Beothuk Star Quilt Along - Construction of HSTs and HST Tips

For ease of construction, we are going to make all the HSTs in this step, no complete blocks. In two weeks we will assemble the blocks. I hope you feel free to move around the colours if you're using the kits I curated. There is no need to follow my placement!

I've tried to keep this as clear as possible with four versions going on! Each step is one heading; you simply need to find your 'version' beneath as to what to do. Email me if there are any questions. I found an error in last week's cutting. In Version 2 Fat Quarter Bundle only, I had you cut 16 turquoise squares @ 4" and you only need 12. I have fixed it now. My apologies, but this is good news if you want more turquoise in your quilt, as you will have four extra 4" squares that can be trimmed to 3 1/2" for the cornerstones.

Pasque Star Finish

You may wonder why I call this Pasque Star. I wanted a reference to the pink, and yeah, I know pasque flowers are more of a soft purple, but pasque is a reference to Pâques, which is Easter in French, I made this quilt around Easter, it's Spring, and it just reminds me of those soft, early prairie crocus, as they are also called. (photo from Canadian Wildlife Federation)

I used to grow them in my garden in Alberta. Sadly I am too far south now in Canada for them to grow here, though here we have wild violets galore and snowdrops in early spring!

Here it is on that perfect fence for hanging small quilts, in front of our barberry that's leafing out so nicely!
Note that Island Batik supplied all the fabric for this quilt, Hobbs Batting supplied the batting, and Aurifil supplied the thread. And! The quilt was made with the AccuQuilt Go! Cube 8" dies and 2.5" strip die, both supplied by AccuQuilt!

Pasque Star Flimsy

It is done! This is the April challenge for Island Batik, who supplied the fabric, and for AccuQuilt, who supplied the dies and cutting machine.

This was a bit of an ornery quilt. I ripped and re-sewed a lot more than I usually do. I think the orientation of the HSTs churned my menopausal melon into a bit of a watermelon slushy. The quilt also had a bit of an independent streak, and didn't want to stay within the original plan. However, I am not above admitting when the quilt was right and my original design was not, so "Come on in" and see all her triangles and squares oriented correctly.

DrEAMi! #27

Well? What squirrels have you chased during April? I was unable to for a few reasons I'm not getting into. Suffice it to say that real life took up a lot of time and tromped a bit on our spirits this past month, but we are muddling along and doing okay! Thank you for all the kind words and behind the scenes chats with you, my dear friends. Two things I stumbled upon while doing some cleaning and moving stuff due to renovations, which are causing a bit of the behind the scenes angst, were worth photographing and videotaping for this very post! I think my friends and family know my squirrelly, distracted nature, more than I realize.

This is a black slate, I believe, coaster my mum gave me many years ago, like when I lived at home still. So it's easily 35+ years old. Yep, those are tea stains on it that did not come off with a cloth and warm water, so will try baking soda next! With this much-loved, though not at all realized WHAT animal it was, coaster, come on into the squirrel-chasing realm...

A Roll of the Dice Cushion

Last year I was part of a blog hop for Amanda Murphy's beautiful line, Free Motion Fantasy for Benartex. Teaser: I'm part of one coming up the first full week of May and I get to use her latest line, a Fall one, squeal! Once I designed the blocks and the runner for last August's hop, I had the idea to make the blocks smaller and create a cushion, and I finally have it done. Sadly I do not finally have the pattern finished, but the plan is to have it and my suitcases quilt, Oh! The Places You'll Go! both done by the end of my Beothuk Star QAL, which is June 15. This is the second finish for the Q2FAL. You can see my list here. I actually had this done over a week ago, just hadn't written it up.

I Like/Love #27

Those close to me know that things are a bit difficult in my personal life right now, but that's why doing these posts helps so much. One of the kernels of wisdom I often say to my yoga students is, "You can change your thoughts, but first you to have to notice them." I've been trying to put that into practice more in my life. When I realize I'm going down a dark road of negative or depressing or angry thoughts, I purposely try to snap myself out of that track. It is amazing, because I notice, too, how my inner ambiance changes: I relax more, I feel I have 'space' inside; there's a calm that comes with appreciating something.

Yesterday it was the beautiful shape of a budding birch tree in our neighbours' yard, fanned out so perfectly, that helped change my thoughts. So that is #1 on April's list. Another time it was noticing the leaf buds a little bit bigger on the lilacs, and the red buds on the maple also showing in the photo below. (I still have a hard time with how slow spring is here, unlike the 'overnight' burst of an Alberta one).

Two Ongoing Challenges

The first challenge is one I am hosting for the third year the #30quiltdesignschallenge2019. You can look at that hashtag or the previous two years, by changing the year, on Instagram.

This year you won't find as many designs on Instagram because we decided to protect them by having a private FaceBook group. The number of designers sadly has dropped to about half. Some have said they just don't have time this year, but we are wondering if it is a bit of an aversion to yet another private FB group...you're preaching to the choir here; I basically only use FB for Island Batik and one good friend, and now this. If you'd like to be a part, and are fine with using Instagram, then that is absolutely fine and it's not too late! In fact, we are considering extending the deadline from May 15 to the 25, which is 70 days total, what the other two years were. That still gives you 5 weeks! Shoot me an email or DM me through Instagram; we really are a supportive group, and there have been some terrific designs, some digital, lots on graph paper, so if that's a concern, banish it!

Did I mention there are some sweet prizes?!