Log Cabin Loonies!!

I thought I would share with you this lovely, simply gorgeous log cabin quilt!!  It is by Audrey Mantle, and is called "Maryland Memories".  It was in the Quilt inspiration blog from quite a few years ago.  Isn't it splendid???  I love it...the log cabin block is so very versatile!!!  Thank you so much, Audrey, for letting us enjoy your amazing quilt!

I am posting tonight, because I had to pick up an extra shift at the hospital on Tuesday, and I didn't want to miss what all you Log Cabin Lunatics have been up to!!  I say that with only the very highest esteem...it takes someone very special to be a Log Cabin Loonie, LOL!  I just love all the super fun people who have expressed interest...and hey...let's face it!  Life is busy...this is informal and meant to be super fun!!  I think this is a fun way to make super pretty and fun quilts, and use up some of our hoarded strings and stash.   So far we have:

Me!  Hahaha!

Caryl 

Cathy L

Helen

Julie Rose

Quilter Kathy

Annie O

Nancy M

Gayle.

I am sure I have missed a few, and if I did please forgive me for missing your name,  so please email me and let me know...or join in anytime!!  Just link your log cabin progress to the linky page at the bottom, on most Tuesdays...it is super fun!  I am taking an opportunity to share some really fun gifts each week from my stash.  This is a current one, just came in the mail, in fact....and tada!  This is this week's gift to you.

 This is a fusible applique kit, and has all the applique pieces to make this bench pillow, or it can be a wall hanging if you like. I just love that owl...and I will tell you a secret.  I have two of this kit!

This is the front of the kit...my pics are terrible, but there it is!!  This just came from Sentimental Stitches.  I am sharing with you!






So just share your link at the bottom, or you can email me your log cabin blocks or pieces pictures, and I will share them.  Keep in mind I work more than full time, but I will do my very best to share any pictures I get in e-mail...we love to see your work!!


The winner from this past week, by random drawing,  is Caryl, of Cinnamon Holiday Workshop!! I have sent her an email.






Have an amazing day, all!


Julie

Helen's log cabin blocks, and Dearest Boy block!!

Here is my latest Dearest Boy block!!  I really enjoyed adding the embroidered stems and even thorns on the stems.  Great fun!  This block reminded me of Mom...she had a wonderful green thumb, and had flowers you would not believe, including many varieties of rose!!  Glorious!!

Please see all these quilters, who are making blocks for this quilt!!

Karen:  Log Cabin Quilter

Cathy:  Big Lake Quilter
Julie:  Juliekquilts (me)
Carole: Wheels on the Warrandyte bus
Doreen:  Aunt Reen's Place

https://www.etsy.com/listing/593121045/dearest-boy-pattern-book

Lookee!!  Helen (no blog), is making these fun blocks!!!  Aren't they pretty??  They are just so, so pretty!!!  Helen, only one picture showed up, but I put it right up here...thank you for sewing along!!






Have a lovely day, each of you!

Julie

Log Cabin Loonies!!!

 As you know, log cabin quilts come in all shapes and sizes!!  Long ago...maybe TEN years ago, in the early days of the blog, I met a lovely person on line.  Her name is Stina, and she blogged

here        :http://kviltstina.blogspot.com/

Now she blogs here!  http://www.kviltstina.com/


For many years, I have loved reading her blog!!!!  From the start, Stina was always so kind to me.  So, quilting connections are sweet and fun!!  She made a variation of the quilt above, which is from Cheri Paine's fun creations.  I have loved that quilt for a long time, and finally, I started my very own version!!  It is made from 1/4 log cabin blocks!!!   Here is where I am so far.  I have also been working on my tiny log cabin blocks, too.


If you have been working on your log cabin blocks, of any size, please link up and share below!!!  



Nurse's Notes******************************************************



Yes, I have a nursing cap.  We were one of the last classes that actually had nursing caps, and strips...just like an old fashioned nurse!  I found this as I was cleaning and organizing drawers/.  I love it!!

I also found my mom's bandage scissors, and my old nursing apron, when we used to use such things.  We are lucky now, to not have to wear all white, and equally lucky to have lots of great pockets in our scrubs, for all the things that used to go in the apron!!!

Just sharing some of those old things I found...

*************************************************************************



Here is the linkup!!

And here is the prize for this week, for Log Cabin Loonies.  These are some pretty bright fabrics and a spool of Aurilfil thread.  So add your link so we can admire your pretty log cabin progress!!  Even strips is just fine, friends!

Julie

Sweet Land of Liberty blocks

 I have a silly looking bird here...looks like a seal with a red wing!  LOL!!!  I like the remembrance banner, however.

 Here is where I am on this months blocks.  More to come.

For my "pickle" I was in last week...I added another red tiny geese row, and three more rows of pieced blocks.  TADA!!!  Almost finished...the border will take some doing, however, being 1 inch finished piecing.  This one is closer to being marked off the list for this year!  Whoop!!!



Have a super day, each of you!!

Julie

A bit of a pickle!

