Pie Birds - A Complete Block Set

 

Pie Birds

I now have completed 35 ten inch (finished) blocks.

They sure used a lot of 1.5 inch width scraps!

I was inspired by a quilt on Viridian's Blog.

Now there is some assembly required!

And sew on...

Finished or NOT FINISHED Friday at Alycia Quilts.

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I thought the groundhog was wrong when he predicted six more weeks of winter. We have had a week of unseasonably warm weather with 50-60 degree temperatures.  It was so nice to get out and putter around outside.  There were a lot of sticks to pick up because we have had some 30-40 mph wind gusts. This morning I woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground and 28 degrees. It is predicted that temps will be below freezing for the next few days.  

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You may or may not know that I do my laundry the old fashioned way - two washtubs with a wringer in between. My clothes dry on a rack or line in the basement or clothes line outside.  Why I do my laundry that way is another story for another time. This story is that I took advantage of the nice weather and hung my sheets and pillowcases outside on the line to dry IN FEBRUARY on a sunny and windy and warm day. Oh, I had the smell of wind and sun  and fresh air on my sheets when I went to bed last night! 

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I finished reading the first two books (Seeds of Hope and Beneath the Panhandle Sky) in the Dirty Thirty Saga series by Jean Hackensmith. I've started the third and final book in the series. A family who has lost many relatives in the mines of Pennsylvania moves to Oklahoma to claim land under the Homestead Act. 

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I have only managed to get two of the seven Amaryllis my husband gave me last year to bloom again this year. The rest of the bulbs have leafy growth but have not sent up any flower spikes. I have been enjoying and thankful for what I have. Both plants have many blooms on them now. 

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Oh joy! Wanda D. in TX sent me another box of scraps. And I mean SCRAPS. I measured every piece with my little six inch ruler so I could add them to my bins of scraps I organize by width. I usually have a block or two going for every scrap bin.  Most of these scraps were under 3.5 inches in width. I had such a good time sorting scraps. Now I will have a good time using them!

Another Round For The Pie Birds

 

I have added another round to 30 Pie Bird blocks. I started making the blocks in November of last year. 

I previously completed 5 ten inch (finished) blocks and am now working on finishing up the other 30. 

I was inspired by the Pie Birds quilt on Viridian's Blog.

One more round to go and I have the pieces cut. 

The theme this month in my sewing space to move UFOs forward is "Log Cabins and variations". I would consider these blocks a Courthouse Steps variation and Courthouse Steps is a Log Cabin variation. 

And sew on...

Another Round

I started making Pie Bird blocks back in November. My goal is 35 ten inch blocks. I finished 5 blocks in November and then decided to work on the remaining 30 blocks all at one time. That is so I can process my scraps and cut all pieces for each round of every block. 

Two more rounds to go!

And sew on...

Oh Scrap! At Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

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Finished a book! The Bookseller of Kathmandu by Ann Bennett. I was expecting  historical fiction but I think it was more of a mystery and love story. I still liked the book. 

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I was a lucky girl this week. I received a box of scrappy goodness (and yummy sesame seed cookies) from Donna and a box with some yardage, quilt "seeds" with lots of potential and a beautiful handmade card from Linda.

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My husband John is the oldest of eight siblings. Two of his brothers passed away a few years ago. His sister, the youngest, is now in hospice. She has been battling lung cancer metastatic to brain. Although John has a lot of health issues I am thankful he fought his battle with oropharyngeal cancer many years ago and I still enjoy his company. 

 

Round One

 

Round One 

Thirty Pie Bird Blocks

I started making 10 inch Pie Bird blocks the other day. They are basically a Courthouse Steps variation. I made 5 blocks and then decided I wanted 35 total blocks. I also decided to work the rounds on all of my blocks at one time. That way I can cut all my required pieces for each round at one time. I cut a lot of the pieces for this round and part of round two when I was processing 2.5 inch width scraps. 

And sew on...

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I had my wellness exam Tuesday. I am a healthy 73 year old lady. I am very thankful for good health.

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Since Oct. 1 we have had 19 inches of snow. A lot of it finally melted yesterday but more is predicted for later today. 

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Moira sent me some vintage blocks from her mothers collection. I will use them in comfort quilts.

New Start: Pie Birds

 

I started a new quilt for me. It is called Pie Birds. I first saw it on Viridian's Blog. I loved the name because I love pie birds. You can see I have a few I have used in the past when I used to bake pies. They are fun and cute little things. I loved the blocks because they are scrappy too. 

Evidently it Is a Kim Diehl pattern from the book Simple Charm. I didn't use a pattern. I just figured out how to make the 10 inch blocks on my own. I made 5 blocks to see if my own figuring was right. Then I decided I want a quilt with 35 blocks so I only need to make 30 more blocks.

Next step? I have a bunch of little 1.5 HSTs cut with my 

Easy Angle ruler. They are leftovers from making other quilts. I will use them as the wings on 60 little 1.5 x 2.5 Flying Geese. These will be my first addition to two sides of 2.5 inch squares. In my test blocks I made two HSTs but decided Flying Geese would be easier. I am going to work on all 30 blocks at one time because I find it easier to process scraps for the rounds on all of them at one time. 

And sew on...

Oh Scrap! At Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

I was going to do a wrap up post on the remaining orphan block tops I made this month but it snowed all day yesterday and I didn't want to go out to take a photo. I guess we got 10 inches and two more inches are forecast for tomorrow. I might have to find a place inside for a photo. I have three tops and two have photos.