Block 2 of Four Block Wonder is HERE!

The Dutchman's Puzzle is the next block in our Four Block Wonder Block of the Week.  This block comprised of 16 flying geese units.  This is a great time to check out the No Waste Flying Geese method by Patti R. Anderson.  This is my favorite method because you can create 4 PERFECT flying geese units with absolutely no waste of fabric.  Here is the link to Patti's fantastic method -- http://www.patchpieces.com/files/flyinggeese.pdf.  The pattern for this block includes the cutting directions for this method but you will need to download these directions to actually create the flying geese.  You will then be able to construct your perfect Dutchman's Puzzle blocks.  Go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com to download the pattern now!

Bali Wedding Star Progress...

I started my Bali Wedding Star back in November when I took a 4 part class on it at This Is Sew Broadway in Crookston, MN.  It was a great class and I knew when I signed up for it that this was going to be a huge project.  The pattern is a 24 page book and the instructor provided lots of additional handouts to help us through the process.  Judy Neimeyer has a great process of putting things in bags that keeps them very organized.  A good thing too since there are LOTS of elements to this quilt -- the arcs, the melons with star points that are between the arcs, the points... I can't list them all here, but the list goes on and on. I ended up with 18 large ziplock bags with hundreds of units split between them.  It has taken me this whole month just to get all of the paper piecing completed.  Now I am ready to start assembling the quilt.  It is SOOOO exciting.  These pictures show a block in progress.  I love the beautiful points... thanks to paper piecing... and now that I have a handle on the color placement, I can really make some progress.  

Here is the first installment of the Four Block Wonder quilt.  This block is called Crossroads.  It works up quickly and is a lot of fun.  You can find it for free download at www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com.  You will also find the fabric requirements there as well.  Hop on over and check it out.  Click around... you may find some other things you like there too!

Changed the size but this will be a good one...

 I actually designed this quilt last week and decided to write up the pattern for it.  I am calling it my Four Block Wonder Quilt because there are four different blocks used to create the design.  When I started writing the pattern, I did some slight changes and tweaks to make things easier to cut and piece.  The original design was 85" square and now it is 95" square but I think that is a great size for either a full or queen size bed.  If you use lighter batting, it could make a spectacular bedspread for a twin bed as well.  I will be releasing this pattern as a Block of the Week.  As each block pattern comes along, I will show some different colorways as well, just to give you an idea of the possibilities.  So keep tuning in to catch the installments!

Sewing & Designing

I spent this past weekend at my sewing machine... so relaxing and fun... haven't done that for awhile and I'm getting back into the groove.  I worked on my Bali Wedding Star by Judy Niemeyer.  I am so excited!  I decided to make the queen size quilt and it will measure 104" x 104" when it's finished.  I took a class at This is Sew Broadway in Crookston, MN.  Catherine Erickson, a Judy Niemeyer certified instructor taught the class.  I'm certain that my success with this project lies in the help and support provided there.

This quilt is not for the faint of heart, although once you master the technique, it isn't as complicated as it looks.  It is paper-pieced so the points are all perfect and it comes down to finishing the elements and then assembling the parts.

I am so excited!!!  I only have 72 more melon points left to paper piece and then I can start assembling my blocks.  I'll take a few pics of the different parts and post them tomorrow so you have an idea of what I'm talking about.

I also spent some time with my EQ7 software this weekend.  Virtual quilting is so much fun.  The quilt pictured above measures 81 inches square and took me just about an hour to make -- on my computer that it is.  I picked out four of my favorite blocks -- Bear Paws, Old Maid's Puzzle, Crossroads and Variable Stars.  I personally like the symmetrical look but you could actually arrange the blocks any which way.  I used Jo Morton's Civil War Reproduction fabrics to color the blocks and here is the result.  I know it will take more than an hour to actually make the quilt... it will take me much more than an hour to write the pattern, but I think that will be my next project.  I call this quilt Four Block Wonder because it looks a lot more complex than it really is.

Valentines Day is right around the corner...

Since I've just about run out of snowman inspiration, I decided to try my hand at a little valentine block.  My granddaughter, Izzy, is a monkey fanatic so I think I am going to put this applique on a t-shirt for her.  The  free pattern is available at www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com.  The pattern is based on a "little quilt" (12" x 12" finished size) but you can always use a xerox to resize your templates to whatever size you want.  If you would like me to email templates of a specific size to you, please email me at georgia@crazyladyquiltdesigns.com.  I can resize the pattern for you in my EQ7 software and email a pdf of the proper size templates directly to you.  I hope you enjoy my little Monkey Love design.

Snow Couple Leads to Snow Child...

This proud papa snowman is pulling his son on a sled.  Of course, with the weather warming up in Minnesota, this could be the shortest sled ride in snowman history!

Another Snowman pattern... Getting romantic this time~

This cute little snowcouple are taking a stroll on a cold winter's day.  Arm in arm and smiling away... can't you just feel the snowflakes in their little hearts melting for each other.  Download the pattern at www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com

Snow = Snowman + Sled

After the snow has been around a few days, you always see kids out on their sleds.  This little snowman is gonna have some fun too!  Go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com to download the pattern!

Another Minnesota Snowman Pattern...

Meet Snowshoe Snowman... He's the second fellow in my recent burst of inspiration.  I'm going to finish up the patterns for the half dozen snowmen I have sketched but I think maybe I'll start on some spring designs next.  Go to www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com to find this pattern!

Snow in Minnesota -- Finally! -- and Inspiration Follows...

The holidays are officially over and my Scrooge attitude is out the door with them.  Maybe the fact that we finally got some snow up here in the great white north had something to do with that.  I would never have believed that before -- not particularly fond of snow -- but who knows?

Anyway the snowflakes fell and brought some inspiration for some more snowmen!  I have sketches for six right now and the patterns are for 12" x 12" blocks so you can create a quilt with several or make one and hang it somewhere.  I hope you enjoy my Skating Snowman.  I sure enjoyed creating him.  Watch for more snow guys in the near future!

Download the pattern at www.crazyladyquiltdesigns.com... See ya there!

No New Years Resolutions here, BUT...

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions... mainly because they just set me up to fail... but I think I've come up with a goal for 2012 instead of a resolution.  I've told all of you about the stacks of UFO projects that I have stacked in my sewing room.  I seriously considered making myself complete all of my UFOs before starting any new projects this year.  The hair on the back of my neck stood up as soon as this thought entered my mind.  Not start ANY new projects???? That's just crazy!!!  So I compromised -- with myself.

I have decided that I will start the new year out by finishing one of my UFOs before starting anything new.  When I finish that project (or, heaven forbid, it joins the UFO pile) I will complete another UFO before starting anything new.

Is this gonna work?  Who knows... I can only do my best.  I am going to select the UFO to start with this afternoon.  I'll post pics and keep you posted on my progress.