Personal Challenge: Day 5(ish)

I am a little bit late...but better late than never, right!?!? 

The goal of my Personal Challenge was to finish the last 5 blocks of my 25 blocks sampler quilt by yesterday. I was in a bit of a lull with this project, but did not want to start something new and get distracted. Today I finished off my last two blocks!  YIPPEE!  One is a modified Friendship Star and the other an Ohio Star.

I took the time today to trim all 25 blocks with the hope of adding cream solid sashing in the evenings this week.  I was aiming for a 12.5x12.5 inch unfinished block, but several blocks were well short of this. It seemed that I could get away with a 12 inch unfinished block and they would all be uniform.  So, I cut and cut and cut. For the most part there will not be a problem with the downsizing. However, on several blocks there are points on the outermost edge (like in both of the blocks above) that will be compromised. With the reduced size, I lost my 0.25 inch allowance on the edge, bringing the points nearly to the edge of the block. So, when I use a 0.25 inch seam now, the point will be trimmed.  There's nothing I can do, so I will just have to go with it.

Anyway, back to the sampler quilt.  I do not have a design wall, but I have a design spare bed.  This will be a quilt with 5 blocks across and 5 blocks down. That does not quite work with my design spare bed.  Still, when they are all laid out you get an idea of what the finished quilt will look like.  I started cutting the cream sashing today and have cut corner stones from the green, yellow, red and blue fabric for the intersection of each block. 

I am really happy with the fabric selection and the combination of patterns.  I hope it will be beautiful when it is finished. Again, my goal is to have it quilted and bound by the end of May.  Another Personal Challenge coming on?  Maybe.

Other bits and pieces:
1) Finished my 6 wine bags today. I found ribbon for nearly all of them (except for one missing brown ribbon), applied buttons at the base of each bag to "hold" the corners in place
2) Cut sashing and cornerstones for the sampler quilt. Ready to go after work again tomorrow!
3) Completed the teaser embroidering posted last week.  I have two more to finish, then I will post on the completed project.

Also, have a look over on the Product Reviews page, too.  I have inserted a new review of Make a Monster by Fiona Goble.