The Chimney Sweep Album Block Tutorial

The Chimney Sweep Album Block

Makes a 12 ½ inch block

Uses 2 ½ inch strips

Cutting Instructions:

Color Fabric:  Cut

2 – 2 ½ by 6 ¾ inch pieces

6 – 2 ½ by 4 ¾ inch pieces

2 – 2 ½  by 2 ½ inch pieces

Background Fabric

1 – 2 ½  by 6 ¾ inch piece

2 – 2 ½ x 2 ½ inch pieces

16 – 2 ½ x 3 inch pieces

Step 1:

Lay out your block. Because I cut mine all scrappy, I have been laying each block out individually so I can sort of match up the color scheme – remember everything is 2 ½ inch in width. The numbers on the photo are the length that you cut.

  

I pieced each row together – then pressed towards the dark .

folded in half, and finger pressed on the center

My Grandma taught me a trick a few years ago when she was teaching me to sew garments.  To make uneven seams you just do a little finger pressing.

Matching the pressed parts

I took each strip, folded it in half, and finger pressed the middle. Then when you sew each strip to each other you match the pressed part and voila!

This is what your block should look like now:

I have a 12 ½ inch ruler. It has these ¼ inch marks on it – so I place the ¼ mark right on the edge of the green and cut out my square.

I know that looking at it you all could probably figure out how to use half squares , but each time I tried that I came up short.  Just an FYI

And Ta- Da ! A finished Album Block

I also wrote this as a pdf file and it is available in my Craftsy Store ( for Free)

http://www.craftsy.com/user/949071/pattern-store

If you make a quilt, or block, or have a quilt similar - I would love to see it - leave me your link in the comments or email me. I really love all these old timey quilts!

linking to:
Oh Scrap
Quiltygirl.com
instagram

Sew Cute Tuesday
Free Motion by the River

The Chimney Sweep

Last Friday I showed you all a block that I was working on out of the scraps that came to my house and wow - you all like that block as much as I do . So I am going to tell you a story.... do you have your coffee?   Breakfast?  Well sit right back.....

My Great Aunt ( or thirtieth cousin 15 times removed) was a Quilter. And she had a house in Birmingham, Michigan, which we fear has been torn down.... but Smart her - she donated all her quilts ( except the ones I have) to the Michigan State Quilt Museum.

I have reproduced one "The Betty Quilt" Click HERE it will take you to my reproduction.

The other one I wanted to reproduce is this one:

Mary Elizabeth Beardslee Durkee
Franklin, Oakland County, Michigan
c.1860
82" x 84" 
Cotton with cotton filling 

Of course - I wanted to make it when I was a new quilter - and I had no idea how to find the pattern. And then one day there was one in a book - but everything called for 2 3/8  or 1 3/8 in strips.

If there is one thing you all have learned about me - I am not quite a perfectionist ( all the time) - and I was pretty sure I would screw up those measurements - 

One day I was reading Kevin's blog and he had a blue and pink antique Album quilt - and I thought - Oh I will buy it - and that will almost be reproducing it.

Full Disclosure - he told me me and sent me photos of some of the damaged spots. AND I LOVE IT - but it's not my Aunts.  By the way - none of these blocks are strip pieced - they are ALL squares - Hand stitched together. Those people in the olden days were NUTS!!!

When this box of strips came to me - I thought - you know - you ought to try to figure this out with 2 1/2 inch strips - I bet you have been quilting long enough that you will only screw it up 14 times - and so - I dug in with abandon and made up numbers - and I am proud to say - I like what I made.

Now!  A lot of you asked if I would write it up - and so I will. Mine made 12 1/2 inch blocks. I made 5 of them and they all turned out the same size - so either I did the math right - OR!! I kept making the same mistake - Ha ha - I guess I will never know - until you tell me!!

These are some of mine

I cut up enough to make 12 total blocks for a quilt

And  I used almost every inch of the greens I had sorted!!

Well - since this is rather long and lengthy, I will write the tutorial in another post for Saturday

and then it will be easy to print - with out all my mumbo jumbo, unless I decide to be wordy!

Linking to:
Fabric Frenzy Friday
Finished Friday at Confessions
TGI Friday at Celtic Thistles
Busy Hands
Show off Saturday

Quilts of Valor - July

Good Morning!!

It has already been a crazy week, with only more craziness to come!!

