2 center square changes..........

This center square is much better.  I knew it needed to have some gold in it.  I have used this print as the center of another block but it is a different area of the print.  The center square I had in it yesterday is the one in the block below.

This center square will do for this one. It could have been a lighter color and looked better but I will leave this one.

This Coneflower is too tall for the area it is in and every year I plan on digging it up and moving it but it is still there.  The humidity level wasn't too oppressing yesterday so it was a good day to get a few little things done outside.  Then I decided late in the afternoon that I should mow the grass because this weekend is supposed to be tropical humidity and mid 90s with heat index over 100.  I got it done in two sessions so I wouldn't get overheated.

More parts sewn...........

I got parts sewn again for the next 3 blocks but didn't sew the blocks together yet.  I'm not positive about the centers in any of them since I'm using squares that were already cut years ago.  I may cut something that is a better match for this one.

The oranges fabric looks OK cut up and works in this block as long as the other color in the churn dash has good contrast.

I'm not sure about the center in this one either.  I'll turn on the iron today and press the pieces and then decide if I'm going to change any center squares.

I was looking out the kitchen window while eating breakfast yesterday and noticed the blackberry lilies are blooming.  I went out with my camera to check it out.

This section of the back garden is so pretty.  Creeping Charlie has covered most of the stone edge again so I need to have a weeding session today while it isn't quite as hot.

Here is a third view from a little different angle.  The coneflowers are a deeper pink but the camera won't pick up the color.

We got some much needed rain yesterday afternoon.  This is the view from the kitchen window while it was still raining lightly.

This shot was taken out the front door while it was raining.  Finally the Tiger Lilies are starting to bloom.

Parts sewn..........

The oranges print in this coloration didn't turn out too badly with the light print for the background.  I didn't want to turn on an iron last night so they are just pieces and parts at this point.

I was pretty sure this one was going to be OK.  The centers are some of the early Kaffe fabrics that I already had cut into 3.5" squares.

This one is pretty good too.  I have three more cut out but it is doubtful that I will get the parts sewn before I post this.  The book I am reading is calling to me.

Pairs of fabric.............

Just a reminder and link: The end is near, my 7 day pop-up shop is open until midnight EDT today, click here.  Then it will be gone.  

I brought all of the rest of the 10" squares upstairs to check which fabrics I had already used in the blocks on the design wall.  Usually there are 2 of each of most of the fabrics in a 10" stack.  I started pairing them preparing for cutting today.  I have no idea how those oranges are going to look cut up.

This is the second group I chose and the first time I have chosen to use  Spot as one of the main churn dash pieces.  So far I had only used it as a center square.

The last group is good contrast so I expect them to look great.  I am cutting with my die cutter so I can do 6 layers at a time, 3 blocks at a time.

The first Early Girl tomato has ripened.  It is about tennis ball size.  The one to the right is a 4th of July variety, about golf ball size.  Far right are super sweet golden cherry tomatoes.  There are so many more tomatoes on the plants and for a couple days we have had the temperatures they like for ripening.  Now we are going back into another heat wave for about a week so I'm hoping for the best.

Day 10...time to bake............

Day 10....Amish Friendship Bread....the day you feed the starter the second time, divide it, and bake 2 loaves.  The temperature was a little lower yesterday and humidity was down some but I should have had the A/C running anyway.  I was wiped out by the end of the day.  While I was in the kitchen I prepared some other food so I won't have to cook for 2 or 3 days.

I petted fabric, didn't sew anything.  I started reading another book instead.  Today the A/C goes on and I will have energy.

Just a reminder and link for the occasional readers of my blog: my pop-up shop is open for a couple more days, click here.  Several people have mentioned to me that they just read my blog once a week so I don't want them to miss out.

Multi-size blocks and block inserts...........

A friend and I were chatting yesterday about previous quilts I have made with multi-size blocks.  This Kaffe Collective one is from way back in 2013.  It is 2 layouts I tried and I sewed the one on the right.  I would like to do another Bear Paw quilt some day and maybe try a variation of the layout on the left.

In 2016 I experimented with different size batik triangles and made two quilt tops of my own original design.  There are 4 different size triangles in both of these.  I really enjoyed making them.

The batik one on the left was made in 2008 and used 2 sizes of crazy pieced blocks.  The batik one on the right uses 2 sizes of 16 patches with a large barely appearing block in the lower right.  The addition was a different kind of block but in the same colors.

This flannel quilt finished in 2015 has inserted New York Beauty blocks.  

And then there are the latest two made of Kaffe Collective fabrics.  The one on the right has a different style block inserted and the one on the left is multi-size of the same block.  I won't rule out making some tiny 4.5" blocks or 6" blocks of the Churn Dash.  Also 12" blocks could be fitted in if I go for all of the sizes.

Thanks Roxanne for prompting me to do this post.  I really didn't accomplish anything yesterday to photograph and a storm came through around 9 so I had my machine unplugged.

21 small and one large.....

I went with the green flowers for the 6" center of the big block.  The small churn dash blocks are 9" finished and the large one is 18" so this is still a pretty small project, just 45" square.  Just one big block looks good now with this many small blocks.  When I add more small blocks I wonder if it will need more big blocks.

When I made this quilt top back in 2017 I had just one large block but of a different pattern than all of the other blocks in the quilt top.  I like the big block a little off center so that means on the churn dash top I probably will want an uneven number of blocks across like it is now at 5 but too small of a quilt, so 7 across is more likely the answer (63").  That means at least 9 blocks down so I need another 38 nine inch blocks.  I guess I had better start pulling fabrics.

Just a reminder and link for the occasional readers of my blog: my pop-up shop is open for a week, click here.  Several people have mentioned to me that they just read my blog once a week so I don't want them to miss out.