the directions for the May block. Don't know when I will get to it, but I should be able to finish it later this month. There is still plenty of time to catch up if you missed a month or two. Hope to see more blocks done this month. Sue

Congrats STinMT!

WOW!! Looks like a difficult block. I expect this one to take the whole month! LOL!


Congrats STinMT!!

Congratulations STinMT!

Actually, by using the corners from the center of the big block and the flying geese~ this block goes together very fast. The bow ties are easy and fun.

Congratulations to STinMT. I will copy the directions and get the block done in the next few days.

Thank you, Anael7621 for your response. I did what you said and it worked! I appreciate the help.

oooguh this one is lovely! love those tiny 1" finished squares... maybe I'll try to include those along the bottom instead of the strips...? Gotta get busy to catch up and get my name in the drawing for completed list for May Crazy - hope that you got your EQ setting all figured out by now? or are you just recreating them each month??

Again this month I will be having company so I won't even be able to start until the last week.Looks like a fun one and I was able to at least pick my fabrics.Good luck everyone.

I've got everything in EQ again Bonnie. Ivy is working on June's block as I type!

Have fun everyone!!

More tiny pieces....I know, one step at a time Step one: print out the instructions, done!

I printed out my pattern, I got all the peices cut out, I even used some triangles that I had cut wrong for one of the other blocks. I started to sew it together, layed out the peices in the order that I will sew them. Started sewing them for the first section I had to rip out every seam I put in, but the rest went quick. Now I just need to start doing the small blocks.

Handie Ann, what a beautiful block, the colors are gorgeous! Good luck on the smaller blocks

quote:

Originally posted by royalboomer:
More tiny pieces....I know, one step at a time Step one: print out the instructions, done!

LOL that's how far I got too

Same here finished the first "babystep" printed the instructions. Hoping for some sewing time this weekend.

Lots of storms came through here yesterday so I was taking migraine drugs all day. Now I have the dreaded drug "hangover" - odd, I don't get hangovers with alcohol. Since it is my short day I'm just going to recover at home. Maybe I'll take the second step: read the instructions, there's a novel approach

Oh, Handie Ann, I'm sorry you had such a bad sew day. But your block is BEAUTIFUL. I just love the colors... especially the green as it is my favorite color.

I think we've all had those sew/rip days.

royalboomer, hope you are feeling better today. Maybe save the rotary cutter and sewing machine for another day.

ivy

First off, thanks for the congrats. Now, since it was not a nice day to be outdoors I sewed and here is my first block. I did change the size of the HST's and the small squares, I made them bigger.

Love the Santa in the middle - makes me smile every time I see it.

HandieAnn and STinMT, your blocks are both lovely! I have to say, when I first looked at this block I didn't know if I would like the "round" look to the piecing...although CBQ and Ivy, your blocks are both very wonderful and will look great with the rest of your blocks. Now that I have had time to look at it a bit longer I am finding that I am looking forward to getting this one put together...I see that the color value sure makes a difference in the final outcome of the block (of course, I guess that is the same for all blocks, isn't it )

Anyhoo, looking forward to seeing all of the blocks and how different they look depending on your fabric choices!

Thank you for your patience with my ramblings...still out of my comfort zone with this piecing stuff!

Handie and STinMT~ great blocks! I love the snowman in yours too ST!

AlexER, with your lovely florals, I'm sure this block is going to look great! Happy sewing!

Well, all I got done was nothing. Maybe this week I'll get to make this block. Sue is coming tomorrow for a little bit, I should get my colors picked and cut.
Nice blocks Handi and STinMT glad someone got ambitious and finished them.

Well ladies, I have been working on this block. I probably will never make it again. I am working on that inside section between the corner end blocks. Truthfully, I think the instructions could have been made a little clearer. And as the BOM chicks warned, it has been a little challenging to my skills - which is a good thing. Always good to grow.

So now that I am done cranking, I hope to get the block done sometime later today and then work on the mini blocks surrounding it. But I'm thinking this will be really a great quilt when finished.

Mary

I completed the May BOM during my visit with Pat. I am still using Asian fabric and I am happy with the results. I did get confused, but Pat helped me out. Now she will not make the same mistakes. LOL Sue

STinMT, another beautiful block! That Santa in the center is adorable!

Sue, your block is lovely. I wish I had some Asian fabric!

Ugggg I did make the same mistake and right now I'm taking a break, Having trouble figuring out the order to sew the QST and two tones together. After a few I'll go give it another shot. Shouldn't be this hard.

