Welcome to Summer!

 Welcome to the official start of Summer where I annually state " I did NOT move south for the summers.  I could sweat just as easily in central Illinois"

The critters are doing odd things.  It is not always easy to get Oscar to go to bed.  I've tried various things like letting him stay up longer,  "wearing him slap out" as my neighbors suggested.  I've read that I should not physically put him in the bed as that might be construed as punishment.  Still, I get the whining.  It used to be just a little bit when he was first in the bed and he sees Skyler and I are cozying up on the couch.  Lately it is 12:30, 1:30 in the morning.  He sounds frantic sometimes.  What I read says I am to ignore this, don't let him out (a couple of times I did thinking he needed to potty).  Supposedly he will give up and quit wasting his energy if the behavior is not paying off.   I stuffed in some ear plugs last night because I could still hear him with the door closed and the overhead fan going.  SIGH  None of us is getting any sleep with this antic.

So this is what I got up to this morning.  He had managed to skid him crate completely away from the wall approximately 3 ft. away. or the width of the two floor mats.   I guess this is accomplished by repeatedly banging on the gate.  Any suggestions?  Laying any old place in the house at night is NOT an option though that is the daytime routine.  Only my bedroom is off limits to both of them.

What is Skyler's problem?  He will barely leave the pass through opening above the couch, next to his food bowl.  It is up high enough to stay above the dog.  He yowls at me when I go into the kitchen when he thinks he might get some food, even if I don't pony up the grub.  SIGH again---gets tiresome telling him "no, you  already had your treat bite twice and eat yout crunchies."  Yeah, like he knows what I am saying, LOL.

Around here since I last posted:

I used to have one of these till the wheel broke off.  I decided I wanted another one for quilting days.  This one has a liner for it--that is it folded up in the bottom.  Plenty wide enough for the machine and the bag with accessories I cart around.  I had to put the wheels on it as it came partially assembled.  I had bits flying all over the kitchen because of the springs you place between the washers but got the job done.

The next day being a glutton for punishment apparently----I recovered my pressing board in the sewing room with the silver teflon cloth and replaced the double layer of batting underneath it.  Of course, that meant prying up and off all the staples with a screw driver and then re-stapling both layers on (separately!)  I am almost out of the 1/4 inch staples and don't know that I will be able to order more since my staple gun is a Craftsman.  I didn't have much luck on the google search matching all the criteria on the box.    I wore a blister on my thumb for my efforts but it sure looks better.  No holes, scorches or patches with binding tape!

I sewed a bit on Monday on the Layer Cake Lattice getting it up to the point of just needing to sew on the
 second "arm" on the stack of blocks.  I had intended to do that at the evening group but got derailed here at home.   The car was all packed up and ready to go.   I had pulled some of my Christmas fabrics to see if I had enough for Donna's "Christmas in July" idea for the Nina pattern--I believe I do and I know I do if I mix in some other Connecting Thread lines.  It might work or I could use some charms in some manner as I have a couple of those two, thanks to Gene.  HMMMM

Yesterday (Tuesday) I was more or less piddling around here at home, spot mopping in the kitchen, vacuumed, unloaded the dishwasher.  Not really focusing on anything and getting side tracked too easily.  The next thing I knew I was quick defrosting the turkey breast I had pulled out a few days before and throwing it in the crockpot.  This is supposed to be clean out the freezer a bit week, menu wise, and digging out the turkey from the chest freezer to cook was part of it.  I had been procrastinating this as turkey and trimmings was part of "spoil your husband night".  I had some homemade whole cranberry relish so that got pulled out too.  While I had baked a couple of turkey tenderloins for salads recently,  I could not make myself do anything resembling his favorite meal.   Almost 2 1/2 years later, and I could do it because of what it meant to me, to us.  That might sound silly, I know.

