February blocks

I told you I was sewing the blocks earlier this week, but then my youngest daughter and I got sick and other things than sewing were in focus for a couple of days... So Im a little bit behind schedule as I was planning to complete the blocks before our winter holidays. But today I finished the cutting of the fabrics, so it is at least ready for sewing when I come back in next weekend.

I just love the colours, they are so nice and bright :o)

Whishing you all a lovely weekend!

Borders and binding

Hi all!
Today I have finished cutting all borders and binding, both white and green - yeaahhhhh :o) So now I don't have to worry about them anymore!

They are all labelled and put in a plasticbag. I made up my mind to finish these before I cut the fabrics for February. So tomorrow I will start at the fun part :o)

Have a wonderful day and GO NORWAY!!!!!

January "Granny Went Star Crazy" complete.

This quilt is truly Star Crazy because:

1)  It's all about stars

2) It's CRAZY because I didn't pick out any of the fabrics.

Last year my sister informed me that her quilt shop was going out of business (so sad).  Anyway, I told her to buy me a bunch of the discounted fabric.  Because I love ALL colors, I told her not to worry about what she bought as long as she liked it.

Furthermore, my sister-in-law told me about a fabric sale over in her neck of the woods.  I also asked her to purchase some fabric for me.  Wala, many of the fabrics went together in the same color scheme and autumn colors to boot (I LOVE autumn colors).

I decided to use ONLY fabrics in my stash to make this quilt.  In order to make it work I had to be a little creative with color placement.  I'll be making all of the little stars with gold backgrounds.  Also, all of my large stars will have a somewhat "busy" background.  I did this in lou of purchasing 10 1/2 yards of background fabric.

The busy backgrounds will make the quilt look very "old fashioned" hence the name "Granny Went Star Crazy".

Second Set Finished

Hello Everyone,

Yes, the second set for month number one is complete. Totally different than the first set. Dark background, with bright stars.

I love this one just as much as the first.

I have posted lots more pictures on my blog. Just click here and you will see both sets together.

Now I can get started on February's blocks!

Until Next Time...

February Blocks

I am piecing the blocks the traditional way. Although I love paper piecing.. I think its faster the other way. Felicity From Utah

My January Blocks

I had a lot of fun working on these. I still consider myself a beginner quilter.. So please don't look to close.. I am not perfect.

Felicity from Utah

Trouble with my 1"-inch test for February blocks

Hi,
I printed the instructions for February a week ago, and didnt bother to check the 1"- inch square because January worked out so well. And I was doing just the same as I did then! But today I planned to start cutting, and just to be sure I measured the square. And boy am I glad I did!!! It was too small.... So I've tried over and over again with different settings, but cant seem to make it right. I know we have adviced eachother earlier, but could you please help me again??? I have a MacBook Pro, could that make any difference, anyone else using a Mac? Its so frustrating to not be able to start on the blocks just because I cant get the printing right :o( I will also ask my very clever and handy man to help me when he comes home from work.

This was just a little 'frustration'-post from Norway, hoping to figure it out really soon :o)

Merete

January and February blocks

Greetings this President's day. I am "sew Star Crazy". This is Ann from Utah, and I am loving these blocks. At first I was intimidated by the small pieces, but they go together so nicely, and Sue has done such a good job of instructing, that the job is fun!!

I have never done half square triangles like this, but it is sooo slick. I can't believe how fast they work up. I have always done the triangles sewn together, then trimmed.

January blocks
February blocks
I have the blocks laying on the back of a quilt I did a few years ago, and the upper right corners of the Irish chains are almost hidden, as they are the same material.
I am using up scraps and fat quarters, so hope that by the end of the year my stacks have been whittled down. I purchased the material for the background and the green for the narrow borders, but the rest of the material is from my stash.
I have not squared up the blocks yet, but that will come before March.
I have really found the importance of paying attention to detail on these few first blocks. Working with such small pieces, it is so important to make sure ALL seams are 1/4 inch, beginning, middle and end. I have a tendency to let the material slip a little at the end, but it really makes a difference. By laying out the rows as described in the instructions, there is less unpicking to do. Pressing is so important and "kissing" the seams is essential.
This is one of my favorite tools. I can trim, cut the half-square triangles, etc with this side, and the back side is a pressing board that works great with my mini quilting iron. It sure saves a lot of up and down time.