Patty, one step at a time Just take it easy, have some more coffee or wine and give it another try LOL

Thanks for the encouragement Anael, I took a pepsi break, started some beef jerky in the dehydrator and then went back to the sewing room and got all the squares laid out. Now all I have to do is pick them up piece by piece and sew the correct seams, I should get it done by supper, I hope. That would be my tip: lay it on the table and one piece at a time.

...unsewing isn't nearly as fun as sewing...talking about me here, Patty, not you...thought I had it all finished and stepped back to take a look...just about finished unsewing now...

DH was outside mowing the pasture and when he came in he said..."oh oh, you are measuring...that can't be good" because he knows I h@te to measure things and if I am it means I am in over my head or things aren't going very well. That is one of the challenges here for me...numbers and measuring...

Not to worry though, putting a smile on my face and going to get a brownie...then back to finish it up!

Yep, Alexemmarose, taking a break is always a good idea. I'm better now and you will be too.

Okay my fab quilting friends...first let me say HOW MUCH I ADMIRE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SKILL IN PIECING, QUILTING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...POINTS!

Okay then, here is my pix of my completed block...I do love it although only about 1/2 the points are even close...I figure if it bothers me enough some day I will fix them, if it doesn't then it doesn't . For now I am just thankful my block is finished.

humbly yours...axel

the colors didn't show true in the pix...the green is really brighter and more yellow like the green in the border and the tan is more yellowish tan...cloudy day...maybe that affected it. Anyhoo...looking forward to seeing more of your finished blocks.

I finished my block, but I'm not sure that I won't have to use my handy dandy seam ripper. Is it correct? I should have chosen a little darker pink for my second triangle pink, Sue was right. I should learn never to second guess Sue.
Forgot to say that your block is pretty Alexemrose.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: patty j,

Tried to take a better picture, but a dark background didn't improve the photo. Going to make dinner now. Pat

Patty, your pinks are very pretty! Bright and cheery.

Oh my! Dear, dear ladies!

I am sorry to read about all this trouble with the block.

Just so you know... I read through the pattern a few times and try to visualize MY fabrics where Marcia QuiltersCache put hers. If it takes some colored pencils or little bits of my leftover fabric from the prior months block... well, that's what works for me.

Another suggestion is to check out the blocks others have made who submitted them to Marcia QuiltersCache for posting. They are usually on the last page after she writes...
"Happy Quilting!
Marcia
Here's one that.... made!

And as for unsewing???
That's what I did yesterday while watching (listening to and SOMEtimes watching) The Last Samurai with that dishy Tom Cruise, oh and then JJ Abrams Star Trek (when they were young), and then Serenity with the most dishy Nathan Fillion AKA Castle. Oh, back to unsewing. It was an entire top---attic window. I just didn't like it and wanted to add sashing between each block.

I just LOVE the fabrics this time around!!!

Santa in the center is soooo adorable, STinMT.

sister sue, your Asian fabrics are just delicious!

That center sunflower, alexemmarose, draws your eye right to it. And you're right, if those couple of points bug you enough you can fix them later.

patty j, you're lookin' "pretty in pink."

Please, please don't stress over the blocks.
It's supposed to be fun and yes, a learning opportunity and yes, even a bit challenging at times. Some of these techniques are new to me, as well, just so you know.

Have a great afternoon... or evening if you are ahead of me, time-zone-wise.

ivy

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ivy_cottage81,

thanks for the pep talk Ivy but I have to say, I don't think it was the block but, at least in my case, the quilter!! ha!

Since posting my pix here I decided to fix a couple of the points...no big deal...took just a few minutes and I am much happier!

Onward and looking forward to the rest of the pack posting pix!

Nice blocks everybody!

Alexemmarose, I have the same problem with losing my points I measure and try to keep the the scant 1/4 inch seam but I always seem to lose many of them. BUT it doesn't bother me too much and I hate to unsew, so I just keep them as is most of the time.

Have not been able to get to the sewing room yet.

Handie Ann- love your fall colors, they make the block pop. ST in Mt- great touch with the Santa Clause- that is thinking outside the box. Alexemmarose- the sunflower makes you not loook for missing points, great job. Patty j, I knew you would finish your's today and it is cute and will coordinate with your privious blocks. Nice job everyone. Sue

Sue and Ivy get gold stars for being great quilting cheerleaders. We all need a pep talk once in a while.