Minor distinctions...

I intended to be back before now but it seems I had the intention but not the intent.

Intent implies a sustained unbroken commitment or purpose, while intention would imply an intermittent resolution.  

Intermittent resolution.  That's me!

What has been sustained and unbroken is my appreciation and gratitude for your support!  Thank you!  So.  You like Bounce.  

Perfectly pieced by Thelma Childers and wonderfully quilted by Linda Hrcka -- The Quilted Pineapple.  

I do too.  Enough that I seriously considered keeping the quilt and trying to tell Thelma that it was "lost" in transit somewhere.  Boo hoo.  So sad.  So sorry.  Oh well.  But she knew I was lying.  Like I wrote... I tried to tell her.  She wasn't buying.  I think her exact words were something like "I know where you live..."  Thankfully, I have my own Bounce quilt.  It's different and I really do love it.  It's been hanging in my bedroom... mostly because it is too hot to actually try to use right now.  

I'm starting to think I have issues with conformity.  I don't know if I was in a rebellious mood when I first started thinking about this quilt but from the start, my goal was to break away from neat, orderly rows of blocks.  The challenge was to get the blocks to "bounce" while still maintaining some balance with the background.  Meaning, they could have bounced more but that would have resulted in having a lot more "white-space" between the blocks.  I enjoyed making this quilt so much that I think I'm going to try to make another one this summer... in between other things.  

Yes, I have a few things on my cutting table right now, or the ironing board.  

Blitzen charm squares being prepped.  (Note to self -- It's time to wash the ironing board cover.)

Blitzen.  Ready to cut -- probably Sunday night before I go to bed.  Yes, I'm a bit of a night-owl, late-night sewing is my most productive work time.  The phone doesn't rarely rings and it is nice and quiet.  This is a project that will be published sometime in early August. 

No, it isn't a new Schnibble.  There will be a few more of those coming but this isn't one of them.  Yes, that officially makes this a "teaser".

Speaking of Schnibbles - oh my gosh!  Have you seen the amazing variety of Leap Year quilts made by the lovely ladies participating in Sinta and Sherri's Year of Schnibbles?  Every month I'm floored by the creative variations and differences but this month was the topper.  I.  Love.  Every.  Single.  Quilt.  They're stupendous!  To see the quilts -- Sherri's Parade & Sinta's Parade.

Wait!  Wait!  Before you go look at those quilts, let me show you the rest of the new Schnibbles!  I do not want to have to follow those parades!  

These are my Leap Year quilts.

Have the Sweetwater ladies done a collection that isn't wonderful?  This is one of my favorites though -- Reunion.  (And yes, I say that every time, and I stand by the statement right up until the next collection is released.)

This was made using pieces from my box of 1 1/2" strips.  It started out as a just-for-fun experiment and ended up being a variation on the pattern.  I love scrap quilts like this.  

This is Dimestore - made using the Urban Cowgirl collection by the Urban Chiks for Moda.  I love this collection.

The interesting thing for me with this collection was that most of the quilts I saw made with it went "dark", using a brown or blue for the "background".  But I saw the fabric collection as a bit sun-washed and slightly faded, so I preferred it with a much lighter background - a couple of them actually.  

And then I received some of Jo Morton's Bridgeport fabrics... "darker" is good.  Red is better.

My friend Judy pieced this and it too got "lost"... boo hoo.  So sad.  So sorry.  No sale.  This is mostly Bridgeport -- all the black and brown prints -- with additional Jo tans, golds and toasties.  

Charlotte -- additional proof in the case of Carrie v. State of Conformity.  

Farmer's Market by Brannock & Patek for Moda.  This is the quilt that presented the math considerations I wrote about a few months back.  As in: if I make the half-triangle squares this size, these are the sizes I can make the center square.  It was also a quilt that had me thinking about the fabric itself - which fabrics I like to use and which ones I don't.  I'll tell you more about that later this week.  

Because I know that some folks are not quite as enamored of "random" as I am, I decided that Charlotte needed a v. 2.  

Modern Vintage by Bonnie & Camille for Moda.  Miss Daze - Darlene - pieced this Charlotte, and after asking her to making 300 half-triangle squares, she still hasn't decided if she's going to speak to me again.

There aren't nearly so many half-triangle squares in Hubble - Miss Plus-Size Schnibble.

