Friday, April 6, 2012

A Few Feathers, Some Baskets and A Little Giveaway

I'm up in the wee hours getting ready for my 3rd and final "Feathered Star" class and I'm realizing I don't understand what to do next, so I will have to go to class without everything prepared to put together.
I have all of these parts pinned to my design wall, but I can't see anywhere in the directions that there is a size listed for the setting triangles. My brain is too tired to figure it out, so I'd better quit before I mess it up. This class has used the perforated paper piecing technique to make the feathers and the mini-mariner's compass. The instructor is the same one that taught the perforated paper piecing for the large mariner's compass in the class I took last year. I did a tutorial for this method here.
We've also used the stack 'n whack method for the "arms" of the star and the tips, and the four patch blocks that will go in the border. I've never used this method before--very clever. I would like to know who thinks up these things?

As I've worked on this I have continued to use the Spring Baskets as my leader/enders. Just two more baskets to go and I will be assembling this little quilt. I am currently auditioning borders on the wall.
 (I still haven't corrected the error in the top of one basket.) These baskets were made with bonus triangles Mom gave me from a quilt she made last year. I'm trying to use only those and the leftover fabric pieces from her quilt to make this little one, so I am limited in my border options. I want it to really be a "make-do" quilt. It is in pretty rough form right now, but I think I like the black edge on the setting triangles. Let me hear your two-cents worth on the border.
                            
                                                                                                                                                                        
I finally got to my "Ramblin' Rose Meets Jamestown" March block. It is the one in the center. I chose some of the lighter valued prints in my "rose" fabric box for this one.

Last week I kept seeing bloggers talk about having preordered "Civil War Legacies" by Carol Hopkins, and how excited they were that it had arrived. I also preordered, but apparently my copy had a harder time getting up the Amazon. It arrived today. What a wonderful book--15 small quilts designed especially to be made using wonderful Civil War reproduction fabrics, for a great vintage look. Well-photographed quilts, clear directions (even arrows for seam pressing--I love that!) and great looking designs make this a book I highly recommend for lovers of small quilts, or vintage quilts.

Finally, how would you like to win the pattern for this quilt?
Just leave a comment on this post. I'll pick a winner on Saturday, around 6 p.m. MDT.
When Julie at Me and My Stitches posted the photo of this from her recent road trip I knew I "needed" the pattern. She took this picture in JJ Stitches in Sun Prairie, WI. I called the store and they said the pattern (which was from a discontinued book and they had permission to reprint the pattern and sell it) was available individually or in a kit. I ordered 1 copy of the pattern and the folks there told me that they preferred I send a check. They put my pattern in the mail even before they received my check. Once they received my check someone sent the pattern again. I called and informed them of the double delivery and they said, "Just keep it." I told them I would share it with my friends on my blog. If you like the colorway in the sample, you may want to print this photo because below you see the colorway on the pattern and at first I didn't recognize it as the same quilt.



Remember to comment if you'd like to be in the drawing for the pattern!
That is all for now. Until next time, Janet O.

                

36 comments:

  1. Your star is gorgeous.
    I have a couple boxes of "rose" fabrics. I need to stop collecting them, and start USING them.

    The little triangles quilt is so cute. Hard to choose between the border choices, but my #1 is the red with black narrow border. And I agree, the black around the setting triangles is nice.

    Oh I love that book! I can from just a peek at the cover!

    I would like to win the pattern giveaway. It would be a perfect way to make a tiny dent in my homespun collection, done just as it is in the sample photo.

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  2. OOops...I missed a word... I can TELL from just a peek at that cover

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  3. I am impressed with your feathered star-with a Mariner's compass center. It's beautiful. Thanks for the book tip too and the chance to win the pattern. I have lavendar batik strips leftover from 2 jelly rolls that would be perfect for it.

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  4. Your feathered star is beautiful...and I'm loving those baskets...what a great pattern...I can see that done in lots of different fabrics! Wonderful!

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  5. Your feathered star is beautiful. I am going to go back and read the perforated paper technique. It obviously worked well for you.

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  6. WOW!!! Your feathered star is GREAT! The baskets are wonderful. Love the Carol Hopkins book and all her little quilts. Would love to win the pattern!

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  7. Janet, the feathered star is looking great! Such lovely fabrics. The baskets are cute, cute. I like the dark framing and I like the red border - my two cents worth!! LOL
    I'll pass on the pattern - though it be stars!!! Just don't need another project tempting me!

    Have a blessed Easter!

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  8. Your quilts are lovely. Thanks for the chance to win the quilt pattern. I really like it in the darker fabrics.

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  9. Your feathered star is absolutely amazing! You have been extremely prolific with quilt blocks lately, I love them all. I would adore an opportunity to win that pattern, it is SEW pretty; thanks for the chance!

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  10. Beautiful work! On the basket quilt, I like the border on the left with the small border of red. I'd love to be in on the chance to win the pattern. Thanks!

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  11. Oh my... I love that feathered star! Gorgeous!!!

