Homework Blocks

Well, I went ahead and made more blocks to equal 15 and it looked a bit long and skinny.  So, I kept going and now there are 20 sampler blocks.  I suppose I could make more, but really - that red plaid is down to the very last dregs.  Once the sashing/borders are added, I am sure it will be just the right size!  This is as far as this project can go until I get back to where I left my 12.5" ruler to square up all the blocks before adding the sashing. 

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The red and green fabrics and a few of the other snips of fabric?  Scraps from my bars quilt which I made in 2006!  Plus I used 2 fabrics my sister sent to me this winter - I just love putting bits and pieces, adding memories to each quilt.  That is why I love scrap quilts so much!

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Most of my quilt in progress photos are taken on the floor and you get that angle when taking photos.  Well, today I took a photo of each individual block and created a Picasa collage - I think it came out pretty good... other than the fact that I cut off some of my points in the photos!

I tried to do some plainer blocks, but it wasn't long before I went right back to a zillion triangles or small pieces.  And stars are just my favorite.  But still, there seems to be a good amount of variety in these blocks so I am happy.

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I usually sketch out the block/cutting measurements/colors I want to use on a scrap of paper or in a little notebook and bring that over to my cutting mat when cutting fabrics.

And with triangles - well, sometimes you get those "bonus" triangles.  I sew those too... can't seem to help myself.  The little blocks my son usually takes for quilts for his Lego men!  Eventually these bits and pieces will find their way into a quilt of their own!

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It occured to me last night - my son has about 1 hour of homework per night.  While he does homework I have been sewing - on call for help if needed.  Seeing that he is in first grade... if I sew 1 hour every day he has homework - I sure would have a pile of quilts by the time he graduates!  So, I named this post Homework Blocks!  It is something to think about anyway.

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Of course, we are as busy as usual and there are a thousand and one things that I could blog about but like everyone else - I only have so many hours in the day and my computer time is up!

Slowly Making Blocks

I started making this set of blocks earlier in the winter and ended up tucking them away in the closet for another day.  I haven't felt like sewing much this winter... call it the aftershock of my husband having cancer, but once he came home from the hospital - sewing got pushed to the wayside.  Oh sure, I've made some clothes, my Disapearing Nine Patch in Feb., am teaching my friend to sew... but truthfully, I haven't had much interest.  It has taken me awhile to pinpoint exactly why I haven't been sewing much lately, but really, I do think that my husband being so ill is the cause.  Thankfully he is fine now, so it is time for me to pull it together and get back on daily talking terms with Mabel (she is my sewing machine).
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I started these blocks... probably in January.  I think January because right around the new year I joined the Friday Block Party (http://www.fridayblockparty.blogspot.com/) and did a few blocks.  Every Friday a new block is posted, you make the block, post a photo of it and share what you liked/didn't like about it.  It is actually a fun way to make a sampler because you don't end up spending hours agonizing about which block of the many 1000s of quilt blocks out there you want to make next.  Not all weeks have 12" blocks - there is variety in sizes so at this point I think I will just pick and choose the blocks I am going to make.  Some I made from the Friday group and others I just picked out to make... got up to 6 blocks and stopped.
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Well, this week I managed to make another 3 blocks from the Friday group and have a 4th one cut out.  I am aiming for 15 blocks for this particular quilt so 6 more are needed.  Sampler quilts are slow going - you can't just go cutting out an entire quilt in one session and then sit at your machine and chain piece away... but I am enjoying it.  The successful completion of each individual block seems like a big accomplishment (sewing wise) to me these days.  It is raining here today so no chance of going to the park - maybe I will get that other block I have all cut out done today... my son is happily occupied with his Legos so I guess I better get to it!
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One of my favorite blocks so far - a variation of Joseph's Delight, but really, I like them all.

He Has New Wheels

For the kids around here, a "Rollie" is a favorite mode of transportation, even more so than a bicycle, especially for the daily commute to school.  We are only a 20 minute walk away, but one of his friends is 40.  Just TRY telling a kid from the US to walk 40 minutes to school - I don't think it would go over really well!  One thing about having to walk to school though - the kids never have a snow day due to road conditions!

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He was rollerblading to school sometimes, but the Rollie is just so easy to hop on and go!  Except that means I have to walk 2X as fast to try to keep up with him.  Phew!  I wonder if they make a Momma sized Rollie, LOL.

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Anyway he tried out a friend's Rollie at the park one day and loved it (until he fell on his knees).  When he tried it out - he was wearing a helmet because the kids had traded Rollerblades/Rollie.  When we got him his own Rollie, we went to the park so he could practice and he wore knee pads.  Wobble, wobble, wobble - it takes a bit of getting used to.  And a helmet - but in this photo he was trying to get away with not wearing it.  Busted!  It wasn't long before he was ready to handle the busy sidewalks...

Fortunately, his friend has to wear a helmet too.  For awhile there I was a mean Momma for making him wear one - NO ONE else wears one to Rollie - biking yes, roller blading, yes - but not Rollie.  Well, then he had a gigantic crash, landed on his head, scratched his helmet, had a headache... he thinks the helmet is good to wear now. 

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Isn't it nice that as modern parents - the helmet we have to worry about is a bike helmet - not a helmet for battle.

Here he is in front of a display of children's armor - if you lower the display downward so the waist level matches his - you can see that these kids were about the same size as my son.  I imagine these helmets were way more uncomfortable than the cushy padded bike helmets of today too.  Whatever are our kids complaining about anyway?  Personally, I think there is no excuse not to be wearing a helmet.  That goes for children AND adults - we have to set the good example and protect our noggins too!