So why is Hubble a Schnibble?  Two charm packs - or less than 84 charm squares - is my arbitrary limit for the charm pack quilts.  Okay, so that just makes the center of the quilt, you'll need a few more for the pieced inner border.  But I have precedent on my side - Center Stage is the same way -- two charm packs for the center of the quilt and a third charm pack for the pieced border.

I've had this block/page -- Aunt Rachel's Star/Page 269 -- bookmarked in my Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns for years, probably since I bought my copy of the book in the mid-1990s.  I made a few tiny adjustments with the placement of the light and dark triangles... I don't think Rachel would mind.  

I think I'll be making another version of this one too -- I already have a plan.  And most of the fabric.

But first I have to finish the stuff I'm working on finishing.  And just so you know that I am working...   

The little "snippet" bowl on my cutting table.  California Girl by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda.  This one is done.  Next up... 

Odds 'n Ends by Cosmo Cricket.  This is on the docket for this week.  

Unless I do Blitzen first.  Blitzen.  That "sounds" cold.  

Actually... that's making me think of Blizzards.  The kind with the capital "B".  The kind that comes from Dairy Queen.  

It's also the kind of Blizzard I can get at the Dairy Queen that's less than five minutes from the house.  

Okay!  I'm out of here!  

And yes, I intend to start on Blitzen in the morning!

Unless I get distracted.

Or the phone rings.  

Comments

[Lesley]

Thank you for your parade! So nice to see what you've been working on! Love Dimestore, especially in the Jo Morton fabrics. Can't wait to see what's next!

[Auntie Pami]

I wish Jo Morton came in charm packs. So much easier than trying to chase down pieces. Hard to find in my neck of the woods. Really, it is. Blizten is so pretty. "You have a challenge ahead with many (small) pieces fitting together." Is that really my fortune this week/summer?

[Jocelyn]

What great quilts!! Thanks for sharing them.

[Linda P]

As usual, I'm swooning and coveting all of them. Will be ordering, soon as we get back. Yes, we are in the mountains, but... we are escaping to Florida to cool off! WHAT?? Yes, it's been cooler there, but - also just have to see my little girls!! I especially love the Charlotte #2 - I have been loving that line from Bonnie & Camille! I made my niece a quick jelly roll quilt from it with a pillow case and she loved it, and matched her room. I't so fresh. Dimestore is intriguing - I might have "weave" Pat's fruits and veggies together using it (when it comes out). I like both Bounces and especially the border!
Dang it all - I'll be whining for a Blizzard - wonder if I could talk hubs into one for HIS birthday tomorrow!!!

[Sinta]

Thank you for a great post full of inspiration and entertainment... that is they you "speaking" part! You crack me up. I am glad I started my Monday with you.

[ina]

That's what the answering machine is for, silly! ;p

[Carol]

I love Dimestore with the red background...but then you knew I would. Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve for the Odds&Ends fabric...I just love that! You're a busy girl! I'll bet Rosie is a really big help.

[Mary ann]

Oh my, I will be back drooling at all these quilts again and again. I am determined to get bindings done this week on a couple of gifts but I think I'll be looking at my towering pile of charm squares and playing a play date this weekend! Happy 4 th of July Carrie, hope Rosie doesn't worry herself to much about the firework pops!

[Archie the wonder dog]

I love your version of Bounce - I always love seeing how fabric choice can change the way a quilt looks and your parade had this in spades!
P.S. What's a 'Blizzard'? An ice cream?

[Linda]

Thank you, Carrie!!!! Yes, thank YOU.

I love all the quilts!!! I couldn't pick a favorite if I wanted too...although Bounce might have a little edge. :-)

Happy 4th! You and Rosie...and Mom, stay cool.

[Linda Lum DeBono]

Beautiful!

[Sharrieboberry]

...and my condolences on "losing" Steve Nash. It's just a bitter pill to swallow and a sad, sad day!

[Joyce]

Just realized I read your title as minor "distractions" instead of distinctions. Made me laugh. Keep up the good work!

[Linda]

You're amazing, just how do you do it? elves in the night? elves in the day? Rosie must be getting really old if she puts up with that! I love bounce. . . gotta try one. And I love the new items you're selling. Oh, and nash? what the heck? I guess there always has to be a time to be able to say "the good ol' days". Thanks for sharing.