The other part of the equation---the day before Miss Kathryn had given me a huge bag of carrots.  I think a local church was distributing them and Paul ended up with a bag but since he doesn't even like carrots, he took them over to his mom's to share with her and his sister.  She took out what she wanted and some for Glynda and passed on the rest to me.  I'm guessing maybe about 4 or 5 lbs of carrots.  I know that the Carrot Souffle recipe I have takes 2 lbs or about 7 cups sliced or chopped carrots.  I made a batch ( I cut the sugar back to about 1/2 cup or 2/3 cup though!!!) and then took about 1/4 of the dish over to Miss Kathryn.   ( I was going to take the rest to the group last night but  now I am thinking I am going to make a batch of carrot raisin salad instead._

Turns out Paul was over visiting and Miss Kathryn had a batch of butter beans on the stove for part of their evening meal.  His friend Charley called to see if Paul wanted to go out to eat with him and his grandson---Paul invited them over instead.  Glynda and Paul's daughter came over to install a new appliance.   I asked her if she wanted some of the carrot souffle for their supper as I had plenty to share.  She sampled it and then started to eat her mom's serving since she had not had lunch.  I went home to get some more to replace it.  Paul tried some while I was out and declared that it tasted more like custard than carrots so it was okay.  The next thing I know I am invited to dinner too.  My turkey was due to be finished up till 8 pm so why not have some company for dinner as I am not fond of eating alone?   Oh, I had Oscar in tow on the first trip over and Paul's dog was there too but Oscar and Baby get along just fine.  I took him home on the return trip.  LOL,  it was getting a little crowded in the mobile home but she went from two for dinner to 5 for dinner easily.  See why I missed sewing last night?

I took care of the turkey when it finished, de-boning it and cleaning out the crock pot.  I cut and/or cubed it up this morning---and had a nice turkey sandwich for lunch and later, some carrot souffle, sparing myself some of the "missing husband" emotions.  DJ would always want to do a repeat plate from the night before but I always wanted just a sandwich---with homemade cranberry sauce mixed with some mayo on it.  Then I would re-purpose the rest of the meal items in some manner, down the line.    That's what I did this time too but I forgot the drippings for gravy are still in the fridge.  Opened faced sandwiches would be good if I get some potatoes to mash.

Today, it has been more piddling--walking, a couple errands, a load of laundry, run the dishwasher,  and so on.  So now what?  Go sew?   Finish reading the library book I started on Sunday?  I had binged watch the previous seasons of "Endeavour" on Amazon Prime on Friday and Saturday in preparation for the return of the program to PBS on Sunday.  Turned out I had seen one episode on PBS but apparently did not know what I was watching at the time.   There are a couple of the Inspector Lewis programs I could watch before they remove them from Prime.  Maybe tonight--nothing else is on but repeats or stuff I don't care a whit about.  Oh, who knows?  I might be on last walks with Oscar once the sun gets below the tree line and it is not so blessed hot and visit with the neighbors.  The heat just makes me want to mugwump in where it is cooler!

And that's what is--or is not--happening here in my neck of the woods.  THX for stopping by-----

Quilt meeting and so on (slight edit)

Bama Belles met earlier in the week and my friend Gene came to visit us. Mostly we pinned quilts as Gene had one of his terrific improvisitional quilts and Lois had three donation topd. I had three tops readied-- two recent and one that has uh, been "antiquing" in the closet so we did those two. Bev and Brenda had binding projects going. Bev was working on a cute Christmas table runner but the pointy ends were presenting some application hurdles. I think I have her on track to deal with those weird angles. Brenda was working on the binding on her huge t-shirt quilt for her son. I think I posted a pic of it awhile back. If I didn't, possibly when she is done with it.

