Category Archives: One Block Wonder

Enchantment Under the Sea OBW

Enchantment Under the Sea, come learn to make a One Block Wonder (OBW) with me! I found this fabric last summer. I started to make my 61st OBW and once again was overcome by events. I just finished it the first week in January 2017. What a great way to start the year.

I got ahead of myself and aligned the repeats and cut them into strips when I realized I hadn’t taken a photo of the original fabric. But you get the idea. The fabric is by Robert Kaufman and is called Animal Spirit. I love the colors in it.

The blocks were fun to design.

The blocks are fabulous, but they were very challenging to sort by predominate color. I must have had 20 piles. I just started putting them up on my design wall and went at it!

Enchantment Under the Sea

It is pretty to look at though. It measures about 72″ by 82″.

I will be teaching a One Block Wonder workshop April 21st – April 23rd 2017 at Strong House Inn , 94 West Main Street, Vergennes, VT 05491, Local: (802) 877-3337, Email: StrongHouseInn@Gmail.com

Whether you like novelty, Asian or floral fabrics, choose a design that is at least 4.5″ or larger, with colors that you like and join me to learn how to make a One Block Wonder. You will learn the process of deconstructing and redistributing your fabric by color. I will teach you the One Block Wonder Process.

If you are interested please contact Strong House Inn soon by clicking on the link above.

OBW #60 and so much more…..

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It’s December 15, 2016. I haven’t blogged in 3 months as there was an illness in my family that took precedence. My family has received quilts from me for Christmas for many years. I hadn’t done that in a while, but this year I wanted to show my love for them. I made my son Josh a One Block Wonder (OBW). Josh is my very own Grizzly Adams. This is my 60th One Block Wonder and is named “Camping with Friends”. Camping with Friends was made with Alexander Henry Fabric with a 12″repeat .

Camping with Friends

Josh called me last night. He loves the quilt. It has grizzly bears on the back.

I finally completed a King size “Yellow Brick Road” or my oldest son Jason. He was thrilled. He waited a long time for this quilt.

Jason’s King Size Quilt.

As you can see, Tuck is always near by. I made my youngest Granddaughter Samantha, a Minnie Mouse Quilt. That prompted my sister Mary to get her a Minnie Mouse. So, I made Minnie a smaller scale quilt like Sam’s. The label says “This quilt made for Minnie Mouse, By Sam’s Grandmother Jackie O’Brien”. Of course everything fit into a tote with Minnie Mouse embroidered on it.

Sam & Minnie’s Quilt

I had the great pleasure to spend a few days with several Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors at Bridle Creek Bed & Breakfast in Hamilton, NY. We were hosted by Barb Hipsley, proprietor extraordinaire. What a wonderful time we had. the photo below shows us all in our Minion pants.

The “Minionettes” from right to left: Barb Hipsley, Connie Farland, Debbie Thomas, Diane Marvin, Donna Hanley, ending with myself.

This time was totally devoted to quilting. I was able to make some small quilts for my sister Mary. She loves to put them on tables.

This quilt measure 39″ by 49″. It is from Deb Tucker’s book Hidden Treasures. I made 5″ blocks using the Hunter Star Petite tool. This size hunter star makes a great baby quilt.

Curveball

Looks great on this old trunk.

I named this “Mary’s Stars. It is my original design. I’m very pleased with it. I used Studio 180 Design V Block & Corner Pop tools. The 6″ finished star blocks are the same block, I just reversed the colors. It measures 39′ by 45”.

Looks great on this coffee table.

This one is called “Game Board” from a book of antique doll quilts. It is only 22″ square. Of course I Tuckerized it and used my Wing Clipper 1 to make all those Flying Geese.

Game Board

Tucker

Happy Holidays to you all from Tucker and me.

My OBW Stash

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I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…fabric stash that is! There is a great group on Facebook called “One Block Wonder Quilt Forum” that has over 5000 worldwide members. The group feeds the souls of us that are somewhat obsessed with One Block Wonders (OBW). This process was created by Maxine Rosenthal. She has produced 3 books: One Blocks Wonders, One Block Wonders Encore! & One Block Wonders Cubed. All 3 are essential! (Rumor has it there is a 4th in the works!)

I was on Facebook a little while ago and we were talking about our OBW Stashes, how much was too much, etc. Ann B. stated she would love a peak at mine. I proudly stated I had at least 40 six yard pieces of fabric set aside for OBW’s. Well, it’s a good thing we talked.,because my stash is dwindling…I only have 35 six yard pieces set aside! Lord have mercy, I need to go shopping!

