Math Geeks Unite

It's finished!
You knew I'd get it done in time. I finished the binding at 1:30AM, rinsed it in the washer and pinned it to the carpet to block it. I went to bed at 2.


After I started stitching down the binding, I realized I hadn't added a sleeve. By that time, everyone else was asleep, so I had to decide by myself which end would be up. This the way I had been looking at it for a while, so it seemed right. This morning, I wish I had turned it 90 degrees, so the big block is on the bottom, weighting it all down. Maybe I'll change it someday.

You can kind of see the spiral. I wish I had couched a fiber or appliqued a tiny "stem" to make it stand out more, but I didn't want to cover my pointy points.

I included the failed test block on the label.

I'm on my way to Providence now to drop it off.
If anyone is planning to attend MQX on Friday, let me know. Karen and I will be there! We'd love to meet you!

Challenging Choices

I hadn't considered how challenging this challenge piece would be.
I shuffled, sorted, piled, and moved fabric around.

I waited until Julia got home from school so I could run it by her before I started cutting. Then I cut the wrong pieces out of a main fabric. Ugh! Plan B.
All cut out and ready to sew.

Bear Paw

I took some time yesterday to design my MQX Charity Challenge piece. One requirement is that it has to contain at least one bear paw block. I wanted to see if I could accurately piece a small one and I was really pleased that I could! (It is perfectly square in real life. Ignore the bad camera angle.) They will be way nicer with the provided batiks.

On the bear theme, my brother sent me a slide show of Maine wildlife department employees doing health check ups on hibernating bears. I'm terrified of bears, so that is one job I will never have. The cubs are soooo cuuute!

Pete had a short school day today, only one mid-term exam, so we did a little shopping. We are attempting to jump start the economy single-handedly! He needed new boots and a sleeping bag for all those Boy Scout campouts, and we did major damage at Wal-Mart. You know all those staples add up, but a teenager has no clue. He was shocked at the bill and asked if he could keep the receipt. Whatever.

Poor Julia is swamped! Mid-terms, a huge global studies project due next week, swim meets, and rehearsals every day for the high school production of Cinderella this weekend. She can't wait until February!

Star Crazy 1

I've gone Star Crazy! Here are my month 1 blocks for the Star Crazy Block of the Month from the Quilt Show. I'm hoping my new friends at the Star Crazy Log Blog will keep me on track. This quilt will be an anniversary gift for my husband and I'm happy to announce that he really likes these first few blocks.


The pattern suggested paper-piecing the half-square triangles, which I wasn't sure I wanted to do. I figured I'd give it a try and I love it! I'm hooked. There are a boatload of HSTs in this pattern, so I'm very happy that this technique is so accurate. Look at those perfect little HSTs!

I forgot to tell you about another challenge on my list. It is the MQX charity challenge for the New England Quilt Museum. The small quilt has to include a Bear Paw block and use this yummy fabric. The deadline is March 1. Wish me luck!