Monday, September 5, 2016

Block #4! Maggie's Dance Card is Getting Full!

Well, thank God for this sew along. Otherwise, I obviously would have no need to blog! Have I mentioned August is not my favorite month? And clearly I had nothing good to say. So let's hope September is better and this isn't the only time you'll be hearing from me!

One of the reasons I was only too happy to lend my blogging and sewing services to this sew along is that as a designer, I rarely have time to work with someone else's pattern. Between all the designs in my own head and trying to work on those, weed out those that don't work, get a few out into the world each year, and sharing them on the road with lectures and workshops, along with these other people living in my house and demanding attention, it's honestly a real treat to just follow someone else's lead for a bit, and of course to put my own little touch on it in the form of scrappiness!

The green/blue/purple/yellow theme continues with block #4!

And you know what else continues? My overarching lifetime theme of imperfectionism.

Nice job on that butterfly placement! Woo hoo!

You might wonder if I noticed the problem before I added the grey corner. You might not be at all surprised that yes, I did, but my next thought after an expletive was "What the heck ever." Sometimes butterflies fly just out of our sight. Let's pretend I wanted to get all philosophical with this block and the meaning of butterflies we just can't quite reach, rather than the true fact that I suck at applique placement.

In other imperfect news, I am still trying to decide if I should redo the purple in block #2 - top left in this photo.

True to my word at the beginning, I've kept it scrappy and used different greens, blues, purples, yellows, and even different greys and whites in each block. It's all being pulled from my scrap bins every month. My actual yardage stash is likely feeling very neglected. In any case, though, the purple in block #2 is a bit more on the maroon side than the rest of them. Can I live with it? I'm not, after all, one to stress over these things or be one with my seam ripper. I am, however, one to be obsessive about color sense, and I think I generally have a good one.This purple just might not work. But I'm willing to do some alternate blocks next month and see if I can settle it down a bit.

I'm sure you all have opinions. Feel free to share them. I may or may not take your advice or my own even, but it's always nice to have options and ideas.

This month's giveaway is sponsored by Deanne of Snuggles Quilts. Who doesn't love a snuggle?


Win three of her beautiful patterns just by entering! In the comments, to celebrate the end of my least favorite season and the beginning of my favorite, tell me what you are looking forward to most about this fall. If you hate fall, that's okay, but I hope you can find something to look forward to in the next few months or life will just be sad. Sad like half a butterfly. We don't want that.

Happy sewing! 



84 comments:

Anonymous said...


I look forward to Fall so I can sleep better.....nothing like a nice cool night with the AC off and the windows open. It's the best! Thanks for the giveaway.

Judy1522 said...

I am looking forward to the turning of the leaves and being able to walk through them when they fall to the ground. I love that sound of the rustling leaves. I don't know what I would do about block 2 as I really don't like to have to take things out. I think that I would probably try to balance it out with a similar color in another block. I really like that you didn't rip out the dragonfly and reposition it after all in paintings sometimes they are about what is just off the canvas that you can't see.

Julie said...

I am looking forward to my annual late October quilting trip to Sedona, AZ with my sister and niece. We sew, watch movies, hike, shop, and eat at some wonderful restaurants.

Cathy L Wilson said...

I love fall in Texas! Not that we always have beautiful fall colors but it means a break in the heat and humidity for a while. Hopefully,it will be here soon!!!
cathylouwilson@gmail.com

Southern Gal said...

I love fall and spring. In fall I look forward to evenings spent by the fire pit (if we can keep the mosquitoes at bay),taking school outside and college football.

SloDian said...

I love fall cooking and getting to wear warmer clothes

SloDian said...

I love fall cooking and getting to wear warmer clothes

Joanne said...

I love your scrappy version! It is very refreshing and fun. As for the butterfly, I choose to believe he is simply flying under something and you are only seeing half. :-)

I love Fall, mostly because of the colors that I find stunning and a jumping point for fabric combinations for various projects. The cooler weather doesn't hurt either. :-)

rosemaryschild said...

I lIove your blocks just as they are, wouldn't change a thing. I am looking forward to fall, the promise of cooler days to come ( I live in southern Mississippi), the heat has been unbareable this year, but plenty of inside, in the AC, quilting to do. spierssusan52@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I love the fall with all the fall colors and the crispness of the air. I enjoy the coming holidays and look forward to these the most with getting the family together to enjoy all the grandkids. Also, to completing all the quilt gifts for Christmas! Stanglvr2@aol.com

Geri A said...