I had set up my machine to piece but that didn't happen after all.   Lois had 8 quilts to deliver so I needed to take pics and document those.  I knew about it ahead of time so had taken my Notebook with me eliminating the need to unfold and enter the data once I'm home.   As I entered the photo numbers this morning ( I should have done that at the meeting but must have been too busy talking, LOL), I realized I missed one!   I'm working at the desk in the master bedroom so Oscar is trying to get up on the bed and Skyler keeps taking my chair when I get up to get the camera, etc.  You two are NOT helping!

Ready for a little quilt show then?

Lois' version of Pixie Stix (GE Designs Strip Your Stash)

Lois' Ribbon Candy Rings--variation of Ribbon Candy Block from GE Designs Strip Your Stash

I called this one Snuggle Up Variation but it was something Lois came up with.  Some elements remind of Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trips Around the World.  She has two with similar names, one in long strips and another in block form.  I'm talking about the long strips one, LOL.

Lois Emily's Wedding Quilt--Fons and Porter.  I've linked it before.  Google it.

Lois' Scrappy Sashed and Barred 9 patches  (I think she came up with this one)

 Lois' ever popular Twin Sisters---Eleanor Burns' Quilting Through the Seasons

Patience Corner with I Spy Squares #1.  Her table mate at the fall retreat in Attalla 2015 had given her a bunch of squares from  her stash and this was a good spot to use them.

Patience Corner with I Spy Squares #2

It has been a slightly less busy week for me, mostly it is too blooming hot and muggy to want to do much of anything.  We have gotten a bit of rain the past two days with pop up thunderstorms.  Wednesday only got us about a 1/4 inch in my gauge while yesterday was an 1 1/4.  Kinda looking like we may be in for a repeat of the same thing today.  In fact, there goes my weather alert radio announcing a severe thunderstorm alert.  It didn't sound at all yesterday but it was gusty and blowing rain.  Facebook showed a damaged home in town, parts of tree landing in someone's living room.  The family was not home at the time so no one was hurt.  What a surprise to come home to though.

I got my Pad Thai dish made and shared with my neighbor but not till Wednesday.  Yummo!  I like the shrimp version better but not on the re-heating.  Donna's brother had sent yellow squash with her to share with her quilt buddies so yesterday I made my version of Boston Market Squash Casserole.  I saute my squash instead and add some grated carrots for color and taste (I love carrots!)  I had to bake the cornbread first to crumble in with the squash.  I also made a Toll House Chocolate Chip Pie just because I was craving chocolate.  Most of it is in the freezer.  Yes, the house got way too hot yesterday but worth it.    Baking and cooking is suffering and will continue to do so, I'm afraid.

I've not started another sewing project yet though I may head in the sewing room after lunch.  Not if there is lightning though!  Layer Cake Lattice, I think.  However, I am about to go off on another tangent.  ( I hear you saying "what else is new!?")   Donna is wanting the evening group to do a Christmas in July sew-day.  Several of the girls have signed up to do the guild Christmas block exchange and I think have to make 12 to14- 12 inch finished blocks.  This would give them a jump start on their obligation and not leave a time crunch in late November.  I didn't sign up to do this but have been thinking of what I might do with a container of leftover Christmas fabrics from some of the tree skirts I made for the nieces and nephews as wedding gifts.  I don't know if Josh (DJ's grandson) and Lauren will want one as a wedding gift or not but will ask Lauren next month.   Depending on configuration those fabrics are in, I might try GE Designs Nina quilt which calls for fat quarters, not for a tree skirt but a couch throw, come holiday time.  Sorta looks like a package with a ribbon on it, doesn't it?  You should see how quickly Gudrun cuts and assembles this top using her Stripology ruler.  Here is the LINK to the You-Tube video.  Might be something I can play with while they do their blocks?

Okay, it is time to dig out the leftovers or throw my Chopped Salad together.  I'll decide on the way to the kitchen, LOL.  Skyler, you may have my chair now and I'll move my base of computer operations to the couch. Y'all have a good day, okay?

Another week goes whizzing by

So what have I managed to get done this past week?

