Congratulations to our September Winners:
Kate (katelnorth)
Michele (cookiemichele)
Barbara (zissybob)
Enjoy your crackers, ladies!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Welcome Shelley
Shelley (madme3) is another quilter who entered the block lotto just-in-time . . . for the first time this month.
Welcome, Shelley. Her blocks and Tami's today bring our grand total this month to 150 blocks.
Welcome, Shelley. Her blocks and Tami's today bring our grand total this month to 150 blocks.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Welcome Shirley, Queen of Quilts
Shirley (QueenofQuilts) is a first-timer this month. Here are the four blocks she made.
They are so beautiful and bright . . . I didn't notice at first that they were all the same. Ooops.
They are so beautiful and bright . . . I didn't notice at first that they were all the same. Ooops.
Another Hand-pieced block from Louise
Louise (louisems) has made a third handpieced block. Isn't it lovely?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Debbie's Cracker Blocks
Here are my 8 blocks for this month. I'd like to donate all my chances. They went together so quickly, I can see how addicting they could be.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
I'm joining the fun
Here are the blocks I made for the lotto. I didn't fall in love with the block right away, but after I made these I can see where this would be a lot of fun to work with. It was a lot of fun to make, worked up really quickly.
OHSue
OHSue
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
CathySews' September Blocks
I really enjoyed making these blocks this month! This will definitely be a block I will use in a future quilt. :o)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sylvia's Blocks
Sylvia (imgin53) made these 8 blocks, bringing our total for the month so far to 102 blocks.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Don't Forget to VOTE
No, I'm not talking about the Presidental election, though I encourage all the Americans to do that, too ;-)
I mean don't forget to vote in the poll asking what size blocks we should make next year which is in the side bar under the countdown ticker.
The poll will be active through the month of September. I'm enjoying the 6 inch blocks we've been making this year . . . but maybe you're not enjoying them as much? Be sure to let me know what you think.
Feel free to add a comment if you have a great idea for me for next year . . .
I mean don't forget to vote in the poll asking what size blocks we should make next year which is in the side bar under the countdown ticker.
The poll will be active through the month of September. I'm enjoying the 6 inch blocks we've been making this year . . . but maybe you're not enjoying them as much? Be sure to let me know what you think.
Feel free to add a comment if you have a great idea for me for next year . . .
Julie's Blocks
Julie (floribunda) made these 5 blocks.
Our new total so-far-this-month in September is 94.
Welcome back to the lotto, Julie.
Mailing Squishies
Squishies are the soft envelopes that contain fabric or quilt blocks or other textile goodness. Newbies often ask about how to mail their lotto blocks. Here are some basics from me, along with some more detail info and tips from the lotto crowd, compiled in one place. (Feel free to add a comment to share your favorite tip).
I start with my blocks and envelopes. I use size #11 kraft envelopes. They are the largest size you can use for standard letter postage (if you can keep the envelope thin and light enough--which is my goal).
If I am mailing to multiple winners, I sort my blocks to make sure each winner will receive a nice variety of fabrics from me. I made 12 blocks last month, and will send 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 to our 4 winners.
Then I take one envelope and one block to figure out where I should fold the blocks.
Except I actually fold and press them with the wrong side out, because I think they are flatter that way.
Then, I stack them, flipping every other one, and spread them to fill the envelope.
Sometimes I add a card, like this one from a Museum Exhibit I attended earlier this year.
Or wrap the blocks in a sheet of printer paper, which you can use to write a quick note to the receiver of your blocks. The paper is good if you are using a lighter- weight envelope, I think, adding a little extra stiffness to help your squishie through the postal equipment.
Because we never know for certain that our squishies won't end up in the path of a huricane or other bad weather, wrapping them in plastic is a pretty good idea, especially at this time of year.
Debbie (dzrunner) shared these photos–of her blocks wrapped in plastic and how she puts together her squishie–on her blog, Life Conduction.
She uses a return mailing label to label the blocks themselves and adds the winners name and mailing address inside plastic bag with the blocks incase the squishie has an unfortunate encounter along it's path and doesn't make the trip intact. Before this year, when all the lotto blocks were being mailed to me first, I have received lotto blocks in postal service "body bags," so I know it can happen, so Debbie's precautions are definitely a good idea (and I'll probably start following them myself--thanks, Debbie.
Amanda (fatsewcat) emailed these photos to me of how she likes to mail her blocks. She can't bear to fold them . . . so she uses a large plastic bag for the block.
Then slips in a piece of card stock to keep it stiff.
