Sentimental Stitches

Just Takes 2â„¢ Schoolhouse Quilt – Block 8

by Gay on 7:41 am in Block of the Month, Free Patterns, Just Takes 2, Patchwork Quilts, Site Updates, Uncategorized

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It's been a crazy busy week for me. I've been to Grand Rapids and celebrated my 35th wedding anniversary, my husband's birthday and Mother's Day. I hate admit how far I am behind with work. I need to catch up the Midget Blocks and fill orders. I did take a few minutes and get the last Sally Post Floral Sampler block posted. I'll leave those blocks up for a couple of weeks yet so get yours before June 1st.

Here's a look at the car just before I left yesterday. It was packed to the roof with fabric, fabric and more fabric! There were a few clothes in there but it was mostly quilting things for summer work and fun!

The minute I open one of the passenger doors Clutch and Zoe jump in and refuse to get out. They'll sit there as long as it takes for me to load the back. I guess they want to make sure they don't get left behind. We had a nice drive and everything is unloaded. It's not all put away but that can be part of today's project. SPOILER ALERT: The quilt in the basket in front of Clutch is one of the 1930s Wurzburg kit quilts. Believe it or not I'm going to use it a jumping off point for a lap quilt using some of the Kaffe Fassett fabric I packed!

Block 8

Brenda took special time out of her caregiver schedule to put together today's pattern for you. There's not much time for stitching right now. She spends most of her day with her husband at the nursing home. She said it's our prayers that are getting her through all this so please join me in lifting her up with a special prayer.
Today's block is an easy paper pieced block. I don't think we've done any paper piecing yet so I think you'll really enjoy it.

If you've missed any of this year's blocks you can get them in the online store - HERE. The blocks for last year's quilt are on THIS PAGE. I've seen some beautiful quilts made from the Just Takes 2 designs! I hope you find time to take a stitch or two today. If we can do just a little bit each day we'll have a quilt made before we know it.

Just Takes 2â„¢ Schoolhouse Quilt
Block 8 - Click here

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Just Takes 2â„¢ Schoolhouse Quilt – Block 7

by Gay on 8:38 am in Block of the Month, Free Patterns, Just Takes 2, News, Patchwork Quilts, Site Updates, Uncategorized

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Woohoo!! The first post for 2013 from the cottage! I can hardly believe we're here. Last year the weather warmed up very early and we arrived sooner than usual.
This year the weather was colder than usual and if it weren't for being called in for jury duty we'd still be in Grand Rapids.
The driveway looks pretty bare.

There's snow is several places around the private drive but we're lucky ours is gone.

There just isn't much going on anywhere you look.

One thing there's lots of is water! It's the highest I've ever seen it.

Today is also a Just Takes 2 day and there's a new block to add to a schoolhouse. You'll have this one sewn together in no time at all. A few little four patch units and some half square triangles and you'll be done.

This is Block 7 in the quilt and Brenda said it's called Prairie Queen.

Can you see those simple little units?

There's a couple of sweethearts watching over my shoulder as I work on this. They're waiting to get out and enjoy the sunshine. It's going to be almost 80 degrees today. That ought to melt the last of the snow. Since our jury duty was canceled I think we're going to get out there and soak it in. I can clean on a rainy day!

It's May Day today too. To celebrate if you use the discount code MAYDAY during checkout in the Online Store you'll get 25% off any of the digital patterns. If you've missed some of the schoolhouse blocks or want to start on last year's quilt this is the time. Maybe there's another pattern you've wanted to add to your collection. Go ahead and celebrate May Day!

Speaking of last year's quilt, if you haven't seen Barbara Black's version and the beautiful quilting being done by Joyful Quilter, you need to take a minute and check it out! It's wonderful for Brenda and I to see our design translated to cloth in such a beautiful way. Nice job ladies!

Just Takes 2â„¢ Schoolhouse Quilt
Block 7 - Click here

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Just Takes 2â„¢ Schoolhouse Quilt – Block 6

by Gay on 9:36 am in Block of the Month, Free Patterns, Just Takes 2, News, Patchwork Quilts, Site Updates, Tutorials, Uncategorized

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I'm having a hard time today getting myself back into the swing of everyday life. It was such a wonderful week in Shipshewana. The laughter, great food and time spent with dear friends will have to carry us through until the next retreat in November. I have quite a few treasures and my sewing things to put away but it's a Just Takes 2 day. Brenda is moving her husband to a residential care home today so I'm posting her Just Takes 2 block again. I know you all can understand how difficult that must be and won't mind the change again. Teaching trips to Empty Spools Seminar in California and the Dear Jane Expo in Nantes, France also were canceled because of the challenges they're facing but family comes first and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Block 6The block you'll be making is the cute little Ohio Star. There's a quick way to make the quarter square triangles that are the main part of the block. Here's what you need to do.

You'll start with squares of the three fabrics used in the block. You'll get two quarter square triangle units from the two red, one white and one red print fabric shown. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the red solid squares.

Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line on both sides of it. Cut on the drawn line to get the half square triangles we'll use in the next step.

Press the seam allowance toward the red solid fabric.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the red and white half square triangles. Match them with the red solid and red print ones. You'll see how the seams just nestle together for a perfect match.