My house is reasonably clean now, LOL. That was a several day proposition since I did the kitchen and living room one day.  Bathrooms, another day.  Bedrooms on still another. I got a new vacuum cleaner as I could no longer use the on-board tools on our old one (something wrong with the hose??).   I need the crevice tool etc for cleaning around the baseboards and so forth.  This one is much lighter weight, bagless and narrower across for getting in tight spaces.  I still hate vacuuming but at least it is no longer killing my back.  It also has some pet tools which will be good for cleaning the upholstery.  I used the brush deal on my lamp shades as Skyler has gotten those a bit furry especially since he has decided to sleep on the pass through near one of them.  SIGH

Paul, my neighbor's son and my friend, had told me if I needed any help with something to let him know.  He thinks he needs to do something for me for helping him out with his disability papers but he doesn't.  Glad to have helped wade through the paperwork.  The vacuum cleaner came sort of assembled but sort of not.  I asked him to be on stand-by in case I couldn't figure it out.  I also had a tiny repair job on the laundry rack--missing bolt, needed a longer screw maybe.  He fixed it later after seeing to his mom's car radiator emergency but I got the cleaner assembled myself.  Once he finished that little job, he said he was ordering pizza and cheezybread--come on over to his mom's for some when he got back from picking it up.  Glynda and Robert joined us.

No more antics canning but I gave away most of my output from the Zuke and/or Cuke-Carrot Relish.  Maybe a good thing it might 8 pints!  I've barely cooked anything lately really since this is prime salad and sandwich weather lately.  I grilled a ham steak and nuked some corn on the cob but the leftovers turned into ham salad.  My relish is good in THAT too.  Oh, I did make a batch of Hummingbird Muffins but that was mostly to get the bananas out of the freezer since they kept falling out of the door. I farmed some of those out and stuck the rest out in the chest freezer.  I have all the ingredients on hand to make some Pad Thai using this recipe for Colorful Shrimp Pad Thai but thinking of doing it vegeterian using some tofu instead of shrimp.  Maybe tonight, but more likely tomorrow.

It has gotten so hot, like today my phone says it is 95 while my thermometer says 98-99.  We need rain.  I think we are officially in one of the drought counties.  The yard has gotten even more brown and crunchy than it was.  The Rose of Sharon is in bloom while the gardenia is about done.  It still smells good in the back but the blooms are drying up.  The main thing in bloom right now are the Mimosa trees with their fern-like leaves and pink feathery flowers.  I think they are actually an invasive plant like kudzu, Chinese Privet and the like as you see them on the roadways in spots where folks obviously did not plant them but they came up anyway.  Donna says that they have a sweet smell but I can't say that I ever noticed that.  I know that the blossoms are slippery to walk on along the walking trail when they fall and get wet.  No rain, that's not likely to be  a problem.

I was able to get into the dentist's office this week once they returned from their week off, first thing on Wednesday morning.  You may recall my mentioning that I had a back crown pop off over Memorial Day weekend.  At first I could put it back on but of course, it would not stay in place so I placed it in a clean condiment cup and tried to avoid chewing on that side of my mouth.  I got some of that repair stuff but then worried about getting it on wrong--not easy to get my fingers back there to place it in the first place.  I let the expert deal with it!

Margarita had called and needed someone to ride along with her to the Ashville Quilt Shop on Wednesday. I told her I would be happy to go but I probably could not leave till after 9 since I had that dentist appointment.  Shop doesn't open till 10 anyway and it would take about an hour to get over there.  I guess she is really directionally challenged so it is wise to travel with a buddy.  Some of the girls from the Heritage group in Attala meet in the classroom there on Wednesday including Jennifer who does some of our long arm quilts.  Margarita had two quilts to pick up--those two I had helped her with the pre-sashing--and a third top was ready to deliver to Jennifer.   I needed some background fabric for "Strips Plus" that I would like to make down the line.

