Mommy brain strikes again, and again, and again - Building Blocks Tuesday

I've got another x plus block to share today.  This one is for Audrey in the Make it Modern Bee.

Hmm, something just isn't right.  I followed the same instructions from last time, but I didn't look at the diagram I drew.  Brilliant.  Although, I suppose if you were making a quilt all by yourself with just 3 fabrics, this wouldn't be a bad layout.  A few unpicked seams later and it looks much better, for Audrey.

Mommy brain struck again (something that has been increasing in frequency lately, I might add)!


So what have you been working on this week?  I want to know!

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading!


Jen

Inspirational Sunday (14) - via the 2013 Road to California Quilt Show

Today's quilts are "innovative" in some way.

The first quilt started with a challenge fabric that was Oriental looking.  It is called Grandma's Stellar Array by Ann L. Petersen of Surprise, AZ.  She only used the green areas [of the challenge fabric] and added a mix of Civil War reproduction and fabrics that looked like that era to make a traditional quilt.  She says, "This was very far out of my comfort zone, but lots of fun."

I found it to be a pretty innovative use of fabric all around.  That cheddar in the center gives it so much texture, I thought she quilted the design.  And those tiny little star pieces are amazing, then you throw in the appliqued vines.  It's a pretty cool little quilt!

This next quilt is called "Determined to Use Those Scraps" by Claire Victor of Palm Springs, CA.  This quilt was started with scraps left over from another projects.  She was determined to use them all and only use other scraps and fabric from her stash.

I really love the color (even the orange!), and I wish I could be as determined to use my scraps to make a show-worthy piece like this!

It seems no show is complete without a quilt made from unusual materials.  This one is called "YoYo 11" by Helen Remick and was part of the Reflections on Changing Technology exhibit.  She says, "As one technology replaces another, some things are preserved, others lost.  CD's in yoyos hold manuscripts, family history, rituals, and vacations."

Talk about reuse/recycle!  There was also a collage on the back made from some of the images on the CD's, but darn it if I didn't get a picture of that!

Have you been innovative in some quilty way recently?  Tell us about it.

Next week, we wrap up this show with some embroidered quilts.

Thanks for reading today.  I hope you are inspired.

Jen

At the water's edge - Blogger's Quilt Festival

It's a wonderful time of year - time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side.  I remember reading through my first BQF shortly after I found blogland.  It was amazingly inspirational!   I've gotten so many good ideas and found new patterns to add to my bucket list, etc.  I look forward to seeing what everyone has to show this time too.

I would like you to consider my Blue and White One Block Wonder for this go-round of the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

Yes, I posted about this quilt when I finished it in February, but for those of you joining me just for the festival, let me tell you a bit about it.

Believe it or not, this quilt is actually made with one fabric - well, one fabric with a tiny little bit of white solid for that little border.  The technique is found in the book, One Block Wonders Encore by Maxine Rosenthal.  I finally finished the quilting in February, a simple stipple on the center portion and a rope type design in the outer border.  The pattern of the top is elaborate enough, so I kept the quilting simple.

As much as I love how this quilt turned out, when I first pulled out the top from the box it had been languishing in (aka the UFO box), I decided I was going to donate the finished quilt to Happy Chemo.  Happy Chemo is an organization, that among other things, donates quilts to those going through chemotherapy.  Most of the time, when I make up my mind to do something, I do it.  I admit, however, that I considered keeping this quilt more than a few times once I saw how nicely it turned out!  What can I say, I am selfish.  But, it was needed by someone else.  Emily at Em's Scrapbag  (who collects the quilts for Happy Chemo) once said that she needed more masculine friendly quilts, so I sent her this one, and I know that it is making someone feel better during his/her treatments.

Quilt Stats:

Size: I forgot to measure it before I put it in the shipping box!  It is roughly 68 x 76.
Special Techniques: it is a Stack n' Whack technique outlined in both One-Block-Wonders Encore by Maxine Rosenthal and Joy Pelzmann and Stack-n-Whackipedia by Bethany S. Reynolds.
Quilted by:  Me!  on my Janome Horizon (machine quilted)
Best Category: 2 Color Quilts

Thank you for considering my quilt,  now go see what other quilty inspiration there is at the festival this year!

Jen