036.Violet Femmes - aka D-2, Mouse in a Mirror

errrr... this was a tough sucker.

at this point i was feelin' cocky!

   

at this point you're not sure it's ever gonna lay flat...

037.53 Pieces?! - aka I-13, Sweet Harmony

53 pieces? well, no wonder it took me 2 days to make this sucker.

       

       


       

035.The Hon. Evelyn Baker Lang - aka L-12, Sally's Pride

paper, paper everywhere...

034.H-10, Ben's Bowtie

How's it possible that one minute we have this - and the next...

Voilá!

I had a pretty small scrap of this lavander print (maybe a Jo Morton?)... I think it was 6x6" roughly.
I just barely eeked it out cause I cut a piece off accidentally on the second unit I sewed.
Love this fabric though - glad it worked out.

032.E-3, Paddle Wheels

033.Mary Hatch's Wish - aka E-12, Mary Ruth's Corset

what'dyouwishwhenyouthrewthatrooooock. oh no...

031.Amy Gardner's Maze - aka B-6, Wild Goose Chase

I had to rip about 8 seams. One in particular just didn't want to go straight. Very happy with the end result though. Those skinny white strips are not easy to handle but I think this is the best job I could have done.

OK, this had 43 pieces. No wonder it took so long! I really do love this one though. I wasn't exactly fussy cutting but I was trying to keep the bright yellow/orange out of it. Almost accomplished that. But I don't think it draws your eye as much as I thought it would, so I'm happy.

It looks so innocent here!

This fabric is really shredding. Not sure if it's the weave or if I didn't cut it square enough to the grain (or if that even has an effect on it)... But I think I'll keep away from it on other blocks.

030.Donatella's Bluff - aka M-2, Duff's Bluff

029.Violet Bick's Sunrise - aka E-5, Rising Sun

This one's for all the 'Violet Bicks' out there. A little nod also to Hatch Show Print - definitely on my list of things that make me happy... check it out - http://www.hatchshowprint.com/ 

Finished block.

 

 Prepped the pieces - extra large - what a concept!

Pretty fast assembly when you're not dicking around with trying to use pieces that are just big enough.

 Trimming, keeping an extra 1/4" til it's all put together.

1st half

Here's the back after sewing it together. I think i tried to pin it but it was just too bulky in the center. I basted it first a little outside the seam allowance. inside? anyway, then I went back with the smaller stitches and got lucky - it all lined up. I was gonna enjoy splaying the points to make that nice rosette but it wasn't cooperating so I just took a scissors to it. No apologies. No regrets.

Ah, that's better. phew.

Removing paper. Isn't this a thing of beauty.

A play-by-play: Removing the paper...

Pick a seam and "pop" it by pushing up a little on the front of the seam toward the back.

Folding back the seam - makes it easier to remove paper.

Tear toward the seam but a bit away from the beginning or end of the stitching line. This puts the least stress on the seam and helps avoid pulling the stitches loose.

Take it easy... this is not the time to be a cowboy.

Gee, kinda wishing i had pressed that material before I used it.

Time to trim her up. OK, i should have waited to remove the paper and to trim it til the center applique was finished. But it worked OK. (but it was harder)

028.H-5, Michael's Motorcycle

What's wrong with this picture? Well, if you figure it out, let me know cause
i'm honestly not sure how that happened... But "I'm OK with it."