Lotus Leaf in 3 colorways by Kaffe Fassett

From left to right: Flowers of the Sun by Windsor, English Countryside by Sue Beavers & Martha Negley by Rowan & Westminster

Memoirs from China by Robert Kaufman, Atlantis by Moda & Golden Jungle by Alexander Henry

I love Cutting up People: Delivery by Timeless Treasures, Heavy Equipment by Alexander Henry & Au Natural also by Alexander Henry

City Scapes by Benartex, Paris by Timeless Treasures & Fantasia also by Timeless Treasures

California Fiesta by Alexander Henry, Holiday Flourish by Robert Kaufman & Historic Highway by Alexander Henry

North by Timeless Treasures, Tigers by Exclusively Quilters & Nature Scapes by Hoffman

Zebras by Exclusively Quilters, Bear Mountain by Exclusively Quilters & Lion Eyes by Alexander Henry

Bewitched by & Misty Jungle both by Alexander Henry

Saturday Evening Post by Quilting Treasures. I’m not sure what I’m doing with this one yet, but I have ideas.

5 six yard pieces of The Wizard of Oz in sepia tones, I have a slight obsession with The Wizard of Oz!

I only have 2 six yard pieces of this Wizard of Oz fabric left!!! Did I mention I have a slight obsession with the Wizard of Oz? But I still have several tubs of The Wizard of Oz fabric.

Well, there you have it. I’m willing to bet there is someone out there that can beat my stash!

Have you ever been to Vermont?

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I have an unusual question for you. I have been approached by “Quilting in Vermont” about teaching a One Block Wonder weekend retreat at the Strong House Inn in Vermont in April 2017. I need to know if any of my One Block Wonder devotees would be interested in attending.

The dates are April 21, 22 & 23, 2017. The cost per person for double occupancy is $395. Single occupancy is $470. This price is all-inclusive including food & the teachers fee. Please think about it and visit the links above to see how beautiful the Strong House Inn is. I’m posting this to see if there would be any interest. This is just a fact-finding expedition, no commitment yet. I need to let them know in the next two weeks. Thanks for your input.

My 12 Inch OBW

Wild Flowers in the Dead of Winter!

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I just finished my quilt donation to Quilter’s Dream Batting, Hopes & Dreams Challenge for ALS research. It is my hope that every quilter reading this will donate a quilt to help raise awareness and research money for ALS, Lou Gerhigs disease. 100% of money raised goes to ALS research.

All quilts donated are entered to receive fantastic prizes donated by wonderful sponsors.

Categories for prizes are:

Sew Lovely – 3 Quilters will win prizes valued at $500.

Sew Generous Individual – An Individual donating the most quilts will win $1,250 in great prizes.

Sew Generous Quilt Guild – The quilt guild donating the most quilts will win $1,250 in great prizes.

Sew Generous Professional – The professional quilter, longarmer or teacher who donates the most quilts will win $1,250 in prizes.

Sew Popular, 3 Winners – Top quilts are posted on the internet and voted on, 1st Place $1,250 in great prizes, 2nd Place $750 in great prizes and 3rd Place $50- in great prizes.

Sew Creative , 3 Winners – Fabric Postcards, wall hangings, handbags, accessories, miniature quilts, mug rugs, paintings, table runners, etc. which will be sold to raise funds for ALS Research. All entries will be entered into a drawing to win prizes valued at $500.

Sew Generous Quilt Shop – The quilt shop that donates the most quilts will win $1,250 in great prizes.

Donate one or more quilts by July 31st. Quilts postmarked after July 31st will be entered in next year’s Hopes & Dreams Challenge. For complete information go to Quilters Dream Batting and click on Hopes & Dreams Challenge for ALS.

Wild Flowers of Alder Creek

It is winter in Central NY, but there are flowers in my yard today!

I hope you take time to donate to ALS Research!

#59 – Fiesta OBW Table Quilt

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So, this is the Dining Room! Did I happen to mention “I love quilts”? Well I do, and I love them in the dining room. I make quilts for my dining room table. I have one Christmas and one for Summer but I needed one more. Last year I bought some Alexander Henry Fiesta fabric in 3 color ways. In case you didn’t know, Fiesta is dinnerware made by Homer Laughlin beginning in the 1930’s and is very collectible. I have some of the older pieces but my collection is mostly from 1995 to present.

I made some Fiesta fabric valances for the kitchen and Dining room.

Cream Background Fiesta Fabric

From the deep charcoal background I made a One Block Wonder (OBW) quilt for the table.

Fiesta Deep Charcoal Background

I used a repeat of the original fabric in the center of the quilt and surrounded it with OBW Hexagons. I’m not sure how I did it, but it came out pretty nice.

