I’m finding it rather hard to believe I’ve already got 25 of these blocks done! Every one of them has been an absolute joy to make. This one was no exception.

The back:
Two decisions made. First of all, I’m going to keep making these blocks with these types of fabrics until I have … well, I don’t know how many blocks. They’re so much fun to make and will make a really colourful quilt. I will do another with more fussy cutting/printing to get the special effects as in the original.

The second decision? I’m going to start the Mary Wigham Sampler, found at Needleprint. I ordered my linen on the weekend and, as soon as it arrives, will be ready to go. I’ve ordered a cream linen, and am thinking of doing all the stitching in a Wedgwood blue. That’s still a tentative idea, though. It may well change by the time the linen arrives.

It was a rather odd weekend as far as weather goes. Sunday it kept threatening to really pour down, but never quite did — at least not until later in the evening. The sky at sunset was an odd orange colour, not a normal sunset colour at all. I later heard that there were funnel clouds spotted in the surrounding areas.

Saturday was rather nice, albeit a bit cooler than last week. Lester was enjoying the windowsill.

Smudge, on the other hand, was relaxing in his favourite chair.

The pieces with the blue stripe had been printed for a while and I kept playing with them with different fabrics. I finally tried them with the black and block 24 is now done:

The back:
I may keep making more and more of these blocks and turn this into the larger quilt. That decision will be made once I’ve made a few more blocks. Making other blocks with a lot more fussy cutting and more directional prints is something I want to do but I love how colourful a quilt this would be with the blocks I’ve made so far.

Another picture of Lester on the windowsill with the outstretched paws. This one’s especially for Karen Dianne.

And an upside-down Smudge.

In honour of summer, I just had to make one of the POTC blocks with a floral and some greens.

The back:

We had another glorious hot and humid day. I wish summer lasted more than a couple of months. This weather is fantastic!

I couldn’t resist this shot — as the sun was going down, it was reflecting off the glass in one of the office towers and the gold shining through the leaves was really pretty.

Smudge — I’m not quite sure what that look is saying, but he looks almost small in this shot!

And Lester in his favourite spot — on the windowsill. He stretches right out and shows off his lovely big paws!

Block 21 done — lots of dots and some stripes. This block went together very quickly.

The back:

Wendy at Ivory Spring has been working on a sampler called the Mary Wigham sampler. I’ve been reading Wendy’s posts about this and have been fascinated by it. The sampler itself is something I think I’d love to stitch. Wendy’s posts led me to Needleprint, which is making the idea of the sampler altogether too tempting. I’m trying hard to resist though. I have enough on the go with quilting — at least that’s what I’m trying to tell myself!

Lester, once again enjoying himself on the windowsill.

I decided Thursday night to try auditioning a fabric for the connecting squares. This is interesting, but perhaps a bit dark considering that I’ll be doing some fussy cutting of 1″ squares for the units that are used at the intersections of 4 blocks. We’ve got errands to run today but when we get back, I’ll try some others.

One of the errands may just get us real close to the LQS. Just in case, I’ll have the window templates with me as I want to look for border prints, stripes and paisleys to start getting the fabrics together for the large POTC quilt. Thursday was day 2 of a migraine, and it’s not quite finished yet but I refuse to let it stop me.

Lester mid yawn or perhaps in the midst of saying a little something:

And Smudge relaxing in a typical Smudge position:

Six more blocks to go and I’ll have the 25 for the lap quilt done. It may actually be eight more blocks as I think two of the ones I have need to be replaced, but that’s a decision to be made when the remaining six are done.

As of right now, I think this will be the centre block of the 25. I love the idea of a yellow and orange centre.

The back:

Ideas for a border are floating through my mind already and I keep coming back to something with curved piecing. The other decision to be made is what colour fabric to use for the 1″ connecting squares between blocks. I’m leaning towards something either very bold and bright or something very soft and unobtrusive. Think I’ll finish adding the setting pieces to one more block so that I can start auditioning fabrics for those little squares.

I’m not the only one making these addictive blocks. Charlsey has posted some of the ones she has been making. I love seeing what others are doing with these blocks as they all have such a different look!

Wednesday was an overcast, rainy day, the first of three. They say we will finally get some real summer heat towards the end of next week. I can’t wait.

Lester on the windowsill on Tuesday:

A close-up of Smudge. I think he was practicing his lounge lizard look.