Oh, I love the purple and teal together in your blocks. Don't change!!

Love to decorate for fall - use lots of pumpkins, cloth leaf garlands, orange lights!!

DD said...

Love love fall, the colors, cooler weather, end of garden and slow down on yard work...so more studio time woohoo.
Great job on Maggie's blocks.

Anonymous said...

Your blocks are fabulous! Stop kicking yourself like that! Fall represents birthdays, pumpkins and Thanksgiving to me...always look forward to that. minddotlessatcomcastdotnet

Donna W said...

Looking forward to driving around the countryside in our 1960 MGA and looking at the beautiful colors. Always fun to drive the backroads and find new places to see.

Carol said...

The cooler temperatures and the colors!

kupton52 said...

I am most looking forward to crisp, cooler temperatures this fall....I melt in the summer heat...and believe me I did alot of melting this summer (although you can't tell from looking at me...lol). Thank you for the laugh...I love (and envy) your take on imperfectionism. Would you be my new role-model?

tac73 said...

Love fall! Looking forward to long walks and quilting.

Linda said...

October is my birthday month, so I'm looking forward to that!
ljbisme at msn dot com

Char Nash said...

I am looking forward to cooler temps! We in the Midwest are not used to 90s day after day!

Lisa England said...

I'm looking forward to football! We're headed to a college game later this month. Fun stuff.

Unknown said...

The one thing I like about fall is the temperatures finally going down here in this Texas heat. I also look forward to the changing colors of the leaves. The main thing I am looking forward to this year is going to NYC for the first time in October and visiting my cousin.
Krystal
yasemin84@aol.com

Ruth said...

Cooler weather - I always look forward to that!

Unknown said...

Cooler weather!!! This summer has been extremely hot here in the South. I can wait to see the leaves changing and to see the squirrels playing and looking for nuts in my yard.

Renea said...

I love the Fall season. The cooler nights are my favorite along with the colors. Thanks for the great giveaway.

Kathryn said...

I love throwing the windows open to enjoy the great cool weather.

MoeWest said...

Your blocks make me think that I don't use purple often enough! I like the change from summer to fall. The fall colours are so pretty and I like the cooler nights. If winter could hold off until December, I would be perfectly happy with that.

littlexiegirl01 said...

I totally agree with you about August....it just sucks! But Fall is coming....and I can't wait for the weather to change, the smells in the air, the festivals happening around... I love Fall!! Thanks for the giveaway! And I just love the colors of your Maggie quilt!! Its beautiful!

heathquilter said...

Fall is definitely my favorite...here in Texas it comes late, but we treasure the cooler weather and all the festivities! Our State Fair is from end of Sept to mid October!!Thanks for the chance!

Bubba and Nana said...

LOVE LOVE Love Fall....we make a pilgrimage back to the Amish Country in PA mosts years (from New Mexico) to see the beautiful colors and be there for harvest time. Amazing scenery.


Thanks for the giveaway
Terry

Cindy said...

I look forward to cool, sweater days and hot chili!

dquilterguy said...

I am looking forward to the changing colors of fall, the arrival of apples, pears plums from the fruit trees, and especially this year, the cooler temps - away from the 90s we have endured this summer. dhardenburg (at) prodigy (dot) net

hueisei said...

I live in a hot and wet county. It's the raining season during the fall, so I look forward to sunny weather.

Anonymous said...

I look forward to the cooler weather for sweaters and sweatshirts!!!! Also love the fall colors.

Unknown said...

I love the color of autumn, I have my birthday in Octobe, more time to sew.

Anonymous said...

Love It, I get to go around the lake here at the house and pick up all the really cool Maple, Elm and any other beautiful red & orange leaves I can find. My husband laugh's at me cause I have probably at least 25-30 leaves in the process of being Modge Podged, to decorate the house. :) lol Thanks for the contest!

Marsha B said...

I love the fall, love the colors of fall, the cooler weather and Halloween. But I like something about each of the seasons. This year has been a busy travel year, but things are winding down and I can sit and sew!

Bonnie said...

Love the color combination in your blocks! I am looking forward to the cooler weather and beautiful fall colors. bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

dbuggy1 said...

