Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Birdie Stitches March Block & Info on the Red and White Quilt

Thanks for all your supportive comments regarding my experience taking Grandpa with me to the quilt show.  I sure did think of a lot of things I might have said to that horrid woman who swiped his chair as he was preparing to sit in it–unfortunately I had a delayed reaction and stood stunned with my jaw dropped to my chest when it happened!  I will say that the expression on the face of the woman who had offered him the chair next to her was priceless.  "What just happened here?"

Nearly insane

I did find out (though my readers' helpful and knowledgeable comments) that the red and white quilt in yesterday's post is called "Nearly Insane".  There is a book by the same name written by Liz Lois that is for sale on amazon.com.  It has one review, which is pretty bad.  I have not seen the book, but the reviewer had plenty to criticize.  Check it out.   Evidently, (according to the reviewer), the author gives no instruction on how to construct the blocks, nor does she name the blocks!  Now, that is a problem!  It does sound like if you buy the book, you had better get one of those block encyclopedias that tell you how to make 100 blocks in various sizes! If any of you have bought this book, or made the quilt, please comment on your experience.  We would all love to know how you fared. 

UPDATE:  Please read the comments below for a link to another red and white Nearly Insane quilt and some dissenting opinions on the book.  Check out Ranette's quilt.    Good gravy, go to Tazzie's blog and look at her Nearly Insane quilt!  And Floribunda's NI quilt.  Thanks to you readers who responded!  What awesome quilts.

Several people commented that the Farmer's Wife quilt would be incredible if done in a two color scheme.  Can you imagine it in red and white?  Now why didn't I think to do that?

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I finished the third block in the Birdie Stitches project while I was away last week.  I felt there should be a little something the end of the rainbow, and copied an idea I found on the Birdie Stitches Flickr Group.  My shamrocks are a little wonky, but so is everything else in my block, so I guess they can stay.

When I was tearing through the Road to California quilt show last week, I stopped briefly at the Bird Brain Designs booth and purchased a pattern.  And took a minute to look at the amazing work on their samples.  They seem to favor using perle cotton thread, which gives a nice bold look, without the bulk of using more than three strands of regular embroidery thread.  One of my readers, Connie H. suggested that I might like to do this with my Birdie Stitches blocks. 

These little stitchery designs were impossible to pass up!  I see them in the centers of some red and white quilt blocks….  Hopefully I will be proficient enough to make these after finishing 12 Birdie blocks.

Tomorrow I will share with you my major purchase at the show.  I scored Big Time!  Something I never thought I would find in a million years.

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38 responses to “Birdie Stitches March Block & Info on the Red and White Quilt”

  1. Love your Birdie blocks and they’re coming along wonderfully. The shamrocks add just the perfect touch for what would be at the end of the rainbow. Good idea!
    Yesterday at the LQS here, I drooled over rack of perle cottons but didn’t buy any.
    What a charming pattern you found at the Bird Brain Booth!
    As for the Nearly Insane book, I have to wonder how it ever got published with such poor information inside. If that book didn’t have block instructions, my hat is certainly off to the quilter who was brave and bold enough to make that wonderful red and white quilt!
    It’s long been one of my few pet peeves when any quilting publication, book or magazine, fails to label historical blocks with at least one of the common names. What are they thinking???
    Cannot wait to see what wonderful Big Time Score item you found!
    Hugs!

  2. Love your Birdie blocks and they’re coming along wonderfully. The shamrocks add just the perfect touch for what would be at the end of the rainbow. Good idea!
    Yesterday at the LQS here, I drooled over rack of perle cottons but didn’t buy any.
    What a charming pattern you found at the Bird Brain Booth!
    As for the Nearly Insane book, I have to wonder how it ever got published with such poor information inside. If that book didn’t have block instructions, my hat is certainly off to the quilter who was brave and bold enough to make that wonderful red and white quilt!
    It’s long been one of my few pet peeves when any quilting publication, book or magazine, fails to label historical blocks with at least one of the common names. What are they thinking???
    Cannot wait to see what wonderful Big Time Score item you found!
    Hugs!

  3. Your birdie are really ‘tweet. Can’t wait to see what you got on your whirlwin quilt show visit.
    Glad grandpa faired the ordeal ok. What a trooper.

  4. Your birdie are really ‘tweet. Can’t wait to see what you got on your whirlwin quilt show visit.
    Glad grandpa faired the ordeal ok. What a trooper.

  5. I have the Redwork kitchen stitcheries also and used Sulky 12 wt thread (on a spool) for them. I was thinking of making a sewing folder with one of the designs.
    I recently purchased Cosmo #322, red (two-strand floss on a spool)and love it. I no longer use DMC that you have to split when there is so much else available. Have not used Perle cotton yet, but is on the horizon. LoL warmest wishes from Judy C

  6. I have the Redwork kitchen stitcheries also and used Sulky 12 wt thread (on a spool) for them. I was thinking of making a sewing folder with one of the designs.
    I recently purchased Cosmo #322, red (two-strand floss on a spool)and love it. I no longer use DMC that you have to split when there is so much else available. Have not used Perle cotton yet, but is on the horizon. LoL warmest wishes from Judy C

  7. I could not agree more with Barbara Anne! She said it perfectly so I won’t repeat it! Thanks Nicole for passing along that pattern name and review, puzzle solved. Just dying to see what else you bought at the show!

