Starry Bright Sky QAL: English Paper Piecing Pattern 8a

Link to see how others interpreted this block:
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/08/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-8.html

In my quest to avoid hand stitching I found a site where I learned how to make an eight pointed star:

(I realized after looking closer that y-seams might be involved, so I jumped on the method taught at this site)

https://www.quiltingcompany.com/lemoyne-star-quilt-block-without-set-in-seams-free-block-builders-workshop-video-lesson/

So here is my block!

Front 

Back

I found a nice tutorial for marking the pieces that I may use another time (it's a variation of what I did two years ago when I did the hexagons for Alida's challenge.)

I need to get more comfortable with hand stitching, but pleased that I figured out a way to complete the blocks!

Starry Bright Sky QAL: English Paper Piecing Pattern 8b

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/08/starry-bright-sky-qal-pattern-8.html

I have trouble with all hand stitching.  So again I had to adapt the design and methods for the blocks.

I did make freezer paper templates for the design, but I put the pieces together and sewed them.  I decided to keep going and to sew the background pieces on too.  I was at a quilt away from home sewing event when I did this and I realized I didn't have the fabric I thought I had stacked to bring, so it came out a little differently than I had envisioned.  But I'm pleased with the effect.  (Originally I was going to put additional points on some of the pieces so it looked more like a star, but now it looks like a planet or maybe a meteor like we saw last weekend while in Colorado. Cool!)

I could have been more deliberate with the way the seams went, it could have added additional detail in the final block.  

To see what the others have completed click here:

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/08/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-8.html

Starry Bright Sky QAL: Fabric Weaving Pattern 7a

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/07/starry-bright-sky-qal-pattern-7.html

While I was in Ireland I ordered the wefty needles, I watched the videos I could find, and was really excited to try this new-to-me way of making fabric.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xlUirFs0Kg -
Tumbling Blocks Madweave Tutorial (Wefty)

Fabric Weaving: Triaxial Tumbling Blocks Weave -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ3EvDHUcCQ

Fundamentals of Fabric Weaving with Mister Domestic -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VhYyI5SmN4

I watched more than this while there and once I returned...  I decided to set things up using the bottom of a box I was given at Costco.  Worked well.  I felt good that I didn't go to store to buy the foam core board.

Also, I didn't have the recommended lightweight woven fusible, but I used tape to secure the piece and was able to remove it quite well.

So that wasn't the problem.  

Here you can see that I drew the grid on the box, and used painters tape to secure so I could remove it to the sewing machine...

I just need more help and different directions so I can get the correct pattern in my work.  Maybe an example where a different fabric was used for the different sections - just to get where to do the weaving! I'm not sure if my error was made in level two or/and level three...

So this is what I ended up with.  Not happy with it.  Maybe will make a pillow top, or maybe not.

Other people were able to do the design as planned, and some did not.  http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/07/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-7.html  I submitted my block via email, I received the next month's pattern but just now it doesn't look like she posted my image on the linky.  Oh well.

I Made a Purse for Ireland!

I had taken a photo - mine is denim with different colors for the zippers.  I added more pockets.  Very pleased!  Off to the airport now!


How to Make a Cross Body Phone Bag


Tips for doing the Zipper

YouTube: Making Packing Cubes

Mainly need a long zipper to do this.

Have to scroll back all her talk about going to DisneyWorld, but in the end, directions seem clear and the result is very nice. I think she starts the actual sewing around minute 7...!

Managing My Inbox

It's fun getting email. If I did not sign up for blog updates and newsletters my email activity would be very slow. I use gmail for most of my email. I have my work and volunteer emails set up so they go into my personal inbox, and I handle everything from there. It's very convenient. 

I set it up so my default email is my work email, and that helps me organize and find work related emails.

However, it means too often I either do not read emails including blog posts or newsletters, and when I do read them I do not delete them.

My gmail box has been almost full for a long time. 

So now I'm going through and unsubscribing from lists and newsletters.

As I unsubscribe I code the last email with a blue star, and delete all the unstarred messages.

This way I will be able to see how many emails I receive after I unsubscribed, and I will be able to see emails coded with any star (showing interest on my part), and if I want to resubscribe I can see an example email to help me decide.  I also could activate my blog roll on this blog to help me remember to visit sites...

It's slow going.  When I started I had used 99% of the gmail storage.  Now it's at 94%. I thought it would be lower, but that's what it says.

I've tried deleting emails by the date, or the from address - but this time I'm actually unsubscribing.

Some of the services people use for their lists have a spot where I am required to click on why I'm leaving. The choices seem silly.  - I don't want to receive emails.  - the emails are spam   - I did not subscribe  - not what I expected.  At first I was filling out the Other option as I wanted folks to know I enjoyed their emails and posts, but needed to cut back on emails.  Now I just click I don't want to receive these emails..

Denise & Katie Austin’s 6-Minute Toning Workout

Not sure if embedding this video in a blog post will work, but thought I'd try!
Denise & Katie Austin’s 6-Minute Toning Workout

Starry Bright Sky QAL: Curved Piecing Pattern 6a

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/06/starry-bright-sky-qal-pattern-6.html

I had the pieces for this block in my stash....  A while back I had this vision of making a blue and yellow dot quilt, but it wasn't coming together.  It was this selection of fabric though that I have been using for the Starry Bright Sky QAL this year.  These are my longest to have favorite colors: blue and yellow.

I had to trim to make the correct size...

I'll link to her linky:

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/06/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-6.html

(almost forgot to do this, but she emailed me I won the second gift for last month's drawing and that reminded me!)

It's really fun to see how everyone is interpreting the designs.

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/

Starry Bright Sky QAL: Curved Piecing Pattern 6b

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/06/starry-bright-sky-qal-pattern-6.html

This is my favorite kind of piecing.  I did it differently than Alida had in her pattern, but the result is similar and I think very nice.

I'll link to her linky @
http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/2018/06/starry-bright-sky-qal-linky-month-6.html

It's really fun to see how everyone is interpreting the designs.

http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/

Expenses: Basting Spray

I went to pick up a prescription for our little dog today, and JoAnn's was a few doors down from the vet's.  I had received an email about two 50% off coupons, so thought it would be a good time to get some basting spray.  They had three different kinds of the basting spray.  So I got two of the types I had used before and the only one they had of the other kind.

Expenses: $48.43

I remember seeing a recipe online for making basting spray.  I think I will search for that and experiment.  This spray stuff is a tad expensive, but what really bothers me are the aerosol cans.

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I also decided on another design to add to my Picasso Tic Tac Toe quilt.  I extended the crosses so they are in the border section.  I was hoping JoAnn's would have some thicker thread, but I didn't see any.  So will wait to add outlining to all the pieces when I get that.  I'm going to go ahead and start the quilting someday.

I've been gathering all our financial files into one place so it will be easier to scan and shred the papers.  It will be my interpretation of The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up Book by Marie Kondo.  I read her second book a few years ago, this is the first book.  She says to gather all the items in one category in one place and to go thru each one to design what to do with it.  She says to start with clothes, so I did that after reading the first book.  My closet is still in good shape.  These papers are for the most part going to be scanned, so the organizing will be done by the name of the file.  And once I'm done then I will have empty boxes!