April "Granny Went Star Crazy"

Here are my April blocks for Star Crazy.  This and some snowman embroidery is all I've been able to accomplish this entire month because of a one week long Easter break camping on the desert and an unexpected two week stay at the hospital trying to get my husband healthy again.

The "star in a star" block with the brighter orange is my favorite. This little quilt-along is so wonderful to keep me going. Thanks again Nedra for hosting it.

Welcome Darcene Kendall from Kansas!

We have another new member joining our ranks. Isn't this wonderful?
Welcome Darcene Kendall from Kansas!
Darcene shared a little bit about herself:
I have been quilting for about four years now and I have plenty of time to devote to quilting. I am self-employed in addition to working part-time. I work as a pharmacist. I have four grown children and five grand-children. I am a full time servant to three cats and three dogs....my empty nest is not at all empty.

When Darcene made a request to join our group, I asked if she was a member of The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, she replied:
Yes, I am a member of TQS(a star charter member in fact) and I have been downloading and saving the files for Star Crazy......so, this will be just the push I need to get started on it....thanks for letting my join in the fun with the rest of you....

There is still plenty of time to catch up with the blocks that have been released the last 4 months.
I am looking forward to getting to know Darcene a little bit better through her quilting. Welcome again Darcene!
By the way, how are the rest of you doing with Star Crazy? The May blocks will be released in just another 4 short days.

Nedra

Welcome Joanne From California!

Hi Ladies:
We have a new member that has joined our group! Welcome to Joanne from San Diego, California.
Joanne recently wrote me and asked if it was too late to join, and I said "Of course not!" Even though we are about 1/3rd of the way through, I think she can catch up, don't you?
I asked Joanne a little bit about herself and she wrote:
My name is Joanne from Lavender Fields Etc and am new to blog-land ... I started in February. I used to be an avid quilter but have been away for about 5 yrs and am trying to find my way back. I have always loved star quilts and I keep revisiting your site.
I look forward to seeing the blocks that Joanne will be making. This really is a fun quilt to work on. I'm already excited to see what May's blocks will look like.

First blocks with my new sewing machine

Last week I bought a new sewing machine, and its a dream :o) And it has a big sewing table.

So this the April blocks were the first I made with the new machine, so exciting! I had no problems, it was easy peasy - even with the small bits in the middle of 'Rising Star'. Look at the colours, it is even more bright than in the picture - love it.

This month it was a lot of small pieces, and it took a long time to cut them - as everybody says. But sewing the blocks was easier and faster than I expected.

Can you believe that we have done 1/3 of the quilt already, time flies! Really looking forward to put it together.

So long and enjoy spring :o)

April Blocks

Well, the last couple of weeks have been much better, and I got the April blocks done in record time! I didn't like all the small pieces on the inner star, but it looks pretty nice once done. And the Irish Chain block goes together so fast! I'm starting to look forward to putting all the blocks together!! I don't remember who said it, but it does take longer to cut everything out than to put it together!

Next in Line.......

for the April blocks. One of these months, I'll get all mine out for a total picture. Maybe at the six month mark.

That little Rising Star block looks really nice, but isn't a size of HSTs that I'd like to work with very often.

I agree, Nedra - the cutting takes longer than the stitching.

April Blocks

Here are my April blocks. Plus a stack of half-squares.
This is really a fun project.

April Blocks

I got busy right away on the April assignment. It was a good time to take a break from the hand quilting and let the fingertips heal again. I am barely making a dent in my scraps it seems and each time I take scraps out I swear there are more in the boxes than there were when I took some out! I think I am not being very neat when I put them back in the boxes.

April Star Crazy BOM

Whoo hoo! I am so happy that by April 2nd I have finished this month's Star Crazy BOM.
Great way to start off the month. I really have my friend Jan to thank. We try and coordinate our schedules to work on our blocks together, and yesterday was the day we both could meet.

We had three blocks again this month.

I think it takes almost as much time to cut out the pieces as it does to sew them. Has anyone else experienced this too?
My goal every month is to have things all cut out before Jan comes over, so I can spend my time sewing. Usually when Jan arrives, I'm still selecting fabric, let alone have anything cut out.
What is up with April? Spring must be in the air. I actually had my pieces ready when she knocked on the door.

Jan works at a quilt store and has been putting in a lot of extra hours. She felt lucky just to have her papers printed off the computer, and spent time getting ready to sew.

Jan knows I love Kaffe Fasset fabrics. She brought me a present yesterday of 6 fat quarters. Thanks Jan!

One more Irish Chain block

Evening Star block

Have you noticed that the Rising Star Block has 1" half square triangles? Teeny tiny. Thank heavens for paper piecing that help stabilize all those bias edges.

More half square triangles that go in the bag for future use.
Designer Sue Garman mentioned in the instructions that we have now "traveled a third of the way along the journey".
Enjoy!

Nedra

March Blocks

I finally finished my March blocks, even though it is the 2nd of April. It's been a little hard to work on any sewing since I haven't been feeling all that well this month. My little one is not being nice to momma so far :) I hope to get April's blocks done on time this month, as soon as I get some ink for my printer to print out the instructions!