Omak,
I'm blushing. I don't know what to say. That is soooo sweet of you to say. I knew alot of people were watching and I was asked what I'd do next, etc. so I decided to let everyone know. I didn't know if people would actually use the link, but I figured a few would, and the link would make it easier.

I would love to see the link to Cutebuns Mystery Quilt. That sounds interesting. Thank you again for the wonderful compliments, interest and comments. I really appreciate your writing to me.
Marilyn

I'm an 'old fogie'!!!! I remember when, not too many years ago, when my youngest daughter was in college and took me to the computer lab and showed me how to look up patterns of all kinds on the computer. Then she got a computer, and got on e-mail and talked to other college kids. I thought 'that's nice, it's a college thing.' Then our older adult children got computers too and I thought 'that's nice, it will help keep them connected.' Then she got US on the computer too. When she got a job and went away to work and didn't need the computer, it was left for us to use for e-mail. We slowly got into other things on the computer, and are lost without one!!! I found out that 'computers are for kids of all ages!' Even those of us with gray or white hair. How far my thinking has come in such a short amount of time!

will the link work from here? Or did you find my posting about one space above what you were talking about <g>

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-24486-1.htm

Do you know what all I have done in the meantime and thought HEY! Maybe, since I copied and pasted, the address will still be in the paste place, and sure enough! Here it is! <wave>

I know what you mean. I said from the get-go that the computer would steal our minds - - and, every time hubby reformats the hard drive - - all of my ideas go away ...
Now we have Carbonite, so that isn't an issue ... but, I really enjoy the company I find on the net for the most part, and it is a handy tool.
If the pseudos ever get their way and we go back to living in caves with whale fat for lanterns, I will recall these days fondly.
Speaking of which! I heard someone say today that China and other nations are getting involved with wind power and alternative methods of energy production ...
I would just like to point out that China is ALSO drilling for oil ... in other words, they are not looking to replace current energy sources, they are looking for ways to gain ADDITIONAL energy ... (just a little teaching moment there <g>) <wave>

I can totally relate to that. My MIL bought each of her 3 children computers, as none of us had one but she did and loved it. I had never had any computer experience, and I wouldn't touch it for the first couple of weeks we had it. That was in 2002. I was afraid that I'd do something wrong and break it! Really!
I finally got up my nerve and started messing around with it, then decided I really liked the "surfing" thing, checking everything out, and I went to town on it. I bought books on how to use it and everything. I studied from books and took some free classes on the internet like for Microsoft Word, and I got pretty good at the basic stuff. I still can't do a lot lot of complicated things, but I use the computer ALL THE TIME!!!
It's my way of 'staying connected". Now, I couldn't live without my computer.....Or my digital camera! I asked my DH one day when I couldn't get my camera to download pictures,
"Have you ever felt like you can't talk without pictures? How am I going to talk to my daughter without pictures?" He just laughed and laughed. I freely admit it now, I am addicted to
1) Quilting 2) My computer and 3) My digital camera.

I better get off here. I still have work to do.
Talk to you all later.
Marilyn

I can totally relate to that. My MIL bought each of her 3 children computers, as none of us had one but she did and loved it. I had never had any computer experience, and I wouldn't touch it for the first couple of weeks we had it. That was in 2002. I was afraid that I'd do something wrong and break it! Really!
I finally got up my nerve and started messing around with it, then decided I really liked the "surfing" thing, checking everything out, and I went to town on it. I bought books on how to use it and everything. I studied from books and took some free classes on the internet like for Microsoft Word, and I got pretty good at the basic stuff. I still can't do a lot lot of complicated things, but I use the computer ALL THE TIME!!!
It's my way of 'staying connected". Now, I couldn't live without my computer.....Or my digital camera! I asked my DH one day when I couldn't get my camera to download pictures,
"Have you ever felt like you can't talk without pictures? How am I going to talk to my daughter without pictures?" He just laughed and laughed. I freely admit it now, I am addicted to
1) Quilting 2) My computer and 3) My digital camera.

I better get off here. I still have work to do.
Talk to you all later.
Marilyn

PS---I have decided that today must be "Be Nice to Marilyn Day!" I have had more PM's and emails and messages posted to me than anyone would believe!!!! I am amazed and just overwhelmed! Thank you everybody for the wonderful, generous, compliments and comments. I feel like a princess!
Sincerely,
Marilyn

you do such beautiful work. thank you. Penny

awesome, thanks for the tutorial!