A Very Whimsical Dinning Room

Quilts & Fiesta

I made this quilt in 2006

This wall hanging was a gift from a friend.

My sister makes beautiful, but unusual counted cross stitch.

More of my sister’s work.

For The Birds, # 58

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Somebody stop me! I need to be working on Studio 180 Design class samples. But I just had to make one more One Block Wonder. This great fabric is Brazilia by Alexander Henry. I wanted to try a different design approach.

I like the unevenness. Once I sewed the blocks together I bound the uneven edge with a burgundy fabric. I then laid the blocks over the original fabric and adjusted it until it was in a position I liked. I sewed the two together and then squared up the top.

It is a very subtle edge, but I like the way the original fabric flows into the blocks.

Here is a close up of where the original fabric meets the blocks.

I chose another tropical bird fabric for the backing.

You know, no quilt it complete without a label.

Yellow Brick Road With a Twist, #57

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I’m making a fund raiser quilt for The Landmarks Society of Greater Utica whose mission is to promote the preservation and restoration of historically and architecturally significant buildings and sites. Through projects, community education, advocacy, marketing and planned activities, the Society engages its’ members, partners and the community in preserving the past and protecting the future.

I decided on a One Block Wonder because they are so much fun and visually interesting. As I’ve said before I’m a self proclaimed Wizard of Oz freak, plus L. Frank Baum was born in Chittenango, NY in 1856 not far from Utica. So I went to my Oz stash and chose my fabric. It all starts with 6 repeats of fabric. I decided to put one repeat on the back of the quilt because it was too large to use in the borders.

I cut my 6 repeats, aligned the fabric, cut my strips, cut my equilateral triangles and decided to start with a Yellow Brick Road.

I began by using the yellow blocks to start the path.

I was pleased with the design except for one block.

As I said earlier, the original fabric design was too large to use in the borders so I needed to pull from my Oz stash for the outer borders. I had already sewn the rows together when I noticed one block in the lower left of the quilt that kept catching my eye. I decided to embroider something in the block to tone it down.

Monkey in the Moonlight, I love it!

Borders on, now to quilt it.

Locked and loaded. I’m using Quilters Dream Orient Batting made from an exotic blend of bamboo, luscious silk and very soft cotton! After washing, when I took it out the dryer it just draped in my arms.

The shadows were in the way a little, but at least the sun is out on this beautiful April day in Central NY.

This is the 57th One Block Wonder that I have made.

I Don’t Think We are in Kansas Anymore Toto

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I am a self proclaimed over the top Wizard of Oz fan and One Block Wonder quilts. I made my first hexagon quilt in 2006.

In 2008 I made “Inside the Twister I” from Wizard of Oz fabric by Quilting Treasures.

In 2010 I made “Inside the Twister II” as a raffle fund raiser for the New York Mills, NY Historical Society.

In 2012 I made “Inside the Twister III” as a raffle quilt for the Virginia Quilt Museum.

I made the “Yellow Brick Road with a Twist” for my Granddaughter Pepper.

I have decided to make another one, I have cut the repeats into strips as you can see below. I wonder if it will come out the same or be completely different?

The blocks are looking very interesting.

Below are some of my Wizard of Oz collection:

#56 Kaleidocally Hexed or OBW

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Before you reach for your dictionary, I made that word (kaleidocally) up! These Kaleidoscope/hexagon quilts are fun and addictive as you can tell by the fact I have now made 56 of them! This year Grand Central Station in New York City and Union Station in Utica New York celebrated their 100th birthday. I had wanted to make a quilt to celebrate this fact but was overcome by events. The year 2014 has been challenging for me to say the least. Needless to say I found my self facing the last week in 2014 and my goal was to get this quilt top done, and I did – in 4 days. It is News Years Eve, and I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

I wanted to show you some interior pictures of Union Station in Utica NY. I love this train station. When I was 12 I left from Union Station and went all the way to Las Vegas, Nevada. It was a thrill for me and I have loved trains ever since.

Isn’t the marble gorgeous?

I absolutely love the oak seats. This is a very active train station.

Below is a fabric from Timeless treasures I chose for this kaleidocally hexed quilt. It is a city scape of landmarks in New York City. I will have to make another quilt that represents the rest of New York (which is stunningly beautiful)!

Below is the top I finished in 4 days aptly named “New York – Kaleidocally Hexed”. I recorded my self making this top and shared the video’s on this blog.

I so look forward to 2015 and pushing on with other quilt projects like Studio 180 Design’s “Northern Neighbors”! Happy New year everyone and God Bless!