The following day I was back to the same block as the dentist office.  On Friday the doctor's office had called and said I was supposed to have a thyroid ultra-sound.  The radiologist advised it be repeated at 6 months.  First I had heard about it! Neither the MD or the endocrinologist had said anything about that at my appointment.  In fact, the endocrinologist had sort of minimized the size of the nodule and said it was not the cause of my current over-activity.  I didn't refuse to have the test done but had to voicemail them and see if it was necessary, etc before I scheduled it.

I went to the Friendship Quilt show on Saturday with Jane, Aline and Donna.  This was our old guild in Pell City so we saw a lot of our old pals at the show or working in some capacity.  I have some pictures to share of my favorites but will do that in a separate post.   A couple of the members of the JOY Guild were vending over there.  I got a couple of Rachel's Peek-A-Boo animals and probably should get a couple more for the other great-grands that are on the way but I can get with her about that over-sight.  The dog and panda are adorable!

The fabric on the back flips over to cover the little faces making the Peek-A-Boo.

AND, yesterday I was finally able to get in the sewing room to finish up my version of Floating Squares.    It is much prettier in person.

The backing is prepped and the binding made and pressed too.  This was some yardage that Marilyn had given us/me for Belles to use on our donation stuff.  I finally found a top it would work on though it had to be pieced.  My top measures exactly 45 inches and too wide for the standard usable width once the selvages are off.  This was the "before" shot but I was able to piece it so the break in the stripe was not too noticeable.  Even though I got it a little out of sequence you can't hardly tell it on the side "end to end" piece either.

Since I had combined two different charm packs to make the Floating Squares top, I knew I had enough of those for another top.  What about the background yardage?  Would I have to order a bit more?  This morning I counted up and was about 7 blocks worth short of the background components for the pieced blocks.  I cut through the scrap pieces and available yardage and eked out all the 5 inch squares with 4 extras.  I even managed to get two strips out for the top/bottom borders.  If I don't mind more than one seam in the long vertical, I could eke out on one side anyway--but I do mind!  Plus the least you can order is 1/2 yard.  I hit the sale section of the shop for something that should work for the backing.

The batting is all fluffed up and cut to pinning size.  I'm taking it to Belles tomorrow with the other two I have ready to pin, if we have time and inclination.  Lois has some tops to deliver so I will need to get pictures of those and log them in.  Also Margarita may need some cutting help/advice since she said her next project is a D9P for a family member.   I'll be on stand-by, LOL.   My traveling machine is in the car as it always is and I tossed the Seas The Day stuff I had prepped recently in there to sew though I may not have time.  I'm thinking that the Layer Cake Lattice I cut out at the last meeting might be my next "sew at home" project, right after I change the needle and de-lint the Singer.

I am also considering doing the Moda Bake Shop Bee-utiful Quilt-a-Long.  Pamela Morgan from Sweet Little Stitches has designed some really cute original embroidered blocks that all have a bee (or two) somewhere on the block with some pieced sashing.  The resultant quilt looks fun though I don't care for the busy handwriting print around the embroidery but could sub out for that.  The first block "Bee Curious" was just posted last week--a cat with flowers and a bee.  Might be fun!  I love embroidery and have not done much of it lately for some reason.  See what I have in the way of a white or light background fabric that is not committed elsewhere......

Guess that's it for this installment.  Hope you have had a good day---

Around here-- catching up

Look at what has decided to bloom this year with more blooms about to pop open.  I had cut back the gardenia bush quite a bit 2 years ago as it was impeding airflow a bit into the kitchen.  There was a bird nest in there so I had to wait to finish the job but it has taken time for it to rebound from my unschooled pruning/annihilation. Last year I think there were only two blooms for the entire summer but maybe it likes it hot and dry?


While it has been overcast for the past couple days, we have not really much measurable rain.  Rained on the way to supper last night and while we were walking into the restaurant but it didn't budge my rain gauge.   Rained for about 15 minutes this morning and just enough to dampen the street.   We are currently about 3 inches below the average amount and about 5 inches behind where we were at this time last year.  No wonder the grass crunches underfoot!