February Assignment - Check

Happy Valentines Day to all of my fellow quilt friends.  This weekend I was able to get to the February assignment.  Yea!!  Here are my blocks for this month and the spare half square triangles.

I really love this quilt..already.  The colors are so much fun.  I am enjoying watching how different everyones blocks are each month. 

See you next month!

Kristin

New Member

Hello everyone, my name is SueR, and I live in Maine with my husband and two grown kids. I've been garment sewing since I was 15, so it was a natural step up to quilting. I've been quilting for about 16 years, mostly traditional quilts. I especially like scrap quilts, so the Star Crazy quilt is right up my alley. I'm also a knitter and do some needlework on a rare occasion.

It is the colors in the original Star Crazy that appealed to me initially, so I've decided to stick with that palette. I set off to the quilt shop one day last week to look at a sewing machine and came home with this lovely collection of batiks--and a sewing machine! I have a good collection of batiks already but knew I'd need to supplement my brights with a few more, and these will work.

I was hoping to get started last week on the January blocks, but that didn't happen, so this week!

February Blocks Finished

Jan and I worked on our February Star Crazy blocks yesterday. We have set aside one morning a month to work together at my house, which we hope will keep us up to date on making our blocks.

I really enjoyed making the February blocks. The colors speak of Spring, which feels almost around the corner here in St. George, Utah. The sun is shining and we have temperatures in the 60's.

*I'm not even sure if I should share that, because I feel for those of you who are inundated with so much snow right now. I know... move to St. George!

I like working with the paper piecing method provided by Sue Garman. I appreciate all of your suggestions on how to go in and change the computer printing selections.

It worked! My 1-inch test square came out perfectly, and I could use the patterns provided by TQS.

Jan is so much fun to work with. She's one of the Diva's so we get to see each other often.

Jan insisted that if I took her picture, she had to take one of me too.

I announced about 6 weeks ago that I would love to have anyone join us in making the Star Crazy BOM from The Quilt Show. The response has been wonderful! We now have 27 in our group and I receive e-mails almost daily with people interested in joining along.

Everyone and anyone is welcome!

Feel free to e-mail nedras@mstar.net

One of the requirements is that you join (or are currently a member of) The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. This is necessary to be able to download the BOM patterns each month.

Membership is only $42.95 a year, and not only can you download two BOM patterns, but you can watch their shows, receive updated newsletters, etc.

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/join.php

Nedra

Welcome Ann T. from Utah!

Welcome to Ann Topham from Pleasant Grove, Utah!
Ann is cousins with Deana Jennings and Felicity Evan, and heard about our group through family conversations. How fun that they can all make Star Crazy together. Watching each other's progress should be a great motivator.
Ann has been a member of The Quilt Show, and on the member blogs and goes by the screen name "AnnTop". She contributes to the writing of a family blog with her cousins.
This is what Ann shared with us so we can get to know her a little better:
I am part of the Dreamworthy Quilts blog that Deana sent you.
I recently retired as an RN, after working 32 years in the same hospital.
I have 5 children and 11 grandchildren, ranging in age from 11 months to 17 years. 5 girls & 6 boys,
I have been quilting since I was a teenager, but seriously for the past 4-5 years. Most of my work has been baby quilts, but now I am branching out to bigger and more complicated projects. Besides our family group of quilters, I belong to a group from the hospital.
Thanks,
Ann

February's Assignment Done!

Well after several ups and downs with this months blocks for the “Star Crazy” quilt I have them finished. This morning I was half way done with one of the star blocks when I realized that I had accidentally bumped the needle position and I was not making a 1/4 inch seam but a bit larger! I had to get the seam ripper in action and that delayed finishing that block. I managed to get all finished this afternoon though! February’s assignment is done.

Finally to Post

I've been off finishing up other projects and am behind getting my January blocks finished and loaded.  I'm glad for no worry of cash penalty from the Quilting Police.

