Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Red, White and Blue Blog Hop, My Day, Welcome!

Welcome to my blog all you hoppers!  I hope your legs aren't getting tired just yet :)

The thing I love most about a blog hop is getting to see so many different and new blogs.  So many people have so many different and great ideas about quilting and life and I've learned a lot already.  Just the first day I was blown away by the great blocks and started to sweat just a little bit, but then I thought, hey, relax and have fun with this!  I joined to make myself step outside the box and make something I wouldn't ordinarily do on my own.  I joined so I could stretch myself and grow as a quilter and a person.  So, here goes!

Of course, I also waited until the last minute to get my block done.  If you read back over the last few weeks on my blog, you will see that my family has been going through some stressful times.  My husband's mom found out she had cancer, moved to Tennessee to live out her final days with her daughter and passed away on Sunday.  I suffer from migraines and have been having a really rough time lately.  They are getting worse and worse and I'm sure the stress of everything else hasn't helped.  My oldest daughter is in Hong Kong right now teaching English (boy is she having a great time) and so today is here and I said "OH NO!" it's time to make my block for the hop :)

Well, what do you do when you are crunched for time and need to make a quilt quickly?

I GO! for my Accuquilt Go! fabric cutter.  I tell you that when my husband got it for me 2 Christmases ago he wasn't so sure I would get much use out of it.  It was a pretty big investment ($199 for the cutter from JoAnn's on sale) and each die can run from $20-$50.  But if you are smart, you will watch ebay, check out amazon or find some friends to share with.  I have no idea how I would quilt without my Accuquilt!  Especially these half square triangles.  Before the Accuquilt, I could only sew squares together :) (And I don't get paid for saying any of this--I just love them that much)

So, I grabbed two of my favorite dies, the 6 1/2inch half square triangle and the 6 1/2 inch quarter square triangle (which is called the 4 7/8 inch triangle--weird name huh?-it also makes flying geese, but I haven't tried those yet) and got busy cutting some Red, White and Blue fabrics.  I have a good friend named Debbie who brought me some fabulous fabrics from her stash last summer.  She knows I make LOTS and LOTS of quilts for kids (big and small) and brought me up a whole car load of fabrics.  I've been having fun playing with those fabrics and cutting them up and making quilts and giving those quilts away.  So, I grabbed some fabrics, cut them up and started sewing.  I wanted to make a pinwheel block and so I started sewing.  I sewed 6 blocks like this:

 Well, something wasn't right.  It wasn't spinning the way I wanted it to.  I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.  That's what I get for sewing with a migraine!  I had turned the pieces the wrong way!  Silly me :)  So, then I made 6 more blocks like this:
 Each block is different, with Red, White and Blue, to go with the theme of the Hop:








 Except for this guy.  He is just Red and Blue, because I knew I was running out of time and didn't feel like cutting more white fabric.
 Here are all 12 blocks laid out next to each other.  I'm going to make some more blocks to bring this up to a Quilt of Valor size and probably do some sashing in between them blocks as well.  I have to wait until my daughter #2 comes home from tennis before I make any kind of final decision on block placement.  She always helps me decide on how the quilt looks best.  She has a great eye for color placement.
For now, I'm about to head out the door and get a shot for my migraine.  I know this post won't appear until midnight, when I will be fast asleep :)  Hopefully tomorrow I will wake up and the headache will be gone.

I hope you can hop on over to the other bloggers today and see what they are up to as well.

July 11th
Nancy R 
North Hills Quilter That's me!

I'd love it if you would follow me, I'm so close to 200 followers.  The Christmas in July Blog hop is coming up soon and I'd hate for you to miss out.  Santa will be bringing presents and a giveaway for that one and then the Paper Pieced Bowls Blog Hop will follow soon after.  I've never tried paper piecing so I'm excited to give that one a try too.
Thanks for stopping by!

62 comments:

Zuzan said...

Hi Marilyn,
I'm your 195th follower from downunder & depending on how much I say may be the first to comment. Migraines are a pain hope you are feeling much better - do you mind me sharing my migraine story with you later? I like the last block the best it has white dots & mini-checks. But 12 blocks, congratulations on the lay-out looks good to go. Thank you for sharing.

Linda said...

Your blocks are wonderful! Hope you feel better soon.

JudyCinNC said...

