I made a couple more Magic of Christmas blocks over the weekend. I was rummaging around in one of the drawers in the sewing room dresser and discovered some 1" half square triangle papers, which I had not realized I had on hand.
Lisa Bongean, who is sponsoring the Magic of Christmas sew along has her own line of triangle papers, and recommends using them for some of these tiny little half square triangles that are featured in many of the blocks that make up the quilt. I had it in mind to order some, but never got around to it. Turns out I had another brand all along. I used them today and sure wish I had done it at the beginning of this project rather than at the end! The triangle papers really did speed things up and every one of them turned out uniform in size.
The papers I had make up 1 inch finished squares, but Lisa sells papers that make blocks as small as 1/2 inch finished.
Hope you all had a great weekend! It was nice to get up into the sewing room. I have been listening to a new audio book, "The Shadow Sister", the third book in the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. I love her books, every one of them. "The Shadow Sister" is not available in the US yet, except in the audio version, which works ok for me. This series is wonderful, if you aren't familiar with it. There will be seven books in the series, each one featuring one of seven sisters, each of whom were adopted at birth by a rich Swiss benefactor. Each of the girls is named after one of the stars in the Pleiades constellation. Their adopted father dies unexpectedly and posthumously leaves clues to each of the daughters as to their country and people of origin, which they are encouraged to explore. The first sister travels to Brazil and finds she is linked to the artist who created the Christ the Redeemer statue that looms over Rio de Janiero. The second sister has ties to the composer Edvard Grieg in Norway. The third book in the series features a shy sister who travels to Kent, England and discovers her link to Beatrix Potter. The series is epic, in the grandest sense of the word, and the books are engrossing page turners of considerable length. If you are looking for some books to get lost in, I suggest you dive in.
36 responses to “Magic of Christmas Keeps on Coming”
I have saved all those patterns for the blocks, good information that it really is worth it to get the HST papers. Your blocks look so nice. the book series sounds very interesting. Happy Sewing!!
I have saved all those patterns for the blocks, good information that it really is worth it to get the HST papers. Your blocks look so nice. the book series sounds very interesting. Happy Sewing!!
I have saved all those patterns for the blocks, good information that it really is worth it to get the HST papers. Your blocks look so nice. the book series sounds very interesting. Happy Sewing!!
Those blocks are just gorgeous, Nicole!! On the book side, I’ve now read The Light Between Oceans and Redemption Road…next up is Lilac Girls, I think. Thanks for the recommendations!!
Those blocks are just gorgeous, Nicole!! On the book side, I’ve now read The Light Between Oceans and Redemption Road…next up is Lilac Girls, I think. Thanks for the recommendations!!
Those blocks are just gorgeous, Nicole!! On the book side, I’ve now read The Light Between Oceans and Redemption Road…next up is Lilac Girls, I think. Thanks for the recommendations!!
Nicole how closely linked are the books in the seven sisters series? Do I have to start with the first or can I skip to the third one without being totally confused? In Canada so I can find a few used copies but they’re going to take awhile to get here or I can start #3 on Kindle now…instant gratification.
Nicole how closely linked are the books in the seven sisters series? Do I have to start with the first or can I skip to the third one without being totally confused? In Canada so I can find a few used copies but they’re going to take awhile to get here or I can start #3 on Kindle now…instant gratification.
Nicole how closely linked are the books in the seven sisters series? Do I have to start with the first or can I skip to the third one without being totally confused? In Canada so I can find a few used copies but they’re going to take awhile to get here or I can start #3 on Kindle now…instant gratification.
Love your little blocks, especially the green one on the left!! Thanks for the tip using the paper, the little,pieces don’t seem so intimidating now.
Love your little blocks, especially the green one on the left!! Thanks for the tip using the paper, the little,pieces don’t seem so intimidating now.
Love your little blocks, especially the green one on the left!! Thanks for the tip using the paper, the little,pieces don’t seem so intimidating now.
Nicole–I am reading The Seven Sisters presently and Lucinda Riley is my new “favorite author.” I find this book fascinating. Lucinda has created a charm bracelet for purchase and I want to purchase that too and collect a charm representing each of the “seven sisters.” Thanks for mentioning this author in a previous post. She is amazing.
Nicole–I am reading The Seven Sisters presently and Lucinda Riley is my new “favorite author.” I find this book fascinating. Lucinda has created a charm bracelet for purchase and I want to purchase that too and collect a charm representing each of the “seven sisters.” Thanks for mentioning this author in a previous post. She is amazing.
Nicole–I am reading The Seven Sisters presently and Lucinda Riley is my new “favorite author.” I find this book fascinating. Lucinda has created a charm bracelet for purchase and I want to purchase that too and collect a charm representing each of the “seven sisters.” Thanks for mentioning this author in a previous post. She is amazing.
Love your blocks and what a surprise to find those papers;-)
Thanks for the bookrecommendation I see if I can find them in my library.
Love your blocks and what a surprise to find those papers;-)
Thanks for the bookrecommendation I see if I can find them in my library.
Love your blocks and what a surprise to find those papers;-)
Thanks for the bookrecommendation I see if I can find them in my library.
Love the colors you’re putting together for these blocks! It’s going to be a very pretty quilt!
Love the colors you’re putting together for these blocks! It’s going to be a very pretty quilt!
Love the colors you’re putting together for these blocks! It’s going to be a very pretty quilt!
what are you using for the 1/2 in finished HST?
what are you using for the 1/2 in finished HST?
what are you using for the 1/2 in finished HST?
Pretty blocks. I will be excited to see these all together!
Mary
Pretty blocks. I will be excited to see these all together!
Mary
Pretty blocks. I will be excited to see these all together!
Mary
I see you put your spin on #17. I like it. I was comparing yours to mine. I am finishing the last three. They are cut out so I need to sew.
I see you put your spin on #17. I like it. I was comparing yours to mine. I am finishing the last three. They are cut out so I need to sew.
I see you put your spin on #17. I like it. I was comparing yours to mine. I am finishing the last three. They are cut out so I need to sew.
Oops, my bad. I looked at the wrong block!
Oops, my bad. I looked at the wrong block!
Oops, my bad. I looked at the wrong block!
We just got back from Disneyland. My husband and I agree that Disney needs to make some changes. It was so crowded! Between the large number of people, strollers, scooters, and roped off areas it was next to impossible to get around Disneyland. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays but boy am I peopled out.
We just got back from Disneyland. My husband and I agree that Disney needs to make some changes. It was so crowded! Between the large number of people, strollers, scooters, and roped off areas it was next to impossible to get around Disneyland. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays but boy am I peopled out.
We just got back from Disneyland. My husband and I agree that Disney needs to make some changes. It was so crowded! Between the large number of people, strollers, scooters, and roped off areas it was next to impossible to get around Disneyland. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays but boy am I peopled out.