Hello everybody. There will be a slight delay on the pictures of the setting block construction. If you are also following the post on "The start of another quilt" where I started making this, you will see that I have finished the 6th star block. That gave me 2 more stars so I could make the Chain block to show you. But....(There is almost always a but...) BTW, here's the link to it if you need it:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-46701-1.htm

On the pattern it just says to make 15 Star blocks, then lay them out in the pattern you want, then make the Chain blocks to fill it in. OK. Here is my problem. See in the picture below, how I've already got 2 greens in the chain block. Well, if I put the 5th and 6th stars together, then I'm going to have 2 blues in the next chain setting block.
I would prefer to have 4 different colors there. So, I am making a 7th star to use and will use 6 somewhere else.

I am going to have to make mine a little different than the pattern, (besides not using the templates that came with it or using the parallelograms). If I just make 15 stars, chances are that alot or all of the setting blocks will contain the same color at least twice, like my first one. I am going to make my stars a couple at a time and then the setting block, so I know what colors are already used in the setting block. I hope that makes sense. This will enable me to pre-determine my colors to use, so I don't have too much of one color.

So, I'm about half way done with my 7th and then I'll post it. The second picture shows blocks 5 and 6 and you can see why they don't work for me.

Thanks for listening to me ramble. Hope this helps you if you prefer not to have 2 of the same color in your setting blocks either. Just something to think about.
Marilyn

oh, my! wish I knew how to help, but I sure do like your colors and can appreciate what you are doing with those alternating blocks ... as always, your color choices are BOLD and beautiful! <wave> I really like a quilt that has SUBSTANCE! :thumbup:

Did the pattern call for a sashing and corner block/stone?
I am not sure how you would ever be able to avoid that four patch meeting in the corners apart from that, and I am not sure that you could put a sashing in between the blocks and rows and keep that pattern you have going in the alternate blocks.

Keep looking at it, and thinking "alternating" ... if there is an alternating block between each star, there actually is no meeting of the navy patches, is there?

Hi everybody! I got star block #7 finished and it's picture posted. Here's the link:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-46701-5.htm#1093232

This block will work out a lot better for the setting block, in my opinion. Now, I will make the setting block and take some pictures to show you. Talk to you later.
Marilyn

still looking ... maybe it is on the other thread, but are you having to lay out each setting block (alternating block) before stitching together, or is there a speed cutting technique you are using? Lots of work - - now, you don't have to answer, cuz I am toddling over the other thread to read what all you have been up to! <wave>

Hi Omak! No. The pattern doesn't call for sashing or cornerstones. I don't mind the '4-patch' corners meeting, I just don't want the same color to be in the setting blocks twice, like the 2 greens in the first one. I took a picture of star blocks #5 & 6 now, so everyone can see what I was talking about. I probably should of done this when I first mentioned it. Here's the picture. Now, I'll change it a little, to blocks #5 and 7 and post another one. Back soon.

Marilyn

You are right. The navy patches never meet.

Oh no. I just cut the pieces and sew them together. I just had to "Pay Attention", so I wouldn't end up using the same colors in blocks that would be laid out together. (Then we end up with 2 of the same color in the setting block.)

I think that with the new pictures, explaining and showing what I'm talking about, it should be easier to understand.
Is this all about as clear as mud??? Ignore me and just look at the pictures. LOL That might help! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks for the tute Marilyn. I love it. Got to get some things caught up if thats possible then I'll give it a try.

I had to go out to an Auxiliary meeting - - as well as feeding cattle, etc ... I see what you were talking about, now - - thank you for the additional pictures <g> ... I see a design wall of some kind in your future ;) <wave>

Hi omak,
Thank you. I should of posted pictures right away while I was explaining. That would of made it easier to understand for people to begin with. I'm sorry everybody!

I would love to have a design wall. It would come in so handy for me. I am constantly on my kitchen floor. I probably have the cleanest kitchen floor in the county though! :lol: My husband teases me about it, because I sweep the kitchen floor everytime I want to lay stuff out. (Our cats shed, there's always more dirt, etc.) Anyways, He tells people and teases me about "My methodical sweeping of the floor". It would be awesome to have a design wall.
Marilyn

Good Morning! Well, guess what I did this morning? I sewed together the 2nd Chain block and forgot to take any pictures!!! Duh! Sorry. I'll post pictures of the next one.

Here is a picture of the finished chain block. I like it with 4 different colors coming into the setting block. Then there is a picture of my first 8 blocks and how they go together.

Hope you all have a great day!
Marilyn

Sew very beautiful.

