Block 4: NQC Quilt Block Challenge

Week 4 of the NQC Quilt Block Challenge is here.

I cheated a bit this week. I had a few days off works sick so took the opportunity when I wasn't resting or coughing to work on the blocks before the official pattern was released in the early hours of this morning.

Not sure I'm a fan of releasing the pattern pics and colouring/planner pages right from the start. With the blocks being as simple as they are, its really not that hard to skip ahead. To me it feels like its defeating the idea of a quilt along. I kind of miss the anticipation of waiting for the next pattern to be released, not knowing whether I should be excited or full of dread.

Anyway, this weeks pattern is now released and my blocks are done. I'm still amazed at how different fabrics can make the blocks look entirely unique.

Block 4
Block 1	Block 2	Block 3

Block 4
Block 1	Block 2	Block 3

Four (eight) blocks down, only five (ten) blocks left to make until I can put the quilt tops together.

K

Block 3: NQC Quilt Block Challenge

I'm up to date again. I now have a total of six blocks made - two versions of each of the three blocks released so far.

Block 1	Block 2	Block 3

Block 1	Block 2	Block 3

This project is called a 'quilt block challenge' and I'm definitely feeling challenged at the moment.

It's not that the blocks are difficult - they're not.

It's not that I'm regretting my fabric choices or am unhappy with how the blocks are turning out - I'm not.

I've already overcome my fear of half-square triangles. I'm even managing to get most of the points reasonably close to where they should be.

My challenge is that I'm not really enjoying the process. All that precision cutting before I even get to start sewing, and then more precision trimming partway through. It feels like work rather than a pleasant outlet. I think that's probably why I have been having a hard time getting motivated to catch up.

By doing this challenge I'm learning more about myself and my own creative process and preferences; and at the end of it I will have two nice quilts to show for my efforts.

My word for the year is FINISH - I'm going to stick with this and make sure I do, it's only 9 weeks after all!

Six (12) more blocks to go!

K

Block 2: NQC Quilt Block Challenge

The third block pattern in the NQC Quilt Block Challenge is just about to be released and already I feel like I'm falling behind.

I finished Block 1 relatively quickly so I thought I'd use up some of my left over Christmas fabrics and get a head start on this years festive season sewing. I decided to make a second, christmassy version of the block and make a quilt which I'll eventually either gift or donate at the end of the year

Such a silly idea! The week 2 block pattern came out and I used the Christmas fabric for practice. Since then I've not found the motivation to get stuck in and make the block with my original fabrics.

So this week I'm just sharing the pics of my Christmas-themed blocks for week 1 & 2.

NQC Quilt Block Challenge - Block 1 Christmas theme

NQC Quilt Block Challenge - Block 2 Christmas theme

The Block 3 pattern is released in the early hours of tomorrow morning. I WILL get myself motivated this weekend and do a blue/grey/yellow version of Block 2 as well as both Christmas, and non-Christmas versions of the new block.

Must get motivated.

Until next time.

K

Christmas is coming (Ready or not)

I had a colleague return to the office after lunch yesterday and announce that she's just finished all her Christmas shopping. And just in case I needed another reminder that there are less than 7 short weeks until the holiday I stopped in at the the pharmacy on my way home last night and there were carols playing  over the store PA system.

How can it be November already? My how the year has flown!

I've barely even started my preparations this year! Sure I've been browsing Pinterest a lot, and I've pinned some potential decorating and gift ideas - but I'm always browsing Pinterest so I don't think I can really count that towards actual Christmas preparation.

Now that I've been forced to think about it, I'd like to try and get back to basics a bit more this year. The last couple of weeks before Christmas always end up being a frenzy of preparations, parties and spending so this year I'm going to try and avoid that a bit, do more to actively enjoy and share the festive spirit and put more thought, time and love into selecting (or making) gifts for family and friends that will hopefully be appreciated more than an easy commercial option that will be broken or forgotten within days or the no-brainer gift cards which are my usual go-to gifts when I run out of time or ideas.

All of that basically boils down to the fact that I need to get motivated, organised and creative again... and really soon

Have you got your festive season planned and organised yet?  If you're going the home made gifts option this year, what have you got started so far?