Here are the February Blocks:

 I forgot, all so a whole lot of these!!!!:

And the set put together give a hint of what the center area of my design should look like.

February Blocks

I finally got all 4 blocks finished for the Quilt Show BOM. I really like the Irish Chain blocks, they look really cool with the scrappy colors. I'm not happy with the way the stars went together, but I think that's because I screwed up one of them and had to rip out 4 seams to fix the issue! This is farther than I got with last years BOM, I'm hoping I'll have the fortitude to finish this year, I think I will though! Now to wait until next month for the next set of blocks!

All Caught Up!

Happy Wednesday All ! Here are my January and February blocks.

Have a great day.

Lori in NY

How to get your 1" scale on

I invited a family member to join us, and although she hasn't joined the blog yet she has begun her Jan blocks. Ann told me to do this to keep my 1" scale on AND IT WORKED! 
1. Bring up the pattern from The Quilt Show
2. Hit the print button (the print menu screen will come up)
3. Look down the left column until you find the words Page Scaling:  (my drop down box says "Fit to Printable Area")
4. Select the drop down arrow and click on None.

Thanks Ann.  My patterns are now perfect.  I don't have to true up a single block.

Finished with February Blocks

Hello from Oklahoma. I have finished my February Blocks.

I am not one to measure much after I cut out my pieces but I am learning that with these blocks you have to measure your pieces for accuracy all through the process. 

I am using my Clover Mini Iron to press the seams open.  It seems much easier than using a full size iron.

I still have to cut the long strips for January and February.  I will tackle that tomorrow.

Happy piecing everyone,

Kathy

Blocks for Second Month

Things do seem to go a little faster once you know what you're doing. I think I held all my points, if I'm careful.

Welcome SueR from Maine!

Star Crazy Log is growing and growing. Welcome to SueR from Maine! I went over and looked at Sue's blog (North Winds Quilting/now on our side bar) and she does beautiful work. Rae Ann, make sure to check out her latest quilt, because you are going to be IN Love.
This is what SueR shared with me in an e-mail:
I found your blog today from some other link and decided I'd love to join
your group if there's a space for me. I had seen SueG's quilt earlier this
year and thought it was spectacular. I just signed up with The Quilt Show,
downloaded my files, and I'm ready to roll. I knew the instant I saw this
quilt that I'd do it in batiks.
Welcome Sue! We are so happy to have you as part of our group.

Nedra

Are We Having Fun Yet?

Boy, remind me never to attempt a big Irish Chain quilt. I'm very glad we are doing this stuff a couple at a time, with weeks in between. *S*

As long as I am whining, I'm also happy to be finished with those long border pieces.....what a pain that is!

I just keep telling myself how pretty this is gonna be. Right?

Welcome Felicity!

We have a new member: Felicity from Utah!
Felicity is the sister-in-law to Deana who just joined us a few days ago. She also just joined The Quilt Show for the first time, so she could be part of our group. That Star Crazy BOM is so irresistible, we all want to make it!
Felicity doesn't have a current blog, so we can't add her to our side bar yet. She will be using her own fabric, also.
When I asked her to share a little about herself, this was Felicity's reply:

I have been loving quilting for years now. I have two gorgeous boys. I love to craft. I am a scrapbooking guru. Quilting is just one of my passions.

Welcome!
Nedra

January stars!

At last, here are my January stars, or almost :o) Two of the small ones left, but I will make them tomorrow.

I just love the fabrics and the colours and how they look together. This will be a smashing quilt! Its so fun to see how the stars turn out as I sew them, I really enjoy it :o) So far, this is my favorite:

I almost got the correct amount of leftovers according to the pattern. In addition to what was told I would have left, I got 2 blue HST and 2 5" white squares. But I just keep them for later, there will probably be a need for them later.

C U later :o)

Merete

New Star Crazy participant

Hello, my name is Deana (dj) and I'm from Utah USA.  I just discovered your group from Nedra's blog today.  I've printed off the patterns but will still need to decide on the fabrics.

