Kathie's Homeward Bound - Wek 44

I sometimes wonder where blocks get their names. I don't see much to suggest Homeward Bound in this one, but it's a nice block nonetheless. I now have 10 blocks made in the orange/blue/green/pink fabric. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Prairie Queen - Week 30

I'm still trying to use up the green/blue/orange solids that I bought. This makes one more for that future throw or quilt. I always like HSTs and 4 patches. In my rush, I have the blue spinning in the wrong direction!! Thanks, Hetty. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Oregon Trail - Week 36

I'm trying to get enough blocks using these blue/orange/green solids that I have. This was a good candidate. If I did it over, I'd add some green to the mix. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Economy - Week 34

I made this block as a six inch block rather than 7 because it is one of the blocks for the Farmer's Wife sampler quilt. I killed two birds with one stone. Kathie L in Allentown

A finished top

While we were on summer break, I took the opportunity to put together nine of the blocks we've made this year into a small throw-sized quilt top. I'd love to get it to my long-arm quilter this month so that I can count it as finished. I tried to arrange them with similar blocks on opposite sides of the center. My sister gave me these fabrics a few years ago for my birthday, so I'm glad I can show her that I've put them to good use. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Liberated Wedding Ring - Week 33

I took a real liberated approach to this week's block and didn't follow either of the instructions exactly. I've been making 12 inch blocks using these 2 greens, blue, orange and pale pink this summer, so I decided to do this month's block in that size and color. I just cut the light blue and green at 2.5 by 4.5 inches, added corner triangles of green, orange and pale pink and trimmed to 6.5 inches. Then I put the 4 blocks together to get the ring. Very little measuring and done quickly. Maybe a bit too quickly since I noticed that I have a blue and green reversed in one of the sections. Oh well. Here we are saying goodbye to summer and hello fall. I love the cooler weather and the colors at this time of year. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Forest Paths - Week 29

This week was a simple one for me because I already had the pinwheel part of the block made. Whenever I have a leftover scrap of fabric left from a project, I make it into 9-patches or HSTs or pinwheels if I happen to have 4 matching HSTs. This is leftover fabric from a Thimbleberries project I did a while ago and they were just sitting in my bin of quilt parts. I still had some of the blue, so I used that for the border. I took the picture outside, and it's a good thing they aren't chocolate, because they would have melted. The worst of the heat is on its way. Wouldn't you know that the worst will be on Friday when I plan to go to NYC to see the star quilts at the Folk Art Museum Annex. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Twist and Shout - Week 27

I made this over the weekend, and was in a patriotic mood. I think it looks good in red/white/blue. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Friendship Scrap - Week 23

I can see how this block got its name - it would be great for a friendship block. I'll keep it in mind in case I ever do one. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Nines - Week 24

I am never at a loss for making nine patches. Whenever I finish a project and have same fabric to spare (which is always), I usually whip up a pair of 6-1/2 inch nine patches. I've got quite a pile and will make a scrappy quilt or two soon. Also, I belong to a Yahoo group (Niblets) whose members exchange 3-1/2 inch nine patches each month. This month's theme was denim blue and bubblegum pink. Here is a picture of some bigs and smalls that I made this week. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Broken Sugar Bowl

I recently made this block as part of my ongoing effort to make the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt. I like HSTs and 4 patches, and this is a nice combination of those two elements. I apologize for being missing for the last month. My husband and I took a road trip from PA to CA and back. We had a great time seeing friends, family and national parks, but I missed my sewing room. I'll try to catch up on a few of the weeks I missed. Hetty, if you want to take a break this summer, that's fine with me. I'll be here when you return. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Gay 2-Patch - Week

I knew that if I didn't get the block made this morning, it wouldn't get made. I love sawtoooth borders, so I enjoyed making this week's offering. My quilt guild is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this year, and as a way of celebrating, we are having an outdoor quilt show tomorrow in Emmaus, PA, which is where we meet. After a few weeks of rain, it is expected to be sunny this weekend, so wish us luck. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Bluebird - Week 20

I found the time last night to assemble this week's bluebird. I sure wish we had bluebirds in our neighborhood, but I think they like meadows better than suburban backyards. I have my share of colorful goldfinches and house finches, though. Best of the spring to you all, Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie L's Alaska Homestead

This block took practically no time to do. And I was even able to whip it out with all the banging of men putting a new roof on our house today. Bonnie Hunter used this block in her latest mystery (roll roll cotton boll), and it was stunning. Check it out at her quiltville.blogspot.com. I don't know what's wrong with my camera, but what looks like blue in this picture is really purple. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie L's Fish Block

I made a single 9 inch fish block using 3 inch squares and HSTs and then adding 1/2 inch to the top and bottom and 1 inch on the right to get a 10 inch finished size fish. It was easily done. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie L's Pieced Tulips

I went with Hetty's directions for making this into a 10 inch block. I just saw some lovely tulip beds while visiting the Dallas arboretum last week, so I was in the mood for just this type of block. I know there aren't many blue tulips, but it's what I wanted to do! Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie L's Honey Bee - Week 13

You might think my Honey Bee is only half done, but it's as done as it's going to get. I think the orange that I picked for the corner petals is kind of overpowering compared to the lilac 9 patch, so I think that just two corners is the right balance. I'm not a big fan of doing applique, but this wasn't a hard shape to do, so even a beginner like me felt comfortable. Thanks for making me get out of my comfort zone, Hetty. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Scrappy Butterfly - Week 12

After a beautiful 3 days to usher in spring, today we woke to a little snow, and now it's cold and rainy. Enough already! Let's hope this week's butterflies bring spring in on their wings. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Flying Squares - Week 11

I was away last week, which is my excuse for not making the frog. It is on my 'to d0' list though because it looks like a fun block. Here are my flying squares. It was easy to put together, and I like the movement. Kathie L in Allentown

Kathie's Scottie Dog - Week 9

I was hoping that this block would be one of the animals that we'd do this year. I had the perfect dark blue fabric with some white squiggles that give it that rough fur sort of look. You'll see that rather than sew a lot of 2-1/2 inch squares together, if similar colors were together, like the body of the dog and parts of the background, I just cut out one piece the size of the many pieced squares. I hate having more seams than I need. Kathie L in Allentown