This top has been waiting for me since the Tuesday evening group.  Everywhere you see a blank space is where there should be a small pieced floating square.  Donna and I helped Stacy lay out a quilt top so she could begin sewing her blocks.  Marilyn and Donna were teaming up on a top too--Donna cutting, Marilyn sewing.  Margarita and I had our head's together  working out the backing for 3 identical bowtie tops.  She needed to get them larger in order to take them to the longarm quilter by Thursday when JOY Guild was to meet.  I elected not to drag my machine in and marked the diagonals on the stack of white charm squares for "Seas The Day".  Then I laid out my version of Floating Squares using a mix of Benartex Lazy Daisy and Brigitte pinning it to the vinyl table cloth and then hanging it up once I got home.

I've been busy!  Maybe busier than usual or just gone a lot, more like.

Thursday was JOY Guild day with a potluck lunch, sew and tell and a silent auction.  I delivered my two personal tops ( Prairie Sticks and No Bake Jolly Bar) along with Aline and my joint endeavor (previous post) and Charming Boxes from the retreat group and me.  Felt kind of strange to head out the door empty handed except for my "dish to pass".  I was waffling back and forth about what to fix but ended up making a Greek Salad with turkey chunks as one of my ingredients.  I had most of the ingredients on hand anyway.  Actually, I have a couple more turkey tenderloins marinating in Italian dressing that I'll bake in a bit as that worked out well as a replacement for chicken.


This was my Friday focus.
My neighbor Glynda had asked me if I wanted some zucchini the other day.  Yes!  Then I mentioned that if they found themselves over-run with the stuff, I would like to try to make some Zuke and/or Cuke/Carrot Relish this year.  Later she came down with three more.  I figured I would see how far I would get with the ones I had and adjust the recipe.  I called my parents to get some clarification on the recipe.  I HAVE made a batch once umpteen years ago.  Mom has tweaked it since then and gave me the updates.  Alum was added and more spices than the original.  Also some bell pepper, etc.   I  made one trip to the store prior to the phone call consultation and one the next morning for anything I was missing.

When the recipe called for larger stock pot than what I had on hand, I asked Glynda if she had one I could use.  She had two of them, one from her sister-in-law's estate and she said to take it.  Later I had borrow the other one so I could hot water bath without crowding the jars in the pan.  Oh, and I needed to get some more zukes.  After I ground up the ones Glynda had given me, I had to ask for the ones she had mentioned were in the fridge.  As she came back down to the beauty shop, she spotted a couple more.  Miss Kathryn was at the shop between clients and said she had one to spare too so I got that one too.  Still used 4 cukes to total 10 cups of ground zuke-cuke mix. Now that might be the last time I have to ask for zucchini as you know how that stuff is!  The joke about leaving some on your neighbor's doorstep, ringing the doorbell and then running away so you can get rid of the surplus?  LOL.

For being a nervous novice on this canning stuff, they all sealed.  I had to make another call to my parents to figure out just where to measure for headspace--from the top rim down?--but I got the job done.  I've delivered a jar to Glynda and Miss Kathryn.  When their brother (or son depending on who you are referring to) Paul saw the post I had made on Facebook, he chimed in and said he wanted a jar.  I told him he could have some but I had heard him say a couple nights before that he didn't particularly care for carrots except in pot roast.  Just teasing me, he said "I love carrots!"  He has some now too.  I may deliver some to two other neighbors on the block as well.

I mentioned in the last post that I had signed up for a basket weaving class being given at the Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County.   This cute little salt and pepper basket was what we made.   The kit came with blue for the accent color but I have greens and yellow in my kitchen.   It was fun!  I love that wire handle even though I didn't get the wire bent back as tightly as I would have liked.  The kit of supplies had a set of needle nose pliers in it but not heavy enough for the job.  By then I had sort of stripped the black off the wire.  It is what it is!

