Step 3 - Center Blocks of Stars in the Valley QAL

This has been a great time to have a QAL 

when 

you live in the North Pole 

(Ok ...Canada)

and

there is a 3 day long blizzard!

It really piled up out there

but 

the cows pulled through with plenty of bedding!

My son, Jeremy's dog Diesel has been BORED out of him mind.

He normally is outside so this small elephant of a dog

has

taken to the couch for the last few days. 

We are on to step three - The centers of our blocks! 

You will need your 6 1/2" background squares

and

3 1/2" colored squares

I am using blue Bliss wideback by @northcottfabrics 

and

Diamond Dots wideback by @wilmingtonprints

These will be square in a square blocks. 

A little tip I got from a friend for keeping your iron board clean

and

getting crisp seams was to put a piece of freezer paper

with

the wax side down and press on this till it gets worn out. 

I find it makes a world of difference keeping the heat in your blocks

for

crisp pieces! 

Another this notion I love is Diagonal Seam Tape 

by

 @cluckclucksew

 You don't have to draw your lines on your pieces

I thought Sherri at @quiltinglife does a fabulous job showing how to use it! 

Check it out! 

I have a few rolls in stock if anyone needs one !

If you prefer to draw the lines....

No pressure! 

You sew down the center line on each square...

Or stitch corner to corner if you have the tape installed.

Either way works great! 

It's tricky to get pics sometimes as I have a supervisor named Lucy!

She is also dying for attention

and

figures if I am sitting down I should be spending it with her! 

Eventually.... 

You get your first set of corners sewn on the center block! 

I like to take the pieces cut off from the sides

and

sew them together as they are free HST's for another project! 

Do the same to the other side 

 

You will have 13 center blocks! 

It's an easy step! 

After all, it's Easter and most of us are on cooking duty! 

but seriously, I am loving all your participation in this QAL!

The blocks are looking incredible. 

All the color combinations are amazing!

Great Job, Charlene! 

This purple is a wide back by @PBTextiles called Day Dreams.

This navy and the background are two widebacks 

by 

Westrade Textiles

This quilt takes a lot of fabric so it's very efficient to use widebacks!

I loved this meme Leanne created....

There is actually 156 HST's....

so 

it's actually 87.36 years! 

LOL

You are all doing fabulous and I hope you are having fun!

Anyone can join our Facebook page to see the fun!

It is Stars in the Valley QAL

Thanks for the meme, Sylvia! 

I hope everyone had a great Easter with friends and family! 

Nice to get back to some normalcy! 

Now bring on Spring... I am ready! 

Christa 

 

May...Please Send Some Showers!

AGAIN...

 where is the time going!?!

Spring has definitely arrives slowly with still no moisture in sight.

But like true farmers we continue our process with HOPE.

Justin has been incubating chicks....

We finished seeding yesterday....

In the dust.....so I am going with 'the bins will bust'

I try to elevate my tractor lunches..

A mini charcuterie board menu...

Some flax crackers, Balderson cheese and grape tomotoes

with

a Perrier water!

Can't get higher end field food than that!

The potatoes are in... 

the rest of the garden to follow later this week

In case you missed it....

Tula Pink Butterfly in Blue and Brown Batiks

Angela of @gypsysoulfabrics and I

 hosted

 a pop up shop 

in 

April on my farm!

We had time slots to try to space people out during the event.

Terry Whitman was in attendance 

as

 our local FABULOUS custom free motion Longarmer!

 

There were quilts hung on the lawn

for 

a little eye candy!

Alaska Quilt by Laundry Basket Quilts

This is Lady of our Lakes free pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co.

 using 

Balinese Batiks I have started to carry.

Easy Peasy! 

This was a free pattern by Border Creek Station of Ontario.

Every year she does a Stash buster. 

This one is Eclectic Elements by Tim Holtz

and

a mottled wideback for the background.

I added Delectable Mountains as the border. 

Three Dudes Quilt Pattern on Missouri Star Tutorials

 using 

Royal Nights by Wilmington

We should be restocked this week with this one!

Some teasers using backings like the black as fronts!

This pattern is by Taralee Quiltery from Manitoba

Whispering Pines panel with yardage...

Just winged this one making the Delectable Mountains fit the panel!

Can't wait for July as this is supposed to be restocked then!

This quilt is Eidos by Modern Quilt Guild

using 

all wideback fabric from Westrade Fabrics

I quilted it myself using Quilters Dream Wool doubled up

to

get alot of texture

The Batiks were a hit! 

I have tried to carry enough color selection

in a range of tones

Like a crazy fool....

I just ordered a THIRD box of Batiks from Bali

and 

hope to do another Facebook Live near the end of June.

With a pop up shop to follow!

I want to thank everyone for all their support! 

I think I have it all posted to the website now 

but 

if you ever need a hand or have a question,

don't hesitate to message or email!

It was a lovely day for a drive

and

I think everyone really enjoyed a piece of some 'normalcy'

Maybe we will see you in June! 

I'll keep you posted! 

Christa