Yesterday I did get my Christmas Town Sampler block posted but never had a chance to look at the blocks submitted by Susan, Sheryl and Denise. I knew Denise’s block would be a border block and I knew they’re all pieced. I know Sheryl well enough to know that her block is going to be applique . . still haven’t looked at it. Susan was my only hope for having a pieced block so I went to her post first. OMG! Have you looked at it? Curves! It has curved piecing. It has templates! What is wrong with my friends? We call this “A Collaboration Among Friends”. I’m going to call mine “A Collaboration Among Ex-Friends!” I ask again . . what’s wrong with my friends? They know I only do easy piecing. I don’t do applique. I don’t do curved piecing and I don’t do templates!
I looked at the block. I read Susan’s notes. I read the poem she quoted. Nice poem but I wasn’t having nice thoughts. Susan is such a sweetie . . it’s hard to be angry with her. So, I decided to be angry with Sheryl because it’s really her fault that these other girls are my friends because I met them through Sheryl but then Sheryl’s pretty nice and she’s from Louisiana so I couldn’t be angry with her so that left Denise . . because she’s the one who organized this but then Denise is the one who enables so much of my yarn buying so I couldn’t be angry with her so I said to myself . . stop the whining and do it!
But then I had one last thought — I could just substitute this for an easy block . . a nine patch! That would work. A simple and easy nine patch! Then I told myself .. You cannot do that! So, I put that thought to rest and got busy.
I printed the pattern and cut out the templates. Good first step, right?
Then I ate a Kit-Kat . . good second step, right?
Then I found my big scissors because I need those to cut through four layers of fabric. When was the last time I used a big pair of scissors? Can’t even remember. Then I ate another Kit-Kat.
Now I might be ready to cut out those pieces and try some curved piecing. Susan said it wasn’t hard.
And Susan was so right! It’s not hard! Not one single seam to rip and it’s perfect! Perfect! And I love it.
Thanks, Susan, for a great block.
Am I brave enough to look at Sheryl’s block? Maybe I’ll make one of Denise’s pieced border blocks or maybe I’ll go back to the house and take a nap!
Mary C in WA says
I like this BLOCK! Even if it takes a few KitKats. Vince can go shopping to buy you more. Good Luck on the other CTS Blocks- YOU CAN DO IT!
vickie van dyken says
I vote for a purple pointsettia…but blue will look wintery and cool….like a very cold flower…LOL. So a note on your friends 🙂 they are your friends because they challenge you to come out of your comfort zone, just for a moment, like a one block moment, to show you that …..you CAN do it !!! It will be gorgeous and wonderful, and it will give you a great sense of accomplishment (ROFLOL like you need that??) You are a fabulous piecer and quilter…..and a pretty good appliquer to !!! Come on Judy, no disliking, no complaining, just stretching 🙂 because …..it’s all good.
Vickie (who had a crab, that we caught yesterday, omlette for breakfast…yummmm)
Terri in BC says
Don’t be afraid of curved Piecing or applique! Think of them as more tools for a beatiful quilt. PS: I use my rotary cutter to cut the curved pieces instead of scissors, depending on the size of the curve I may have to use the 28mm size. I even use rotary cutters to cut out clothing patterns – so much more accurate than scissors! Love this quilt pattern, MTW.
Karen says
I love that block!
Margie says
Beautiful job! Almost makes me want to do the sampler.
Ava Crotinger says
Thanks Judy. I was thinking that block was too hard, but now that you’ve walked that mile for us, I’m up for the challenge.
We’re out of Kit-Kats, but I have homemade ice cream in the freezer to help me along the way.
Susan ~ Patchkat says
Come on!!! It’s an easy peasy block…soft curves that I cut out with my 45mm rotary cutter! I didn’t have benefit of Kit Kats either 🙁 but I found a few stale Oreos to get me through it! I’m thinking our dear friend (ex??) Sheryl has lost her everloving mind! All those “A” pieces….argh….there aren’t enough Oreos in the cookie jar for that one!
Denise ~ justquiltin says
ROFLOL – feeling sorry for yourself weren’t you! It was only a two Kit Kat block – not bad. Your block looks great! The curves fit in so nicely on that block you and don’t even have to pin them. I should have preplanned and worked out a payoff plan with you and Susan – I hand applique your blocks and hmmm… I would have come up with something. 🙂 Going to go cut all my poinsettia pieces so I can start stitching them tonight.
Ruth Anne shorter says
Oh I love this and you! I want to do this– if I could just figure out to post photos!
Mel Meister says
I vote for the nap!!
Carol H says
What a beautiful block! Great fabrics and colors!
Valerie says
These are all fun blocks to work on! I think the quilt will be beautiful so I am trying to keep up. I still am working on the applique from last month(I’ve never really appliqued so this is a good time to try it out). Anyway, I wanted to say THanks! to all four of you gals for designing and sharing!
Carol says
LOL. I downloaded the curves and applique blocks and cringed. Not curves! OK, it’s easy peasy…done them before. Got a whole box of chocolate to help. Judy, nice block.
Linda Steller says
Psssst! Piecelique’ . . . makes curves so easy. I learned it from Sharon Schamber and use it for nearly everything curved. So simple I could cry. ;P