You can find my blog that I share with some other Daughter's of Dorinda at http://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/.  Come along and visit me there.

Thanks for accepting me!

Welcome Deana and Emma!

It's February 1st, and we have 2 new members joining us today. Welcome to Deana from Cleveland, Utah and Emma from the United Kingdom! They bring our totals to 24.
Deana and I did a block exchange together this last year, and I know she does beautiful work. She had this to share:
Your "Star Crazy" invitation sounds enticing. I just (one month late) joined the Quilt Show and printed off the patterns today. I would LOVE to become a part of your Star Crazy group.


Emma and I have been trying to reach each other through e-mails this last week and have finally connected. She is good friends with Tracey, who inspired her to join Star Crazy Log. I love that we are an international group.
Emma wrote:
I am a member of The Quilt Show, and I will be using fabrics that I have at home to make my version as I supposed to be on a "fabric diet" - not sure how long that will last though!!!
I have been quilting for over twenty years now, which is scary when you see it like that. Tracey and I were going to do last years BOM quilt and we never quite managed it, so we decided that we would make more of an effort this year. We live an hours drive from each other so we may have to schedule some sewing days.
Hope this is okay. Now I just need to sort out some fabric!!!

We welcome anyone, anytime who wants to join us. There are no quilt police in this group. If we have a month that is too busy to work on our blocks, or they are done a little late...it's OK! The whole purpose of this group is to have fun and share ideas. We have until 2011 until we even have to THINK about being nervous if we aren't all caught up. (and maybe not even then!)
Meanwhile, Enjoy!

Nedra

Okay here they are...

I stuck pretty close to the original as far as colors go (after all that is one of the reasons I loved the quilt so much) I changed the blues to teals or blue greens though. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy making these blocks today. I had to rip out three seams and though I know the final results in the quilt will be fine, and the points are all good, I am not happy with how they turned out. I think it is due to needing a new iron mostly.... well it doesn't matter. Here they are...

You are not the last Rae Ann...

I have not finished my stars yet. After I get done with school for my daughter I will be finishing mine. I have about half the seams done. It was a crazy busy month and I didn't quite get finished... but I figure a day late isn't too bad :)

Still working on January blocks....

Hi friends!
I was planning on finishing the January-blocks this weekend, but suddenly there were so much going on and I didnt have the time to sew. But now I'm on my way.

The sewing is done. It's fun, fast and easy, I had actually forgotten how much fun this is. Its been some years since I've done it. And you get so much done in relatively short time.

I have started the cutting aswell, but my back needed a break. I will do the rest of the cutting later today, and the finish the blocks tomorrow. I saw the February blocks were ready now, will try to do finish them in the first half of the month.

Have a wonderful day!
Merete

Star Crazy Blocks Made...Hooray!!!

I can't believe I finally got Jan. Star Crazy Quilt blocks made...but I did! For those of you that don't know...I signed up for The Quilt Show block of the month after Nedra from Cactus Needle posted it on her blog. She saw the quilt made up at market and fell in love with it. She is the reason that I fell in love with it and knew it was something that I HAD to make. Now...my friend Judy...she would say...it is not something that you HAD to make...but GET to or CHOSE to. I guess that is better yet...I CHOSE to make it because I HAD to!!! LOL!

I am going tell you...I had a bit of decision making to do. At first I thought that I wanted to make this quilt out of the 30's prints but since I have three quilts in the making that are all out of 30's...I CHOSE (here's that word again!) to make it out of Civil War fabrics...which are my other favorites.

I got into my stash drawer and started just pulling what felt good color wise and this is what stood out to me...however I will not be making it so scrappy by making it with the shirtings. Instead I have elected to use Kona Snow as my background fabric.

After seeing the blocks finished...it seems that it might work out after all. I quess! I will have to wait and see what February's blocks end up being made out of color wise to tell. Let me know what you think!

Hopefully...I won't be the last in the class to get them done this next month...or...maybe I will! Actually...I think I was the first one to sign up after Nedra's post....hummm...and the last one to finish...hummm...I better think about that a little more!

Thanks Nedra! You got me into this and I LOVE IT!!!