Snailing Along

Shakespeare in the Park calls for 20 Snail blocks - so here is my progress so far, step by step... Don't just sit down and start chain sewing those little squares because you only need 40 light and 40 dark to make the 20 blocks and you cut 136 light and 136 dark... this is a little lesson I learned the first time around. These guys are so little and the placement is so obvious that I don't bother to pin. Here are my little 4 patches -aren't they cute?











Next up are the dark side triangles, followed by the light side triangles. Here it is VERY IMPORTANT that you pay attention to the dark triangle placement - I put all my blocks with a little dark square in the top left corner and then put a dark triangle on top of that. Once you have the 1st one done, the other 3 are obvious. But - pay attention to the placement of the 1st dark triangle on EACH round (there are 3 more rounds, each round getting bigger and bigger as you go). I like to center each triangle by lining it up on a center seam - see?












First round all done - just have to trim the little triangles off. I pinned all the white triangles down while Little Boy was coloring at the table and we were talking about colors and shapes and practicing our counting. I like leaving off on a project where it needs to be pinned because I will often pin while he colors - this way we both are sitting at the table and can chat. And - see where I left off - right back at the trimming and pinning stage so I will be all ready for round 2 tomorrow.














And - just to prove that I haven't been glued to the sewing machine... a photo of us on a suspension bridge... out enjoying the nice weather - look, I am not even wearing gloves! Little Boy is absolutely happiest if he gets lots of outdoor time! And, doesn't the fresh air always make kids sleep? Last night was the 1st night he slept through the night since our arrival so I think I am seeing the end of jet lag - phew!