Tetris QAL Week 5

Ok, so I know I've only been posting about the Tetris QAL... and yes today is just another post about the same thing. But I'll post something new soon, promise!

I'm linking up to Week 5 at Happy Quilting

Tetris QAL Week 4

Just a quick post to show you my block for week 4...

Tetris QAL Week 3

Third post of the day, and now I'm caught up to the QAL at Happy Quilting!

I took some photos of my grid, but they didn't turn out very well, so they got trashed.

 Here's the pre-sewn block. I added some more background fabric and didn't use all the pieces for the week because I want to make the game a losing one. Plus I'm not sure I bought enough of the fabric for the colored charms. I knew I would end up using more black than any other color, but I maybe should have done some math rather than just guessing how much less I'd need. Oh well, I guess we'll see what the blocks for week 5 and 6 look like! Worst case scenario I head back to the store.

Here's the finished block

And the quilt so far! 3 of 6 blocks done!

I'm linking up to Week 3 of Happy Quilting's Tetris QAL

Tetris QAL Week 2

 Here's my grid for week 2. I ended up switching the pink and orange L shaped pieces because I didn't want two Tetris pieces of the same color next to each other.

And the finished block. Half-way through piecing this my machine started acting funny, so I took it all apart, cleaned and oiled it. I was pretty annoyed at the time, but my machine ran a lot better afterward so I guess it was worth it : )

2 down 4 to go!

I'm linking to Week 2 of Happy Quilting's Tetris QAL

Tetris QAL Week 1

I know I haven't posted in awhile, so you get three posts today to make up for it! Yay! 

I joined my first QAL, which happens to be a Tetris Quilt-along over at Happy Quilting.  Great timing because I had recently promised a friend I'd make him a Tetris quilt. I'm a couple weeks behind on this post, but by the end of my 3 posts today I'll be caught up with the QAL again. 

 Here are my 5" charms

 And laid out so you can see the colors I chose. I was being kinda picky about the black fabric so it took me awhile to find decide what I wanted. For good reason though, my plan is to make the game a losing game, so there's going to be more black than the other colors. I also tried to find black that had some grey swirled in it so it looks like an old static-y TV

 Here's the grid I used for week 1 (and week 2, but ignore that 'cause we're not talking about week 2 yet :) )  After I filled in the grid, and then looked at Melissa's week 1 block, I realized they were exactly the same! OOPS! I guess we have the same strategies when playing Tetris! I thought about changing it, but decided not to. I figured since I didn't even look at her finished block before I made mine, and there were bound to be some duplicate blocks in the QAL it wouldn't be too big a deal.

 All the pieces stuck up on my design wall. I love how convenient it is! (I know I've been using it long enough I shouldn't still be excited about it, but I can't help it, I am!)

And my finished block! 1 down 5 to go!

I'm linking up to Week 1 of the Tetris QAL

WIP - Rag Quilt

A couple years ago when I was visiting at home my mom gave me the fabric and showed me how to make a rag quilt.  I got all the blocks cut, stacked and about half quilted during that visit. I brought them back home and they sat in my closet til last winter when I pulled them out and finished quilting the blocks. I laid them all out on the floor but never quite got to piecing them, and eventually had to pick them back up to get them out of the way. I'm finally working on it again though! I have all the pieces up on my design wall, and I have a few of the squares sewn together so far. After that all I have to do is cut and wash it!

Here's a closeup of two of the blocks....

And the reverse side

This quilt is so thick, warm and soft, it'll be great to have for next winter!

I'm linking up to WIP Wednesdays at Freshly Pieced

Thread Holder

This thread holder has been on my to-do list for awhile. The inspiration for it came from a blog post I saw awhile, but I can't find it anymore  :(  The blogger used a picture frame, replaced the glass with a piece of wood and mod-podged some pretty scrapbook paper over it. She then put in some nails like I did to hold the spools. If anyone knows the post I'm talking about let me know so I can update this post! 

While I was searching I found a couple that were similar to the original one I saw, but that used dowel sticks drilled into the wood instead of nails. Dowel rods might have been a good idea for me 'cause as you can see from all the crooked nails my hammering skills need some work haha

My intent was to use a frame like the original blogger did, but I didn't like the ones I found at the thrift store. I decided I'd have to get a piece of wood anyway, so why not just skip the frame all together? I used some scrap wood I had around the house, painted it green and put in some nails. Easy Peasy!

I'm linking up to Tea Rose Home's Link Party