April 26, 2010 – Freedom Star Block #17 – Manhattan Star Block
Manhattan Star
Our daughter is living in Manhattan while working towards her college degree. She has really enjoyed exploring the city and her favorite buildings are the ones made in the Art Deco style of the 1930’s.
We could not be more proud of her and we were lucky enough to have her come home and visit this weekend…so this week’s star is the Manhattan Star.
This is another traditional block, originally published the magazine titled “Aunt Kate’s Quilting Bee ” between July 1962-1967. (Barbara Brackman’s Block Base for EQ6).
This block is made using the paper-piecing method…Click here for complete directions or click on Free Block Patterns – 2010 Block of the Week “Freedom Stars”
Happy Quilting,
Betty Dietz
April 19, 2010 – Freedom Star Block #16 – Earth Day Star Block
Earth Day Star Block
Forty years ago Senator Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin) started a grassroots movement to help save our planet. The first EARTH DAY was celebrated on April 22, 1970. On that first Earth Day, over 20 million individuals and thousands of schools participated. I remember planting a tree with my classmates.
Today Earth Day has been expanded into a full week of activities designed to help make people aware of the fragile state of our home planet, and it is celebrated by over one billion people in 190 countries.
For information on how to get involved visit Earth Day Network and for information on events in your neighborhood visit Envirolink or the Nature Conservancy
I have re-designed and re-named a traditional block originally named Illinois Star published by Aunt Kate’s Quilting Bee Magazine between July 1962 -July 1967 (Barbara Brackman, Block Base for EQ6)
Earth Day Star Block - Freedom Stars Colors
Have fun using your favorite applique method to create this Earth Day Star Block. Click here for complete directions or click on Free Block Patterns – 2010 Block of the Week “Freedom Stars”
Happy Quilting,
Betty Dietz
April 12, 2010 – Freedom Star Block #15 – Crossed Star Block
Crossed Star Block
Are you working on your taxes? Are you seeing nothing but plus and minus signs. My husband is working on our taxes, they seem to get more complicated every year!
This is such a stressful time of year, so I have re-named and re-designed a not too difficult block called Star and Cross. This was one of the many pattern attributed to the Nancy Cabot column in the Chicago Tribune in the 1930s (Barbara Brockman, Block Base for EQ) This block was originally pieced with some tricky templates. I have made it simpler, although the only way I could get it to work without any set-in seams, was to make yet another paper-pieced pattern. I hope you take some time out from your tax calculations and sew out this beautiful block.
Some of you may have noticed a new look to the website. I wanted to add a Photo Gallery, so some items on the top line have been re-arranged. Be sure to look around at the other features on this site, like the Delmarva Quilt shops!
Click here for complete directions or click on Free Block Patterns – 2010 Block of the Week “Freedom Stars”
If you have been following along, please send me pictures of your blocks and I will post them on this website.
Happy Quilting,
Betty Dietz
April 5, 2010 – Freedom Star Block #14 – April Star Block
We are just back from the most enjoyable and relaxing Easter weekend at Pieceful Cottage. The weather was fabulous!
On Saturday, we took a car ride over to the Delaware beaches and explored Rehobeth Beach and Bethany Beach. Two very nice beach towns on the Delaware shore. I was surprised at how crowded they were already on April 4th. I can remember when nothing at the beach was open until Memorial Day and most of the shops and restaurants put up their shutters just after Labor Day!
On Sunday afternoon we spent a little time sanding and refinishing the teak wood trim on our little 27 – foot O’Day sailboat. She is named the “Simple and Free” after our favorite Chicago tune from the 70’s! We keep her in a marina just 5 minutes from our cottage so we have easy access to her. If we are lucky, we get her out 3 – 4 weekends each season, I wish we could have more time on her. It is so much fun to go sailing on the Chesapeake. Oh well, retirement is not too far away for us!!
This week’s block is an older block listed as Long Pointed Star and published in the The KC Star 4/1/42, as noted in Barbara Brackman’s Block Base for EQ6. Another name for the block is the April Star (attributed to Nancy Cabot – 1930’s) and I thought that it would be appropriate for Easter. I have shown it colored two ways, first in the red, white/gold and blue of the Freedom Star Blocks and also in pink, green and blue for spring.
Click here for complete directions or click on Free Block Patterns – 2010 Block of the Week “Freedom Stars”.
If you have been following along, please send me pictures of your blocks and I will post them on this website.
Happy Quilting,
Betty Dietz
April Star Block - Freedom Star colors
April Star Block - Spring Colors