Love how this has all come together - you just kept at it until it happened - will make a wonderful QOV. Judy C

Sunshine Girl said...

Oooh they are all lovely - hope you are feeling better soon and I am so sorry to hear about your mother-in-law. Thanks for sharing.

Donna said...

I think your blocks turned out lovely. And may I comment that as a teacher who enjoys her summers off...why do you have to have a summer countdown for back to school!!! Summer is my rejuvenation and quilting organizing time!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Thank you for sharing your blocks with us - they will be a wonderful QOV.

evelyn said...

Hope you feel better soon. Your blocks are lovely.

Sowing Stitches said...

I'd love to be a follower of your blog...
I think I overlooked the submit link to follow via email

sowingstitches [at] yahoo [dot] com

I'm not familiar with your migraine history...stress will certainly increase frequency of migraines, as will heat, odors, certain foods, dehydration, lack of sleep.

Praying that the root of your migraines is discovered today, that it shrivels and withers away to dust never to return. May you be restored, refreshed, renewed with boundless joy and energy.
God BLess You this day with perfect health!

OneOldGoat said...

I just started following your blog. Your blocks really made an interesting pattern laid out - I really liked it! I always like pinwheels :)
I'm so sorry for the passing of your mil and hope that your migraine goes away and you can enjoy this beautiful day!

Beth

Sparky said...

To adventures in quilting, you sure stretched your GO into doing a lot of blocks...great cutting and piecing...

krislovesfabric said...

Nice blocks, will make a wonderful quilt. New follower, you're almost to 200 :) Nice to hop with you!

Truffle queen said...

I'm number 199! One person to go! Your blocks are great! Sure hope you can get rid of those migranes. I've suffered with them, too - awful. So sorry about the loss of your mother-in-law. I hope you can just rest today - just take care of yourself and let everything else "go".

Betsy said...

Great blocks. I like how they came together so well. I became a follower

Unknown said...

Wonderful blocks and they will make a great QOV....hope your head is feeling better.....

Unknown said...

Wonderful blocks and they will make a great QOV....hope your head is feeling better.....

KatieQ said...

Great block assortment. I'm already a follower so I can't bring you numbers up. Congratulations on reaching 200.

carla said...

Looks like you had lots of fun!!!! Can't wait to see your christmas and bowl blocks!!!! Thanks

Carol Swift said...

Looks like you went over 200 follower--congrats! I have an Accu Quilt, too, and love it. Your blocks turned out beautiful even though you were sewing with a migraine.

StitchinByTheLake said...

I love pinwheels so yours made me smile - great job! blessings, marlene

CaroleM said...

I hope your injection worked and your headache is either gone for much abated this morning. Good thoughts for no pain!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Great blocks, a parade of spinning beauty! Take care of yourself, thank you for playing under hard conditions.

beaquilter said...

great blocks. I like my Go cutter too, don't use it as much as I would like, but it IS fun when I do :-) hope you feel better. and sorry about the loss in your family

Needled Mom said...

The pinwheels look just great. I don't know how you do them with a migraine! I already follow you and know what you have been going through. I hope the new medication helps.

Ariane said...

Your blocks will make a gorgeous quilt of valor quilt. I hope you feel better soon.

Unknown said...

Hopefully the sewing was a small respite from the stressful situation your family is enduring. Those blocks are super. Thank you so much for sharing.

Farm Quilter said...

I love your pinwheel blocks! They give such great movement to a quilt. Thanks for participating in the blog hop and sharing with us. My prayers are with your family at this difficult time.

Sheila said...

That was a lot of blocks to make under your present circumstances , well done. Hope your migraine is gone today, take care.

VickiT said...

You have done a wonderful job with all those blocks. They all look great. I feel for you with the migraines. I used to get those all the time although *knock on wood* I've only had two in the past year so I'm very thankful for that. Your quilt will be awesome when completed.

Kathy H said...

I think your pinwheels turned out great. I love all the different ways they can be used. I am looking forward to the the hop with the bowls. I love to paper piece and am waiting to see how they all turn out.

prairie said...

