I've been doing more applique this summer so the projects that take shape on the design wall have been few and far between. I do have some finished appliqued wallhangings on there but they'll stay there until I decide how I want to finish them. And, knowing me, they could be there a long time.
I read a few blogs everyday. One is called Mary Quilts (
http://blog.maryquilts.com/). I like her style of writing (very casual) and I like the scrappy quilts she designs, makes and gives away. And she always gives step-by-step instructions so that if you like the quilt, you can make one for yourself. I really like that.
When I saw the lattice quilt design, I knew I needed to make one. Earlier this spring, Randy's cousin gave me some yardage that she'd picked up at a garage sale. There are quite a few yards and it's a pattern I've always liked. In fact, I had the same fabric in 2 other colorways...and still have a bit of each!
Since I'd gotten a lot of the blue colorway, I decided to use it, along with a navy-on-navy floral
and a rose-on-pink fabric
...to make my own lattice quilt.
I cut and pieced enough for a few blocks on Friday just to see if I liked it. Then, Sunday, I cut and pieced a few more. One thing I really like is that you oversize the blocks when cutting; then square them up after piecing.
It makes for a bit of waste...but more importantly, it makes for very square blocks!
Now that I've got a few blocks done, I'm thinking I may need to applique something in the middle where the four blocks come together. To me, it looks a bit blah:
Since the 4 blocks together make a 12" finished block, I could applique something, but what?
And that's why it takes so long to finish quilting projects!
The quilting - this just blows me away - is the hippocratic oath. You know it - it's the "do no harm" speech that you hear on every medical TV show. It's tough to see on these photos, but it's there...trust me!
Our nephew is planning a film career. He's been into movie making projects since he was very young, and he's very talented. He's at Chapman University in CA...hence the red and white for that university.
His quilt is quilted with the names of actors, movies, directors and producers - very fun and very unique! 
I got them back a couple of weeks ago, added binding and labels, then sent them to the twins. I hope the quilts keep them wrapped in hugs whenever they're feeling a little homesick.
The patterns are from a favorite blogger of mine - http://blog.maryquilts.com/. Check it out - you'll love her work!
Right now, the tops are waiting for their turn to be quilted by a local machine quilter who does exceptional work. In fact, I'm probably more anxious to see the final quilts because I know the quality of work this quilter does. 
...that I decided to make another using some larger pieces of fabric from my stash. 
Here are the strips that I've already sewn together and cut apart again. They're ready to go into the four-patch blocks. 
Cutting out the strips went quickly as did sewing the long strips together. 
Once that was done, it was on to the sewing machine to start piecing the four-patch and 16-patch blocks together.
The first two rows are pieced and the rest should go together quickly. Since I used up all the paisley fabric on the blocks, I'm not sure what I'll do for the border and binding. I may try to find a checkered fabric to use on the border.
I'm using the same batik for all of the poppy buds but decided to use different greens for the leaves.
So, here's the finished block:
I've always wanted a red, white and blue quilt, and Union Square was exactly what I was looking for - it wasn't complicated and would go together fast! Here's what it will look like when finished, and the fabrics that came in the kit:
I got all the strips cut last weekend and started sewing the uneven nine-patches right away.
The background triangles that border the uneven nine-patch blocks are made from a creamy white solid. When I first saw that, I was skeptical. It seems a bit boring but that's what the picture shows so we'll see; regardless, the triangles are cut and ready. 
The red and white four-patches went together quickly, too.
The half-square triangles are sewn on now but weren't when this picture was taken. 
