Halo Star Medallion

The Halo Star is the center of the medallion 

and part one of this year's The Quilt Show BOM 

Designed by Sue Garman

My Halo Star finished over the weekend. 

With the news about Sue Garman this week 

made it bittersweet to have this first block finished. 

This star is a variation of a Feathered Star

Completely paper pieced. It's been a while since I've done any paper piecing 

and I had forgotten how much I like it, once I got back in the groove... 

My fabrics are from my stash and comprise a couple of different collections. 

The center of the star is Three Sisters 

and all of the small parts are from a Moda collection called Rites of Spring 

with lots of paisley prints

. The background fabric is a cream paisley print from P&B by Alex Anderson.

Fits as this BOM is thru The Quilt Show :0)

Tonight's a full moon 

We have a little break in storms so it may be clear and bright tonight!

Lori posted on FB about how she equates blue and white with winter,

totally agree!

Tot ziens, Jo

Bringing in the Old and the New for 2017

The old and the new in my world are, of course quilts and quilting :0) The New Year brings new beginnings, goals and resolutions. I like new beginnings, that's easy and fun to start new quilt projects! Goals are good to set in order to try and finish those new projects from last year (and beyond ;0)  Resolutions, not so much. 2 out of 3 is good!!! 

A new beginning for 2017 is a new membership to The Quilt Show. The 2017 BOM is a medallion quilt designed by Sue Garman, I am always a sucker for a medallion!

Yesterday I started part 1 with the center called The Halo Star. Plus a year of learning new techniques. Download the DVDs with Lynn Wilder from last year. Looking forward to learning lots of new things as well as finishing my goals from 2016 including Gypsy Wife, almost finished to a flimsy.

 A few more of the holes have been filled since this pic.
Also in the works is Gravity, an ongoing BOM with Kelly at Honey Run Quilters. 

Block One

I am up to block 5 and the class did block 6 at the last meeting that I missed, almost half way. It starts off with the outer star points so it's difficult to do a layout yet. The Gypsy needs to be finished to a flimsy before I have room to layout anyway. They are stacking up!!!

I do have a finish in 2016...

One of my Toes in the Sand 

finished for my son's birthday 💖 

and a top I put together last weekend...

 is quilted now. Pattern is called The Big Easy (and it is!)

Just binding and a label and it's on it's way to Texas 

for Michael's brother in law, Jim who loves to... yes you guessed it... golf!

Backing is golf ball fabric and will be the binding as well.   

Looking forward to the new year. I hope that it will be happy

and pray that it will be peaceful. 

It will be interesting at the very least. 

Wishing you all a good, healthy and productive New Year!

Tot ziens, Jo

Patchwork Math with Lynn Wilder

Wow! Friday I attended the best workshop with Lynn Wilder of Sew'n Wild Oaks 

Named Patchwork Math. Don't let the name scare you away if you ever get the opportunity to take Lynn's workshop. Lynn makes it easy. If you are one of those quilters LIKE ME who always has to tweak a pattern, turn a plain border into a pieced border or make your own layout just because of a block or a fabric, this is a great workshop! 

Plus learning to build blocks using techniques that make the components easy! The block above is one of Lynn's built with all HSTs plus she has a link on her blog for a video on how to make 8 at a time (without bias edges!). Other lessons on making Flying Geese, Double Flying Geese, Quarter Squares in 2 and 3 colors, Corner Square in a Triangle and more. Lynn's book makes it easy and how to figure out the math to size the components to fit your own layouts. I would have loved the two day workshop as I could not get enough and the day went way too fast! Thank you Lynn! and Gail!
 

Lynn also gave a lecture at our guild's meeting the night before, Annie's Star Quilt Guild in Chico, CA. Wonderful trunk show with quilts in fabrics that I love and Lynn machine quilts all of her own... beautifully!!! I have been following Lynn's blog for a long time spending my early mornings coffee in hand reading all that she and Gail have been up to. Which is allot! From Monday's at In Between Stitches in Livermore, CA to a guest on The Quilt Show and most recently, Heartfire, one of Lynn's patterns is available as a kit from Keepsake Quilting! Well done Lynn!

Lynn and I were posting about her visit on our blogs at the same time ;0)

Here is a link to Lynn's blog post

Pix of our blocks in progress up on the design walls at Cathy's Sew & Vac...

This is Beth's, the floral print is cut from a bridesmaid dress she found in a thrift store :0)

 

Amazing how each of our blocks are so different! This was so much fun!

 We have company coming for the day otherwise I would be spending the day in my sewing room finishing my block. I am looking forward to seeing the kids and the grandkids! 

Enjoy your Sunday!