I enjoy being outside with less mosquitoes! ha! (I live in the south) Mostly what I look forward too is more family time around Halloween and Thanksgiving. I love that our house is filled with the wonderful aroma of pumpkin pie and the sound of laughter.

mgquilts said...

Cooler weather. I'm a Minn transplant to Texas and the long summer weather gets to be too much for me. The upside to this is that I spend more time indoors and in my sewing room!

Cheryl said...

I'm looking forward to cooler weather in the fall. Hot flashes in 95 degree heat are yucky and miserable! Love your humorous outlook on the butterfly. Got quite a good chuckle out of that! ;)

Nanna Ray said...

Here Downunder we are moving into Spring -- my favourite season, especially my home town of Toowoomba which is known as the Garden City. So much colour in the gardens and parks one can't help but be inspired and motivated to stitch, stitch, stitch!,, Happy stitching wherever you maybe -- Nanna Ray

Jackie said...

I love fall. The cool, fresh air is so wonderful.

Janet L. said...

I love fall with its cooler temperatures and pretty leaves!

Denise Parish said...

Here in Australia our seasons are different and we are just now into Spring. It will be great as it has been really cold and wet worse in over 17 years they are telling us. Bring on the sunshine.

Elaine said...

I love the cooler weather,mums, fall activities and snuggling. Wish fall lasted until February. Thanks for the giveaway.

Sumac said...

Love to see the foliage turn. Spring is really my favorite when all the plants are coming up.

Darlene B said...

I love decorating for fall. Love the cooler temperatures, too!

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I am looking forward to the cooler temperatures and the leaves changing colors.

Suze said...

I love the cooler weather in OK in the fall. It's been very HOT in OK this year. Even though I love pastels, I enjoy seeing the beautiful fall colors. There is a Forest Festival 30 miles from my hometown. It was always fun to go to the parade and see the excitement of welcoming fall. It was hot marching in a wool band uniform years later. I also like the increased interest I usually have in crafting.

Sister4 said...

I love fall for several reasons including the following: in the south we finally start to see cool weather, my birthday is in the fall, beautiful leaves, the smells of fall like ripe grapes on the vine, and beautiful sunsets.

Thank you for the opportunity to win patterns.

Janie Bettis said...

I love Fall! I love the clear, crisp colors of the sky and trees. I always get a strong homey feeling. To me Fall is a time of beginning and waking, lazy waking! Two of my children were born in Fall, and I love Thanksgiving.
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
Janie
isabellaswhimsy@yahoo.com
isabellaswhimsy(at)yahoo(dot)com

wendy said...

I enjoy fall as long as it is not cold and dreary. Love the color changes, enjoy hot apple cider, walking in the woods. Thanks!

judi said...

I like Fall best as well and I don't like summer very much. This summer has been slightly more appealing as we have a pool in our apt. complex that is only open in the summer.

Unknown said...

Fall is my favorite season. I look forward to fall foliage, pumpkins, fresh, crisp apples and cool nights on the porch wrapped in quilts.

Anonymous said...

School is starting and the garden is ready to harvest. It is time for shelves full of salsa and canned tomatoes. I love the white pumpkin I have growing and the sound of the trumpeter swans flying overhead. I am sad to see summer end, but can't wait for halloween!

Hippiecx44@aol.com said...

School is starting and the garden is ready to harvest. It is time for shelves full of salsa and canned tomatoes. I love the white pumpkin I have growing and the sound of the trumpeter swans flying overhead. I am sad to see summer end, but can't wait for Halloween!

judyanncreations@comcast.net said...

I love the cooler days and crisp evenings in the fall.

Anonymous said...

I love the colors and cooler weather of fall. I quilt a lot with those colors too! I love fall!

Kathy E. said...

I like fall, but don't love it. I look forward to the cooler temperatures and lower humidity. The crunchy leaves are fun to walk through on our evening walks, but not fun to collect in the backyard. (We have tons of leaves!) I enjoy the lovely colors of the trees along the bluffs of the Mississippi River too!

Bev @ kwiltpharm said...

I am so glad the humid heat of August is finally giving way to cooler nights! Plus, all the beautiful colors of autumn will be coming into show as the greens fade.

mangozz said...

I love fall because of the cooler weather and the foliage.

12Create said...

We are heading in to Spring in New Zealand but the thing I like about fall (we call it autumn) is walking through the lovely coloured autumn leaves in parks and just seeing the beauty of autumn colours.

