Blogger Girls Block of the Month #5

Hi Everyone,

Boy it sure seemed like this month just flew by.  I realized on Tuesday morning that I had yet to make up my blocks to show today!  I got one done Tuesday afternoon and the other on Wednesday morning.  I was so engrossed in working on it, that I was late for lunch out with my bee!  We normally meet to stitch on the first and third Wednesdays of the month and about a year or so ago, we decided that when there was a fifth Wednesday in a month, we would go to lunch.  I know all of you can easily understand how it is possible to be so busy quilting that you lose track of time, but would you believe that on the day before, Tuesday, I was at the library when I totally realized that I had a dentist appointment that was supposed to start 10 minutes earlier?  How about the fact that the office called and scheduled it just two hours earlier and I had already totally forgotten it?  As the joke goes, I should probably start taking something for my memory, but I would probably forget about it.

Anyway, how about talking about the BOM?  I am still really having fun with it.  Making smaller blocks this year has sure changed up the project!  I was having some second thoughts about my choice of background fabric--I was afraid it was a little busy, but Monique sent out the pattern for the alternate blocks for us to test out, and when I made one and put it with my blocks, I fell back in love!  I can't wait to show them to you, but I will wait until Monique puts out the pattern.

Remember, this is a free Block of the Month, and the patterns are all available here.  In case you are new, the fun feature of this project is that you make the same block pattern twice, altering the color/value placement to get two totally different-looking blocks.  The month 5 block was chosen by Denise, from Quilter's Window.  All the participating Blogger Girls got to select a block and Monique designed a quilt and setting to showcase them.  After these, there is only one more block with it's two variations to make, so I'm getting really excited to see my finished quilt.  I'm making it with Moda's Grant Park fabric line by Minick and Simpson.

I'm guessing though, that you are interested in seeing the block.  It is a fun one with many possibilities!  It is composed of 8 flying geese units, four half square triangles, and a center square.

This "T" block is really fun.  You know by now that I really like fussy-cutting if appropriate, and it was for the center square.  

And just by altering the values, you can get this block!  I love the "surrounded" star look of it.  

Oh, I just now realized that the four HSTs are replaced by a combination unit.  How did I miss that?! Anyway, Monique has the slickest ever trick to make those units!  Even if you don't want to make the project, you may want to look at this month's pattern to see how she does it.

I hadn't sewn on the block borders for several months, but I got caught up on it and even completed these blocks.

I don't know about you all, but when I get close to a finish, the quilt usually gets more and more exciting.  I may have to set aside some other projects and sew this together!

Be sure to visit the other Blogger Girls!  I'm loving how their versions are coming out, too.

Sherri at A Quilting Life

Denise at Quilter's Window

Lissa at Moda Lissa (by the way, I think it is the most clever quilt blog name ever!)

Jodi at Pleasant Home

Edited:  I just read Monique's blog for this month and we need to make three versions of this block, since it is so versatile!  That extra block will give us 13 by the time we finish next month.

Have a great day!

JoAnne