The class was from 9 a.m. till we finished.  By the time I ran an errand on the way home it was almost 3:30 before I got home.  I stopped in at Miss Kathryn's to deliver her jar of relish as I was walking Oscar.  She said Paul and Carolyn would be by soon and said to ask me to go along for dinner with them if I wanted to.   They had served a light lunch at the class but I would probably be hungry enough to eat by the time we got our order.  He swung by to pick us up and the rain started coming down on the way. 

Paul decided on Zoe's On the Lake, not far from us, hearing no objections from us ladies.  I had eaten lunch at the restaurant before but they had not been there.  It turned out there was a class reunion going on there in about an hour and they were planning to send non-reunion folks to the upper dining room.   They set us up in a side room when I told the hostess we had one with some walking difficulties in our party.  (I was the first one in the door.)   We had finished eating by the time most of the reunion crowd was arriving but it still made getting out the door a little problematic.  Everyone was grouped all around the exit in the large room, hugging, talking, greeting each other.  We each saw someone we knew in the Jacksonville High School Class of 61.  (Me, a member of the quilt group.  Carolyn, a male first cousin and Paul and Miss Kathryn, their brother-in-law/son-in-law's aunt.)   More, hugging, talking and greeting.

My critters have barely seen me, LOL.  Still, it is good to get out a bit. 

What's on my mind creatively?   Couple of things.  Always!  I was reminded by a long ago seen quilt called
"Contrary Wife-Ornery Husband".    My perpetual quilting calendar kicked it off.  This crossing type block is called "Contrary Wife"  I kinda like the name, LOL.

Mary Hickey in a book published by Leisure Arts in 1997 entitled "Big Book of Small Quilts" apparently combined the Contrary Wife with a Shoo Fly/Snowball variation block (both are in the nine patch family 3 x 3 grid) to come up with a quilt called "Contrary Wife-Ornery Husband"  I really like THAT name!

Maybe you can see how these two blocks are similar but the coloration switched up a bit---and I eliminated a few extra lines when I drew it up in EQ,   If that link above won't open for you I know I spotted the quilt in a google image search.  Cool how it sort of makes like ribbons across the quilt top they way the blocks are rotated.

Then another quilt block that Lucy mentioned to me the other day in an email.  Circle of Squares from toefeather blogspot that makes a cool 12 inch finished block using 2 1/2 inch cut squares.  You can eliminate a line from this too.  I refuse to sew two squares of the same print together in a 4 patch when I can cut a rectangle instead!   She sent THIS link to a finished small baby quilt.   Cute, huh?

I got to thinking that you could probably use charm squares or cut squares from your stash.  You could cut the charms a bit smaller if you wanted and ditch the pinked edges.  Anyway, I drew it up in EQ7 a bit ago.

It would use one charm pack provided your background choice provided enough contrast.  I think as long as you work in a number easily divisible by three on that one you could cut the charms any size you want and re-size the block accordingly.  For example 21 inch blocks with 4 inch sashing, trimming the charms down to 4 inches and using the remainder of the charms  for the cornerstones would get you a 55 inch square quilt  2 blocks x 2 blocks. This  was calculated at 32 charms for the blocks, 9 for cornerstones.   I think it said around 3 yards of background fabric?  1/2 yard for binding.  I might just do this!   Mind you, there is nothing wrong with the original version but just another way to use a charm pack and their mix of fabrics in a different way.  The blogger on toefeather got their inspiration from a Circle of Wonky Star Tutorial, just simplified it a bit more when she made hers.    Just a thought!  I have lots of those, LOL.

Guess that's about it!  I need to run down to the gas station while I still have 10 cents off/gallon and I want to sew a bit.  Hope you are having a good day in whatever you chose to do.  THX for stopping by----