I hope you got a chance to check out Sunday's post - there were some QOV's that were quilted and even a presentation!!!  The presentation had been in the works since January - and this one - that I am about to show you... since December - can you believe it?

Both Nominators wanted these Quilts to be presented when the whole family could be there - and wow - did they do a good job! I love it when plans come together!

This was this WWII Veterans 90'th Birthday

and he had NO CLUE we were invited!!!

The gal in Yellow - she is the quilt maker - Verna

She is a friend of his, and made the top

Again - he was SO surprised!!!

It was a pretty great day

and he was so cute, He wanted to be wrapped in that quilt,

but he was so worried about getting hot - it was too cute!!

Alright - on to some other Quilts of Valor

On the far Left

Made by High Prarie Quilts in Parker, i

Middle:  High Prarie QUilts in Parker

Right: Kay in Paradise CA and quilted by her son Mark!!  Fabulous team!!!

On the left: Made by Kathy and Sue and their Red Hat Group

on the Right: Kathy and Sue and the Red Hats

Little Bit says this one reminds him of Capt. America!!

Made by Rosalie M in Greeley CO

Both of these:

 Made by Chaffee County Quilters

Aren't all these quilts great?  

I have a question for you all - how many of you use instagram?  Facebook? Or just read Blogs?

I will be honest - I peruse Instagram, but its hard for me to tell the whole story there. I LOVE reading blogs, and have a million in my reading list. I like the whole story. But I am just curious how many of you use other Social Media Outlets as well?  What is your Favorite?

Heartstrings Quilt a Long

My Heartstrings group is having a Quilt a long - the goal - to quilt as many un-quilted tops as you can - These are quilts for Quilts of Valor, Hospice, your church group - whatever you donating to - so of course - I am trying to keep up and quilt some Quilts of Valor.

I get competitive that way (sigh) but I figure its a good competition because those that need to see the love benefit!!  ( I finished 4 this week - wish me luck for next week ok?)

Here is my progress for this week:

This one is a quilt that was made especially for a Veteran from Grenada.

It was the quilters first Quilt of Valor

My Plaid scrap quilt

The pattern can be found here:

Bulls Eye Log Cabin

it's pretty fast and easy

And a close up of the quilting

This one was made by Marilyn S

and I had fun!  I tried to quilt some patriotic motifs in the whites

and the next one...

Oh wait - you can't see it?

Well it's sort of a secret one

BUT!!! I did get it quilted and as soon as I can show it to you

you know I totally will!!!

This was Friday Night

The quilt is made by Judy and was a pattern found here

It was really cute - he was camping with his whole family, and it was also his birthday.

The Honor Guard came ( they were hs buddies) and we went in with them

He was shocked to see his buddies - but kept wondering who in the heck I was!!

And then - Ta-Da!!

WE showed him the love!!!

Linking to: PatchworkTimes

Monday Making

Sew Fresh Quilts

Scraps - another Drop off

A Friend might have made a drive by on thursday..... and look what was dropped!!

A HUGE ( out of focus) box!!!

Of all 2 1/2 inch strips!!!

So while I was watching TV with the boys

I sorted them by color 

and Yesterday

( After Basketball practice, A trip to Sams, Shooting Sports and chores!!)

This is what I made!!!

Well - really , its' just a start!

Every pattern I have found for this block calls for 2 3/8 inch strips - 

so I adjusted them to 2 1/2 , and it made a 12 inch block - so I think it should be good?

I'll make more tomorrow and make sure I did the measurements right!

Yay!!

Linking to:

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Finished Friday at Confessions

Show off Saturday

Whomp There it is

Oh Scrap

Scraptastic Tuesdady

FlyFishing

I found a new hobby.....

I learned to Fly Fish.....

Yep - Me - the lady who has NO patience - I love FlyFishing ;-)

As a little girl - my Daddy took me fishing a lot. And he must have had patience, I'm not sure I remember sitting still very much ;-(

(Know how I know?  I have a million photos - that I took.... )

That's my Dad

Our neighbor flyfished - and I watched - but a few weeks ago - I got brave and took the family to take a lesson - and I was hooked.

and now:

Scenes from a River Runs Through It.... Just kidding... I haven't even seen that movie!

There's the big guy.

And the Middle Bit

Above - This is my view

I fished the other shore line and stood in the water and LOVED it!!

And Little bit

This is a fun hobby!

