Wonky Star Quilt Block Tutorial

Here is a simply tutorial on how to make a 12.5" wonky star block.  The finished size is 12.5"

Cut 13 squares of fabric each cut 4.5" square.
       8 will be for the background         
       4 any color or pattern you choose for the star points - or all  different for a scrappy effect    
       1 any color or pattern you choose for  the center of the star     

Stack the 4 star point squares and slice in half diagonally

Select 4 of the background squares and 4 of the star point triangles.  

Stitch one triangle to the right side of each background square. Changing the angle of the triangles will help create the wonkiness of the star. 

      

Press - cut off excess background fabric on corner.

Sew the remaining 4 triangles to the left side of these 4 background blocks.

press
Cut off all excess fabric on corners - trim  to make 4.5" square.

stitch a completed star point square to both the left and right side as shown 




sew a plain background square to both the left and right sides to the star point squares






Line up the seams, stitch the top row to the middle row. Repeat with the bottom row.

This technique was first devised by Gwen Marston and shown in her  book Liberated Quiltmaking.  I also saw it in Modern Blocks: 99 Quilt Blocks from Your Favorite Designers by Susanne Woods

Be sure to join up in the Flickr group here:  Happy Scrap Quilt block Swap

Happy Scrap Quilt Block Swap

Join us as we swap quilt blocks.

The first block in the swap is this fun scrappy arrow block.

This group is an ongoing swap to trade scrappy blocks. Each swap with give you the specifics and a tutorial on how to make the block.

You can make as many or as few blocks as you wish as long as they are in multiples of 4.

You will mail your blocks to the coordinator who will divide and disperse them back to you.

Include a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope with $4.95 if in the US) PLUS one donation block for the coordinator as a thank you.

This group is OPEN to all and very flexible in structure. You can chose which swaps to participate in. Just send in the blocks by the deadline and wait for your varieties of blocks in return.

Join up in the Flickr group here:  Happy Scrap Quilt block Swap

Here is the Tutorial for making the block


1) Cut:
1 - 4 1/2" square from Fabric A (this makes the arrow)
2 - 4 1/2 " x 2 1/2 " strips from Fabric A


1 - 2 1/2" square from Fabric B


2 - 2 1/2 " squares from the solid white background fabric










2)  Place white square in corner of the large fabric A square - sew diagonally from corner to corner 

3)  Trim the seam allowance from both the white fabric and fabric A to 1/4" to reduce bulk


Repeat this process for the opposite corner.




4)  With right sides together sew the large square from fabric A with the 2 white corners to one of the strips from fabric A -
be sure to note which side to place the strip from the picture


sew other strip to fabric B square


With right sides together sew the 2 remaining pieces together being careful to match the seams.

This is the block to send in the swap - just the single arrow - Happy scrapping :)
here is a video tutorial as well

Be sure to join up in the Flickr group here:  Happy Scrap Quilt block Swap

The Power of the Mind

Everyone has heard examples of people using the power of the mind to achieve great feats.  People have been cured of disease aided by the power of their mind.  The mind has been known to be able to manipulate inanimate objects through telepathy.

Your mind can also be the cause of many illnesses. Most of us think of ulcers and other intestinal problems when we think of stress related maladies.  But you mindset can be the catalyst for almost any disease or illness.

Happiness is a choice and your mind is the biggest factor in determining your happiness level.  How a person perceives the world around them is based on their thought processes when dealing with issues that arise.  We all have problems but there is a huge variance in individual perception of the same occurrences.

Blogging as therapy - Old friends

Blogging can be therapy. Sometimes I don't know what I am feeling until I am actually blogging about it.

For example, have you ever lost touch with a dear friend? You think about that person and imagine how great it would be when you reconnected. I recently had that happen. I found an old dear friend after almost 20 years. I was so excited because we were so close. We talked for an hour on the phone and it was great. There have been a few emails and online chats, but I don't seem to be getting the same enthusiasm in return.

I bring up the special moments we shared and she doesn't even remember us being at the place, to say nothing of the special moment. It is such a let down, that at times I wish it was still just a wish to hope for.

Being Prepared - Cooking for the whole week

This week I started with 3 lbs of Hamburger.  I decided to brown all of the hamburger at one time and make four easy meals.

MONDAY - I made stroganoff
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup white wine
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 cup sour cream
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 cups cooked egg noodles
chopped fresh parsley

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350. Spray 13×9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place beef in large skillet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink, stirring to seperate beef. Drain fat from skillet; set aside beef.

Step 2: Heat oil in same skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add mushrooms, onion and garlic; cook and stir 2 minutes or until onion is tender. Add wine. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in soup, sour cream and mustard until well combined. Return beef to skillet.

Step 3: Place noodles in prepared dish. Pour beef mixture over noodles; stir until noodles are well coated. Bake uncovered, 30 minutes or until heated through.

TUESDAY - I made tacos - very easy with the prepared ground beef


THURSDAY - chili - I made my cheater chili

Cheater Chili Recipe
prepared hamburger - 1 lb
3 small onions
1 canned stewed tomatoes
3 cans chili with beans
1 large can chili mix beans

put in the Crock Pot for 6-8 hours
add crackers, sour cream and cheddar cheese to taste at the table

FRIDAY - Chili Cheese dog

use the leftovers from the tacos and the chili to make one of my favorite Friday meals - kids and grandmas both love them

Getting organized - When your things call out to be reorganized

Have you ever had your things call out to be reorganized.  I had something interesting happen today.

My mother lives with me and she was alone in the house today.  I get a call from her saying that she is hearing a load noise and she thinks it is the boiler (we have a boiler in the basement that heats the greenhouse).   I told her I would be home in about 30 minutes, so since it was a nice spring day, she should wait for me out on the  porch. 

So I hurry up and finish what I was doing and rush home.  As soon as I entered the house I heard a noise that sounded like a loud exhaust fan.  So I thought that she called me home because she forgot to turn off the exhaust fan.  But the noise was coming from my bedroom.

My dog stays in the bedroom when I am gone and when I opened the door, my 95 lb rottweiler came shooting out of the door.  I was startled to see that the noise was coming from under the bed.  It was my sleep number bed that I had stored under my bed - I am currently using a foam mattress.  When I took the sleep number bed apart I left it plugged to the electric. 

Apparently what happened is that the dog's leg hit the control to inflate the bed and it sure was inflating.  It was puffed up that I could not get to the plug to unplug it from the wall or the control to stop in inflation.  I had to go in the basement and shut off electric to the house.

I don't know how long before it would have burst!  I am sure glad my mom called me.  So now it is sitting in pieces on the bed.  So my chore is to disassemble all the parts and stow it safely under the bed.  But before I do that I will have to vacuum all the dust bunnies under the bed.  But if I am doing that I might as well was the sheets.  But if...... and it goes on and on.

Friend Making Monday - Spring

1. Favorite things about Spring: flowers

2. What I'm doing for Spring Break: working in the yard - mulching and preparing for planting

3. Favorite Spring flower: daffodil

4. Do you have a garden? yes and a greenhouse

5. If so, what do you grow. lots of hostas, ornamental grasses, vegetables and annuals

6. Do you do Spring cleaning? not officially - i just clean throughout the year

7. What is your weather *really* like right now? {Just b/c it's "officially" spring, doesn't mean that it feels like it for some of you} today is beautiful - sunny and 60 degrees

8. Snapped any weather related photos lately? Share one with us! on the previous post I posted pics of my daffodils

9. What's your favorite thing to do on a sunny afternoon? walk the dogs

10. Favorite TV show right now? anything reality - survivor - big brother - celebrity apprentice - the bachelor