Tetris Quilt Along Blocks Week 2

I just wanted to post photos of my Tetris Blocks from week 2 of the Tetris Quilt Along before I started my blocks from week 3.  If you haven't joined the quilt along, it's not too late and it's lots of fun.  The pink and yellow look washed out in the pictures, but they are very bright when seen in person.

Sorry for the picture quality.  I didn't notice how much alike the blocks were until I just posted the pictures.  I think once they are distributed though out the quilt it will be fine.  I can't wait to start on this week's blocks.

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

I belong to an online charity quilting group called the Sunshine Quilters.  They are currently running several Round Robin groups.  This is the first time I am participating in a Round Robin where you add a different border to each block you work on. I really want to make my row in the Round Robin to enhance the block I have already received.  This is where you come in.

This is the 17.5 inch center block sent to me by Kathy from Tampa.

I decided to add one solid border to make the block 20.5 inches square.  I also wanted to use half square triangles in the border.  I have the blocks made, but I can't make up my mind if I want to echo the purple and black star point or to go in a different direction.  This is a bold step for me.


After sewing a row and a half of the blocks in this direction, I decided I should explore another opinion.

 This would be the other choice.  I can't show the complete border because some of the HST are already sewn in the direction above.  It wouldn't be a problem to take them apart.

Hopefully, you will share your opinion.  After me, there will be 2 more participants to add rows.

I also made 2 more Tetris blocks from last week's shapes.  I plan to sew this week's block later today.

After seeing all 4 blocks together, I decided I will not be using sashing between the blocks.  I also feel kind of dumb realizing in all 4 blocks I put the orange shape in the bottom row.  I don't know how I didn't notice it before, but when the blocks are all sewn together it won't be a problem.

Tetris Quilt Along Week 1

If you haven't succumbed to the infectious fun known as the Tetris Quilt Along, visit Melissa at Happy Quilting. She has designed a quilt based on the colors and shapes of the Tetris game  The shapes for the first week have been released and it is an enjoyable challenge  putting these blocks together.  Melissa is using 5 inch squares for her blocks, but I prefer using 2.5 inch squares.  I am planning to make 2 blocks each week from the shapes using a different placement.  It's so much fun I may decide to make 4 blocks per week so that my quilt will be closer in size to the original project.   I used white squares to represent the empty spaces where I wasn't able to fit a block.  There are no restrictions as to size or even color.  I plan on saving the extra squares from the parts of the shapes that did not fit and plan to use them  to make a block for the back of the quilt.

I'm going to link my blocks with the rest of the Tetris quilters at Happy Quilting and also with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for "Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?"

Sharon of Vrooman's Quilts is hosting a Crafter's Campfire today.  Put on some sunscreen and bug spray and stop at her place to see the fun craft she has posted.

Red/White/Blue Blog Hop Giveaway Winner

Thanks to the 124 hoppers  who stopped by during the Red, White, and Blue blog hop and left a comment.  The winner of the Tried and True charm pack by  Nancy Halvorsen is number 108, Sharon of Camp Gramma   She said,  "Both blocks are beautiful! and that is a great little charm pack...hope it finds my house :) 

My handsome assistant Retired Guy chose the lucky number.

It's been miserably hot here for the last week.  I can't bring myself to iron the fabrics I need for my  projects.  I did manage to sew some blocks with strips that were already cut..  The quilt requires 110 blocks.  I only need to make 13 more.

I was also able to make some HST to use for the Round Robin I am in.  I'm not sure if I like them with the block, but I'll make my decision once they are all made.

It's raining now, so hopefully that will help to cool it down a bit and I can cut my charms. for Melissa's  Tetris Quilt Along at Happy Quilting

Taking Inventory

In April, I was inspired by Rhonda over at Quilter in the Gap to pick some unfinished  projects and bring them to completion during the second quarter of the year.  It's July, the three months are up and I have to admit, I did not finish even one of the projects.  I don't feel guilty or embarrassed.  For the most part, I just found myself busy with other projects.

I'm going to give it another try this quarter and have found a few projects to target.

 Most of these blocks were leftover from a quilt top I made earlier in the year.  Hopefully, when I finish this top, I will quilt the both of them and send them on their way.

 I finished the center for the Faded Charms quilt from Wedding Dress Blue.  These are the rest of the charm strips that I pieced as leaders and enders.  It's a great quilt so I'm eager to put it together.

This block is part of a Round Robin from the Sunshine Quilter's blog.  Kathy Thompson sent it to me.  I'm struggling with the math for the border I planned to use.  The block is 17.5 inches square.  It has a deadline, so I hope to put my border on and get it in the mail next week.

More leftover blocks from a quilt I made for Sarah's Hands 2 Help Challenge last year.  I have the strips already cut for the rest of the blocks and plan to finish it to send to Sarah's NOLA project for children affected by Hurricane Katrina.  It's hard to believe there are still people suffering from the aftermath of that terrible tragedy.

 I love this quilt and placed it on my list last quarter.  I did add 3 more rows and the top is finished (this picture was taken when it was in progress).  This is also slated for the NOLA project so it needs to be quilted and sent on its way.

I'm going to link up over at Quilter In The Gap's Third Quarter Challenge.  Hopefully, these 5 projects will be finished before the summer is over.

Welcome Red, White and Blue Blog Hoppers

Happy 4th of July and welcome to all Red, White  and Blue Blog Hoppers.  My apologies to everyone for posting so late.  My plans to post last night after dinner went awry when we found out our phone service was out and of course our internet was out with it.  Our good friends at Verizon informed us that we will have our service back by July 11th.  Ugh!!!  I've eagerly visited all of the participating blogs this week and am really excited about hosting the hop here on my blog.  I didn't want to miss my big day so I drove 35 minutes to use the WiFi at Panera Breads in Brookfield, CT.

I have two 12.5 inch blocks that I designed to share as well as  a giveaway.  The first block is a stylized flag using twenty seven 2.5 inch HST (finishing at 2 inches) and a 6.5 inch blue square with   rough edge machine applique wonky stars.

The second block is hand appliqued and was made using Darlene Zimmerman's Easy Dresden ruler.  I used a 4 inch strip for the blue blades, the red is made with 2.5 inch strips and the white blades are cut from 1.5 inch strips.  The center star is also hand appliqued.  I plan on making 3 more blocks varying the color placement to turn it into a table runner.

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway for a Tried and True charm pack by  Nancy Halvorsen for  Benartex.  It's a great pack and contains 55 charms.

Don't forget to visit the other bloggers featuring special posts today.  Please click the blog hop button on my sidebar for links to bloggers who posted earlier this week.

Quilter in the Closet
The Recipe Bunny
A Reformed Heath'n
Jane's Fabrics
Kris Loves Fabric

Thanks to Madame Samm and Jane for organizing a fun blog hop and to Panera Breads who bailed me out with their free WiFi (even if it is so slow it took over 2 hours just to load this post.

Happy 4th  of July!!