Sunday, September 19, 2021

A Couple More Blocks for My Retro 'Eighties Building Blocks Sampler

Good morning, my lovelies!  I have been "SEW" busy lately that I'm starting to accumulate a backlog of things I wanted to share here on my blog.  Today I'll show you the last two 10" blocks I made for my Retro 'Eighties Building Blocks sampler (adapted from the 2014 Moda Modern Building Blocks QAL).  Here's what the design wall is looking like these days:

All of the 10 inch Blocks Are Completed!

This project would be a finished quilt top by now if I was able to work on it consistently, but I've been more focused on customers' quilts lately.  I've also been responsible for more church music over the past few weeks, now that Church Council has decided we have to wear masks while we're singing and a lot of our singers are staying away because of health concerns etc.  So, those are my excuses for only having TWO new blocks to share since the last time I posted about this project!

Block 18

Both of these blocks finish at 10" and use Kona Solids in Lipstick, Snow and Black.


The Plus block was even ruler-friendly measurements for rotary cutting, unlike most of the blocks in this project.  Woo-hoo!

Block 13

...And here it is, in situ:

10 inch Plus Block Finished and Added to the Design Wall

I'm following the advice in the MMBB instructions to start by making the largest blocks and work my way down to the smallest ones, and these two were the last of the 10 inch blocks.  Milestone reached!  All of the remaining blocks for this quilt will finish at 5", like this one I have to share today that I swapped out for Block #33 in the original Moda Modern Building Blocks sampler pattern:

5 inch Bachelor's Buttons Block Swapped Out for MMBB Block #33

Isn't that little block adorable?  The pale lavender background is Kona Solid in Orchid and the orange circles are Kona Solid in Tangerine.  It just makes me happy!  This block pattern comes from the historic Civil War quilt made by Jane Sickle (the so-called "Dear Jane Quilt").  It's a simple applique block with just four circles, known as Bachelor Buttons, and it looks so modern to me despite coming from a 1863 museum quilt.  The blocks in the original Jane Sickle quilt are 4" but it was simple enough to print a 5" version of the block with my EQ8 software.  I used Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circle templates to preturn the edges of my circles, Roxanne's Glue Baste It to position the circles onto my block background, and hand stitched needle turn appliqué for this one.

Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circle Templates for Applique

My Tuesday To-Do List item for the upcoming week is the same thing it was last week, since it didn't get done!  I need to trim my pineapple log cabin quilt and make a label for it so I can get it bound and on my bed!

That's all I have for you for today.  Have a wonderful week!  I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:

SUNDAY

Frédérique at Quilting Patchwork Appliqué

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts

MONDAY

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts  

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

BOMs Away at What a Hoot Quilts

TUESDAY

To-Do Tuesday at Texas Quilt Gal

WEDNESDAY

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

17 comments:

Quilter Kathy said...

I really like those circle templates. I haven't had a use for them lately, but they are lots of fun. maybe I should start a new project so I can play with them!

Jenny K. Lyon said...

Singing with masks???

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I've got those circles too - so many sizes to choose from. Your quilt is coming along nicely. yes in this day and age of virus I imagine it could spread without a mask while singing but make it difficult to do at the same time.

The Joyful Quilter said...

You are in the home stretch, Rebecca! Best of luck with the 5" blocks.

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Your newest addition blocks are the perfect additions to your top. Doesn't it feel great to be on the downside of block production? Who knew that we would still be in COVID protocols March 2020? Hang in there. It's really all we can do!

Sandy said...

This quilt will have such a story to tell when it's finished! Between redrafting, COVID, and waiting for your new longarm, it's seen more than many quilts ever do while "under construction". :)

Karin said...

Love the colours and your piecing looks superb

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Very pretty new blocks! Bravo Rebecca pour ces jolis blocs, et celui avec les appliqués va être superbe aussi. Ces cercles semblent bien pratiques !
Thank you for sharing and linking up with Patchwork & Quilts ;)

Linda said...

Your design wall looks like a beautiful painting! That little orchid with orange circles block is really adorable. Don't you love Kona color names!
Thank you for linking up to To Do Tuesday!

chrisknits said...

Hey, life happens! But the blocks are perfect, so you are getting it done.

thatfabricfeeling.wordpress.com said...

I love those gorgeous colors all together. Little by little is how some projects get done. It's such a shame when life gets in the way of our creating!1 LOL There is just something about solid color fabrics when they're all together! Thanks so much for sharing.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Loving all these blocks, they are so bold in those bright solids.

Susan said...

You're retro quilt is taking shape very nicely - love all that color!

O'Quilts said...

OMG OMG, My shattered heart and numb brain....80's is now "Retro"??
My place in this world keeps on shifting!! PS Of course I love the blocks..xo

Vivian said...

You need no excuses, the work progresses when the time allows! Whenever you update us it's another "oohh, ahhh!" moment for us. And look at you adding some Stickle DJ to the mix! I love Karen's circle templates, they really do make turned circles easy to do.

Preeti said...

Your piecing is perfect Rebecca. Love all the straight lines and sharp corners, not to mention the riot of colors!!!

dq said...

Your quilt is progressing along so nicely!!!