You guys, as soon as this pandemic is over and the quilt shows start up again, I need to sign up for an in-person English Paper Piecing (EPP) class.  I am happy with how my EPP monogram block came out, but I'm pretty sure it should not have taken me this long to sew just the one block:

EPP Monogram Stitched and Trimmed

I'm making some headway with my baby boy quilt NewFO!   I haven't cut out the four Wasabi (greenish yellow) QSTs yet, but I'm almost done piecing the rest of the blocks for this "quick and easy" project.

Piecing is in Progress!

I changed my mind about foundation paper piecing my center monogram block, too.  I just could not abide with those extra seams that I would have in the center of my "C" if I did FPP, so this block will be my second ever attempt at English paper piecing (EPP).  

FPP Version, with Extra Seams in ...

You guys, I started a new project yesterday!  I'm so excited!

42 x 42 Welcome Home, Baby, based on AQS Letter Home QAL

A few weeks ago, I shared in this post how I was playing around with resizing and recoloring the AQS Letter Home quilt along.  The original quilt from AQS finishes at 60" x 60" and you can find the free pattern and instructions for that here.  

AQS Coloring and Block Construction

I had high hopes of knocking out a few of the easier blocks for Anders' Beware the Ishmaelites sampler quilt over the weekend, but I was stymied by a color glitch.  My plan was to make all four of the predominantly yellow blocks, and I printed up my foundation paper piecing templates and my rotary cutting charts and headed upstairs to the studio...  But when I pulled out the two yellow shades of Kona Solid fabric that I'd used in my EQ8 design, I had serious misgivings about using them together in my quilt.  I decided to trust my ...

Happy Friday, friends!  I'm still quilting away on my Spirit Song quilt, probably about 40% of the way finished with the final background quilting, but there's nothing new to show on that front.  However, I did make another block for my son Anders' bed quilt yesterday:

This 15" block is the fifth one, and the easiest BY FAR of the blocks I've completed for this sampler quilt, my convoluted and overcomplicated version of the Moda Modern Building Blocks sampler from a few years ago.  I foundation paper pieced the corner units and then pieced the rest of ...

Good morning, and Happy Tuesday, everyone!  I spent some time tidying up my studio yesterday, so I rewarded myself with a few design diversions this morning before getting back to work on my Spirit Song quilt.  

First Tangent: AQS Summer Star QAL

First I played in EQ8, redrafting the AQS Summer Star QAL project that caught my eye in their email newsletter.  Here's what I came up with:

The original design by Betsey Langford, shown below, finishes at 72" x 72", which is not a useful size for me right now.  I thought this would make a good baby ...

Good morning, Fearless Quilters!  Happy First Day of Spring to those in the Northern Hemisphere, and I suppose Happy First Day of Autumn to those South of the Equator.  

Yesterday I pushed myself out of my news-induced funk and into my studio for a few hours. I had a lot of clutter accumulated on my cutting table that needed to be cleared away before I could cut borders for my Spirit Song quilt, and one of the things I unearthed there was the foundation papers, templates, and precut fabrics for the next block of my son Anders' "Beware the Ishmaelites ...

I stumbled across a great monthly challenge hosted by Elm Street Quilts. It's called One Monthly Goal or OMG for short. It's a great opportunity to make myself accountable for one thing, each month, with no great pressure. The OMG could be as simple as getting a binding sewn onto a quilt that's been waiting for one for 6 months. (not that I actually have one of those, but you get the idea)

My OMG for February is to quilt and bind this Meadowland baby quilt. The little one this is going to won't be arriving ...