Finding our own way with Stars For A New Day

[Cheryl K.]

P.P.S. Kmouse, why don't you just go ahead and cut those neat strips from your fabric. Whatever you don't use, put the leftover strip pieces in a shoebox.

Then go to Bonnie Hunter's site quiltville.com , and find a fun, easy pattern to use up all those strips!

Leafy, you read my mind, at least about cutting the strips from my pile of fabrics. While I was sorting and semi-organizing, I did that. In my enono-mood, I washed and saved the plastic containers from the gourmet salad lettuces. The salad is expensive but the containers are free, see through so I can see my fabric and project-sized. If they break, there is another one coming soon.

The suggestion for Bonnie Hunter's site was a new one. THANKS!!

[Marion D.]

I love this quilt pattern, and I love the colors I chose, so I don't regret it at all! I may when I put together my redesign, because I'm putting the star and four patch on point.

My blocks don't lie flat either, but I figure that they will when they are sewn together. So I let them misbehave for now. I have had success in the past by ironing them on a towel. However, it too is misbehaving -- can't find it in the pile of projects that I promised myself I would do!

[Cheryl K.]

Wow! I saw your BOM setting and love it. I think there is another one in the show & tell also done this way and it IS IMPRESSIVE. I don't know how you will make it all work later on but I am sure you will find a way.

You really ARE "finding your own way" with this BOM!

PS I saw your profile and love the Strip Sampler Quilt. That setting is a new concept for me and it is really a great way to do a sampler quilt.

Kim

[Lynn K.]

Well, don't know if you have noticed my absence on this board in the 2009 BOM topics, but I decided to put it on "hold" and get several other projects DONE! I have completed 2 or 3 tops that are now hanging with my "to be quilted" tops - and am now getting ready to get out the BOM again.

I have all my fabrics in 2 bins all sorted and folded, so should be good to go. I think I stopped with April.

I'm leaving Tuesday to spend 2 months in Georgia in an isolated house in the mountains - (my daughter's FOR SALE) so I'll be 'camping out' so to speak . and am taking my quilting, my watercolors, and my dog! I've got a good air mattress, plan to visit Good Will for a chair/table/dish or two. The power is on, the email is ready to turn on on the 22nd, the fridge is cooling as is the a/c. With a bed, coffee pot, and quilting, a lady can be happy for quite awhile, right? This may be my test as to whether I'm a hermit or an extrovert! ha

I'll visit my kids/g-kids in NC several times while there, but my plan is to get caught up on the BOM and watercolor and RELAX! That is if DH doesn't visit TOO often! ha

I'll be on-line every day, so see you here on the forum.
Lynn

PS: anybody near Clarksville, GA, we might have a cuppa coffee!

[Susan B.]

Lynn, sounds like you've found heaven. May that internet connection work well!

[Maureen P.]

I have chosen to do my BOM in reds. I have fallen behind due to outside influences, family illness and also having to do something else to support someone elses dream. Isn't that what life is all about though. I do intend to use some spare time later to catch up. I love the quilt and will finish it but may not be before 2010. I don't regret starting it at all

Maureen

[Frances L.]

well I feel like I didn't get anything done today on my BOM. I know that's not true, I was working for over an hour but it hasn't progressed. When I went upstairs, I had January done, the setting triangles sewn on, the first borders made and the pinwheels made. I was going to put on the first floater. I pressed one of the borders and measured it. Then I took the center. It's been on my design wall for months and every time I look at it I think it doesn't look right. Well I was going to press it and finally admitted that I didn't do a good job sewing on the triangles. So most of the work today was taking them off. So tomorrow I will sew them back on and hopefully there will be more progress.
Frances in Austin, waiting for the rain.

[Lynn K.]

Hi Frances, it sounds like Houston is going to get rain in abundance today/tomorrow. It's been a rainy week in Georgia.

Yes, I'm finding my own way now after this round.....I think I like it more when somebody else does the design. ha

Lynn

[Lynn K.]

LOL, I hadn't see this post until today. I didn't have time to read everything but I skimmed it all. Do I regret starting the BOM - absolutely not, but like someone above said I have given myself permission to be late finishing it. Do I regret thinking I could do two of them - no, because that is my other happy discovery. I thought I could do two at once, one for me and one for my mom. Well, the one for my mom stalled after the February boarder was done. I just did not have time to do it. My 2008 BOM also was stalled - I just did not have time to sit and hand needle turn anymore with all the stuff going on with Mikey.

Here a couple of weeks ago though, I revived the 2008 BOM - I have 7 blocks finished. Just for fun I put the unused 2009 center up on the wall and started putting my finished 2008 blocks around it. Low and behold they MATCHED!!! I had decided on both projects they would be stash busters and I had used many of the same fabrics in both. So now I only need to finish one more block of the 2008 BOM, I will use extra sawtooth stars to space things (I made 16 extra already from when I was planning 2 quilts) and add floaters to make things match up and voila! Instant finished quilt top that is really different from anything I have ever done. Goes to show it is always worth it to at least start something, because you never know when you can put a few starts together to complete a quick finish 8)

[Lynn K.]

Great story about creativity and having an open mind! I love that you made what you had work!

Lynn

[Lynn K.]

I think that it is great that everyone is trying new ways and doing different color combinations. it is inspiring.

I made the sawtooth stars using the "bikini" flying geese method and I have decided that this is my favorite way to make them - not the best way, the only way or the "right" way - just my favorite way (for now - until I stumble on a different way I may like).
I never would have found this way and tried it had it not been mentioned in one of the other posts. I like to try different ways to piece until I find the one that works for me.

that is what this is all about: sharing, learning, doing, creating. there is no right or wrong. this is a creative, fun process. the second someone says "I'm behind or I did it wrong" puts undue pressure on ourselves. don't let our creativity be squelched by anything or anyone, including ourselves - forget about the "quilt police" - we are all our own worst critics anyway.

I love looking at all the spectacular pictures of the BOMs and reading the posts for new information. Wonderful stuff!

THANK YOU everyone and Sue!

[Margo C.]

Photos, Mandy! We want photos!!

[Margo C.]

"bikini" flying geese method???

[Margo C.]

The November directions from Sue will include how to do the "bikini" method for flying geese!

Personally, I'm leaning toward the ruler demoed here:

http://www.kayewoodtv.com/ktv/?dlink...oan_Hawley.flv

[Jo H.]

"bikini" flying geese method???

Is this a 'real' method or are you girls being naughty! :lol: