I think I have a new favorite block...

I remember when I was little, seeing all kinds of granny square afgans.  At the time I just thought "what a pretty blanket with lots of colors", now I love them for their nostalgic feeling.  I think just about everyone has seen or had one at one time or another.  I remember my mom making granny squares out of little bits of (what I now realize was) left over yarn, and trying to teach me how to crochet them.  She made it look sooooo easy, alas I could never get the hang of it. To this day I still don't know how to knit or crochet...both skills I would love to learn.  And knowing now that that is how those who work with yarn use up their scraps, they are even cooler. When I had to take my son to the library to choose a book for his first research project, I couldn't help but wander over to the quilting books.  Marsha McCloskey's Block Party caught my eye, and I went ahead and borrowed it. Glancing through the pages and remembering all my scraps, I thought about a 9" block scrappy sampler (which is still very much a project I plan to do), then I came across a block which is probably traditional, but was new to me.  I believe its called Grandmother's Favorite. Anyway, I looked at it, let out an excited giggle and made a couple...tell me what you see :)

do you see it?

Yup, to me it looks like a quilter's version of a granny square!  I am in love and thinking this is the perfect project for some of those scraps.  I think I am going to flip-flop the lights and darks and make them more scrappy by using more than the "light dark light dark" color layout here.  I'm thinking about just having fun and in the end, having a quilt that reminds me of the granny square afgans that make me think of when I was little and the world was all happy and good.  mmmmmm....I get warm fuzzies just thinking of it ;)

Oh, if only we could return to those days, or maybe just the mind set. Unfortunately life doesn't work that way, and things have been tough.  It always amazes me how life balences itsself out.  Things are going so well, then can crash and burn, then just when everything looks bleak and ominous the sun breaks through and life gets easier. Right now I'm in a bit of a valley and slowly but surely trying hike to make my way out of it. I guess my biggest thing right now is trying to understand why people do and act the way they do. Why some feel it is their place to be in control of everyone and everything and use the tactic of fear or condecention to get what they want. I'm sure its something I'll never fully understand, but continue to cope with and do my best to make the best of what I do have, and try to not let it get me too far down in that valley. Life, if nothing else, will always move foreward. I need to keep looking that way too.

Ok, sorry for that little side jaunt there, and I don't want to leave on a "down" note so I wanted to share just a couple more pictures with you. I did get another block done for the sampler besides the "granny square" one. I think its called Spinning Star.  Its another one with a partial seam. I'm getting better at them, but still have room for improvement.

I was also able to get the tesselating cats quilt all quilted and the binding is ready to attatch.  I think I see lots of binding in my future.  I am still working on hand sewing the binding to the behemoth and my carpal tunel has made the whole process slow going.  I am happy, though, to know that I have TWO quilts so close to finished.  Finally, I have heard it said keep your eyes open for quilt inspiration everywhere.  Well the other day I noticed this...

This is a coaster I've had for a while, made of small peices of inlaid wood and never noticed the pattern its self.  I think it would make a nice quilt...a wall hanging maybe? Possibly different colors?  I'm still thinking on this one (lots of other projects to be working on right now) but it goes to show there is inspiration everywhere :)
Well, that's about all that's exciting from this end of the world, so I am off again to enjoy a day off and get some sewing done in between all the other "need to dos" of the day.  Hope you all have a great one. Warmest country wishes.
Country Mouse
p.s. I apologize for any misspellings, spelling is NOT my strong suit.  Does anyone out there know if they got rid of the spell checker on the post tool bar, or tell me where it is?  ( Yes my computer illiteracy is nice and strong today )Thanks!