Publish Yourself - Pretty Cool

Over the last two years, we faced a challenge that will continue for the next 3 years.  Anyone battling cancer knows the long road to remission.  Thankfully, my husband is considered in remission and we have been enjoying it immensely.  Along our journey from diagnosis to remission, I blogged on a private blog open to friends and coworkers that knew the web address.

As we have come to the remission part, the blogging for hubby's coworkers and friends has pretty much stopped.  I'm also about to give up the URL web address.  However, we love looking back and reading all the entries.  So, I decided to send my whole blog off to be printed.

We received our book yesterday.  I am so happy with the results.  We have all the photos and text and can look back at how far we have come in the last 2 years.  Here's some snapshots.  I purchased the hardcover book and about 23 extra pages.  It was a little pricey but priceless.  I used SharedBook Blog2Print to complete the book creation.  I just wanted to share my review with my blog friends out there.  I'm not being compensated for referencing them.  I just found them on my search to print out the blog before we lose it and took the leap.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

No Block Left Behind

When I was trimming most of the blocks in the second set of quilt blocks, there were about 8+ blocks that were not the correct size of 5" squared.  Donors are asked to create their quilt blocks with 5" square leaving 1/2 inch area around the square for seams.  My initial thought was to leave these couple out.  We all know when a block is too small, the quilt top does funny things.  Even an 1/8th too small makes an impact to the way the quilt lays.

Then, I stepped back and asked myself to make them work somehow.  I remembered I had a few blank precut 5" squares from previous quilt.  I then decided to applique the too small blocks onto the right size blocks.  Now, no block is left behind.  I'm pretty happy these turned out the way I wanted them to.  Now, I just need to figure out a layout for all these colorful blocks and then I'll be able to start sewing.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Not just Pink

I decided to move on to the second Breast Cancer quilt work and at least square up the blocks and ponder layout options before I move on to sewing both quilts.  This is the most variety in blocks that I have seen in the last couple of years.  This one has soo many colors and creativity in it!  It will be beautiful.

Since there were so many colors, I could not help replacing the one lonely blue block from the first quilt layout.  I exchanged it for a dark pink block and brought it over to the colorful blocks quilt.  There are so many different variety of blocks, I could not photograph all my favorites.  I'll highlight others as I review them all.
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Heartfelt Blocks

I've started on the first breast cancer quilt for this years Quilting for a Cure.  I like to take the time and look and read each block received for each quilt I have volunteered to complete.  Here are a few of my favorite blocks from the first quilt bunch.  This quilt had 110 5" blocks.  Therefore, I'll have a 10 block columns by a 11 block rows quilt.  I also have the Ford block for the center of the quilt.  I have not decided on whether there will be borders or not as of yet.

After I received each block, I place them in color categories and count them up.  I try to randomize them as much as possible.  By this, I mean I try to separate the similar colors.  This bunch had one blue block.  It's a beautiful embroidered block.   I know that anywhere I place this block, it will stand out.  Below is a montage of the layouts.  I love using the camera to help me see the color values and it allows me to see where there a too many light like blocks and too many like dark blocks.  This layout only took me about 4 tries.  There is an imbalance of dark stripes on the lower left versus the top right but I think it still works.  On the final (4) bottom left there seem to be 4 dark diagonal stripes and on the top right there are only 3, but I like it.  What do you think?   That's it for today, maybe tomorrow I'll start sewing them together.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Walked Away...

Wow, I had no idea how long it's been since I last blogged.  I'm not sure if this has happened to any others out there but, I just lost my crafting mojo for no particular reason.  I have not completed any sewing and or crafting in over 3 months.  Just walked away.

Maybe it was the spring and summer season and the need to be outside.  Who knows, but hubby recently said that if I don't get to using the sewing machines and craft items that I have, it's time to start selling.  Ouch.  So, with that being said, I think it's time to get moving again.

So, first up will be work on the Ford Quilt for the Cure Breast Cancer Quilts.  I volunteered to complete 2 again this year and they are due in mid September.  Time to get started on reviewing the blocks and auditioning layouts and starting up the machines. I received two packets of blocks.  One for each quilt so I'll share some photos along the way.   At first glance of the decorated blocks, I see a lot of embellished blocks.  Because of this, I don't think I'll be able to quilt them on the HQ16.  I tried it last year with the gel pain decorated blocks and almost messed up the timing on the machine.  It's OK, the stitch in the ditch also turns out nice for these!

P.s.  You walk away for over 3 months and when you come back, Blogger has been totally redesigned.  Wow!


Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~