Triangular Log Cabin Block

Happy National Quilting Day everyone!

In honor of National Quilting Day and as part of last nights Friday Night Sew In, I decided to play with the triangular log cabin block I saw at a quilt show last month and see if it was worth trying as a whole quilt.

I searched the web for a pattern and when I couldn't find one I drafted my own.  I decided the easiest way was to paper piece and I was right.  It was super easy!

Here's how my little tester came out!

It's only about 12 inches across, just perfect for our little end table.  I used scraps and can't find any piece of blue left that was big enough to do the binding, so that will have to come later.

While I didn't find a pattern while cruising the Internet, I did find another blogger, Karen at Badlands Quilts, who made beautiful placemats out of Kaffe Fassett fabrics using this pattern .  I recommend you check hers out here.

The conclusion of my experiment...

I think a full sized quilt out of these triangular log cabins is certainly in my future!

March Maddness

As my husband has been reminding me for the last couple of weeks, March means that it is time for March Madness...as in three weeks of college basketball on TV any time we are home.  Ok, not quite that bad, but he is a former college basketball player and coach, so he loves the tournament.  I play along and set up my bracket each year with him.  I must brag that I have beat him 3 of the last 4 years on pure luck (I don't really know anything about the teams, I just pick the ones I like.) 

So, in honor of March Madness I finished this table topper just in time.  He can now set all his basketball snacks on this while he watches the game.

The hubby actually started this project himself back when he decided he wanted to learn to quilt.  He got most of it done and did rather well until he decided quilting wasn't his thing.  (I have to admit, I was glad to not have to babysit him anymore and get back to working on my own projects.)  We found the basketball fabric and textured fabric on a shop hop several years ago.  In hind sight, I wish I had bought about 3 yards of each at the time, but oh well.

So, last week he asked if I would finish it in time of March Madness.  I said of course, but jokingly added that flowers and chocolate would significantly motivate me to get it done faster.  So, here's what he brought home Friday night. 

Now, how can you not finish a project for that kind of motivation?

Quilt Show Finds

 This weekend was our local quilts guilds annual show and I made some great finds.  Strangely I took only one picture, but this quilt so intrigued me that I want to figure out how to make a triangular log cabin block.  Isn't this neat looking?  I might play with this over the weekend.

I also made a few fun purchases!  I bought this book, mostly because I can't wait to make this hanging!

I must have Christmas on the brain this week, but at least if I start now I should be ready by next Christmas right?

I got these six half yard cuts for under $20.  Not bad considering that fabric around here is usually $10/yard.  Now to find a pattern to use with them.

The highlight of the show had to be the guest speaker! 

"Joe the Quilter", aka Joe Cunningham, gave a show that had my husband in stitches.  He was hysterical!  I've included a link of another lecture he gave from You Tube at the bottom of the post.  If it works, I think you'll enjoy him as much as we do.  If nothing else, browse around his gallery and check out his non-traditional quilts.  He just finished his book "Men and the Art of Quilmaking" featuring some very interesting art quilts by men, including the president of our local guild.

Isn't it always fun to discover something new and bend the rules just a bit!

March UFO...Let it snow!

Patchwork Times is hosting a UFO challenge and today Judy picked number #1 for the month of March.  Number 1 on my list is my Snowmen placemats!  I think March's UFO selection is strangely ironic as this weekend it snowed here for the first time in several decades  Not quite enough to actually make a snowman, but still, appropriate that my snowmen placemats are the project of the month!

These snowmen placemats were started three years ago as a Christmas gift for someone (I can't remember who).  After making four I decided I needed to expand the set to six and keep them for myself.  Four are mostly done.  The goal for the month is to finish the last two.  Here's where they stand now.

All that is needed is to finish some of the quilting/applique and bind them.  Shouldn't be too hard!  I also want to add black buttons or beads for eyes and buttons on all the snowmen on.  I'm so excited for this month since I've really wanted an applique project to work on.  Now to get quilting!