Dan's Ramblings

Dan here ~

Guess what? It’s Thursday. The weather is playing the normal games. Cold one minute, warm the next. Then the wind blows that makes most of the warm days cold and the cold days even colder. I’m ready for warmer weather, then I can bitch about the mud etc. That’s right, in Maine the weather can give you something to complain about almost every day. I had to deal with about 5” of snow on Wednesday. After I relocated it, the sun pretty much melted everything left down to the blacktop. That was fine by me.

We have seen some eagles flying around lately. One landed on the pond at a depression in the snow. Maybe there is water there and it was thirsty. Fun to see them flying around anyway. The birds have been busy at the feeders and a mourning dove comes about every evening and just sits in the tray feeder and eats. One came and visited me at the studio and was on the roof quite a while. It was a warm afternoon and the snow on the roof was melting and it was eating the little ice crystals. 

The big deal moon and the planets alignment happened this past Saturday. I tried and this is the best picture I could get. 

But as many of you know I enjoy the time lapse shots the best. Here is the picture I got from the studio of the moon shadow.  I like it much better than the moon shot.

The local quilt shop I will be teaching at, Sew Orchid Design, has listed info on their web and Facebook pages for the first class. I know of one sign up, so I guess we’ll wait and see. The first class will be with the Tucker Trimmer, I’ll be showing how to use it and how you can make half squares, quarter squares and combination units and just make cutting squares easier. It’s been awhile, so hopefully I remember stuff and don’t make a total fool of myself. At least it wouldn’t be the first time if I do. Time will tell. First class is March 28th.

In the studio I did get #15 finished. 

2026-15

I made it from 3” pieced blocks coupled with 3” squares, then framed and trimmed to 8” using five different fabrics. This allowed me to give the framing a pattern as well as the using sashing color to augment the design. I used a 2-1/2” finished sashing, popping the small red stars at 2-1/2 with my Corner Pop II to get a “normal” V-block type effect. The blue stars were popped with Corner Pop II popping at 5. The large red stars were popped at 7 using my Corner Pop III. The corner stones were created using my Square Squared 1/2” making them stand out a little better than a simple square of fabric.

I also completed #16 for 2026. I went with a simpler concept and used five different larger scale fabrics cut into 6” finished squares and then framed and trimmed them to 8” finished.

2026-16

The layout I used set up a pattern in the framing by alternating them and set up a diagonal pattern with the placement of the blocks. I guess I didn’t think it through completely though, as I made too many framed with the red and had to remake the same number framed in the blue. Oh well, spares for something down the road, I guess. Using larger (for me) fabric squares allowed me to use some large prints that I normally ignore. The color variations in large prints, much like batiks, when used in small units, tends to sometimes alter my designs by supplying undesired colors where not wanted. These worked fine and I was pleased with the overall outcome.

I am currently still cleaning after finishing #16 and am making 6” finished blocks from framed 4” pieced blocks. These will be paired with more basic 6” pieced blocks to make 12” blocks. This layout requires twenty 12” blocks. I am primarily working on making 6” blocks from 3-1/2’ squares and 3” finished pieced blocks. These will then be framed to get to 8” finished. I have an interesting layout drawn out to go with them. I will probably move on to finding a frame and start the monotonous process of framing soon. Easy process while listening to my book as I don’t need to think about the sewing. I’m more likely to follow what is happening in the story. The layout for the 8” blocks requires 42 blocks so I’ll be framing for a few minutes. I may just make more blocks before I strike off into #17’s framing process. Time will tell.

The weather for the next few days is unsettled, some snow, some rain, in other words, Spring. You want the weather, look out the window. Mr Dillon once said, “You don’t need the weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing”. (and yes I know that ain’t what he meant)

Stay safe, enjoy.