May Block for Hive #4

Hello, I am Candace and SaltwaterQuilts.com is my blog.  I recently moved to central Oklahoma, but lived north of Houston for a little over 20 years.  I grew up in Florida, then moved to Louisiana, then Texas and now Oklahoma.  The adventure continues.  

While visiting my grandmother in Florida at age 16, I first saw her making a quilt and I started asking questions.  She explained how the whole process worked and I talked her into teaching me how to quilt.  Once I started using needle and thread, I was hooked.  The first quilt I made was a king size quilt called Road to Oklahoma... what a coincidence.  Yes, you are probably thinking a king size quilt is crazy for a first time project, but the specific pattern I found was for a king and I loved it.  I wanted it to be the biggest size I could make it.

I love this quilt.  I hand quilted it in great detail, because I was so excited to get to make such a big project.  I played with so many different quilting designs in each of the different sections.  This quilt is getting pretty tattered and worn, but it is super soft and I cherish it.

The hardest quilt I have ever made is one I am still currently working on for my husband.  Piecing the quilt top was very tricky and my skills were not that great at the time.  I am hand quilting it, which is why I am not finished.  It keeps taking a back seat to all my other projects.

Here is a picture of the quilt.  Sorry it is not a closer shot of the pattern.  These are the ladies from my grandmother's quilting group (she is the third one from the left in lavender).  When I visited her in January, I went with her to quilting and I took along my quilt to work on.  Little did I know that we were going to have show and tell.

My favorite dessert food would probably be brownie a la mode.  It is the perfect dessert.  Warm brownie, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream!  Makes me hungry just thinking about it.

May Block: Log Cabin

The block I picked is the log cabin block and am using Rita's Tutorial from Red Pepper Quilts.  You can find her tutorial here:  Log Cabin Block Tutorial

In her tutorial the finished size of the block is 8.5".  I would like you to add one more row of rectangles around each side to make the finished size 11.5".

I would like you to make 2 blocks that are 11.5" squares and one signature block.  The signature block does not have to be fancy.  Just sign your name and where you are from on a scrap of fabric.  I love that the blocks are coming from so many different places and I want the signature blocks to help me remember where they all come from.  I am going to sew them all on the back of the quilt.

As for the colors, I would like you to use bright colors and if you have any florals, please use a floral for the center block as I did in my two blocks.  If you don't have a floral, don't sweat it.  You can always put a bird in the center too.  I love birds and flowers.

The tutorial is very simple and makes the process easier.  I would just like to add some tips...

• When you are finished putting on the first round of rectangles and it is time to trim to 5.5 inches, be sure to center the block before you start trimming.  The rectangles should be 1.75" in width on each side of the center block.  I almost made this mistake when I first started.
• Lay out the block the way you want it before you start sewing.  It just makes the process a whole lot easier.  

Please let me know if you have any questions!  Thank you!

Candace