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Blockheads ~ Block 21

Blockheads ~ Block 21

Written by: 
cnelson

We're more than one-third of the way through... gaining on one-half.  That's 10/24ths?  5/12ths!

It's hot here so yes, it's easy to get a little "loopy".

It's Jo's turn with the Blockheads today - and Jo loves Flying Geese!  She used to make them the very old-fashioned way, then the no-waste method.  Rumor has it that she's become a Bloc-Loc Flying Geese Ruler girl... but more about that some other time.

That's Flying Geese Variation a la Fig Tree & Co. - Farmhouse style.  I may have played with the color placement a bit - and I think I need to re-do that one side.  Later, right?

This is Tammy's block -

The fabrics are Bramblewood by Betsy Chutchian for the light print, Little Gatherings II by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings for the dark and Hazel & Plum by Fig Tree for the background.

After really liking how the little bit of red looked in the flag block a few weeks ago, I've decided to start adding a little bit of color to a few of the blue Reproduction blocks.  This block includes fabrics from Snowberry by 3 Sisters, Rachel Remembered by Betsy Chutchian and Independence Trail by Minick & Simpson.

CLICK HERE for the link to Jo's blog.

And since the link to the block is missing/not working, here is the link to the - Block 21 - Flying Geese Variation

Because I'm going to need a few extra blocks for my setting and I love flying geese, I made a variation of Jo's variation that includes half-triangle squares in the corners.

This block includes fabrics from Snowberry by 3 Sisters, Alice's Scrapbag by Barbara Brackman and Miss Scarlet by Minick & Simpson.

And...

Oops!  I think a little un-stitching will be required for this block.  As for the prints, they're from Farmhouse by Fig Tree & Co. and one of my favorite backgrounds, the circle dot from the upcoming Ann's Arbor by Minick & Simpson.

I also have to share this block with you - it's by David Schulz, a lovely gentleman and quilter from Australia.  (I know - men quilt!  Who knew?!?)

The parts and pieces are the same, the lights and darks in the geese have just been reversed, and the center is a plain square.  The fabrics are from Ann's Arbor by Minick & Simpson - isn't this collection gorgeous?

Question of the Week ~ Do you put labels on your quilts?  

I do!  I've been pretty faithful about putting labels on my quilts for more than fifteen years.  I started putting labels on my quilts when I was asked to teach in a shop where the owner was passionate about quilt history, documentation and labels on quilts.  As the founder of the Arizona Quilt Guild and the driving force behind an Arizona quilt documentation program, Laurene Sinema of The Quilted Apple believed that every quilt needed a label.  So I started putting labels on my quilts.

But... I have to tell you, sewing a little 3" x 6" rectangle on the back of my quilt didn't hold much appeal.  That seemed like a whole lot of work... so I went with something easier, faster and more "me".

I piece a panel using leftover blocks, parts and blank squares or rectangles, and it is pieced into the quilt backing.  My quilt labels also include a quotation - a long-time favorite or something I've recently run across.  The quotes are from literature and poetry, great speeches or the comics - one of my favorites is by Charlie Brown.  (Sometimes I lie awake at night and ask myself "where have I gone wrong?"  Then a voice says to me "...this is going to take more than one night.")

If I'm short on time or don't have many leftover pieces, I will machine-stitch on a square or rectangle for the label.  My "information" always includes the name I've given my quilt, my name - and whether it was for Miss Rosie's, the name of the quilter and the year.  Some labels include the city and state - it depends on how much room I have.  If I have leftover blocks, I turn the edges under 1/4" and machine-stitch those to the backing too.

Labels are always attached to the backing before quilting so that it becomes part of the quilt.  I used to have all my quilts appraised when they were doing more traveling - with or without me.  The appraiser was a passionate advocate for labeling quilts and she told me that having the label quilted into the quilt made it more permanent, and should a quilt ever be "borrowed without permission"... it would ruin the quilt to remove the label.  It also made my quilts "unique to me"... whatever that meant.

So yes, I put labels on my quilts.  And so should you!

Just in case you missed it - CLICK HERE for the link to Jo's Block 21 - Flying Geese Variation.

That's it for today, July 26.  Be sure to visit Lisa, Lynne, Betsy and Jan to see their blocks and what other good things they might have made:

Then head over to see the blocks being posted to #modablockheads on Instagram and Facebook. If you're not already a member, you can also join the fun in the Moda Blockheads Facebook group.  It's a busy group with folks sharing tips, suggestions and support.

Happy Blockhead Wednesday!

See you in August!?

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