Solid Wonky Log Cabin Blocks

This month's bee blocks are for Cris. I think the solids make great blocks. I had fabric left over, so thought I might as well sew a second block. They are pretty quick to whip up.

Fabric goes a long way with wonky log cabin blocks. These are the only scraps I ended up with.

Now onto the bee blocks for Louise.

Red Hexagon Baby Quilt

This baby quilt is a work in progress. I do like the larger hexagons ... larger than anticipated because I didn't add up correctly. However, three hexagons per block and the quilt will be three blocks by three blocks, so it will all work out in the end and be suitably symmetrical. And I have always wanted to make a red and white quilt.

After experimenting with brown paper for the first few templates, I moved to freezer paper which is more pliable. I also thought it would stick to the background so I didn't get any wrinkles attaching the hexagons. It's not sticking as well as I thought, so I just use lots of pins. Freezer paper does make nicer edges on the hexagons themselves though.

I have pre-sewn the hexagons together and am hand sewing them to the white background. That sounds like a mammoth task - but it's not. It only takes about 40 minutes to sew each block of hexies.

Think I will quilt it in red because I like the quilting to be obvious-ish. I don't plan to do too much quilting though. Perhaps just some straight lines through each block.

I am working on this one as and when I feel like it. I have a bit of school work on at the moment. I had my term planned for my Yr 9 classes, but then we (50 learners and four Learning Leaders - Sci, Maths, Soc and English) had a day together to immerse ourselves in this term's Whanau and learning value (character), and they developed big ideas about heroes - that heroes make sacrifices, are committed, caring/loving, take risks and value relationships/family - so I am thinking To Kill a Mockingbird (the film) and using Scout, Boo and Atticus (and maybe Tom Robinson?) as heroes. I have ordered a few $8 copies of the book from Book Depository for my more able readers. I look forward to them reading it.

A Small Forest

I received all of these trees (and more, but 9 makes for a good collage!) at our Modern Monday gathering last week.

I love that I got a real range of trees in shape and in construction. My backgrounds don't blend as well as I hoped they would. I will work on ways to put the blocks together. One idea is to sash them with more of the green. Not sure what I will do.

It was better than Christmas!

This month we are working on blocks for Louise using Tula Pink's funky  Nightshade and for Cris using bright solids.

PS Our Modern Monday group is planning a quilt exhibition in Auckland for September.

My May Lucky Star

I think this is a better looking star than April's one. It's obviously a star. April ... not really.

Even though it's a better looking star, I still screwed up. It's not supposed to be blue - green - blue - green. It's supposed to be blue - green - green - blue. Oh well. Close enough.

Laurina's recommendation to use a hammer to flatten the joins with one million pieces, makes a big difference  to the centre.

The Trouble with Date Scones ...

... is that you have to eat them with real butter. It's a rule.

I love these date scones. They are sweet and super quick to make. I have no idea where the recipe came from but I got it from my Mum.

Date Scones
1/2 C milk
1/2 - 1 C dates
50 g butter
2 t baking powder
2 C flour

Put 1/4 C milk, the dates and the butter in a saucepan and heat gently until the dates can be mashed. (I do this in the micro at 50% power for 2 mins). 

Add the rest of the milk, and then the dry ingredients. 

Mix into a light dough.

Place onto a hot tray and bake in a hot (210 degrees) oven for 10 mins.

My April Lucky Star

After sewing the wrong pieces together - because I was rushing - it turned out alright. Not my best work as the pink and grey points poke into the turquoise a bit too much. I probably just needed a bigger seam allowance.

And because I didn't get to this block in April, my May one has already arrived. I am going to try and get some bright green into the May one. I have only managed to use the bright green in one block out of the four I have made so far. I have also bought some darkish blue to use too.

In addition to sewing stars, I have signed up for an ironing board cover make and swap with Leonie of Sunshine x 3. Something different.

Modern Monday April Bee Block

One of our April Modern Monday bee blocks is for Mel. It's a pod.

Doing this block reminded me I still have this curvy quilt top made with old woollen blankets unquilted. I think it's a pay someone to do it job.

Hexagon Quilt Finished

I have finally finished this quilt. I like it lots. There are 297 1 3/4" hexagons hand sewn and it's hand quilted as per usual. It's just right for keeping my feet warm now it's Autumn.