Wyoming Breezes

This ugly duckling has turned into a swan!  Since the fabrics have so many flowers, I've named the quilt, Down the Garden Path .  The links to the individual block patterns can be found here .

All of the Ugly Sampler blocks have been framed and squared, so they are all the same size. It was my intent to frame them with the background fabric, but I did not have enough, so I used some green from my stash. In order to have a quilt that is four blocks wide and five long, I made two additional blocks. Castle in the Air  (at left)  *note: this pattern has three pages online, links are at the bottom of each pattern page. Cake Stand  (at right) *note: this pattern has three pages online, links are at the bottom of each pattern page.

Yesterday, I worked on the October blocks for the Ugly Sampler. On the left, Lady of the Lake (link below). I wanted to use three fabrics in this block, so I played around with the color arrangement a bit. On the right, Crystals (link below) Now, all of the blocks for this Sampler Quilt are finished. Since some of the blocks are not the correct size (due to my errors, not the pattern), I plan to frame each one with the background fabric and then add the sashing before I set the blocks on point. This has been a fun project: I've gained more confidence in my quilting abilities. Following are the links for each month's blocks February All Hallows Old Maid's Puzzle March Tudor Rose Mrs. Keller's Nine Patch April Capital T Baby Four-Patch May Swing in the Center Churn Dash June Pick a Little State of Illinois July Blackford's Beauty Corn and Beans August Towers of Camelot Switching Crowns September Aunt Dinah Can't Sto...

Sometimes I use graph paper and crayons to check the placement of fabrics on the Sampler blocks, especially when the pattern shows more fabrics than I am using or if I am running short of a color. Sunday, I worked on the September sampler blocks: Aunt Dinah is shown on the left Can't Stop Spinnin' is shown on the right (I used the crayons several times to find a placement I liked for this block. I wanted to make sure that it did not have a heavy feeling/appearance) The other blocks in the sampler can be found here  and here .

Since my blue fabric is dwindling, I played around with color placement on graph paper before I made any cuts. This block is called Switching Crowns , and I am pleased with how it looks with the other blocks. You can find the links to all the blocks on this earlier post . I think there are only three more months for this sampler, so I will have 20 blocks to make the quilt top. I have decided to place the blocks on point with sashing.

Oh my, what a difference fabric placement makes. I am much happier with this August block! It does not appear as heavy as my first attempt and is much more appealing to the eye. Lesson learned: location, location, location is not just a concept for real estate. Which fabric placement do you prefer?

It was so pleasant yesterday that I spent some time in my sewing room constructing another block for the Ugly Fabric Sampler . This block is called Towers of Camelot and is the first of two blocks for August. Maybe it is the fabric placement, but this block is not very appealing to me. Every cut is crucial now since I am getting short on the burgundy and blue fabrics.

Okay, I know that it is not July, but the patterns for July's blocks were posted early, and I was in the mood to sew. Of the twelve blocks, the block on the left ( Blackford's Beauty ) is my favorite. It was an easy block to make, it didn't give me any frustrations, and it is attractive. July Blocks Blackford's Beauty Corn & Beans Links for the other blocks can be found in these posts: February March April May June I am trying to decide what kind of sashing (color, etc.) to put between the blocks. I am open to suggestions, so give me some ideas.

Summertime television does not interest me. The "new" shows are either extremely silly or plain boring, so last night, I decided to work on the Ugly Sampler blocks instead. Pick a Little (at left) and State of Illinois (at right) are the blocks for June. Links for the other blocks can be found in these posts: February March April May

It is hard to believe that I am managing to stay on schedule for the Block of the Month Sampler. This month's blocks (lower right) are Swing in the Center and Churn Dash . Even with all of my mistakes, I am beginning to like the way quilt top is taking shape. Links for the other blocks can be found in these posts: February March April

April's blocks for my Sampler Quilt are finished. April blocks Capital T Baby Four-Patch March blocks Tudor Rose Mrs. Keller's Nine Patch February blocks All Hallows Old Maid's Puzzle I like how all of the blocks look together. With any luck, this may turn into an attractive quilt top.

The second block for March is finished, shown at bottom right. For some reason the recent blocks are not the same size as the February blocks. I checked all measurements twice and used the most scant seam I could, yet they are smaller. I guess they will have to be framed when I assemble the quilt top. Once the blocks were on the wall, I determined five fabrics was too many to incorporate in the blocks, so the gold in the original block will not be used. The top right is the revised January block, sans gold. One of the hardest parts of this Sampler project is not knowing what the block pattern is going to be or how it is going to look. February blocks All Hallows Old Maid's Puzzle March blocks Tudor Rose Mrs. Keller's Nine Patch My blocks are not the intended size, my points don't all match, and the color scheme may be wacky, but I am learning more with each subsequent block. That was my goal, so I am happy with my progress.

I finished the first of two March blocks for the Ugly Sampler Quilt last night. It is easy to stay motivated by doing a block or two a month. The pieces for the second March block are cut out and ready to assemble. Hopefully, I can get to that this afternoon. The Stashbuster project started with these two blocks in February.

Stashbusters is a Yahoo Group that encourages members to limit the amount of fabric they purchase and use the fabric they have in their stash. This month, the group started a Sampler Block Challenge. Everyone had to find an "ugly" fabric and use that in their Sampler Blocks that will be presented to the group in the next nine months. This month's patterns were All Hallows Block and Old Maid's Puzzle . I made both blocks this afternoon. My finished blocks are not perfect by any means: my points do not match and the blocks are not the size they are supposed to be. I have tremendous respect and admiration for quilters who can make a perfect block with every seam matched. I have learned that I can strive for this goal, but I am not devastated when it does not happen.