Collecting Blocks...

 I'm still writing my pattern, so I can't show it to you quite yet. Instead,

I thought you might like to see the Block of the Month that I joined in January

 at Jennifer Bosworth's Shabby Fabrics shop. As you can see none of them

have been opened yet, because I have quilts to finish by winter before I can

 add another project to my "active list". These are the first six months' blocks.

 Each kit comes with all the fabric required to do the block, and the first

pattern also came with the thread (Sulky #12 - black) to do the stitcheries.

 In addition to the areas that are stitched, each block also has a colored applique'

that is a sweet added touch. I don't intend to make them as separate mini quilts.

Rather, my plan is to make it into one complete quilt when I'm finished stitching

all the individual blocks. I just think it will get more use for me as a whole quilt.

 I checked Jenn's site and couldn't find the BOM available any more, but if

you're interested in getting the patterns for yourself, they're designed by 

Kathy Schmitz and are available from her website: here. Although the patterns

 don't include the fabrics, each one does include the little fabric applique'.

For now, I'll keep collecting the rest of the monthly patterns, and stay focused 

on my current "To Do" list, but just as soon as I'm caught up...

My pattern project awaits me in the studio. I'm really going to try to have

it finished by the end of the day today. Wish me luck (and stamina), girlfriends!

Wooly Critters...

 Last year our Coffee Club created all of our own blocks of the month.

You saw each one as I finished it, and they were all mini quilts that hung
on a small tabletop rack. I got a chance to try new techniques or fine tune
some of the things I'd learned earlier. I recently gifted all of them to my dear
Vermont girlfriend, Denise so she could have and enjoy them at her house.

 For 2013, I suggested the Shabby Fabrics Country Cottages blocks of

the month (you can click the link on my left sidebar to download them).

We all agreed that they would be fun to do, and everyone else has 

completed January through May - while I finished steering the guild 

quilt project. I'm bummed that I haven't sewn a single block for this year!

 We're already thinking ahead to 2014 and what we wanted to do for next
year's Coffee Club project - and this is the pattern we settled on...

The "Wooly Critter Sampler" by Brandywine Designs.

 We have a choice of stitching in wools or cottons; machine or hand

applique' and I'm really happy that we will sew these all together into a

finished quilt. Kathy and Nora purchased all the patterns for us and let

us have them ahead of time - as long as we promised not to start on any of

 them prior to December so we could finish Block One on time in January.

 Although I didn't divide these in order to photograph, we will sew them
from one through twelve. I had to show you my three favorite blocks in
this picture...The Owl, The Crow and...ta daaa, The Squirrel and acorns!

A promise is a promise, so I won't cheat and start early.

I always keep my word. Friends and family can count on it.

But, as soon as December rolls around...

If you're interested in joining me for this block of the month in

2014, let me know. I can pre-order patterns if you want to play along.