New York Beauty - coming along

These are not as difficult as I had imagined.  I had several good books with wonderful patterns and ideas, but it was after watching a YouTube video/tutorial on the channel called "On Point" that somehow got me inspired.   Apparently the planets were in alignment and I just jumped in and started.  The 3 YouTube tutorials suggest freezer paper but after working with it, I went to Mylar plastic pattern pieces, and then made photo copies of the pointy arc.  The pattern pieces came from a Karen Stone book. 

These blocks finish at 7 inches, I need 36.  The pieces in the photo are on a flannel board - no decision yet on a setting.

My goal is to make 2 blocks a day.  However, one day, after listening to latest horrible political news, I was so frazzled and upset, I made the block wrong 3 times, miscut, missewed, trimmed wrong, and finally had to throw it out.  That partial jaggey piece in upper right is another example of WRONG after listening to news - I cut wrong, tried to tape it back together, unsuccessfully. 

I was able to finish one block in about 20-25 minutes - see? not really hard.  Just go slow, a few stitches at a time, use something "pokey" to assist with the curves, concentrate with that paper piecing, use starch to stablize the bias.  The paper on the teeth part is regular copy paper - works fine. 

I followed Karen Stone's suggestion on fabrics, using just 5 in each block.  Black and white, white and black, turquoise, pinks, and purples, but used a variety of each color, and am not introducing other colors.   

Little Red Wagon

Quilt Guilt (LOL did anyone notice I said GUILT, not Guild?) meetings or an All Day Sew, require a conglomeration of supplies ... food, totes, machine, Show and Tell, notebooks, BOM stuff, white elephant sale, fabrics, extension cords, books, iron, mats, lamps ... you probably do the same ... and I always need a kind friend to help carry it all, or else have to make numerous trips back and forth to distant parking lot - I'm worn out before the event starts!   I've been seeing a handy rolling cart on sewing event videos. 

I even DREAMed! of what I might be looking for.  I'm out here in the boonies, with few shopping options and you know how a shopper likes to SEE what she's buying.  Last Friday my friend Machell called me and said she just bought one, "Shopko (local chain) has what you want!"  Off I dashed immediately after our conversation.  She got hers on sale somewhere else for $40.00 reduced from $80.00.  I found 2 left at Shopko for $60.00.  Here's mine!

Saturday was Guild meeting and for Show and Tell I bragged on it.  Works and rolls well.  Folds up easily by pulling on that strap you see in the middle of the basket.  Weight limit 150 lbs.   Has big wheels, and collapsing handle.  My car is not large and this fits in trunk with some room to spare.  It weighs about 10-12 lbs,  I'm happy.

Danged changes!

Uh oh - something has changed and I am not receiving comments on my e-mail, therefore I cannot respond to wonderful omments that kind viewers have sent me. 

I have no idea what needs to be done to rectify this situation.  Even managing my Blog is a miracle in itself - no way can I understand all the "Happy Day news for Bloggers" instructions from Blogger on what all this is about.

👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

New York Beauty, Block 1

I've had this book by Karen Stone a long time - I've always looked at it, enjoyed it, slobbered at her gorgeous projects, and I DID make one quilt years ago using her techniques and methods - she sure has an eye for beauty and color!  I really want to make a New York Beauty, but the design seems daunting!

Last night I was watching a series of lessons on New York Beauty on You Tube, the channel (is that what's it's called?) is "On Point TV " and the instructor (Nancy Roelfsema) was building her New York Beauty using EQ8, (Curve Piecing the New York Beauty) I don't have EQ8 but her instructions for the block/quilt were so excellent, I became all inspired and made this block.  I haven't paper pieced for years, but  after a few missteps, it did come back to me.  This block, using Karen Stone patterns, is 7 1/2 in. and nice and square, despite camera angle.



Surprisingly, it sewed quite well and quickly, the first time.  (Remember, years ago, we DID set in sleeves in blouses - yes they were curved seams.)  I made freezer paper templates, and each template will be reused many times.  I'm not sure if my enthusiasm will last for an entire quilt, but in reality, the actual sewing took less than an hour, most of that was the arc and spikes, and I'm practiced now - will probably be faster now.  I didn't have to take out any seams in the curves - just slow stitching and my trusty awl/poker.