Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Wednesday 12 April 2017

8 QAL Freefall leaf blocks all done!!!

 

Hooray, ( **** Trumpet Call*** )  the first of 25 blocks are done, not trimmed, but I am so happy  with them.

Sandra, over at    mmmquilts ! has this fantastic QAL with another of her wonderful designs, this time it is for “ Freefall QAL” and already I see others have added their links.

I used the freezer paper method to do the actual leaf, drawing the square, then stitching on the lines, with no thread. That makes it so easy to turn back the freezer paper, and line up the outer  side parts, making sure that little dog ears line up. I iron one side piece on one side of the rectangle,  one on the reverse, that way they match up to the leaf sides.  This is OK for batiks, but for one sided cottons,  iron all onto the  wrong side, you need to do two rectangles, to get the 4 pieces needed facing the right way.

Side leaf freezer paper on either side of rectangleLeaf centre on freezer paper and sides cut outSide piece on leaf centre

 

Here they are!!!  I am so happy.!!! Can you tell???

8 QAL freefall leaf blocks not trimmed yet

We have had some more rain, but the Bay of Plenty is in a State of Emergency, Edgecumbe people who have been evacuated will be wondering what  will happen next. This was on 6th April. Photo courtesy of Internet.

Edgecumbe flood

 

Some homes need to be demolished, flooded off their foundations, other families have silt through their home, water rushed through in a raging  torrent, 1.5 metres high. They have lost everything.The SPCA has been rescuing animals and pets, going from house to house in inflatable boats or jet boats, wearing wet suits, and carrying pet cages.  Further away,  and here in Edgecumbe,  again today…residents have been told to be ready to evacuate if they hear the fire siren sounding continuously. I feel helpless down here and wish I could help. Maybe just having caring thoughts is the best we can do when so far away.  I feel sad  and guilty to be happy about my 8 blocks when so many families have lost so much.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Trying times need courage and resilience.

That will be when your strength is tested,

not when days are  calm and serene .”

Greetings from Jean.

24 comments:

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Lovely leaf blocks...you are so right to be proud. Getting the back and front right is a challenge for me. I usually make one piece the wrong way just as a reminder to myself to pay attention.lol

Leeanne said...

Your blocks are beautiful and I did hear the trumpet call......no wait that was my hubby practicing!
The weather sure is speaking loud and proud at the moment.

Lisa England said...

Wow, what gorgeous blocks! I just love how the colors pop on the dark background. The flooding sounds horrible, I hope the people and animals will get out safely.

Vicki in MN said...

Your leaves are just gorgeous!! Now why didn't I think of using batik's for this!!! I might have to do another one some day.

Tish Stemple said...

Your blocks look great, Jean!! Love those colors, I'm not sure I could pick a favorite one at all they are all so beautiful. Now we have to wait till Monday. Sending lots of positive thoughts for those being flooded. We had horrible flooding in the southern part of our state last year. A year later, and we still have many families without homes to return to :(

eileeninmd said...

Hello, the leaf block are beautiful. Lovely work. It is so sad to hear of the flooding and the lose of homes. I am glad to see the pets were rescued. I agree about having caring thoughts, wish we could do more.
Have a happy day!

Jane said...

Your blocks turned out beautifully, Jean. With their dark background, they remind me of an Amish quilt. Should make quite a striking quilt.

HUgs
Jane

Sandra Walker said...

OOH!!! I just KNEW these would be stunning after seeing your fabrics!! Absolutely fabulous, Jean! Thank you for the terrific tips on the paper piecing section; lining up the dog ears this way is ingenious! It is terrible about the flooding and to hear that the SPCA is going around rescuing poor pets/animals reminds me of the Katrina devastation in the southern US years ago, and the Fort McMurray, Alberta fire devastation of just last year. I know all too well that helpless feeling when these disasters strike... Thank you for linking up!

Out To Pasture said...

Gorgeous blocks, Jean. You are right to be proud of them. My sympathy to the flooding victims. Can't imagine what it must be like to lose a home that way.

Carol Mattingly said...

Jean I think it's wonderful what you do with quilting and if I were a quilter I would be tooting my own horn. I'm so sorry to hear of flooding. It happens here in some part of the States every week. Climate change. Carol

Julie Fukuda said...

The weather has been messing things up all over the world. With modern communications we learn more and faster but still we have no control. I can only say that other people's problems make my own look very small indeed. Love those leaves!

Mystic Quilter said...

Oh nice blocks Jean, love the colours. Yes, poor old Edgecumbe, I dread to think how they're fasting today!
Never did get onto that 'phone call to you, after Easter!!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Beautiful blocks; I like that you chose a rainbow of brights against a dark shadow leaf. It really helps the colors to glow!

Inger said...

You have been through a lot too, so enjoy your accomplishment. Nature has been so powerful over here too this past winter. Not where I live, but lots of tornados and floods in other states. Very sad and scary. The quilt is beautiful.

Jen said...

I love your colors on that background! Beautiful!

SandraC said...

Your leaves are so bright and beautiful!

Fundy Blue said...

Your colorful leaves are exquisite, Jean! I'm sorry for the difficult times the people in Edgecumbe and others are experiencing. I've come close to being flooded in the past, but never actually flooded. I think it must be worse than even fire. I always try to have a home up on a hill. Wishing you and Hugh a lovely Easter!

works4me said...

The blocks are amazing.

Our photos said...

That is not so good. My thougts go out to the families who have lost all !

Jim said...

I love the work you do, Jean! It is so sharp and defined. A real gift you have!

That flooding looks horrid! i can't imagine the panic and turmoil these people are in. Have a wonderful week ahead.

Jenn Jilks said...

It's bitter sweet! I love your quilting work. The flooding looks awful. xx

Allie-oops Designs said...

Those blocks are amazing!! You should be pleased with those! I'm praying for all the flooding victims - so horrid!

Paige said...

Your leaves are beautiful! They really stand out against the background, great choice of fabric! So horrible about the flooding, I'm sorry your your community!

Tanya said...

Love your leaves! I tried to do a similar pattern with templates and hand piecing and about killed myself. I bet I still have some aphalf finished blocks somewhere in the closet...