The Tree of Wisdom – OBW #74

The fabrics shown in this post were given to me by Northcott Fabrics.

I just couldn’t help my myself. I love trees, and these are my colors!

When I saw this panel I just had to make a One Block Wonder (OBW). The Tree of Wisdom fabric line was designed by Kerry Darlington for Northcott Fabrics. Tree of Wisdom can be found at your local quilt shop and at Keepsake Quilting.

When I approach making a OBW using panels, the first thing I want to know is how wide the panel is. This panel is 24″ including the borders. I did not want to include the borders, I prefer the panel to merge with the hexies as seamless as possible.

The strip width you choose to determines the finished hexagon size:

3.75” strip width = 6.0” Finished Hexie

3.50” strip width = 5.5” Finished Hexie

3.25” strip width = 5.0” Finished Hexie

3.00” strip width = 4.5” Finished Hexie

2.75” strip width = 4.0” Finished Hexie

2.50” strip width = 3.5” Finished Hexie

2.25” strip width = 3.0” Finished Hexie

2.0” strip width = 2.5” Finished Hexie

When I measured the panel without the borders it was 20″. Therefore I cut my aligned strips 3.25″ wide for 5″ finished hexagons.

I start designing around the panel until I get a design I like. Because I know my finished hexies will be 5″ wide, I know there will be 4 hexies across the top and the bottom of the panel. That is why the second photo is offset, so I know which row of hexies will be on the right side of the panel.

I stitch my hexies into four goups: the left, right, top & bottom. I never trim my panel until I’m ready to attach the hexie sections.

I started with the top of the panel. I did not want to trim off my points, so I turned the edges under 1/4″ and pressed well, top stitching the hexies to the panel.

I match up the dog ears at the top and stitch the right side leaving a partial seam. This allows me to match up the dog ears of the right section with the bottom section of hexies. I decided not to trim these hexies either, so I Pressed under the edges to prepare for top stitching.

I have now completed the partial seam on the right of the panel and can now match up the dog ears on the left side of the panel at both the top and the bottom.

As you can see, I need to camouflage where the bottom hexies hit the bottom of the panel.

Can you tell where the bottom hexies hit the panel? To find out how I do this, download here:

using-panels-for-a-obw-copy-1 Download

Thank you Northcott fabrics and Kerry Darlington for this beautiful fabric.

#northcott #treeofwisdom #aurilthread #therstripstick #reliableirons #quiltersdreambatting

A Few of My Favorite Things

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World Wide Quilting Day is March 21, 2020. I will be participating in a Blog Hop to celebrate. The theme is “Making Us Laugh”.

My assigned day is Friday March 20th. I was working on my secret project for the blog hop and using my Reliable iron and started thinking about some of the tools I love while making quilts (besides my all time favorite Studio 180 design tools)! Is it too much to say I’m in love with this iron? I love a substantial iron that produces great steam!

The Velocity 260IR’s patented built-in steam generator produces up to 55% more steam than traditional steam irons for perfect ironing in less time. While traditional irons are prone to leaking and spitting, the Velocity irons use a patented 2-heating element and micro-pump technology that pre-heats the water and turns it into steam before it reaches the soleplate. The Velocity 260IR iron will give you perfect constant steam at even the lowest temperatures, yet are 100% safe for all fabrics.

Beside using my Reliable iron every day, I use my Original Big Board. I love this sturdy Ironing board. It is so well made it will last forever!

Get all the space you need while pressing and cutting with this board. The generous work surface of The Original Big Board™ now has its own fold away legs and can be set up as quickly as an ironing board. Plus, it folds flat to less than 2-1/2″ in height for easy storage under a bed or in a closet.

While working on my secret project I used my Strip Stick. As someone who has made 73 One Block Wonders I can truly appreciate how easy the Strip Stick makes it to press every seam open without disturbing the seams that have already been pressed!

The Strip Stick, so-named for pressing seams when strip quilting, makes ironing seams a snap without distorting previously pressed seams. Other uses include the ability to press intricate piecing, such as one-block wonders and other blocks with intersecting seams. Quilters are excited to have a tool that not only keeps the seams very straight, but also cuts pressing time to a minimum!

My favorite way to finish my quilts is with Quilter’s Dream Batting.

Quilter Dream has 12 different battings for you to choose from (Sold at your favorite local quilt shop). My favorite Quilters Dream Cotton Select, it is 100% Pure Cotton Batting. They start with the finest USA natural and environmentally friendly cotton and specially processed Dream Cotton so that you can quilt up to 8″ apart. No prewashing necessary! Available in Natural and White in four lofts: request, select, deluxe and supreme.

I use the Quilters Dream Poly Request & Select for my class samples because Poly doesn’t have the memory cotton has. Quilters Dream Poly uses an exclusive blend of the new fine microfibers. Dream Poly has exceptional drape, breathability and comfort surpassing all other polyester battings. Quilts beautifully! Available in three lofts in pure white: request, select and deluxe.

