Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

/ Tuesday 31 August 2010 /
getting bigger
I have been dilatory as regards posting, but I hope you'll forgive me.  My B.Ed. students come back this week and I have been working hard to get ready for a very heavy teaching month in September.  However I do have a few things to share with you.
First, you may remember that I was casting around for a hand sewing project that wasn't hexagons.  Jessica suggested diamonds, and she pointed me to a handy video she had made about how she uses Quilt Patis 1.5" diamond templates.  I thought her work was so pretty and I thought it might work for me.  So I ordered a pack, to try them out.  I wanted something to take with me to Memphis for my father's 70th birthday celebration, and they arrived in the mail the day before I left.  I just had time to cut a whack of fabric diamonds to take with me.  Here's what they look like - the directions say trace the template, but that's far too tedious.  I do what Jessica suggested: cut 2 1/8" strips and use the 60 degree angle line to cut diamonds.
1.5" diamonds
You piece them together in segments - in this photo, you can see the plastic Quilt Patis in the back of the work; once a plastic piece has been joined on all four sides, the template can be popped out.
Quilt Patis templates
I was a bit slow getting started, but here's what I managed to get done over the four days I was away.  The photo at the top of the post shows what I've done to date.
What I did on my trip to Memphis
My trip was quite eventful - and not all pleasant.  I was 11 hours late arriving in Memphis due to a plane malfunction and various weather systems.  I was glad to have my new hand sewing project to keep myself occupied and distracted from things I didn't want to know about - like how bad the weather was.  I really really really hate flying, and I was especially nervous, when, on our way into Atlanta, the pilot came on the speaker and asked the flight attendants to stop preparing the cabin for landing and to sit down and strap themselves in.  We flew into quite a storm and the turbulence was bad - so bad, in fact, that as I kept myself busy by sewing diamonds together, a particularly bad bump made me poke myself in the face with the needle! Fortunately, I stabbed myself in the chin, not the eyeball!  The thunderstorm over Atlanta caused a further delay in my travel.  When I finally arrived in Memphis, I was amazed beyond belief to find that my bag was actually on the same plane as me, since I had been rerouted twice and had been on three different airlines.  And so grateful - since the quilt I made for my father was in my suitcase!  However the adventure wasn't over, because I soon found that the Atlanta baggage handlers had left the bags out on the tarmac while they waited for the thunderstorm to pass.  I kid you not - I was wringing water out of my clothes and the quilt.  I hung it over the shower rod in the hotel that night and spent an hour the next morning drying it with a hair dryer!  But all's well that ends well - I'm happy to report that my father was thrilled with it, just as you all predicted.
In other news, I wanted to share what I finally decided on for my month in the Incredible Shrinkers bee.  I'm asking everyone to make me a Snail Trail block.  I've always loved this block, and I have some very sweet red and aqua fabric, mainly Lecien Flower Sugar.  The single block doesn't look like much, but when assembled with red and aqua setting blocks, it will look magnasplendent!
Snail Trail block

13 comments:

{ Jennifer } on: 31 August 2010 at 18:16 said...

it's always atlanta.

i love your diamonds and feel the need to make some for myself. shit.

{ Stray Stitches (Linda G) } on: 31 August 2010 at 18:51 said...

You diamonds are beautiful. I just started a hexagon flower garden quilt using Quilt Patis - aren't they great!

{ Sarah Craig } on: 31 August 2010 at 20:11 said...

That is beautiful, and I'll have to check out those Patis! I'm sorry you had a rough time flying - when we have summer thunderstorms, they are usually whoppers! I can't wait to see what your Snail Trail blocks look like made up into a quilt - it's certainly an interesting block!

{ Suzanna } on: 31 August 2010 at 21:10 said...

First, your diamonds are perfection. Second, I can't believe they let you on a plane with sewing needles. (Did you have scissors, too?)
And I can hardly wait to see the snail's trail made up. In my mind's eye, these quilts are just 2 colours; one where the white is and a second where the aqua and red are. There you go Lesly, modifying tradition once more.

{ ktquilts } on: 31 August 2010 at 21:12 said...

Next time you fly, please wear protective eye wear!!! My goodness, what a trip. The diamonds are wondermous, and I love, love, love Flower Sugar!!!!!

Great projects!

{ ferne } on: 31 August 2010 at 21:15 said...

If magnasplendent is a real work then you found the perfect use for it! This is so cute and I can't wait to see more snail trails put together. The designs for this must be endless.

{ Jessica } on: 31 August 2010 at 22:06 said...

your stars are sooo pretty. i'm glad you've taken to them, aren't they addictive? I got stuck at the car repair shop for 3+ hours last weekend and didn't care at all, just kept stitching, stitching...

{ Unknown } on: 1 September 2010 at 03:18 said...

What a lovely colourful quilt this will be

{ elle } on: 1 September 2010 at 08:46 said...

Gracious, how's that for an interesting trip! The diamonds are lovely. And the snail's trail will be over the top! Maybe I can piece some slow handwork while I wait on the trail! You tempt me! 8^)

{ pamela } on: 1 September 2010 at 08:47 said...

I too hate flying and the thunderstorms here in the south can get very bad. So I don't fly. I live in the Nashville area. Your diamonds are lovely and I might try them myself someday!! Just knew that your Dad would love his quilt.

{ shannon } on: 1 September 2010 at 21:27 said...

hey lesly- i'm jess's friend here in atlanta...i wish i'd read this yesterday, i'd come and got you and you could of used my dryer to dry out...

but i'm here if you ever need anything else! :)

shannon
'doodlebug'

{ Thelma } on: 2 September 2010 at 10:54 said...

Lesly, I think you found the perfect lap project, those diamonds are so you!! You're off to a good start. I too am amazed at how time consuming this type of project is. Four hours in front of my sewing machine, many blocks, four hours working on hexies, not so many blocks.

Great job, you took right to this, I think my first hexies have a "beginner" look to them. But I am improving.

Air travel, it's a trial, but one we must endure to get anywhere. I pack my clothes in those gigantic ziploc baggies inside my suitcase. I do it because I don't like the thought of strangers touching my clothes, but it would come in handy if my suitcase was left out on the tarmac in the rain.

{ My Little Part of Heaven } on: 9 September 2010 at 14:57 said...

Your quilts are lovely
but this one....ahhhhhh
simply outstanding

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