fussy cut sampler - chapter 12

so december has clearly come and gone...
and between typical december activities plus disneyland at the end of the month followed shortly by a trip to universal studios with friends in january, chapter 12 didn't actually get finished until the end of january.  but don't worry, this post catches you up to where the project is accurately sitting at.  still in block form, though actually placed in rows now versus being separated out by chapter completion.
this set of blocks basically took the skills we learned in all the other chapters, and then amped them up a whole lot too.  things like freezer paper, pattern matching and even creating a little ransom note signature block.  it was hard work, but oh so worth it!
now that all the blocks are done, i guess i should start thinking more about the sashing.  with a few other projects now complete, i can really start to buckle down and get this one complete.
here's to hoping it is complete before the end of 2019!

fussy cut sampler - chapter 11

this month i've been eyeball deep in writing summer camp curriculum, sewing aprons and being straight up exhausted.  clearly so much, that i didn't even post anything exciting on here about turning 30 at the start of it all.  oops.  then to top it off, the week that the huge fire in butte county hit also wiped out all my energy and i think i have just recently gotten my sewjo back... again.  thank goodness for things like my wednesday fussy cut class and my montly maker monday gathering to kick me back on track!  this chapter was a lot of fun it its own ways.  i'm not 100% sure i followed the correct "theme" guidelines for the blocks as the book details it out, but i know i made 4 blocks that i really really like.
i was apparently also feeling very gray & yellow with these sets.  i tried to add a punch of color in the 4th block (aka the "you in a block" block) but it just wasn't happening.  must have been some subliminal realization of just needing a few more lighter blocks to balance out the darker blue of months before.  also this month i was able to use some of my fabric i purchased that has just been waiting for it's time to shine.  time to stop delaying you from the fun... here are the blocks!
no need to rub your eyes... those are 100% ballerina dinosaurs in that last block.
a random search on etsy to see what specifically i could find and just happened to stumble across these fantastic fat quarters.  charlotte filshie is the amazing designer behind these dinosaurs (and super hero one) but i wasn't convinced right away because they were only in the UK.  i went back and forth for a few weeks, and the on a whim decided to buy them and not look back.  once i finally got to the "you in a block" block (#44) i knew i had to make them happen.  while i'm way more in to tap than ballet, they were just so silly and amusingly perfect.  plus, pairing them with tacos & a "cochella cat" as angelina calls them just rounded out the block.
i'm nervous for the next chapter with all the intense piecing plans, but sad to see it wrap up and come to an end.  i feel like i say that EVERY month, but overall, this project has been oh so worth it!

fussy cut sampler - chapter 10

october's blocks were a breeze compared to figuring out geometrics and all that nonsense.
also after last month's blocks, i decided to take a step back and put some green and lighter colors back in to my blocks.  the september blocks were filled with lots of navy and gray, which started pushing things back to the original chapters and needed some balance.  i successfully got green in 3 out of the 4 blocks in one way or another, and kept that 4th block lighter in color.  as usual, i still don't think i have a single block i hate... and have yet again... more new fabric that i fussy cut in to these blocks.  totally worth it!
i felt like my use of dinosaurs was also falling to the wayside, so it was fun to bring them back in the focal spots that they deserve.  i know that these next few months are going to zoom by, so before we all know it this might just be a finished quilt top.  gotta knock some other things off my list first, that's for sure!

fussy cut sampler - chapter 9

the book calls this chapter "geometrics as a focal fabric"
i call it "my fabric with a hint of geometrics"
this collection of blocks also fell back to a very dark blue/gray/hint of yellow vibe, leaving little to no green left in the bunch.  BUT i did get some good use out of fabrics i haven't used yet as well as those cute moon cats.  can you believe we are officially 3/4 of the way done with the book?  this cat & dinosaur vibe is still going strong!  and apparently, much like in chapter 3, my "fussy cut-less" block was instantly drawn out to be yellow and gray.  at least i'm consistent!  will just need to ensure those blocks aren't near each other.  :)
after looking at all of these, i'm ready to brighten up the next batch!
i "accidentally" bought some new fabric this month, that may just have to make their ways in to the blocks.  and time to work in some more greens!  all the more reason for "accidental" fabric shopping with intention ;)

fussy cut sampler - chapter 8

in contrast to last month's blocks being done moments before the month ended, these ones were finished just days in to the month!  our fussy cut class was actually on the first of the month, which also made this a 5 wednesday month.  it feels like it has been forever since i finished these guys, but looking at the photos of them again makes me so happy.  something about the fabrics and the blocks just clicked, and once i knew what ideas i had in place, i didn't second guess a single thing.
i used this chapter's blocks to also bring a bit more gray back in to the quilt.  i think for awhile it went to a bold color filled way that while i love those blocks, it needed more of a middle ground between some of my much lighter blocks.  block 4 in this set even features a very velcro (one of our own real life kitty boys, not the sewing notion) looking kitty as well as a little elroy looking cat in the center.  just needs a little pink nose on him!
this chapter also makes me want to have a quilt entirely of the first block you're about to see.  it is such a cute little block!
this all means we are at 3/4 of the way done... INSANE!
our monthly class has dwindled a bit in those attending, last few months there were just the bare minimum of us.  i so hope that everyone finishes it up, because so many people had cool project ideas... and cat fabric themes!
i still feel like i have so much to learn in the realm of fussy cutting, but it also seems i may have sparked the interest of my mom with this project.  perhaps i'll have to loan her my book when this is all over so she can make a cat filled fussy cut quilt herself... if you saw her cat fabric collection, you'd instantly know where i get it from!

