My simple card trick

This little tute is for the simple minded like me.

For the people who don't like

Numbers. :/

And...

For those who would like to make a simple

3 color card trick block.

There are only TWO numbers to remember

5 and 4 1/4.

Those are the numbers I CHOSE.

5 for the 5" squares you'll cut to begin.

4 1/4" for the 4 1/4" inch squares you'll end up with

after trimming.

You can choose others.

;)

I cut 9 squares

5"x5"

3 of each color.

Take two background squares

and ONE of each of the other colors.

Draw diagonal line.

Sew and Cut.

Here are the Four corners of your card trick block.

Now take one of each color.

Stack.

Cut TWO diagonal lines.

Four pieces each.

Four tiny triangles from each color.

Make your center piece.

Set other tiny triangles aside for a minute.

Here are your LAST two 5" squares.

Cut once on the diagonal.

Using the LAST of your cut pieces.

Lay them out like this.

And sew together.

It might help to fill in your other pieces...

so there's no "mix up" :)

You should have NINE squares ready to be

a CARD TRICK block.

PLEASE do not SEW them together YET!

You may have noticed.....

They're ALL different sizes.

:/

This should be the smallest one.

Trim.

I trimmed mine to 4 1/4".

SOooooo...

You need to trim everything else to 4 1/4".

When you trim this one...

Make sure that diagonal line on your ruler goes

RIGHT through the BOTTOM two triangles.

and

the 4 1/4" sits RIGHT on the two outside corners.

Now.

You can sew the squares together.

And this.....

Is what you'll get.

A block that measures.....

Almost 12".

Mine's 12"....but there's something wrong somewhere.

Am I worried?

NO.

I think it should be 11 3/4"

IF...

 I did my math right.

And You know me....

I don't like math.

I DO like quilt blocks though.

Soooo....

I'm going to KEEP on SEWING!

NOTE: IF you do want a 12 1/2" block...

just begin with squares that are 5 1/2"

and trim them to 4 1/2".

I think that'll do it.

a challenge

I'm in a quilt challenge with the Modern8create.

Margaret issued a challenge:

Make the "card trick" block and then

change it a few times.

Change it in any way you like.

The challenge for me was to MAKE the card trick block.

This is a block I was NEVER going to make.

It just NEVER appealed to me.

But....I was good girl and DID it.

This is the card trick block with the four corners flipped out.

Kinda nice. Hmmm?

And here it is in FOUR colors.

Four colors with the four inside squares flipped out.

O.k.

WHAT was I going to do with my blocks??

I really don't love them.

Maybe it was my choice of color???

I had an Aha! moment.

Table Mats!

I made four to be used TWICE a month.

My friend Ellen and I

cook and serve a lunch to senior citizens

two Tuesdays a month.

We have been doing it for over a year now.

Woo HOo!

I had always dreamed I'd make some seasonal

quilted table toppers for the tables.

NOW I have my FIRST SET!

Finally.

This is a picture of everyone from last year.

I look forward to using these

and MAybe....just maybe...

I'll make some more.

;)

a little something

I had this little bit of flannel in the stash

and....

I wanted to make a bib

for the new grandbaby...

The Challenge was:

It couldn't be PINK!

This teddy bear print was the right color

but needed to be

"girlie".

I think the lace and yo-yo did the trick.

Here's the back.

Just another piece of flannel.

That was so fun...

think I'll make another!!

I'm adding this to Fabric Tuesday!

Blast from the past.

This quilt is home now.

It's been away for THREE years with my daughter at school.

It's a soft and old fashioned looking quilt.

They're both home now for a while.

I DID wonder if this soft quilt would

hold up to college dorm life!

It DID!

You can see I used what I had......

Even the whites are not all the same.

I LOVE the challenge of USING what I have

when making quilts!

'Cause I have a LOT.

;/

I used the bigger pieces on the back.

My daughter must like this quilt....

She's still using it!

:)

the perfect day!

Friends.

 A little boat cruise.

Projects.

This was a knitting cruise...

but they let ME come along.

:)

I'm still working away on this one!

Treats.

Mmmm...

The MOST beautiful day!

Location: Long Beach, California

Pelicans!

Ducks...

Hey!

What are those things???

Jelly fish!!

Yes.

The perfect day.

And then.....

Since we began this cruise outside of a yarn shop...

We spied someone showing this off in the parking lot!

I made friends with them

RIGHT away...

and took some pictures!

Oh YES!!!

You bet I'm inspired to do some crochet...

but....

How many hobbies can I juggle????

:/

Treasure

I went treasure hunting yesterday

at the thrift store.

Aren't these shirts great???

Men's Extra Large.

Look at how they go together?

They will make a GREAT quilt!!!

I also found this LOVELY pedestal piece.

Mmmm....

Even my thread looks pretty here.

THEN......

While cleaning out a closet to make room for new treasures....

I found THIS!!!!

My oldest daughter made this a long time ago.

Isn't it sweet?

Butterflies cut out......

Without the aid of a Machine!!! ;)

and hand stitched down.

I'm keeping this treasure.

I think It's my favorite one!

college bound

School began yesterday for my little one.

Aaaah! Finally a quiet CHUNK of time

to quilt a quilt!

This is my friend's quilt top.

(made for a college bound niece).

She trusted ME to quilt it for her!!!

Yes. Miracles STILL do happen!

;)

It WAS a little scary to use my machine on HER quilt!

what if???

What if????

I kept telling myself to

SLOW down

and if all else fails...

I would just RIP OUT!

The pep talk worked!

Ripping out was NOT necessary!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

This quilt is NOW READY to move into

the freshmen dorms with my friend's niece!

Don't you like the way she perked up a simple quilt pattern

with the appliqued musical notes?

This one will be loved, I'm sure!