Busy - busy - Part 2 -

OK -

I WAS going to play with these -

But Plan A didn't work -

And I didn't like Plan B -

But I had a Plan C - and a Plan D -

Plan C - sew sashing to each block with cornerstones - using two different colors - alternating between the blocks.

Sew the sashing first - then the Hearts
They would still be close to the edge - but I would only have to cut sashing/cornerstones.

Advantages -
1 - Joining the blocks should be easy.
2 - Should give me a 4-patch in the corners between the blocks
3 - Don't have to cut 30 new background blocks and "re-kit" them.

Plan D - find some FQ and cut 30 BIGGER background squares - ;))

Plan C didn't seem like it was even worth a try after I un-sewed all eight of the hearts from the background squares - they would STILL be close to the edge - so I skipped that and went straight to Plan D - found some yummy batik Fat Quarters -

That would go with the border/backing fabric that I chose years ago -

And then the question became - how big to cut the new background squares? - 12-1/2" seemed like a good number - but I wasn't sure I wanted to commit to it just yet -

And I still needed to finish up the new pages for my Scrapbook - which I did -

Then I remembered that the next batch closest to being DONE was the batch that needs FMQ -

O Happy Christmas -

And Basic Math -

But before I play with Basic Math -

I want to play with my rulers some more -

And then I see the Deep Red Crumb Blocks sitting there - waiting their turn -

But before I play with those - I wanted to finish up the Dresden Plates - pulled them out - and realized that I already DID the quarter plate sections on the rest of them - and all they need now is the final layout and the "centers" fused and appliqued down -

The "twosies" are already on the wall - I just need to fill in the corners -

And then I can do the layout for the Blue/Green Blocks -

And the Autumn Colors Blocks -

And play with the One-Block Wonder Blocks for this one -

And the Blue one - ;))

It was like -

I want to do this - but I really should do this first - but before I do that - I should do this - and it went on and on and on -

So -

I couldn't decide -

And I made two more Summer Breeze strata instead - LOL - ;))

Now I have four sets - that need to be pressed and cut -

But I also have some tops that need backings made -

Then they need to be layered - and basted -

Before I worry about what size to cut the background squares -

For the Hearts - LOL - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Busy - busy -

And a little too busy to blog - sorry - ;))

After I catch my breath -

And get some photos in order -

And I'll try to update you guys tomorrow - ;))

I WAS going to play with these -

BUT I got sidetracked -

Surprise - surprise - LOL - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Edison -

Thomas A. Edison is credited with a great quote - HERE -

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

And I sure could relate to that - ;))

It was Sunday - and I decided to chase the Kuuipo Squirrel -

So I pulled out a bin with pre-cut 10" squares -

Found a nice set with 34 pieces -

Since I wanted/needed 30 -

That was perfect -

I arranged them on the ironing board so that only the top LEFT corner of each square showed - covering the edges with sheets of white paper - so I could see a mini-version of what the background blocks would look like if I were to put them all up on the design wall -

I was determined not to over-think it - so thought that looked good enough - and labeled each square like a spreadsheet - columns/letters and rows/numbers -

Pulled out the first four Hearts - and arranged them on the background square -

Cutting it a little close with the 1/4" needed for the outside edge - but it looks like it will work - if I snuggle them really close to each other -

Pulled out the next four and arranged them on the next square -

Then decided that I didn't like how the pink on the first one and the yellow on the second one blended in -

So I switched them -

Pink on yellow - much better -

Yellow on pink - much better -

Switching the first two squares didn't seem to mess up the mini-version at all -

So I continued to lay out four Hearts per block - in order -

When I got to the end -

I "kitted" them all up -

One background square and 4 Hearts per baggie - ready to go -

Leaving the first one - that was on the very bottom of the pile -

Gotta watch that 1/4" - but I think it will work -

Decided on the stitch I wanted to use to machine applique the Hearts to the background square and sewed the first block -

And the second one -

Time to test out my seam allowance -

Not perfect - and REALLY close to the seam -

But the back was the deal-breaker -

My presser foot did NOT like sewing next to the Hearts when they got THAT close to the edge -

I tried it again with my "zipper" foot and it didn't like it either -

The Hearts need a lot more "clearance" at the edges -

So - on to Plan B -

What if I appliqued each Heart to a separate background square? -

I laid out the next four Hearts on some squares that I had cut years ago -

And now they look LONELY all by themselves on their own block - LOL - ;))

So I have Plan C - that I'm going to try next -

And - to paraphrase Edison -

I have not failed. I've just found "some" ways that won't work.