  8. I could not agree more with Barbara Anne! She said it perfectly so I won’t repeat it! Thanks Nicole for passing along that pattern name and review, puzzle solved. Just dying to see what else you bought at the show!

  9. I bought this book last year – Liz Lois recreated this quilt by sketching out the blocks by hand, working out the measurements, and then piecing it all together – Block # 18 has 229 pieces – The book does not give sewing instructions – There is a brief introduction, a list of supplies needed, and a drawing of each completed block – it is up to the individual to use the method that gets the best result – Sort of like “Quilt as desired”. I think this quilt was meant to be challenging – it would be so rewarding to complete. My copy is on the bookshelf, right next to Dear Jane 🙂

  10. I bought this book last year – Liz Lois recreated this quilt by sketching out the blocks by hand, working out the measurements, and then piecing it all together – Block # 18 has 229 pieces – The book does not give sewing instructions – There is a brief introduction, a list of supplies needed, and a drawing of each completed block – it is up to the individual to use the method that gets the best result – Sort of like “Quilt as desired”. I think this quilt was meant to be challenging – it would be so rewarding to complete. My copy is on the bookshelf, right next to Dear Jane 🙂

  15. Love your March block and love what you added. I want to add something too but haven’t figured it out yet so I am sure I’ll think of something before it’s all done,

  16. Love your March block and love what you added. I want to add something too but haven’t figured it out yet so I am sure I’ll think of something before it’s all done,

  17. There used to be a shop in Manteca called Horsefeathers. The owner was superb at embroidery and design. She always used one strand. Just one. They looked amazing. Yours are looking so wonderful. It makes me want to take up embroidery again.

  18. There used to be a shop in Manteca called Horsefeathers. The owner was superb at embroidery and design. She always used one strand. Just one. They looked amazing. Yours are looking so wonderful. It makes me want to take up embroidery again.

  19. Here’s a link to my Nearly Insane quilt, which I call “Identity Crisis”.
    Regarding the book — I think that the blocks don’t have names because many of them are not “traditional” blocks! If you use EQ software, you can draft them (I did a lot of them with paper piecing) and I think the yahoo group mentioned by Ranette has links to EQ blocks that others have drafted.

  20. Here’s a link to my Nearly Insane quilt, which I call “Identity Crisis”.
    Regarding the book — I think that the blocks don’t have names because many of them are not “traditional” blocks! If you use EQ software, you can draft them (I did a lot of them with paper piecing) and I think the yahoo group mentioned by Ranette has links to EQ blocks that others have drafted.

  21. Nicole, here is a link to a Nearly Insane Quilts blog. http://nearlyinsanequilts.blogspot.com/ She gives tutorials for each block. I stopped in for just a few minutes but it looks like just the ticket for anyone interested in making the blocks. It seems very organized and easy to navigate for each tutorial. Just a thought.
    I too love the stitchery blocks in the center of quilt blocks. I’m working now on block #8 of an adorable Christmas wall hanging called Tis The Season by Natalie Bird. I started it as a stitch along at Chookyblue’s blog (Australian designer) with small but adorable stitcheries. Here is the link to look at some of the finished Tis The Season quilts that she has posted on her blog from that SAL. http://www.stitch-a-long.blogspot.com/ … Just scroll down on the left sidebar of her blog, she posts all the SALs she has hosted. I love your birdie stitcheries, can’t wait to see the finished quilt. Hugs…

  22. Nicole, here is a link to a Nearly Insane Quilts blog. http://nearlyinsanequilts.blogspot.com/ She gives tutorials for each block. I stopped in for just a few minutes but it looks like just the ticket for anyone interested in making the blocks. It seems very organized and easy to navigate for each tutorial. Just a thought.
    I too love the stitchery blocks in the center of quilt blocks. I’m working now on block #8 of an adorable Christmas wall hanging called Tis The Season by Natalie Bird. I started it as a stitch along at Chookyblue’s blog (Australian designer) with small but adorable stitcheries. Here is the link to look at some of the finished Tis The Season quilts that she has posted on her blog from that SAL. http://www.stitch-a-long.blogspot.com/ … Just scroll down on the left sidebar of her blog, she posts all the SALs she has hosted. I love your birdie stitcheries, can’t wait to see the finished quilt. Hugs…

  25. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! You’re gonna make us WAIT until tomorrow??!! Dang! You’re cruel! You know I’m just kidding about the ‘being cruel’ part. ;p

  26. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! You’re gonna make us WAIT until tomorrow??!! Dang! You’re cruel! You know I’m just kidding about the ‘being cruel’ part. ;p

  37. love the red/white quilt – so pretty! Sometimes those quick run throughs are just as much fun as others and I am glad you ahd such a good time (overall) with your Grandpa…your granddaughter eatin’ the nanners is adorable. She seems to be interested in the person filming her too! Perfect metal quilt for your quilting studio!!!

  38. love the red/white quilt – so pretty! Sometimes those quick run throughs are just as much fun as others and I am glad you ahd such a good time (overall) with your Grandpa…your granddaughter eatin’ the nanners is adorable. She seems to be interested in the person filming her too! Perfect metal quilt for your quilting studio!!!