I have another finish.
Well two finishes actually.
Kinda.
1st finish.......

This is the #2 Christmas (tumbler) quilt.  The quilting was done with a snowflake edge to edge design by my local quilter. >>>>>

And I added the binding by machine (back to front).

    

I know I've said it before....but I'm going to say it again.
"I love the tumbler die".
The tumbler block is soooo easy to cut on my Go cutter AND they are so easy to sew together.
The hardest part of a tumbler quilt is finally settling on the most pleasing layout....which in my case, can be (and has been) a never ending shuffle.
....And a tumbler quilt looks the best with a wide array of fabrics (great stash busting).

And now for my 2nd finish.
Bonnie Hunters Orca Bay Mystery Clue #3 DONE!
  350 (2" half-square) blocks.
<<<They are all piled in the container with all the other blocks that are finished so far.

I started making the first 150 half-square blocks with 2" strips and the Easy Angle ruler.
Now I understand this method can be pretty accurate if all of the stars are lining up just right .... but (for me) several times I had to toss aside a block that just wouldn't work.   I would tell you what I was doing wrong.... if I knew.  But I don't.

Now let me make this very clear.  This is the method that many many quilters use and have super results with.
I'm not one of them!  I tried!  I really tried hard!!
And I did have some success.  But boy oh boy was it sloowww and tedious.
For me!

Once I finally finished using the leftover strips and the easy angle ruler I was able to go back to the Triangulations method and then I easily cranked out the rest of the 'perfect' blocks.
I've learned 2 things from Bonnie just by doing this mystery.

1.   I can not be without the Triangulations program for making half and quarter squares.  No matter what size!
2. I love string blocks.  I can definitely see more of them in my future.

Thanks for stopping by.... and have a great day
  

Happy snowy Monday!!  At least it is here.  I'm not sure how much snow we received with the storm that came through Saturday but it covered everything in a good white blanket and boy oh boy is it ever cold outside!  My little weather gadget says 16 degrees.  I'm staying inside and back in my sewing room where the iron is always on.   That's the only place I don't ache from the cold.

Since it's Monday and I'm working on Bonnie Hunters Orca Bay mystery   I'm going to link up to her site along with half the world.  OK .... maybe not that many.... but there's a 'whale' of a lot of us doing this mystery.  lol

This is how many half squares I have done.  Such a measly little pile of only 149 out of 350 needed.   On the first clue I used cuts of 7"x9" fabric to fit printed Triangulations.   That left me with smaller pieces of leftovers from most of the fat quarters so I cut those pieces into 2" strips and used the Easy Angle ruler to cut each individual pair.  I did ok with it (I guess).... but there were several a few that just didn't meet my expectations and I tossed them aside.
It seemed like it took me forever to get just a small few finished because I was going soooo slow trying not to mess up a cut or stretch that bias when I pressed.  And then they all had to be squared up by just a sliver.
The first 100 blocks were made with the ruler and THEN I got to go back to at least half pages of Triangulations.  LOVE THAT PROGRAM!!
I'm going to go sew today.
You have a great day and ..... Thanks for stopping by....

 Here's a peek at what I've been working on since Friday.  I've joined Bonnie Hunters Orca Bay Mystery and these little beauties are step #1.  Perfect quarter-square blocks.
Now I don't usually make perfect half or quarter square anything.  Let alone this many anythings.  My half squares (or 1/4 squares) are usually at least a little bit wonky or not quite the right size and I do a lot of trimming or stretching and finally give up and just try to "quilt it out".
Now, however, I have the perfect program to make any size "half square" come out perfect.  Brenda Henning Triangulations CD.
OMGosh I can't believe how easy and nice these blocks are.  2.5"  Aren't they nice?  Yes!  I think so too.
I've made a few more since this picture but I still have a lot more to do yet.  The clue says we need to make 224!

This is what I printed out on sheets of newsprint.  Then layered two pieces of fabrics with this sheet on top and sewed on the dotted line and cut on the solid and this is what they look like. >>>>>>>

  Then I trimmed the dog-ears and removed the paper before sewing the two halves together and TADA....perfect!! 

Even the backs look good.

I'm going to link this post over on Bonnies blog so you can see what some of the other people are doing with their color schemes if you're interested.

AND...If it's Monday then Judy's Design Wall is up and I have a finished top to show.  This is the last of the Christmas fabric and I'm pleased with the final product.  Even tho it has some glitches and goofs it will still be a nice addition to my (now 3) Christmas snuggle quilts and I'm pleased that I have used up all this fabric line.  Once I get it quilted I'll show off the back.  For the first time I pieced it using all the leftover blocks and small pieces of yardage.  I'll have just enough waste from the back to use for the binding.  Here is the finished top...

You all have a great day.
Thanks for stopping by....