Spots Before Your Eyes - April 2014 NYC Metro MQG Block Lotto

The NYC Metro Mod Guild Guild Block Lotto for our next meeting on 5 April is 9 patch polka dot blocks.  (Not sure how to piece and press 9 patches?  Read my easy tutorial here.)

So the idea is that you make as many blocks as you like and take them along to the meeting.  Each block you hand in gives you one entry in the raffle and the raffle winner wins all the blocks brought along by guild members.

I've used the 7 polka dot fabrics that I picked up on my trip to Britex in San Francisco two weeks ago and added a purple that I used in my Sparkle Plenty Quilt and a pink from my Drunkard's Path Quilt.

Blocks can be straight or wonky but have to have 9 polka dot patches and measure 9.5" square unfinished - with a quick bit of maths that's 9 x 3.5" squares.

And there it is ...

Does it look like a lucky Polka Dot block?

I hope so!  I'd love to win that raffle!!!

If you're interested in seeing the Show & Tell from our February NYC Metro Mod Guild meeting here's the link.  You might want to nip over just to take a look at my Show & Tell - a quilt I made for Simon for Christmas but haven't got around to photographing and blogging about yet.  It's a pleated quilt and I was dreading ever having to wash it because I really didn't want to ever have to iron it - but Watson, our new Havanese pup, vomited on it last week and by the time I got home from work Simon had washed and tumbled it absolutely bone dry.  I'm not sure it'll ever be quite the same again and not a photo to show for it :(  I'm going to give it another wash and try ironing it when it's still pretty damp, that's the plan but life keeps being too busy and getting in the way, I'm sure you know how it is!

Can't help loving Watson though, he's such a cutie!!!  Haven't shared too many pics so here's a few and some of Tatty too.

Love them so much I think I can just about let them off a bit of vomit on a quilt.

What about you, do you have vomit stories (or worse!) about your quilts?  Did you love the culprit enough to forgive them too?!!!

And you can click this link to see all of my NYC Mod Quilt Guild Bee Blocks and Challenge Blocks/Quilts.

 

 

Connecting The Dots - My August 2013 NYC Metro Mod Bee Block

Time for my August Bee Block for my NYC Metro Mod Guild Bee.  Observant readers may be wondering what happened to July's block, well Queen Bee Emily sent out the August blocks very early giving us the whole summer to make the block and I really liked this block so I'm making it up early and before my July block.

The block is appropriately the August: Polka Dot Block from The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party book -and here're the fabrics that Emily included in the package.  Emily asked for a minimum of 5 circles and we could use any of the colours sent or use our own fabric - her only stipulation being that it should be a solid - and we could use any applique method, thread colour and stitch to attach the blocks.

 I used one of each size of circle template from my Bigger Perfect Circles set by Karen Kay Buckley - 10 circles in total

And here's the colours I choose to use from those that Emily sent

I randomly placed a circle on each piece of coloured fabric rather than 'choosing' which colours should be which size.

I decided to use a raw edge applique method and I drew around each circle template on Steam-A-Seam 2 double sided fusible.

Here's the fusible cut out and ironed onto the fabric - right up to the corners so I can save as much of that gorgeous Michael Miller Couture Solid for scrap as possible!

All the circles are cut out and look at all that lovely scrap!

I knew that I wanted to create a block with a huge amount of negative space visible (the background grey) so I decided to position the circles mainly along one side of the block.  The trimmed, finished block is large measuring 17" x 21".  I wanted the circles to be random rather than placed so I removed the Steam-A-Seam 2 backing paper and gently threw them onto the grey background fabric and left them where they landed.  Unbelievably I really liked where most of them landed - I only rethrew two of the circles to achieve a better look.

Once in place and ironed I sewed the circles into place using a turquoise thread and zig-zag stitch.

I know I say this pretty much every month but this block really appeals to me - I think the finished quilt is going to look amazing and it's one I wouldn't mind owning myself - now I don't say that every month!!!

As always you can also check out all the blocks that our Bee make for Emily on my Quilty - Polka Dot Block Pinterest Board - I'll add more pins as each person in the Bee posts photos of their finished blocks and you can see my NYC Mod Guild Post here too.

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