Adds a note and slides it all into a large envelope. It's a treat to receive a nice big flat block like this, I'm sure.
I'll be back to add the tips from our forum discussion of mailing blocks (last month) . . . but feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.
I start with my blocks and envelopes. I use size #11 kraft envelopes. They are the largest size you can use for standard letter postage (if you can keep the envelope thin and light enough--which is my goal).
If I am mailing to multiple winners, I sort my blocks to make sure each winner will receive a nice variety of fabrics from me. I made 12 blocks last month, and will send 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 to our 4 winners.
Then I take one envelope and one block to figure out where I should fold the blocks.
Except I actually fold and press them with the wrong side out, because I think they are flatter that way.
Then, I stack them, flipping every other one, and spread them to fill the envelope.
Sometimes I add a card, like this one from a Museum Exhibit I attended earlier this year.
Or wrap the blocks in a sheet of printer paper, which you can use to write a quick note to the receiver of your blocks. The paper is good if you are using a lighter- weight envelope, I think, adding a little extra stiffness to help your squishie through the postal equipment.
Because we never know for certain that our squishies won't end up in the path of a huricane or other bad weather, wrapping them in plastic is a pretty good idea, especially at this time of year.
Debbie (dzrunner) shared these photos–of her blocks wrapped in plastic and how she puts together her squishie–on her blog, Life Conduction.
She uses a return mailing label to label the blocks themselves and adds the winners name and mailing address inside plastic bag with the blocks incase the squishie has an unfortunate encounter along it's path and doesn't make the trip intact. Before this year, when all the lotto blocks were being mailed to me first, I have received lotto blocks in postal service "body bags," so I know it can happen, so Debbie's precautions are definitely a good idea (and I'll probably start following them myself--thanks, Debbie.
Amanda (fatsewcat) emailed these photos to me of how she likes to mail her blocks. She can't bear to fold them . . . so she uses a large plastic bag for the block.
Then slips in a piece of card stock to keep it stiff.
Adds a note and slides it all into a large envelope. It's a treat to receive a nice big flat block like this, I'm sure.
I'll be back to add the tips from our forum discussion of mailing blocks (last month) . . . but feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Louise's Hand-Pieced Blocks
Louise (louisems) is using the English Paper Piecing technique to make the lotto blocks. I think it must be a real treat for a winner to receive her blocks. Here are the two she made for this month.
Louise was a newbie and one of our winners last month and is donating her chances this month to September newbies. Thanks, Louise!
Louise was a newbie and one of our winners last month and is donating her chances this month to September newbies. Thanks, Louise!
Wilma's Crackers
Wilma (wilmaNC) has made these 8 blocks from more great fabrics. Our winners this month are going to be able to make some wonderful bright quilts.
Michelle/Momof11....8 Cracker Blocks
Here are my 8 bright Cracker blocks for September. They went together very nicely, in part, I think, due to me finally trying Judy Martin's point trimmer tool that I bought last year.
I love Sophie's idea of using animal prints to make "animal cracker" blocks. If I make one, I may call it "In My Soup". I wonder if they make Shirley Temple fabric for a backing?
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Welcome Shelli
Shelli (dazelaw) is new to the Block Lotto this month. Here are her blocks.
Our total so far this month is now 71 blocks.
Our total so far this month is now 71 blocks.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Lisa's Blocks
Lisa (txpurson) is another sneek peeker.
She made these great 7 blocks. I love the variety of fabrics.
Judee's Blocks
Judee (3199) is another sneek peeker who made, then remade blocks (because of my bad directions). Here is the beautiful result-eight great blocks!
(Yes, this has been a humbling experience for me . . . I promise, the patterns for the rest of the year have already been tested ;-)
(Yes, this has been a humbling experience for me . . . I promise, the patterns for the rest of the year have already been tested ;-)
Blocks from Béatrice
After I sent all the sneek peekers BAD measurements for this month's block, Béatrice (beapatch) figured out what the measurements should be and made these beautiful blocks.
Merci beaucoup, Béatrice.
Merci beaucoup, Béatrice.
Sneek Peekers' Virtual Cracker Block Quilt
Here are some block photos from sneek peekers Barbara (zissybob), Beatrice (beapatch), Judee(3199), Kate (katelnorth), Lisa (txpurson) and Sandy (centergranny).
Be sure to check out the layouts Janet created on page 5 and page 6 of her directions on the about.com site for some more eye candy and inspiration.
Be sure to check out the layouts Janet created on page 5 and page 6 of her directions on the about.com site for some more eye candy and inspiration.