Blocks, and more blocks

I love wonky stars! I was reading Liberated Quiltmaking II, by Gwen Marston this summer, and I have wanted to make more of these ever since.



These four are going off to Ireland tomorrow for Judith and Sarah's Bee Blessed. I love the idea of making a small contribution to some tiny humans so far across the world. These blue ones use some of the leftover scraps from my Kaleidoscope quilt (which I hope to get back to very soon).

This is Double Star, which is block 9 from the We can do it! Skill Builder Sampler QAL. In these colours is seems very intense.



This one is called Breaking Out, which is Block 8. This pattern has a lot of potential. I am pleased to be learning to make flying geese which remain triangles and actually fit together. Like most things, I have improved with practice.



This is a Virginia Star, which is block 7. I really love this traditional star and could not resist the fussy cutting and reversing the usual colour arrangement - such a simple star can look very dramatic.



And, after stalling out on Sarah and Jennifer's Across the Sea QAL, I was inspired by Fiona at Poppy Makes. She was using a dark grey/black background with bright prints and her blocks are wonderful. So I pulled out my Kona Charcoal and am having a lot of fun now catching up to the QAL.

This block finishes with the same shape of colour and neutrals as the Modern Cross Log Cabin Block but is far quicker. I love that you can make the same thing different ways! Here is the Modern Log Cabin Block, using the same fabrics as one of the Greek Cross blocks, for comparison:



In other news, I have been very lucky lately. I don't enter all the contests on blogs, I try to leave prizes that are not really "me" for others. Still, I have won three times in the last while - which for me is amazingly lucky.

I won a wonderful Rowan Magazine from Alison at Little Island Quilting. Many of you may not know  that knitting is my very first fibre art love, one day I will start showing off a bit here. I have some new yarn and am inspired by the lovely things in this book, which has already crossed the globe and arrived here.

I won a wonderful package of Momo Freebird fabrics from Judith at Rags to Bags who was introducing River Fabrics, a UK online shop. I am excited to see them in person and I am not sure yet what they will become.

And I won a bundle of Christmas fabrics - Reindeer Games - from Erin at Bittle Bear. I met Erin in my quilting bees and she had some give aways to kick off her blog and new quilting business. I was hoping to make some kind of holiday quilty thing this year and these will arrive just at the right moment for that.

Thank you again to all of you for the generous and lovely give aways!

It is September 11, a day forever imprinted in my memory. It is important to remember the evils of humans, but we do that, in part, to be reminded that we can make a positive difference for the future. I am focusing as much as I can on that last bit.

Best,

Leanne