In Flanders Fields
John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Please have a safe and happy Memorial Day.  And let's all stop for just a few moments to honor those who gave everything for this great country and the freedom we so often take for granted.  

Just a quick post today to show off the #7 Block from Shannon's Blog.  I just love the stars she has chosen and they are so easy to set together.
This one is called "4 Corners Star".
I'll be adding it to my blog header later...but for right now I'm heading back to my room to take off all those light fabrics on the Christmas Diamonds blocks.  That should keep me occupied for awhile.

Everything in my yard seems to be a couple of weeks later than normal this year.  Two days ago my Scarlet poppies started blooming!  But the wind has been blowing something fierce the last several days and they are really beat up.  So I'll pull a pic from last year.
Something to brighten your day.... 
Have a great one.   

Another Design Wall Monday (according to Judy at Patchwork Times) rolls around.   I missed last week so I wanted to be sure to get this posted today to show what I've been working on. 
I'm calling this my Christmas Diamonds.  
I picked up the design from Diane Wilson at MQR (sorry I can't find her post to link to).  She basically started with a foundation cut 7"x10" and then trimmed down to 6.5"x9.5".  
I pulled some really really really old and ugly fabric to use for the foundations.  It felt really good cutting it all up.  I now have quite a pile to use for something else.  Great stash reduction! 

My original idea was to radiate the darker fabrics to lighter in the centers of each of the diamonds.  But I don't think I like the lighter pieces in there.  My design in EQ made it look like it would glow in the centers. 
They don't do that at all!!     I'm going to replace them with darker pieces of each color.  The light fabrics are just too distracting to me.

These are all the strings that I'm working with.  Even though they aren't Christmas fabric ...the red/green combination just has to be Christmas as far as I'm concerned.    

I have come to the realization that even tho I do like the looks of a completely scrappy quilt..... I don't know that I'll ever be able to make one.   Completely scrappy!
I just have that undeniable urge to control everything.   I want each piece to work nicely with the next piece or else I get very nervous and a little bit shaky.   LOL  I just can't help myself. 
I'm very much that way in real life too.  Just ask my daughter!  hahaha

What's on my design wall today? 
...... Nothing! 
Yet! 
I do plan to cut strips today to start making a stripy Christmas.  I'm considering it for another of my entries for our guild auction.  We'll see after I get it finished.

I do have another finish to show you tho.  All quilted and bound.  I still have to get it in the wash today to make it soft and cuddly.  
And to wash out the glue. 
I did the binding completely on my machine this time and used Sharon Schamber's method of stitching the binding on the front as usual....then pressing the binding around to the back and gluing it down (must use Elmers Washable glue) and stitching in the ditch from the front.  Works like a charm.  I would never use this method for a really nice quilt that I was to gift to someone....but for a utility snuggle or a kids drag-along this it the best way IMO.



I used a panto called Mini Ocean by Willow Leaf.  So quick and easy.  One of my favorites.   

 And just for fun I'd like to share my orange Poppies growing in my front bed.  They just don't last long enough though....but boy oh boy they are beautiful while they do. 

Oops!  I really should clarify my post from yesterday.  The pic showing my blocks is deceiving.  The blocks are really NOT all different sizes like the collage shows.  They are all pretty close to being 12.5".  Some are a bit smaller but that won't be a problem when I start setting them together. Those are my patterns and my fabrics that the gals made for me.  I wanted a snuggle R/W/B quilt and stars just fit the perfect patriotic theme. 
Sorry the picture was confusing.  I guess I was being a little to "artsy" as my granddaughter would say.  heehee 

This is a collage of all the different blocks I worked on for the other gals.   The one block that I thought so interesting was Danielle's folded Log Cabin.  (bottom right)  I've not seen that pattern before and it was really fun to set together.  She also had beautiful fabrics in purples, pinks, greens and yellows.  I can't wait to see it completed....or quilted!   I bet she ties it....with all those folds.
Actually I hope ALL the girls get theirs tops together at least this year so we can share them. 
I guess maybe I should move mine up to the top of the list too.  Hummmm 

Our guild's Pizza Box's are now finished and we should all have our quilt blocks back by now. This has been a year long process with just a few bumps along the way. LOL  
All in all....I must say it was very interesting to see each persons fabrics and patterns and I was amazed by the vast assortment. Each month I looked forward to working on something completely new.  It was very enjoyable and the best part was I will have a quilt made by some of my favorite people....The ladies in my guild.  
I now have to find one more star pattern so I can make the final block. Then I'll input it in EQ and see how I want to set them together.
However....this will be put on hold for just a bit while I focus on several other projects I have in the works. 

So another Monday rolls around and I have another finish to show.
This is the 2nd table runner/placemat set for our guild's auction this fall.
  I used Jinny Beyers border fabric that I've had around for at least a year (maybe longer) and her easy placemat pattern to make this set. Goodness it went together so easily. 
The print of her fabric is perfection.  I've worked with a border print that was not so perfect and believe me....it makes all the difference.

I did just a simple crosshatch quilting pattern and used gray So Fine on top and Bottom line in the bobbin.   

Now kick back and head on over to Judy's blog to see what others have on their design wall this week.