Thanks,

Sharon

love it !!! Very concise !!!

Thank You, everybody for the wonderful response to this post.

That gold in the connecting blocks absolutely makes that quilt shimmer, doesn't it?
Idea :idea: :idea: :idea:
One of those flannel backed tablecloths ... lay it on your floor or on the bed, lay your blocks out (or pieces out), and when you are ready to put things away, just roll it up or gently fold it, much as you would with the felt puzzle mats <wave>

I don't think most of you will need a tutorial for the setting block, but some may so I will do one just in case.
Here is a picture of the pieces all cut out and ready to sew together for the setting block.

Next, you sew the pieces, (9 patch, bars, and center squares), into 3 rows. Then sew the 3 rows together to complete the block.

Congratulations!!! What was your degree in?

I am SOOOO glad that you showed us the step by step for the setting block ... It is such a joy to watch precision work :thumbup: <wave>

Hi Omak!

Well, you've got me blushing again! Thank you for your comments.

Marilyn

LOL ... you don't have to be blushing, dear child - - I am paying you a compliment, but I am also saying, sort of tongue in cheek "As long as you are doing the precision work, I can sort of just do the quilters' equivalent of sweatpants and tshirts"
all the world needs is ONE good one, right???? LOL
but, I do like to see the step by step instructions ... those who have been quilting a looong time sometimes forget what a new quilter needs to know to gain enough confidence to try her hand at it (or his hand, as the case may be ;-) <wave>

Thank you, omak! I remember when I started quilting, as it hasn't even been 2 years yet. I would and still do occasionally,
get the rows messed up somehow. I just did it on one of the star blocks again. I still don't know what I end up doing to make this happen. Maybe you or someone else out there can
'enlighten' me....

I will have the squares all laid out to sew like in the picture. I start sewing the squares together into rows of 3, then I complete my 9 patches. Sounds like everything should be fine so far, doesn't it? WRONG! Then when I lay them out, I have the long 'row seams' going horizontal/sideways on 3 of them and the 4th ones seams are vertical. I don't understand. I must do something wrong, but what?

I realize that alot of the excellent quilters here on this site wouldn't need ANY pictures, just the pattern and to see the block would be enough, but I also remember when I started and some of the problems that I still have, so I post pictures to try to help other people. I enjoy it and if it helps just one person, it was worth it. I love to help others.

I think that last paragraph sounds kind of stupid, but that's how I feel. :oops:
Marilyn

Oh I am a very visual person and love having the pictures to follow ! That is the way I learn best :thumbup: Thank you for all the work and time on this :lol:

I am too! It makes it sooo much clearer to me if I can see it done, not just read about it. I don't mind the "work". I enjoy it.

I am not sure if you are sewing each part, or if you are trying to do all the sections at one time ...
You mentioned the horizontal seam vs vertical ... and, the first thing I thought of was:
I wonder if she is keeping the rows connected as she is working on the sections ...
for example: a nine patch ...
Three rows of squares with three patches in each row ...
working on just one 9-patch:
sew pieces 1 & 2 (in the first row) DO NOT CUT APART
stitch the first two of the next row
stitch the first two of the last row ...
iron them if you must, but DO NOT CUT THEM APART (emphasis <g>)
sew the last patch on each row ... iron them, do not cut them apart ...
now, you have all nine patches together and all the seams will go the way you want.

the next thing I thought was: nine squares sewn together ... turn the patch a quarter turn, and VIOLA! the seams are going the other direction ...
of course <g> that doesn't work with the extra action you have planned in the nine patches - - they are a bit more than 9-patches <wave>

WOW! Thank You

Wannado list is now in overdrive! Thanks! :)

Marilyn,
Can you describe how you go about the partial blocks that
finish the sides of the quilt, so you just make a half block or
do you make the entire block and then cut it in half?
Your quilt is drop dead gorgeous. thanks for all that you
have done.

Hi sewlady31,

Thank you for the compliment, and you are quite welcome.

Actually, they are all just complete blocks. It just looks like partial blocks, because I don't make the quilt any wider. Here are a couple of pictures of the edge of the quilt again. I have pulled the blocks away from the quilt to the left, so you can see how the blocks look. Does this make it any clearer? I hope so. If not, let me know and I'll explain in more detail.

I just used the 3 colors from the surrounding star blocks and then cut pieces for the fourth side to finish the setting block. (In the second picture.)

Marilyn

So - come on get busy. Have you finished this one YET!!! It's going to be gorgeous simply gorgeous (said with a New York accent)!!!