Join us in the Quilt Qwazy Queens blog hop celebrating Worldwide Quilting Day March 21, 2020.

#reliableirons #quiltersdreambatting #thestripstick #theoriginalbigboard #studio180design

UPS Angel – Judy Jackson Update

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I’m so happy, Judy Jackson called this morning to say she received the OBW quilt I made her. She is absolutely thrilled and loves the quilt. Included in our thank you to Judy were hats made by my sister and chocolates!

I am so grateful to you for caring and doing a wonderful job. Thank you for finding my quilts!

Half Way Between Galentines & Valentines Day

Judy Jackson This OBW (#72) Is For You

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As most of you know, in January I was teaching and visiting family in Lake Havasu, Arizona. I had shipped 15 of my OBW’s there for a trunk show. When I shipped them back to NY, UPS lost them. The quilts were lost track of and didn’t make to the Chicago Area Consolidation Hub (CACH) in Illinois. I notified the UPS Store in Lake Havasu, they launched an investigation. My sister Mary started calling UPS. She was transferred from person to person and finally Judy Jackson (in a sort of Lost Found) answered the phone. Thank God! Judy began tracing my quilts and called us often with updates. Within days the quilts were located in UPS Corporate Offices in Georgia. The box had split apart and the label had come off. I sent photo’s of the quilts to Judy, plus my quilts are labeled with my name and State. I also had a list of the quilts in the box and my mailing address. My quilts were overnighted to me. Joy, Joy Joy! I have made 72 One Block Wonders, but I only have 19 myself. Most were given as gifts. My OBW’s were irreplaceable.

I’ve had this fabric by Timeless Treasures in my OBW stash for about 10 years. It is politically incorrect as there are no female delivery people. But I just could not resist making Judy a OBW using this fabric.

It made really cool Blocks.

As I played with the design I shared photo’s on Facebook. I was told it looked like a murmuration. I had to look it up – it is an organized formation when a flock of birds fly and change direction!

It is a very cool quilt to look at and identify where the blocks came from in the original fabric.

Pretty Cool!

This is the label on Judy’s quilt. Always find a way to label your quilts!

Join Me for a One Block Wonder Workshop

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Make your reservation now at the Strong House Inn May 14 – 17, 2020 for a One Block Wonder Workshop.

Strong House Inn – 94 West Main Street – Vergennes, VT 05491 – Amy Djordjevic, Innkeeper – Phone: (802) 877-3337 – StrongHouseInn@Gmail.com – www.StrongHouseInn.com

Join me (Jackie O’Brien, aka Quilt Ninja) for a creative journey learning to making a kaleidoscope/hexagon block using one fabric or pre-cut panels. I have made 71 One Block Wonders. Two of my quilts are featured in Maxine Rosenthal’s book “One Block Wonders of the World”.

In this class I will guide you to: Identify & cut 6 fabric repeats – Align the repeats – Cut equilateral triangles – Sew the hexagon blocks – Sort the blocks by predominate color – Design with the hexagons

The blocks are made from one fabric with very little waste! You cut and sew equilateral triangles forming hexagons and then design with these kaleidoscopic blocks. There are NO “Y” seams.

Because this quilt features one repeated block, design involves playing with the colors and shapes in any way you choose. The quilt you produce will have more energy and movement than the original fabric.

obw-supply-list-copy Download

Hug a Quilt Today!

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I have declared it “Hug A Quilt Day”! I lovingly carried all my quilts back down to Tuckerville. I hugged each one as they were either hung or folded on a shelf. I’m so happy my quilts are home! Thank you all for your prayers, kind words and support!

There’re Back!!!!!!

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Holy Moly, thank you Judy Jackson! My OBW quilts were delivered safe and sound 9:00 AM this morning after being lost for 13 days. Funny thing, they were in TWO boxes as I wanted. The UPS store in Lake Havasu put all 15 quilts in one box even though I didn’t want it that way.

Needless to say, there is a One Block Wonder in Judy Jackson’s future!

My OBW Quilts Have Been Found

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Thank God and Judy Jackson of UPS – they found my quilts in Georgia. The UPS office in Lake Havasu, AZ didn’t package them correctly. The box was severely damage and the label came off. Luckily they found my list of quilts and my address inside the box. They are at the corporate office in Georgia and will be packed correctly and be on their to me in several days. Thank You all for your concern. I was overwhelmed with the your responses. God bless you all & Judy Jackson!

UPS Lost My Quilts

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UPDATE: my quilts have found! Thank you all for your prayers and kind words!

I’m completely devastated! After my One Block Wonder Trunk Show for Quilting by the Lake in Lake Havasu, Arizona I shipped my quilts home by UPS only to have them disappear at the Chicago Area Consolidation Hub (CACH) Facility in Hodgkins, Illinois. I have no idea how long their investigation will take. These Quilts are irreplaceable. I can not just remake them. I am writing this because I feel helpless and frustrated!