Three diminsional houses

I just saw these wonderful 3D fabric houses on Candy Glendening's blog, Candied Fabrics.  They seem to fit into our theme of liberated houses this month. so I thought they were worth sharing.

Follow the link for more photos and information on where to find the pattern for her "mod house" ornaments  . . .  and to enter her giveaway for a copy of the magazine and fabric packs.

San Diego Roses to New Zealand

After much delay, I was able to go to the post office and mail my three August Log Cabin Roses roses!  Hurray!

Paper Piecing Template Instructions Added

For those who like the look of liberated houses . . . but just aren't loving the liberated quilting technique, I've posted step-by-step instructions for drawing your own wonky house foundation template, here:

How to Draw a Liberated House

(If you aren't fond of paper foundation piecing either . . . I'm sorry.  You'll have to find your own way to play this month ;-)

I have yet to make blocks myself this month, but plan to make some houses both ways.

How to Draw a Liberated House

We're making liberated houses this month for the Block Lotto.  I know that even if you like the look of liberated or wonky houses, you might not be in love with the technique.  An alternative is to draw your house and use the drawing as a foundation for paper piecing.  Here's how.

Sophie's DON'T FORGETS:

• When drawing a PFP pattern, remember that ALL lines must be STRAIGHT and that all lines must begin and end with a "T-intersection" with a previously drawn line.
• Remember that a paper piecing template looks like the MIRROR IMAGE of the finished block.  If, for example, you draw a house with a door on the left and window on the right, your house block will have a door on the right and a window on the left.

Begin with a sheet of paper (or other foundation material) that is at least 1/2 inch larger than the finished size of the block you want to make.

1. Draw a square that represents the FINISHED size of your block–for the September Block Lotto, that would be an 8 inch square. Remember when you are making the block, you will add 1/4 inch on each side of this square for the seam allowance, making a 8 1/2 " square.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Draw the horizontal-ish line that will represent the top of the main body of the house and the bottom edge of the triangle which forms the roof.
   
   
   
3. On the bottom half of your drawing, add two vertical-ish lines that will define the left and right sides of your house.
   
   
   
4. Draw a line between the two lines in step three which will define the top edge of your door and window.
   
   
   
5. On one side of your house, create the door by drawing two lines that begin at the line in Step 4 and end at the bottom of the square.
   
   
   
6. On the other side of your house, create a window by drawing two more lines that begin at the line in Step 4 and end at the bottom of the square.  Then add the horizontal line between them to define the bottom of your window.
   
   
   
7. Define the roof by drawing two, intersecting slanted lines.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   NOTE: IF YOUR ROOF DOES NOT EXTEND TO THE SIDE EDGES OF YOUR SQUARE, YOU WILL HAVE TO CREATE TWO SECTIONS FOR YOUR PATTERN.  CUT THE DRAWING APART ALONG LINE DRAWN IN STEP 2. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO PIECE THE BLOCK.
   
8. Now, number your template with the paper piecing order:
   
   1 - window
   2 - space beneath window
   3 - house section beside window
   4 - house section on the other side of window
   5 - door
   6 - house section beside door
   7 - house section above door and window
   8 - sky on one side of house
   9 - sky on the other side of house
   10 - roof
   11 - sky on the side of roof which does NOT extend to the top of block (MISNUMBERED as 12 in the drawing below)
   12 - sky on the other side (MISNUMBERED 11 in the drawing below).
   
   
   
   

Remember that the block you piece will actually EXTEND beyond the square 1/4 inch for the seam allowance. I usually cut out the paper pattern adding the 1/4 inch on each side of the square to make sure I DON'T FORGET.

More Roses

I have received 11 more rose blocks from Kate, Carol, Marilyn and Ramie. Thanks to all of you - they are all beautiful.

More blocks

Cathy's beautiful blocks and Terri's beautiful blocks are here as well.  Thanks so much!

liberated quilts in Baltimore

Hi all,

Last Saturday, I went the 20th anniversary show for my Mother's guild. I wouldn't ordinarily post about it here, but it has a few quilts that use liberated quilting techniques-- including this sweet Gee's Bend-inspired quilt made by a local fifth grade class.

"20 Years of a Pieceful Passion," celebrates the 20th anniversary of the African American Quilters of Baltimore. It runs through September.

James E. Lewis Museum of Art
Morgan State University
Baltimore Maryland
Hours and Directions:
http://aaqb.org/wordpress/

2 for September

What's a good way to fill time waiting for surgery? Build a couple of wonky, liberated houses! I have my surgery coming Wednesday morning, and it will include a stay in the hospital overnight at least. I've been doing a lot of nothing but stewing, anxious to hear test results , and worried a bit about surgery (2-3 hours was what the nurse figures I'll be on the table). So tonight I decided to sew, having cleared up the sewing room enough to work. Here is the result of my effort...2 houses, one big, one small...

These are fun and easy and I hope I'm up to doing some more soon after surgery. Tomorrow I really need to do laundry and clean house...or make sure the kids do! BTW, my PET scan came back all clear but the mass on the adrenal gland, which is to be removed in surgery and biopsied. Oncologist was pleased with the test results, so I'm pretty confident all will be fine, but a few more thoughts and prayers sure couldn't hurt!

Wonk-ish Houses

Here are my September houses. I'm hoping to make more, truly wonky houses, but I'm away almost every weekend and ended up making these from scraps at my mother's house.

Here's my September offering - not very wonky, I'm afraid, though I think they are cute... This month I will probably be limited to these two blocks - not because I don't have time (though that's always a bit in short supply) but because I don't have any more turquoise solid or TOT fabric! I do really like this house pattern, though, and was inspired to make some more blocks for myself with non-turquoise skies...

I always hope . . .

When I end up mailing my blocks to the winners later than I planned, I always hope that mine are the last of the lotto blocks from last month going into the mail . . .

I just came back from a hot sticky walk to the post office and my blocks to Janet, Maree and Wendy are on their way. 

If you made rose blocks last month and haven't yet been able to get to the post office, please let me know when you expect to be able to mail your roses to the winners.

Blocks finally Away

My blocks are finally on their way to Wendy.
My apologies for the late mailing. Life speeds up in September and this was my first chance to get to the post office. Enjoy!

Another House

I did one more house, so I'm up to a total of four.

I don't anticipate being able to finish any more.

Can't wait to see who wins this month!  Maybe me!  :-)

Two houses

I really enjoyed making these but making them wonky didn't come naturally...hence house number one is scrappy rather than wonky!

I hope they're ok - sorry about the colour in the photo, the only camera I have is on my mobile and it sometimes dulls the colours (I don't think the grey sky outside helped much, either!).

blocks received + a sneak peek!

Here's my studio floor today:

Such pretty blocks! I love how they look together.

Received lovely blocks today from Kate in the UK.  Thanks so much!