So if you see some lady and her boys walking and sludging through the rivers

It might just be me ;-)

To see photos of our Denver trip - go here:  Alycia's Denver Trip

Quilts of Valor 2016 - Happy July

Good Morning!!
I hope you all had a great 4th of July Holiday!!! We sure did - there was a party, and a wedding, and a Bonfire, and fireworks!!  I am always leary of Fireworks near us, we have had 4 fires way to close over the years.  But it was all good!!! Yay!!


And now I have some great Quilts of Valor to show to you!!!  These will be heading off to Veterans Touched by War - to offer a great Thanks you, and hugs and comfort!

This one was made by Barbara B and QUilted by Teresa P

Below

Sewn by Francie and quilted by Carol

On the left - made by Francie and quilted by Teri, 

on the right Made by Jeanne - quilted by Sue Seward

And the last picture for today - Left - made by Teresa S and the UNC Softball Girle - Quilted by Juliet

Center  and Right - Made by High Prairie Quilts Quilters ( check out their quilt shop - its' Awesome!!)

For more information about Quilts of Valor - head over to http://www.qovf.org

And join in!!!

Another Plaid Phase Quilt

This is the greatest way to start out the month!! With a Finish!

I have truly lost count of how many Plaid Quilts I have made - some of them I remember to put on the Plaid tab, and others - go on their way to a forever home and I sort of Forget.... I have that problem (sigh)

They are all Shirting Plaids (From Cowboys) 

so it is only appropriate to photograph it in it's enviroment right?

I did this one as a leader ender - and I started it last October...

It was a lot of fun and! I could talk ( with other quilters) while I stitched it.

There are some quilts I just can't quite do that with

And the back

Can you see the quilting pattern?

It is called Spirals

Got a quilt you think Spirals would look good on?

Well - do I have a deal for you ( ha ha - I'm an infomercial!)

If you send me your quilt before August 1st, 2016 to quilt

I will do the Quilting and give you 10% off the total quilting cost

( not including batting, or shipping if you choose to use my batting)

BUT! You need to message me

(use Spiral in the Subject line)

to secure your quilting spot,

AND it needs to be in my Hot Little Hands NO LATER than August 1st

~It can be here earlier - no problem~

Linking to:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

TGIFF at Celtic Thistle

Cooking ( again)

You may remember.... I know, sometimes even I don't remember, but way back in April I decided to cook - yep! me - Cook!!  I made a lot of Freezer meals.

I thought I would update you on the success of this plan.....

It was....

Successful !!

And then I got smart - I decided to cook 1 day a week, and each time I cooked I would make 4-5 meals of the same thing!  Oh my - you all- I feel like Judy at Patchwork Times... Food just magically appeared . ( seriously - that lady - she says "Oh I want BBQ beef - and then Bam! She shows us what she made - my boys are moving in with her!!)

One week I made a Lasagna, and Bam! there were 4 in my freezer.

All this to share this recipe with you!  Are you ready....
It is Broccoli Beef in the Slow Cooker - and It! Was! A ! Win!!!

http://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/2015/02/slow-cooker-broccoli-beef.html

I cooked one, and froze 3 more for later. However - Wrangler Man thinks later should be tonight.

And now - since I spend less time in the kitchen... Look what I did make:

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

(PS - there are significantly less now )

This is proof , and documentation of cooking - yep - I cooked again!

Quilts of Valor 2016 - June

This last weekend was our QOV sew day - Oh what fun - I love sewing with my peeps!!

Here is some QOV inspirations for you!!

This is a top that was created by Bob from some MQX blocks and a few orphans - pretty unique!
It was quilted by Juliet in Castlerock

Below

Made by Becky and Ellen

Quilted by Montika in KS

I really like the eagle in the center

Did you know that we have a few Eagles here?

(below)

This one is also for our Female Vets!

Jan R in CA Made it.

She lives near the beach and someday I am going to just show up on her doorstep!

This one was made by Judy V

in THornton

It is SO cool!!!!

And another by Judy V

Cool isn't it?

The next two photos

( appear to be upside down, but when I reload them - they show up this way again...hmmm)

Are two that Liz T picked up from her quilters

Liz is our New Colorado State Coordinator!!

Whoot Whoot

She and I are sharing the job for this year

And holee!!  Cow!!! Is she fantastic!!

Hope you got a little inspiration here???