Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Thursday evening. It has been a very quiet week here at the pond. The weather warmed up a little and they are calling for relocatable snow Friday evening into Saturday. The very idea of it has me wicked excited. Almost as much as the dentist appointment I have tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully this is the last one for a while, a long while. Snow storm and dentist.

No color to tonight’s sunset, still pretty.

This is from later. I like the time lapse night shots better myself.

In the studio I finished the Shop Hop quilt I mentioned before and took it to them on Friday. This meant that I was right back to quilt #12 for 2026 Friday evening. I finished it on Sunday. 

2026-12

As I said last time, the blocks are made from two 4” pieced blocks paired with two 4” squares to make an 8” block. I then framed it and trimmed them all to 10-1/2” or 10” finished. I used a 2-1/2” sashing and then played with the sashing strips and corner stones. I like the Square squared blocks as cornerstones, and decided on two different stars. One a regular V-block type star unit and the other a large propeller like star. The Corner Pop II gave me the small stars when I popped the sashing at 2-1/2 on the tool, replacing with the yellow. The larger stars were made using Corner Pop III to get the taller and longer points. I popped them first at 7, replacing with the yellow and popped again at 3-1/2 and replaced with the sashing color. I liked the double star effect it gives me and when I couple it with the Square squared corner stones it really pops. Unlike many of the tops I create, this design still holds my interest and the voices and I still have many more different variations and possibilities still to come. I can’t wait to see what they are.

#13 for 2026 is almost ready for layout on the floor. I have a few more pieces to sew and trim and then I can see what it will look like. 

 

Yes I did do a general layout on EQ8 which I use primarily for the layout for my sashing stars. But even so, what I see on the screen is sometimes much different than in the real world. From what I hear, that is much like online dating, but I digress. So I never really know if I’m going to like the end result of what I am creating until I see it on the floor. So until then, you know as well as I do, time will tell.

So you’ll get #13 next time and who knows maybe #14 as well. I think #14 will be made from 6” blocks framed to be more comfortable as 8”. This means I will need 42 blocks. Many more than the thirty blocks needed for the 10” block layout. But more columns and rows means more sashing star opportunities. This also means more time framing and popping corners on sashing strips. Which means more total time constructing quilts. Carol will probably be pushing me for more 8” blocks quilt tops. Time will tell. 

Pssst, If you look at the top of the picture showing the parts for #13, you will see a big stack of 6” blocks ready to be framed. I just need to decide on a frame color and for #13 to be completed. They are in the pipeline so to speak. Although I am always making units, I try to only work on actual assembly of one top at a time.

Enjoy your weekend, stay safe, if the roads are bad, stay home. That said, I hope the roads are not too bad and I get relocation completed early as we are supposed to be going to grandson Jakob’s birthday celebration this weekend.

Remember wherever you go there you are. If you don’t see yourself, look for a mirror.