Batik Double Sawtooth Stars Quilt

Batik Double Sawtooth Stars Quilt

As many quilters do, when I viewed the Double Sawtooth Stars Quilt in a magazine (I don't know which magazine, but will post when I find it), I knew I had to make it. However, the pattern was in just three colors, light blue, purple and dark blue. Of course, I made it my own scrappy type of quilt, deciding to use batiks in purple, aqua and green. 

 In my quilt guild, twelve of us participate in a birthday fabric exchange. At least one month before our birthday, we request a particular type of fabric. Then, on our birthday, we receive 3 fat quarters from each participating member of that fabric. During the year 2011, I requested dark and light Christmas batik fabrics in purple, aqua and green. As you can see, I received 33 beautiful batik fat quarters.

First, I planned each block using one light fabric, one medium and one dark fabric. The small star in the center of the block was made using the medium fabrics, the large star used the dark fabrics, and the background was the light batik fabrics. In all, this quilt has 49 -- 10 inch finished double sawtooth star blocks.

Next, the sashing was made using light and medium batiks. Each year, we are supposed to present our finished quilt on our birthday. Well, in 2012, I presented the top, without borders, on my birthday. It was not completed by my birthday on May 15. I actually spent the summer completing the borders.

The inner border is a red Christmas batik fabric, also used as a dark large star in several blocks, and as the binding. The large outer border, also a Christmas batik fabric, is found in the blocks as a large star. The center border used half square triangles which were the remains of the triangles trimmed from the large star point.

Not all the fabrics are Christmas batiks, but using several of them creates the effect of winter stars. The quilt is king size and is the Christmas/Winter quilt that covers my bed. It is extremely precious to me because my quilting buddies have contributed to this quilt and warms not only my cold feet here in cold NE Ohio, but my heart as well.

First quilt

Here I am at the National Quilt Association Show in Columbus Ohio with my first quilt entered into a national show. No ribbons, of course, but I feel honored and accomplished to even be entered into the quilt show. Upon first entering the quilt show, I wanted to find my quilt, Christmas Pickle. Heck with the best of show quilts. And Where do you think it was? In the very far corner of the room! Anyway, it was such a thrill to see my quilt hanging there, I didn't care. So we worked our way from the back to the front and ended at the best of show quilts at the end of the day. My favorite quilt, besides mine, was Sparkle, Fruitcake Quilt. Probably because I have those fabrics, but she did a wonderfully creative job of using all the fabrics in the Fruitcake line from Moda with Swarovski crystals--and the quilting was fabulous! Great job Sue Hawks. You have my vote for viewers choice. At the end of the day, I was very inspired with ideas, and also purchased fabrics for more quilts! Isn't that what it's all about?

Bevan Blooms

Using the fabrics leftover from Sara and Josh's wedding quilt, I made Bevan Blooms, a courthouse steps block. The pattern from American Patchwork and Quilting magazine, October 2006, must be very carefully constructed by matching each row with the previous one. 

Quilted by Joyce Coburn

81 inches x 94 inches

Afternoon Delight

After being laid off from my job in April 2009, I dug out several WIP (works in progress). Afternoon Delight was one of those. The Quilters had started a log cabin block class, so I was using my floral scraps to make a courthouse steps block. Using a pattern from Relax and Quilt by Leisure Arts, I used light, medium and dark fabrics--all floral, or course--cutting 1 1/2 inch strips. The center of the quilt uses predominately light fabrics, the outside uses medium and dark fabrics. I changed the border to dark purple squares on point. Joyce Coburn quilted it in flowers. Even though I did not use all purple fabrics, the quilt appears purple from the border squares. The outer setting triangles are dark purple fabrics however.

Completed in May 2009. 74 inches x 84 inches

Sparkling Christmas Sampler 2011

Several of my quilt group have participated in BOM (Block of the month) clubs through the local quilt shop and have completed beautiful quilts from it. So last year, we (Pieced By the Master's Hand Quilt Group) decided to create our own BOM quilts. McCall's Quilting published a magazine in 2010, America Quilts for Christmas, and one of the quilts was a sampler quilt. Conveniently divided into twelve star blocks with lots of additional flying geese and smaller star blocks, we assigned each block a month. Together, we worked on a block each month, sewing the smaller blocks on our own time. Several of us used Christmas fabrics, but not all of us.

Thankfully, I selected most of my fabrics from my stash, only purchasing several of the gold fabrics and the border fabric. Here is my quilt, happily finished before Christmas. Our fall quilt show should be spectacular with all twelve completed quilts!

Carol G's Challenge Quilt in Fons and Porter Love of Quilting Magazine

Friendship fabrics

submitted by Carol Grayshock, Akron, OH

Thank you for the inspiration in the July/Aug 2009 issue to use 1930's reproduction fabrics. Our quilt group, Pieced by the Master's Hands, challenged each other to make our own birthday projects. For my birthday fabric, I chose 1930's reproductions, and received three fat quarters from each member. I pieced and quilted Granny's Stars which was unveiled on my following birthday. I did change the border to enable all the gifted fabrics to be included in my Birthday Challenge Quilt. This quilt is a treasure to me as it was made from fabrics chosen by my dear friends, and given in love and friendship.

Health Goals for 2011

Finally setting my goals for year 2011. First off, my health goals and how to achieve them. Of course, like everyone else in the US, I want to lose 10 pounds. Okay, I need to lose 20, but 10 is achievable this year because that is what I lost last year. Last year's goal was 20 pounds, and that is too much for me to lose. So I'm setting 10 pounds as what I think is an attainable goal. Losing ten pounds is ten pounds gone and won't be found. Saying it is easy, but actually working at it, while that is the problem. I will continue to work on strength training and cardio every day by working out at the gym.

Second health goal is to keep my blood pressure under control. Unfortunately, I have had to go on medication to keep my bp at an acceptable level, but that was what I had to do. Keeping my stress level low, not working at a job, cardio everyday for 30 minutes and losing weight wasn't enough. Genetics won out and I'm now on medication. But the issue to keep the bp under control and that's the goal this year.

Lastly, eating more healthy is an important component to the first 2 goals. Due to keeping my sodium intake low, I have had to go back to making all my food from scratch, which is not a bad thing actually. When my kids were little, I did this, keeping their diets free from bad things like preservatives. Little by little, convenience foods become more of a staple and before you know it, they took over my kitchen. No more! Obviously, my body is telling me that I need to begin cooking my own recipes again. With no sodium!

So that's my 3 healthy goals for 2011:

1. Lose 10 pounds.

2. Keep blood pressure under control.

3. Eat more healthy.

What are your healthy goals for 2011?