fussy cut sampler - chapter 7

so lets take some time to get real.
these blocks were so close to not being done within the month, it isn't even funny.
i got in the zone with working on my 100 day 100 blocks, and my brain kept telling me to work on my fussy cut sampler.  that, plus my work schedule made it so i wasn't able to attend the scheduled class AND maker monday in july, which have been where i planned the blocks as well as sewed them.  PLUS, these blocks were a little trickier than before, involving things like cutting in to a tossed print and creating a focal point out of them as well as using a solid fabric to eliminate all surroundings to isolate the image.  well... i went through like a bajillion ideas before i hit these finalized blocks that i am now thrilled with.
so yeah... i started pulling the fabric on the 22nd and cutting on the 28th.
when did i finish sewing?  last night, and then i photographed these 10 minutes before i ran out of daylight.  crunch time, y'all.  but boy does it feel good to have these done in time for class TODAY to get ready for the next batch of blocks.  well, without further adieu, here's july's blocks!
i'm still trying to wrap my brain around having 7 chapters worth of blocks done now.
i'm also trying to stop myself from buying more fabric and involve some of these in to blocks again... even though i JUST bought more fabric yesterday... oops!
but at the same time... sorry, not sorry.
i easily have enough cat & dinosaur fabric to make a few different renditions of this quilt.  which is pretty exciting to say the least.  how many dinosaur, cat & cat/dinosaur quilts will there be in my life?  we'll have to wait and see!

fussy cut sampler - chapter 6

whoooaaaa we're halfway there!
whoooaaaa i just fussy cut a squ-are!
can you believe it?  we're at the halfway mark of the fussy cut sampler for the year, and it is all downhill from here!  not in a negative sort of way, since this project has really pushed me to look at fabrics differently.  that, apparently, has come as what feels like a blessing and a curse.  my blocks look amazing (in my very biased opinion) but at the same time if something is a smidgen off, it starts to make me grumble a bit... like all the 1.5" squares you'll see in the first block of this chapter.  those are killing me every time i have to use them!  without further delay, here are the blocks from chapter 6!
i'm not going to lie to you...
i love all these blocks, but the 2nd and 3rd ones make me nervous about blending in with the rest of the blocks.  i mean, that dinosaur face on the third block?  cracks me up, but does it match?  oy!  i'll definitely need to make a 2nd block with that bright busy color scheme as well as the 2nd block's lighter colors just so they at least have one matched counterpart to help balance things out.
my favorite favorite block so far probably has to be space cats and falling stars (4th block shown here, i believe it is block number 24 in the book) i was struggling for figuring out what to fit in those triangles, and then space cats just felt right.  i almost used a navy grunge, but when i remembered i had those falling stars... i knew i had to do it!  of course, late night marco polo videos with lisa also agreed with me.
well, that's a wrap on chapter 6!  i'll leave you with this one final note along with my sorrows that i won't be able to attend classes in july... stupid adulting making me work longer so i can have money to buy more fabric...  i mean food... i mean food and fabric... anyways, starting july 7, you'll see another batch of sewing along fun that will also combine this newly discovered fussy cutting skill... stay tuned, you might see an intro post on july 6th!

fussy cut sampler - chapter 5

i actually got all these blocks done early in the month, which means i nearly forgot to post them!
some of these block are a little bolder in color, which feels a little crazy for sure, but the blocks are great all the same!  hopefully not too insane when they are all next to each other.  i haven't used those kites since the beginning, so now they won't be alone!  i was also able to FINALLY use some of my fabric i purchased way back at the start of this all, since i finally had a need for a long, skinny rectangle.  hellooooo perfect space for a long bodied dinosaur!  did that stop me from buying more fabric?  nope.  two things just arrived in the mail this week.  oops.  but then again, who am i apologizing to?  nobody.  it is my fabric lovin' happiness!
those knittens were just too cute to pass up!  and those dinosaur bones?  love it.
NOW you can see why i end up snagging so many random quarter yard pieces.  too good to leave behind.
etsy is a dangerous place, my friends...
and now, for the whole sha-bang for the month!

fussy cut sampler - chapter 4

in the midst of all that went on this month, i still managed to get all of my chapter work done this month!  i bought more fabric, even though i said i wouldn't, but at least i already put it to good use!  it was this month that i realized i had a lot of BOLD blocks, and thought i would try toning some of my upcoming colors down a bit.  my struggle currently resides in the fact i bought so much navy that i really don't have any middle blues to bridge the gap at the moment... and i'm REALLY trying to not buy anything more... but i already did that last week when i found myself at thistle dew in fair oaks.  again, sorry not sorry... more about that shopping trip later.
i've come to find, and i think my fellow fussy cats have as well, that the class time together is best spent planning and cutting, then sewing them together at a later date - in my case, i've used maker monday evenings to do them which really seems to work great since they are more portable than some of my full quilt top projects.  and yes, i'm still working to keep that equal balance of cats, dinosaurs & cats/dinosaurs!  it is harder than i thought it would be!  that might also be why i keep buying fabric...
and just like that, chapter 4 is done.
hard to believe that in just 2 days, chapter 5 will be beginning!
as the school year comes to an end and the summer camp days inch closer, i REALLY hope my work schedule doesn't mess with my fussy cut class attendance!  i need those social sewing days, that's for sure.  i'm looking forward to finding out what my next batch is going to look like, so stay tuned!