adventures of a quilting diva

Last week I attended a workshop from Peggy Martin, Quick-Strip Paper Pieced New York Beauty. Click here to see some of the many variations you can get by laying out the blocks in different patterns. Definitely half the fun comes when you finish the blocks and get to play with them, trying out different arrangements.

Here is one of the blocks I worked on in the class. The pink fabric in the corner is actually not sewn down yet, I just laid it on top for the photo, and unfortunately did not lay it down very accurately. When you do sew the pieces together you really get nice sharp points, as you can see with the yellow points above, which are sewn down.

What’s great about Peggy’s Quick-Strip paper piecing technique is that it really is quick and easy! And you get 3 different methods to choose from to sew the curved lines (something for everybody!). I’ve started 8 blocks but haven’t decided how many there will be in the end.

This is my focus fabric for my New York Beauty quilt, “margarita” from Alexander Henry Fabrics, 2004. I’ve been saving it for just the right quilt. I have enough of it to use in a border and to sprinkle throughout some of the blocks.

Peggy’s trunk show was amazing as well! I love how she uses such a wide variety of colors and fabrics from quilt to quilt. I was fascinated to see how just a single small change to a quilt block (line, color, value, orientation, etc.) makes all the difference in the world in the final quilt’s look and feel. Check out the different looks you can get with the traditional Palm Leaf block. The cover quilt of Quick-Strip Paper Piecing: For Blocks, Borders & Quilts (Peggy’s book with the New York Beauty pattern in it) is one of those quilts you really have to see in person.

Stay tuned for more of my New York Beauty blocks! (and I promise to sew all the pieces together for you next time) =(^_^)=