Update on Blocks

I am presently awaiting arrival of 5 more packages of blocks. After I get these (expected by Friday), I will assemble the block sets to send back to you. I hope to have them in the mail within the next 5-7 days.

Something to ponder and let me know...

• If you sent me both sets of blocks and 2 mailers (or a PO fixed rate mailer, do you want me to mail you both sets now? email asap with answer please

You may send your second block set anytime between now and August 15th.

If you decide that you wish to send more than the 20 blocks in this mailing, that is fine - just send me a PO fixed rate mailer so I don't need to come back to you regarding additional mailing cost. The more blocks, the merrier!

One last thing - regarding mailers for the second block set mailing...

If you live in the USA, please send me a postage paid ($2.20) addressed envelope if possible (rather than Paypal). I just addressed 30 envelopes, and it's a bit of a pain :-) I set up the Paypal primarily as a convenience for the International swappers. For every transaction, I pay nearly $0.40!

I'll post here again when I have mailed you your blocks.

Today is the Mailing Deadline for the 1st Set of Colorblocks

And not so surprisingly, this is what my mailbox looked like this morning! Eight sets of colorblocks. The count is up to 699 blocks received! You may wonder why it's not an even increment of 20, eh?... A few have mailed lesser or greater numbers, and there have been some rejected blocks.
Yuck, rejected?! Yes, you said it. Blocks that are not the proper size or very close to it are not being accepted. I will not receive 50 angry emails in a few weeks when you have received your package from me and there are unacceptable blocks inside. I just will not go there.

So...quality is paramount. To ensure that blocks are OK, I am spot checking them on my handy-dandy 6-1/2" square template (see below). If spot checking reveals all good blocks, I do not check more. If my spot checking finds mis-sized blocks, then I am checking every one. Acceptable blocks are no more than 1/8" under this size. What's this mean? It means that I do not want to receive 6-1/4" square blocks. Please double check your scant 1/4" seam allowance. Odds are it is too large if your blocks are coming up small.

Also notice how the back of the above block lays perfectly. Now I don't really care if the seams go all out, all in, or half each way, but there should not be places where they start one direction and then there is a crease and the seam finishes the otherway. This will look wonky from the front. The other key element of this block, is the center square. It must be a square, and not some oddly-shapen other shape. The next block looks good.

I truly hate to put people on the spot so I have modified colors. The blocks below clearly do not pass quality standards whatsoever. The square is wonky. Seams press any which way, and do not lay flat. If your finished block looks like this, don't bother sending it.

This block is more than a quarter of an inch off square. It will not pass.

I'm not paying to return these back to the senders. If you send a package with 10 usable blocks, you'll receive your 10 unacceptable blocks along with 10 others. The integrity of the swap means too much to me and to all of you to pass unusable squares on to other people.

That said, many people are sending perfect 6" squares. More likely, I see lots of 6-3/8" blocks. As long as it is NOT under this size, I am taking it. If the block measures closer to 6-1/4", it will be returned. I am trying to notify people of ill-sized blocks so they are prepared. Prior to now when I received them, I gave swappers the option of replacing the unacceptable block.

Hopefully, the remaining 15-20 swappers' blocks will arrive in the next few days. I hope to have your packages prepared to mail by July 15. If you have mailed me blocks and NOT sent a mailer, please go to the Paypal site (link at bottom of blog), and pay for the return postage.

Thanks~

1st Mailing Date -July 1

Reminder: The mailing date for the first 20 blocks is in 2 days.

International swappers: email me when you send your blocks. Hopefully, most of you already mailed so that I have these in 2 weeks. Also please remember to visit the Paypal site to arrange payment for my mailing your blocks.

Quality Control

I cannot stress enough the need to verify the size of each and every one of your blocks to confirm that they are very close to the required 6-1/2" square. If they are larger, trim them down. If they are more than about 1/16" off, please remake.

Here's why...

I am participating in the 9-Patch swap that is being run currently. I made my 16 blocks of the designated 6-1/2" size, and mailed them off. Today I got my package of 16 in the mail. Three blocks were about 6-1/4" and 1 was only 6"!! I have only 75% that are really usable. I'm pretty hot about this right now.

I am spot checking each package that I receive from this swap for size. I am checking 5-6 of the blocks from each package. So far, they seem to be close to what we want. There are small variations, but nothing yet that I'd ask for a remake on. This is good.

I don't want any of you to be as frustrated as I am today, so please continue the great work, and make your blocks to the careful 1/4" seam allowance that I know you are capable of!! One other option is to use a slightly smaller seam allowance (just a hair less than 1/4") and trim to the desired 6-1/2" square.

Anybody know this book?

My boys have this book, as well it's predecessor "The QuiltMaker's Gift". They have gorgeous graphics in the book, and to add interest, they are about an older woman that makes quilts. There are loads of quilt block patterns shown. Since the publishing of these books, actual quilting books were published that follow the blocks in the stories. Naturally, I have these. They are two of my favorite basic/traditional block pattern books. They contain just fantastic quilt pictures.
Anyhow, I photographed this to show you because I realized that the quilt on the cover and throughout this book is made with our Colorblock pattern! They are not monochromatic, as the swap is doing, but perhaps you can get a sense of how they'll make up.

and a glimpse of the inside cover of this book. Look at the great block inspirations here!

Block Colors

Still not made your blocks, and uncertain which color to make??

Take a look at the right sidebar then. The blocks I have received thus far are heavily weighted in the blues. Use this to help guide you on what color would help to create a more homogenous mix of Colorblocks.

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET MADE YOUR BLOCKS, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING BLOCKS IN A COLOR OTHER THAN BLUE!

Blocks

Please be sure that your blocks are constructed from just one color family. Fabrics may have more than one color, so long as the overall look of the fabric reads the color intended for the block.

thanks