 I have been making progress on my row-by-row quilt this past month...and here is my progress up to today.  There is only one more row left!!  Which makes...a nearly square quilt.  Which is NOT what I was hoping for, LOL!!  I blithely flung myself into this project, and didn't even think about the length.  I need quilts that are big enough for a hospital bed, or couch sized, and a square one does not work for what I need.  I thought of adding just a plain border top and bottom, or an applique piece, or a string border...but I just think I am going to make another three rows of little blocks of my  own design.  I got to hunting in the pieces and parts basket, and I have some little blocks that may work.  What would you do??

Stay tuned!!

Many of you will recognize this quilt  as a sampler that was running last year...I have been gifted with this quilt.  I treasure it, and the maker.  Thank you so, so much!!!  I am just overwhelmed.





Quilting friends are simply the best ones, ever.


Julie

Calling all Log Cabin Loonies!!

 It is Tuesday!!  So that means...it is time for those little Log Cabin blocks!!

Are you a super fun quilter?  OF COURSE YOU ARE!!  Are you ready to start making tiny log cabin blocks?  As I am, maybe you are...maybe we are LOG CABIN LUNATICS!!!  A wonderful, fun group of us played here with log cabin blocks before on this blog...so the LOONIES ride again!!   WHOOP!!

As I blogged about last week, these tiny blocks are 4 inches finished.  They are so much fun to make!!  I think contrast is a big factor, so see that tannish print on the dark side of the block?  It would have looked better if it were a more saturated color.  Just keep that in mind as you are selecting fabrics and cutting logs; it really helps!


I have been cutting one inch strips for a long time, in an attempt to clean up after scrappy projects, and to make something useful from my strings.  I grabbed a random handful, and cut out one block.  This week, I cut a whole bunch more, using pieces in that string basket.  So I have lots of random one inch wide strips.


MAKE A TEST BLOCK...JUST ONE!!!  Make sure your cutting is accurate and my measurements are right and your seam allowance is good, etc.  TRUST ME on this...make a test block. Make it with fun fabrics and good contrasts.   The block  should measure 4.5 inch unfinished and 4 inch finished.  I laid out logs for one block on my cutting board, just for grins.

Red is the center----1.5 inches square (or whatever color you choose, or could be a random color)

Log measurements are as follows:

….light 1 inch x 1.5 inch
….light 1 inch x 2 inch

…..dark 1 inch x 2 inch
….dark 1 inch x 2.5 inch

….light 1 inch x 2.5 inch
….light 1 inch x 3 inch

….dark 1 inch x 3 inch
….dark 1 inch x 3.5 inch

….light 1 inch x 3.5 inch
….light 1 inch x 4 inch

…..dark 1 inch x 4 inch
….dark 1 inch x 4.5 inch

Start piecing this square with one red square and your first light strip, then add strips in a counter clockwise manner around the block, until you have used all your test block strips...All strips are pressed away from the center, to the outside of the block, not necessarily to the dark side. Just press outward, and your blocks will lie nice and flat.  I just finger press, until I am done piecing the blocks, then I press them nicely flat.

Measure your block...it should be 4.5 inches square.   I guess if all your blocks are the same size, it would work out just fine, but if you are accurate with your 1/4 inch seam allowance, it will be 4.5 inches square.  

 So last week, we wrapped our minds around the actually cutting and construction of these little babies...so here are my centers.  Yes, I use my casserole dishes as a pieces and parts receptacle, LOL!!  I use what is at hand, and that casserole dish was just right there! ...Believe it or not, there are 400 little 1 1/2 inch squares in here!!  Red...for the fireplace, the "heart" of the log cabin.  Took me about 10 minutes to cut them from strips...easy peasy.



How I cut the logs:  I stack the pressed strips together, and cut the largest pieces out first, to make the best use of my fabrics.  About 5 strips per stack to cut...too many more and accuracy suffers a bit, for me.

But of course, to sew, I start sewing with the littlest pieces first!  So cut the biggest first, and sew the littlest first, LOL!!

I do not sew a block at a time, but rather, chain piece all the first log to all the centers, finger press, then add the next to every center, finger press, and so on!!  This makes the best use of my time to chain piece.    Of course you can hop up and press each time...but I just have to use every moment I have, so finger pressing is fine with me on these tiny pieces.

So there you go!!!



This size block is just one example of what you can make...so if you have bigger strips, you can make your own pattern and have bigger blocks!!!

Won't you join us?  Bust that stash of strings!!!  Make a log cabin quilt!  Maybe you just want 12 blocks, or 20, or 80, or (gulp) 500!!!  or a zillion!


Ready?  Set?  Go!!!

I have several stacks of fabrics to give away for prizes for our linky parties, which will be on Tuesdays, unless they call me into work or something crazy happens.  Next week, be sure and come back and share your plans and progress, no matter what size blocks you make!!




Hugs to all!


Julie

House cleaning day!! So not much sewing...

Happy Summer!  Just a bitty quilt for today.  Have a wonderful day, on this hot summer day!  The sunflowers are growing with wild abandon along the roads!!

Julie