I'm sure there are others -

But there is also one out there that WILL work -

I just gotta find it - LOL - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Kuuipo - more playtime -

In EQ7 - with various blocks and layouts - ;))

HEARTS - G -

I could assemble this log-cabin style -
Adding one row at a time starting in the center -

HEARTS - H -

Or I could add sashing -
Which would be nice - to add names/dates of the quilts -

HEARTS - I -

Or - if you imagine the flowers as Hearts -
Blocks of three - with the names/dates on the stems -

HEARTS - J -

Or another version -
If you imagine the flowers as Hearts -
Blocks of three - with the names/dates on the stems -

HEARTS - K -

Or another version with three flower/Heart blocks -
This one has an interesting secondary pattern -

Soooooooo many possibilities -

Can you see why I never could decide? -

I like them all - ;))

Any more thoughts? - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Kuuipo -

Is the name I've given my Memory Quilt - ;))

According to one online Hawaiian word dictionary - HERE -

kuuipo
noun
sweetheart. often used on jewelry–especially the hawaiian bracelets worn by wahine.

And another one - HERE -

ku'uipo
a native Hawaiian word for "sweetheart" or
"lover". seen on gold jewelry in Hawaii.
I'm going to ask my ku'uipo to marry me at Rainbow's!
#kuuipo#kuipo#kooipo#ko'oipo#ku'uipu#kuuipu
by alohas March 03, 2009

And - just because I can't say Kuuipo without thinking of Blue Hawaii -

Here's a video clip from Blue Hawaii with Elvis singing - K-u-u-i-p-o -



===

I have 114 Hearts for Kuuipo -

I've been collecting them for years -

Never could decide what to do with them - ;))

Do I want them all in one quilt? -

Do I want to split them up into smaller quilts -

And/or try to make one for each of the three grandsons? -

Straight set or on-point? -

Same or alternating directions? -

Alternate blocks or not? -

So many questions and decisions to make = too much thinking involved - LOL - ;))

So I didn't think about it that much -

I just kept making them -

Until -

I finished this last batch -

And actually COUNTED them!! -

I have 114 Hearts for Kuuipo -

Guess it's about time I figured out what to do with them - ;))

So I played in EQ7 for a while and came up with these possible maybes -

Hearts - A -
10" Blocks - Straight Set - No Sashing -
4 Hearts/block - 5x6 layout - 30 blocks - 120 hearts
50" x 60" without borders

Hearts - B -
6" Blocks - On-Point - Alternating - No Sashing -
1 Heart/block - 8x8 layout - 113 Blocks - 113 Hearts
70" x 70" without borders

Hearts - C -
6" Blocks - Straight set - Alternating - No Sashing -
1 Heart/block - 10x10 layout - 100 blocks - 100 Hearts
60" x 60" without borders

Hearts - D -
6" Blocks - Straight set - Alternating - No Sashing - Different Orientation -
1 Heart/block - 10x10 layout - 100 blocks - 100 Hearts
60" x 60" without borders

Hearts - E -
6" blocks - On-Point - Alternating - With Sashing -
1 Heart/block - 7x8 layout - 98 Blocks - 98 Hearts
80" x 90" with borders and sashing -

Hearts - F -
6" blocks - On-Point - Alternating - With Sashing - With Solid Block Border -
1 Heart/block - 5x6 layout - 50 Blocks - 50 Hearts
70" x 80" with borders and sashing -

Any opinions??? -

Other options??? -

What do you think??? - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -