The Flu...

has had ME in it's grip this past week...

and I'm still keeping more a handkerchief in my hand than a needle...

In my sewing room is heard...

 more male voices than voice of the sewing machine.

But yesterday I forced myself to sew at least one block this week!

 It's block eleven of 2012 Designer Mystery called 'County Fair', designed by Julie Comstock.

When I look the block closely, I clearly see a new pattern for my Starry -quilt.

ATsCHIII!!!! 

Oh, I'm so sorry!!!

Luckily we are not now face to face... and you are safe behind your own desks...

I have found a lot of new inspirations in these two books...

... above is a Finnish version of the newest book by Arne & Carlos 'Neulo kesä kotiisi',

below is the book by Ayumi Takahashi 'Patchwork, please!'

Tomorrow I'll try to spend some time 'in Pumpkinville' ;o)...

I'm now appliqueing block six...

hopefully I'll finish it tomorrow

Above is block five, which I got ready last Sunday...

before this horrible disease struck... ATShiuuuu!

Sorry again!

See you next week

... hopefully in more healthier atmosphere...

Sunday Drive

... but before we start the engine, I show you one more star.

If the Patchwork star was one of my favorite stars, I think the Nested star is the other.

 Oh, I love this star pattern!!!

Except I did not remember to pay enough attention to the direction of a lighter green fabric. Damn...Simpura sentään! Oh well, no one is perfect...

Now... Are you ready for 'a drive'? It's only a short one...

... but looks very curvy and complex! 

What do you think, did I handle it?

 Wov! So many crossings on the way!

Have to be careful with the direction of the pressings...

Luckily I have my own ironing-inspector ;o)... Fenix, advice me immediately, if I press the seams wrong!

FeNIX! FENIX!

Oh no, he has fallen asleep!!! Well, I need to cope alone...

After a few hours of 'hard' work... öhöm... drive ;o)

I saw it finished...

It's a block called 'Sunday Drive', 

designed by Polly Minick & Laurie Simpson.

The block is tenth block of the 2012 Designer Mystery BOM. This mystery ends in May and a new mystery begins in June. More of these Designer mysteries you can read here.

I'm glad, if YOU were with me to the end of this drive...

as opposed to the one inspector ;o)

JOYFUL WEEK, but drive carefully!!!

Saturday With HSTs

Yesterday when I read the blog posts I came across this Virtual Quilting Bee post.
Yesterday was also the first block tutorial of that bee at Sherri's place.
When I woke up this morning I saw few fat quarters of  'Beach House' on the shelf in my bedroom. Yes, it was not a dream, I really have fabrics in my bedroom too...
Before I notice I had cut fabric pieces for two blocks, which are based on - more or less - half square triangles (=HSTs).

So let this be a HST day...

I followed quite closely Sherri's tutorial...

except I draw two lines on the back of all 6 background squares. 

The drawn lines are at the distance of seam allowance from the both side of the corner. I sewed right beside the drawn lines. Thereby the final miniblock is the most accurate. I learnt this method, when I have sewed those green STARS...

Viime aikoina olen huomannut, että saan tarkimmat kolmioiksi puolitetut neliöt aikaiseksi, kun piirrän kaksi viivaa, joista kumpainenkin on saumanvaran etäisyydellä kulmasta. Ja sitten ompelen aivan viivojen vierestä niiden sisäpuolelta.

8" Star Block made of HSTs.
Well, almost... the middle square is just square...
The print fabrics are Blackbird Design's 'Beach House' line...
a few years ago, so it's not a new line.

The second HST based block is...

... the 2012 Designer Mystery Block 'Lakeside Retreat'.
It's the ninth block... three more ahead...

Finally...
 Fenix is showing you all the blocks together...

... Oh, except one...

Happy stitching(?) Sunday to You!!!!