More Blues Greens Log Cabin Blocks Layout Options and Millie's Choice

Yesterday's post about layout options for the greens blues log cabin blocks brought mixed responses.  Today I have laid out three more options for the jumbo log cabin blocks.  I just can't make up my mind, so I am going to let my daughter Millie decide.  She is 11 and has great taste!

The blocks really are square; they are just haphazardly placed!  I just threw them up there!

These large blocks do not stick to the felt design wall and require a couple of pins.  Smaller blocks usually stick okay and do not need pinning, unless the overhead fan is on.  This one is my favorite.
Millie's final choice is ... a layout from the previous post! And guess what?  This layout had the most votes from my overwhelming readership.  This means it had two votes where other layouts only had one or none!  ha ha :} ha ha!  Millie did not know this before she cast her vote.  Thank you to all who responded to my inquiry! I will be assembling the blocks this afternoon and getting the quilt top on Mrs.Singer's rails very shortly.  Gotta get the design wall cleared off to begin the next custom order of the popular 30s Barn Raising Quilt!  This one will be a piece of cake at 56" square compared to the queen-sized one I just finished.  I have some large scraps left over from the greens blues log cabin blocks which will be integrated into the backing with the plan of having ZERO scraps remaining from this collection with nothing to put back into the fabric closet.  Taking fabric OUT means there is room to put more IN ... right???

Playing With Blues Greens Log Cabin Blocks Layout

To me, stress-free block piecing is making log cabin blocks.  They don't have to take a whole lot of thought if you don't want them to.  Sounds like just what I needed recently while making the custom queen-sized 30s Barn Raising quilt.  I always have several projects going at once, and these are some blocks I have worked on over the last week or so.  They are jumbo sized at 16" square.
I had an idea in my mind of how I wanted them laid out, but after moving them around a bit, I have changed my mind as to my preference.

I love my design wall and being able to step back and look at the blocks.

I have learned to take pictures of each layout for simpler comparison of my favorite layout.  I say "my favorite layout" rather than "the best layout" because there is no wrong way.  Even having a block turned the "wrong" direction could still be the maker's interpretation and not really a mistake.

I just choose what strikes my fancy, and this one below is it ... I THINK, though I kinda really like number three, as well!!

Which is your favorite layout???
You can read HERE about additional layout options I made and which one my daughter chose!

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New Pictures of Mrs.Star, a Queen Quilt in Annie's Farm Stand Fabrics

I took Mrs.Star off my living room wall in order to take pictures of my latest Queen 30s Barn Raising quilt.  I  didn't take any pictures of Mrs.Star on a bed before I hung her in the living room, so here are some fresh pictures of her.

She is pictured on a queen-sized waterbed which is longer and wider than a standard queen mattress, and thus, Mrs.Star will have a longer overhang on a regular mattress.
The backing is black with tiny white polka dots with a strip of half-square triangles down the middle.
The pillow shams are little quilts, complete with quilted fronts, a wide flange, and bound edges.  One has a row of half-square triangles down the sides, and the other has strips of patches.

Quilt Stats:

• Name:  Mrs.Star
• Pattern:  Sparkle Plenty by Loft Creations, enlarged from 48".
• Fabric:  Black with tiny white polka dots.  All other fabrics are Annie's Farm Stand by Holly Holderman for Lakehouse Fabrics.
• Size:  82" x 82" after washing.
• Backing:  Black with tiny white polka dots with a strip of half-square triangles down the center.
• Binding:  Double thickness black with tiny white polka dots, attached by machine for durability.
• Batting: Warm and Natural 100% cotton.
• Quilting:  All-over meandering stitch in black polyester thread on my vintage 1896 Singer 31-15 industrial machine set up on a quilting frame.
• Value:  Cheery!

Sham Stats:

• Name:  Little Miss Star Shams
• Pattern:  Center star taken from Sparkle Plenty by Loft Creations pattern, reduced from 48", with border strips of half-square triangles and squares added.
• Fabric:  Black with tiny white polka dots.  All other fabrics are Annie's Farm Stand by Holly Holderman for Lakehouse Fabrics.
• Size:  Standard pillow size, 25" x 31" including 3" flange.
• Backing:  Black with tiny white polka dots envelope-style opening.
• Binding:  Annie's Farm Stand cheater squares fabric.
• Batting: Warm and Natural 80/20 cotton/poly.
• Quilting:  All-over meandering stitch in black cotton thread on my old Bernina 830.
• Value:  Cheery!

This quilt is for sale in my Etsy shop, Busy Hands Quilts.  

Custom Queen Sized 30s Barn Raising Quilt Finished!!

Custom Queen-Sized 30s Barn Raising is pure eye candy!

Quilt Stats:

• Pattern:  30s Barn Raising from the Moda Bake Shop, adapted to strip piecing
• Fabric:  Top is 100% Kona Solids, backing and binding are Connecting Threads Beachy Stripe
• Size:  85" square after washing
• Quilting:  All-over meandering on my vintage 1896 Singer 31-15 mounted on a long-arm quilting frame.
• Batting:  100% cotton Warm and Natural
• Value:  Guaranteed to brighten every day!!

This quilt was a custom quilt order.  You can purchase one like it in any size and your choice of color combinations through my Etsy shop, Busy Hands Quilts.

Linking to:
Crazy Mom Quilts

Link a Finish Friday

Ruffle Scarves For Sale!!

 

I have been making ruffle scarves like crazy.  I sell them in a local artists' consignment shop.  These scarves are approximately 55" x 3-4" wide, though the length may vary by a few inches.  The scarves are shown doubled in the pictures above.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these colors or have a color request for a different color, please let me know.  They cost $15 + $3 shipping each.  Buy three and get free shipping {US only!}  Shipping time is 3-4 days after placement of order.

Please contact me at heartsforhomeschooling { at } comcast dotnet.

Custom Queen Sized 30s Barn Raising Progress #6

Here's a peek at the quilt top before being placed on Mrs.Singer's rails for the second-to-the-last step - quilting!!

Quilting is going great!  Today I am half way done and am on the fourth bobbin.  Mrs.Singer uses regular-sized bobbins, although Singer did make an identical model with a larger bobbin case {too bad this ain't one of 'em!}.  I should be able to finish quilting it tomorrow, but who knows what a day will bring!

And here is a tiny peek at the backing!  YUM!!  I loved striped backings and binding!

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Custom Queen Sized 30s Barn Raising Quilt Progress #5

Here is the past few days' progress on the custom queen sized 30s Barn Raising quilt.  Hanging / pinned to my design and lying on the floor  are 135 of the 225 blocks.  

Below is today's progress.  All of those blocks are sewn together and the quilt top is folded over on itself to make room for the next six rows of blocks to be added to the design wall on the right side.  My felt design wall isn't big enough for this large of a quilt, but I make do.  Being height challenged, I really don't want it any higher as I'd have to use a ladder to use it!  As it is, I already use a little stool.  I'd rather lay some of the blocks on the floor and work on a quilt in sections than have a taller wall.

Sew, there are 90 more blocks to add to the right side, and the top is ready for quilting!  Hurray!