Minecraft Block Complete Finally!

The birthday party was cancelled.
I found this out at about this point in my process. 
I kept going. Kind of.

My diagram is confusing but useful - it shows where the axe is to be and the orange squares are actually turquoise in fabric - but adding more blue to the diagram was going to confuse me.

The original block pattern I found was made up of 256 - 1 1/2 inch squares. No way was I doing that! Plus it used stabilizer to keep the pieces positioned while sewing into rows - which needed to be rinsed away.

Uh uh. There had to be another way! Hence the reason for my diagram and figuring out where I could make rectangles instead of squares. 

I really wanted to go easy and make all of the green squares just green, but my son vetoed that saying I had to have another colour in the background.

{I was also originally going to do white and make much larger rectangles - like 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 in some places - to fill in the background and just quilt in the pixellation. Vetoed here too.}

So I the project sat for several days until I decided I had to get it off of the design wall so I could quilt quilts. I didn't want all of the tiny pieces falling off when bumped and I didn't want to scrap it.  I realized I could still use it as a Christmas present! Motivation re-engaged :)

It actually went together pretty quickly. I sewed patches together for two rows at a time and then as I worked on the next pair of rows I started to sew rows together.
It was at this point that the block actually started to look *good* or at least recognizable.

The block is finally complete. That was probably the most sewing I've done to make one 16 inch block!!
Now to turn it into something to gift. 
I will quilt it at the 1 inch interval to emphasize the pixels and maybe turn it into a pillow front. 
I have a few more days to think about it, right?

Do you have any projects that are taking a long time to finish right now? How do you find motivation?


With Joy,


Sarah V

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Making Joy - Present and Pattern Packs

I am in a making mood! With Small Business Saturday as the hangover to yesterday's shopping blitz, it feels good to embrace the slow and steady progress involved in making. My project for the day - because I left it to the last minute! - is to make a birthday gift for a party tomorrow. 

This photo is my stash fabrics being cut into 1 1/2 inch strips to hopefully piece together a minecraft block. My son helped me pick out the fabrics.  I'm using the block guide given at Fandom in Stitches. { I found Alice in Wonderland blocks here earlier this week. These blocks just might convince you to paper piece ;) }

While there is a pdf guide I decided to figure out my placement on grid paper. Also my son said to make the background green with small turquoise squares placed throughout it. Really?!  I was a little overwhelmed by the idea of piecing 256 - 1 1/2 inch squares!! I thought I could make less work for myself. That remains to be seen! I'm hoping to strip piece some and make 4 patches and . . . that this will be done today! Wish me luck.

Then I still have to make the block into something - a pillow cover? a bag? Wait and see!

I've also been making some Pattern Packs. The Liberated Patterns Pack includes my Liberated Churn Dash QUILT and Placemats patterns. It's available for $12 USD at my Craftsy shop and in my Etsy shop.

I also made a pack combining the Liberated Churn Dash QUILT and the Double Delight  Patterns - which is already 2 patterns in 1!
I priced this pack at $12 USD also which is a savings over buying the patterns separately.
The Popular Patterns Pack is available in my Craftsy shop.

These packs are not special promotions that will disappear at midnight! They may go away later next year if I decide to offer one big pack. I'll let you know if that happens ;)

I have also decided to start selling made items. My Liberated Churn Dash placemats themselves are for sale in my Etsy shop. I have a drawer full and another stack of placemats in my pantry. I literally don't need anymore - but I love making them. So, maybe you need some or need a handmade gift to give this season? There is only the one set. You can find them in my Etsy shop.



Okay. That puts me back at the sewing machine to make that present. I have 2 different bindings cut as well - let's sew this season up!



With Joy,


Sarah V

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