Hi Marilyn: I hope you can find a cure for the migraines. I used to have them but they've gone away....don't know why. Maybe there's less stuff in my head now that I'm past 60. Ha. I love your quilt with the beautiful blocks. Thanks for letting us visit. Won't you drop in on my blog and follow, too? It didn't take long for you to hit that 200 mark. I'm aiming for 50 this summer but haven't been able to get in on any blog hops yet. Hope you feel better. Kathie

~Kris~ said...

Your blocks turned out great. Hope you are feeling better.

Maria Kievit said...

Love your pinwheel blocks! Really nice ones!

Mrs.Pickles said...

lovely work!

quiltmom anna said...

It sounds life has posed many challenges for you and your family just now.. I hope that you are feeling better and that life brings you some joy filled times with loved ones.
Your blocks are fun- I really tried to win a go cutter many times over the last couple of years. Perhaps one day I will look to buy one- I never thought about checking out ebay. The starter set is fairly expensive here even yet ( about 4 or 5 hundred dollars).
I love paper piecing- it is just like sewing a jigsaw puzzle with fabric. Thanks for participating in the blog hop.
Regards from Western Canada,
Anna

Anonymous said...

Well, your blocks are great despite the headache.
Hope you are much better today... take care!

Rosa said...

Hope you feel better.Love your layout blocks,fantastic.Thanks for sharing!!

Judith said...

Lovely blocks Marilyn...Judith, Texas

Carrie P. said...

Hope you are feeling better after the shots.
Well, it looks like you relaxed and had some fun creating your blocks.

Catherine said...

Those are wonderful blocks. I like your color choices. Well done and thank you for sharing.

Gmama Jane said...

I can't believe you get so much accomplished with your quilting and still suffer with migraines. I will pray for you to find a course of meds that will work for you. I do't say that as a cliche...I have already stopped and prayed.
Blessings
Gmama Jane

The Slow Quilter said...

The blocks came together, just fine. Mistakes is a quilters option to creat something great.

tink's mom said...

Great blocks, I'm sure the finished quilt will be a wonderful quilt of valor contribution.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Beautiful blocks and the GO sure makes cutting HST's a breeze! Sorry about your migraines and the loss of your MIL.

Beth said...

Great blocks! Hope you are feeling better! Your back to school counter gave me a nice chuckle this evening!

LJ said...

Hi, I do follow you and am sorry to hear about the migraine. My daughter suffers from them also. I liked seeing all your blocks. Did want to tell you that it's really difficult to read your post with the patchwork backdrop; sorry. :(

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Your blocks are great! I can see you have been busy. They are going to make a beautiful quilt. Sorry to hear you and your family have been going through some challenges recently. I'm praying that smoother and healthier times are ahead. My sister suffers from migraines and I know what she goes through. Again super job and thanks for sharing your blocks with us. Oh and I'll be back, I'm a new follower. ;D

Judy1522 said...

All your blocks look so nice together you did a great job.

Francine said...

Hi there, I hope your head is better! Great blocks!!!
Francine

Sharon Dawn said...

Fantastic job on all of your pinwheels! Hope you are feeling better!

leanne said...

love your pinwheels - they're my favourite blocks :)

Kate said...

Great blocks. They will make a great QOV. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

One can never have too many pinwheel blocks. Always been my favorite.
Hope you are doing better.
xx

Nancy in IN said...

Love the pinwheel quilt. I'm planning to make one using two colors for granddaughter. Hope you are feeling better.

Nancy in IN said...

Love the pinwheel quilt. I'm planning to make one using two colors for granddaughter. Hope you are feeling better.

Cherry's Prairie Primitives said...

Love your blocks can't wait to see the finished piece!!

pinsandneedles said...

I understand ~ migraines are no fun! What a lovely quilt for QOV ~ someone will be happy! Thanks for sharing and I hope you feel better soon.

hueisei said...

I love all the blocks! :)

Katherine said...

Hope your headache is long gone.

Great blocks! I love pinwheels and they look wonderful in R/W/B. Thanks so much for sharing.

MoeWest said...

Your blocks will make a great quilt! Thanks for sharing them. I'm your 219th follower.

Rina Mason said...

You have a new follower - me! Love blog hops for introducing me to new blogs. That is going to make a great quilt. Sorry about your migraines, I know where you are coming from.

Unknown said...

Your amazing all that work and with a migraine as well. Enjoyed the hop with you.

Sandra J. Strickler said...

Someday I will own one of those miracle machines!