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  12. Oh. My. Goodness!!! That feathered star is just gorgeous!!! What size is it? I just love everything about it - all the little design details! Mariner's compass in the center (although that is a *bad* word in my house right now :*D), stack 'n whack elements, and the feathered star itself - amazing! Your colors are beautiful too.

    Love your baskets quilt too! I'm a real sucker for baskets - aren't we all? You know I love color, so my eye immediately votes for the black inner border with the red outer border. It reflects back to the black inner squares and seems to have the best balance & WOW factor of all of the border options.

    The pattern is sew cute - would love to win it! I think I would do neutrals in the background with colorful red & blue stars popping out all over :*)

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  13. My what lovely baskets! Thanks for sharing! Following you now :)

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  14. I can't imagine undertaking a feathered star. You GO girl! And I'd be delighted to win the pattern -- which I will use and then give away to someone else!

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  15. Good Morning
    I live in Wisconsin and love to stop by JJ stitches when I can. I like the red/rust border and the black border - it really sets of the baskets to my eye. Thank you for the opportunity to win the pattern. Great illustration of what a difference color can make!!

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  16. Good Morning
    I live in Wisconsin and love to stop by JJ stitches when I can. I like the red/rust border and the black border - it really sets of the baskets to my eye. Thank you for the opportunity to win the pattern. Great illustration of what a difference color can make!!

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  17. I really love the feathered star. The baskets are pretty too. I like the right and left border ideas.
    The "Ramblin' Rose Meets Jamestown" is beautiful.
    I had not seen the Civil War Legacies book yet, but looks like a good one
    I like the scattered stars and would love to win the pattern.

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  18. Your feathered star is amazing!! I'm sure you'll have it figured out in no time!!
    Love your other projects as well!!

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  19. I love stars in any configuration so I would love to win your extra pattern. I love your feathered star block.

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  20. I like the colors in your photo, too. Looks like a fun pattern with all the background strips.

    I like the wide red border for your baskets. I have been working on some fun baskets recently, so they attract my attention.

    Marcia in Ohio

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  21. Oh my! Your feathered star looks beautiful. Good luck in your class. You did a wonderful job on your baskets too. You must dream about baskets! LOL! I think you have done them in every colorway possible. I love them. That is a nice pattern too, I don't think I have ever saw that design before.

    Have a wonderful and Blessed day
    Kristie

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  22. I love your feathered star. I've never attempted one. They look so hard but I think I could paper piece one. Your basket quilt is very cute. I love that you are trying to "make do" and only use the leftover fabrics from your Mom's quilt. I like the black border. Do you have enough to make a piano key border with the rest of the fabric? I think that would look really nice against the black.

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  23. Hi Janet - I resolved long ago to NEVER make a feathered star quilt cuz they look so danged intimidating! So hats of to you for tackling this project - it looks great!

    I've voting for the lighter border on the left for your basket quilt - makes the red baskets POP more I think and they're the stars of the quilt that way.

    I'd love to win your extra pattern - it's a great design and looks like it would work up relatively quickly! And if I win, I could actually come pick it up so we could finally meet in person! LOL

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  24. Sign me up for the extra pattern. I love the stars in it. Your Feathered star looks great. Have fun with you class. I choose the red for the border on the basket quilt.

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  25. Love the feathered star Mom. I still don't see the mistake in your little baskets. You'll have to point it out to me on Sunday. I like the black border and the red border and the neutral on the left hand side in your picture. Can you do three borders?

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  26. I like the reddish border on the right-hand side. Your feathered star looks great!

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  27. I like the black border and I love the 'Make do' concept!

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  28. I adore your star!

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  29. I have never made a feathered star. Yours is beautiful. I love the fabrics you have chosen.

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  30. Wow! That's an amazing feathered star! Hope the class goes well.
    It makes me feel better seeing others working on multiple projects. I think I like the border on the left - not sure why.
    That book looks like a good one. I always get my AP&Q magazine a week after I see it on other blogs and in the store. I've come to expect it.
    I think I'll take myself out of the running for the free pattern. It's pretty, but I have so many other ideas in the queue.
    Happy Easter!

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  31. i would love to win that quilt pattern

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  32. Hi Janet - the baskets are looking great! I like the red border best with the border on the left my scond choice.

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  33. That is an amazing feathered star. And your basket quilt is great, love the brown print blocks it really shows off the baskets!

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  34. I loved your feathered star, so beautiful...
    Loved the baskets too :) I love to win the pattern too.. Thanks :)

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  35. I got that book too Janet - I have yet to make anything from it but I've done two other's by Carol - I admire her work.
    Love you feathered star - I took a Marsh McCloskey workshop and really enjoyed her method.
    Do you have a large floral for the basket border? Your baskets are great - I'd be tempted to leave the 'mistake' block - I think it's sweet!
    How generous to share the pattern - but my to do list is too long - I love the pattern though.
    Thank you for sharing your work with us!

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  36. Your feather block is FANTASTIC!!!! :)

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I love to have your comments and feedback.