Jodi - usairdoll said...

I love your color choices and think your blocks are lovely. I had a giggle about your butterfly but hey, not all the butterflies are an inch above the flower. I think it's great! I'm looking forward to some cooler weather. It's been over 100 here several times and the heat wears me out. Cooler weather and my grandson's sixth birthday are two things I can't wait for.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

cookie said...

I look forward to the cool breezes, the colder mornings, the change of color in the hills and mountains, the smell of harvest, the ringing of recess bells, the smell of pumpkin pie...I love fall!!! Thank you for the giveaway!

Unknown said...

Fall... I love windy days and the gorgeous fall colors! But here on southern hemisphere we are just approaching SPRINGTIME!!!

Unknown said...

I love fall with cool mornings and no more yard work so more time for sewing

Unknown said...

The smell and the colors of fall are the best.

Susan said...

Fall, my favorite time of the year. I love the cooler temps with less humidity, the scents, the colors and cleaning up the yard-even raking leaves.

I would say wait before doing anything with block 2. You might find that it will be fine when all blocks are said and done. If not, you can make a new one and keep the old one as an orphan block for something else.

MissPat said...

I'm looking forward to cooler weather, the wonderful colors of fall, and fresh crisp apples.
I think your blocks look great just the way they are, but then these are my favorite colors.

Garnet said...

Fall is my favorite time of year - cooler temps and less humidity, not to mention all the local craft festivals.
Your choices for the blocks are wonderful - don't worry about the butterfly wings - just add another wing on top :)

Linda said...

I'm looking forward to cooler days and the yellow,red, orange colors!

CyndyK said...

I am definitely looking forward to cooler weather in the fall. cknapp3626@sbcglobal.net

JANET said...

I am looking forward to cool weather, and hopefully rain!!

Susan Hartley said...

I am looking forward to our vacation - 3vweeks in Europe including a 19 day cruise. We leave in just 2 days - hurray! Unfortunately, it will be 3 weeks of no sewing but there really won't be time for it anyway in our busy schedule.

Susan Hartley said...

Oops, that's 10 day cruise.
BTW, I think the purple in block 2 is very close to the purple in the block beneath it so it works for me!

Susan Hartley said...

Oops, that's 10 day cruise.
BTW, I think the purple in block 2 is very close to the purple in the block beneath it so it works for me!

Anonymous said...

Am loving your blocks so far.
What I am looking forward to this fall? Football ... football ... football ... and wearing sweatshirts. That and moving into a new place with no leaks. It's the small simple things that excite me. There will be plenty of quilting going on as well - plenty of scrappy crazy colorful quilting.

Camille said...

I agree that the block you are concerned about is a bit off from the hues of the others. However, my advice would be to continue on and make a decision after you have completed all of the blocks. If it still bothers you, remake the block. Sometimes a variant hue adds an unexpected interest. I am looking forward to top down fun in the Mini Cooper on sunny fall afternoons.

Linda J. said...

Living in Surprise, Arizona I am looking forward to fall, cooler weather. We have had enough of the heat. It doesn't interrupt my sewing, never !

Blessings to You !

Susan L. said...

I am most looking forward to the cooler temps of Fall. Also, the lovely colors of the leaves.

mazl said...

I love Autumn it is my favourite time of the year. The warm days fade into cooler evenings and sometimes we even light the wood fire - yum. There are no fears of bush fires now the the hot blustery winds have abated, the cool rains start to fill the water tanks and lawn slowly stops growing. I find my warmer clothes and hunker over my sewing machine and computer without feeling a hint of guilt. Dreamy days, cooler evenings, misty mornings and peace. Enjoy your fall with all the glorious colours of a northern hemisphere deciduous season.

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

Love Autumn! Everything about it! The colors! The earthy smells! Food! What is there Not to love about it~ I hope you find joy in some of your least favorite seasonal days!

Sally said...

I'm looking forward to cooler weather, pumpkins, coffee, hot chocolate, mums, and beautiful colors of leaves!
Autumn is my favorite season.

Lauri said...

I love fall because that's when my quilt sandwich stops smothering me while it gets quilted! Ha!

I would leave the maroon-ish fabric. It will make the quilt extra scrappy. Plus, I'll bet by the time all is said and done there will be another fabric bit or two or three that will help make it sing.

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