EAST MEETS WEST - BOM Asian-design Fabric

Okay, I will admit it...I am obsessed with Block of The Month projects.

 What a wonderful world we quilters live in! The blog hyperspace is filled with BOM projects. I have learned so much from participating.  Plus, I feel as though I am part of a bigger community while taking part each month. 

 In Las Vegas we have a number of quilt shops. I have my favorites, of course.  One of my favorites  is Quiltique in Henderson, NV.   I love that moment when I enter  Quiltique's shop.  It's like entering a fabric fantasyland.  At Quiltique I am currently part of a "block of the month" class. Each month, under certain specified requirements, each participant receives a new block pattern and fabric to create the new block.   For this project, I decided to choose from the asian-design fabrics.    Quiltique has a huge offering of colorful, gold-speckled asian-design fabrics.  What a delight to walk up and down the aisle to choose my fabrics!

 As of September 2012, block #6 has been completed and I will be take it to Quiltique on Saturday. The rule is, if you complete the prior month's block and present it,  the fabric is free for the next block. Each second Saturday of the month,  I happily head to Quiltique to receive my new block pattern and discover what sewing challenges this next block will bring.  The teacher discusses the new block construction and answers our questions.  We have coffee, donuts and share our latest quilting projects.    Then we literally race through the quilt store to pick our fabrics for the newest block pattern.  Usually additional purchases are made for our stashes--because you can never have enough pretty fabric.  

  Here are my six completed blocks:

This is my inspiration fabric

Beautiful, colorful fabric!

Can't wait to get my next block pattern.....and some more pretty fabric for my stash.  

Come back next month to see my latest block.  

PILLOW TALK

My motto:  You can never have enough pillows.  Or maybe I should say I cannot stop making pillows because I love making quilt blocks.   I peruse books, magazine, look at blogs, and search quilting websites to find new ideas for quilt blocks.  Once I find a interesting pattern, I dash to my sewing machine to try to replicate it.  But usually, I stop at one block which then becomes another pillow top.

Here is my newest addition to my pillow collection.

I found this block pattern on McCallsquilting.com, called "40 Shades of Green".   Instead of different shades of green,  I chose to use one of my charm packs with bright, primary colors.   Normally, I avoid appliqué,  because it's a stressful experience for me.  But  I enjoyed creating this block.  Maybe I will make another using just one color, as the original block pattern suggested.

What's one more pillow!

MY PAPER PIECING PROJECT

I love paper piecing.  Don't know why; I just do.   I love "Craftsy" and this is one of the projects from a course with Peggy Martin.

The Plan:  to make a throw-size quilt for a gift to a grandson who likes all things about stars, planets, airplanes, etc.  The back of the quilt will be a big surprise!  More to come.....