BTTT

Hello! I have finished my 3 blocks, where do I send them off to?
Thanks, Cindi Nebraska

My blocks were just put in the mail today!

Thanks zoopme.

Can some one post a picture of a finished March Lotto block? I would like more people to sign up and if they see one of these I'm sure they will!

Vicky

Just exactly what is a batik? I see so many different fabrics that say they are batiks but they are different from each other. Can someone clear this up for me please? ~Abbigail~

Technically, a batik is a fabric that's been produced by drawing a design on fabric with wax before dying it. The wax resists the dye, creating a lighter design on the cloth. Sometimes the fabric is dyed a light color, then painted with the wax and overdyed. This can be repeated several times to create multi-colored designs.
Today, the term is also used for fabrics that have interesting tone-on-tone qualities whether produced by the wax-resist process or by other means. If you google "Batik" you'll find many websites describing the process plus some retailers that have good pictures of currently available fabrics.

I'm adding the link to my webshots albums. The first quilt in the "Quilts" album is being made from black and batik fabrics.

Annie

Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Webshots

Vicky, I'm in for at least one block.

Janet

zoopme-3
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
Vicky4x4 - 1
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - ?
alabamajanet -1

I'm a little unclear -- which is supposed to be the batik colour? Colour 1 (the yellow-ish/gold in the example) or Colour 2 (the brown in the example)?

Color 1 is the yellow
Color 2 is the Batik
color 3 is the black

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
Vicky4x4 - 1
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - ?
alabamajanet -1

HELLO,THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ON THIS SITE.I WOULD LOVE TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS BUT I`M CONFUSED.I NEED DETAILS.I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FINISHED BLOCK.THIS SOUNDS LIKE SO MUCH FUN!!!THANK YOU SO MUCH,ROBIN

Annie, thanks for the information. I checked out your quilt...they are so beautiful! You are indeed talented!

Vicky, I'm still thinking on this block. ~Abbigail~

I am considering entering, but need clarification on materials. I do not usually buy from the quilter's section of fabrics (IOW those very thin 100% cottons). I have a huge stash of materials collected and passed down through decades and some of these are even original depression era. But, this means some are heavier than those typically designed for present day quilting, like percales or even poplins and some may be cotton/synthetic blends. What is preferred/acceptable fabric?

Only 100% cotton fabric.

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
Vicky4x4 - 1
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - ?
alabamajanet -1
robin1962-2008-1

You can tell if it's 100% cotton by taking a thread from it and holding it over a flame. If it "melts" it not 100% cotton, if it burns and flames up it's good to go! ~Abbigail~

Question-Does the yellow and black need to be solid color or print as in the pattern? Robin

Black- yes
Yellow- doesn't matter as long as it is "yellow" when you look at it.

Vicky

I don't think I'll be entering for March -- I've been trying to get the blocks right and I can't seem to get the square with 4 corners the right size. It ends up much smaller than a 4" square with seam allowance and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.
Sorry.

Hi! I finished 1 block and will be sending it tomorrow. I really like this block-I'm sure the quilt will be very pretty. Maybe March will be my lucky month!
:o) JudyLee

Cziga: I'd be happy to help you figure out why the squares aren't working. Feel free to e-mail me off-list about it if you'd still like to try to participate.

Annie

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
Vicky4x4 - 1
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
robin1962-2008-1

I should pass until after the Easter holiday (I'm a commercial grower and have g'houses full of lilies and Mother's Day flowers) and I am just finishing up on another quilt......but I love this pattern and am going to try my hand at it.

Went out tonight and got more fabric, just to make sure it's 100% cotton and I didn't have ANY batiks on hand, and am going to get at least one block done for the lotto. If time permits I may do two or three. But, put me down for at one block, please. If time permits I may do two or three. But, I am an hopeless time optimist. LOL.

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
Vicky4x4 - 1
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
robin1962-2008-1
calliope -1

I am going to try to get this one done, at least one. I had problems picking out a Valentine block.
Stitches

I have my 2 blocks done, but where oh where did i put your snail mail address to mail. if you could be so kind to send it to me again. i won't lose it this time.

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
robin1962-2008-1
calliope -1
stitches-1

For now I have dropped out for this month. If I can get other things done I will try to make one. Overwelmed...

Vicky

Mailing my blocks tomorrow, I made two.

I think I got the block to work out afterall, just need to finish it off now. Thanks for all the help and suggestions I received :) You ladies are the best!
I think I'll stick with the 1 block, and I'll be mailing it out in the next few days. Vicky, I'll let you know when I do.

my blocks 2 went into the mail today.

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
robin1962-2008-1
calliope -1
stitches-1
cziga -1

I`m sorry ladies but I`m going to have to drop out this month.I live in a small town and can`t find any batiks.I don`t have time to order any. Hopefully next month I can join in.Robin

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
calliope -1
stitches-1
cziga -1

If I get the time before the end of the month I'll make one to make up for Robin leaving. Vic

Vicky I ended up making two.

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
calliope -1- received
stitches-1
cziga -1

Hi Vicky, My block is in the mail. Hope you are feeling better. Thanks- JudyLee

Hi Vicky,
I have two blocks going into the mail today. Nancy

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2- received
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
calliope -1- received
stitches-1
cziga -1

This was a bit of an intimidating project for me, as I am totally self-taught and my quilts show it and tend to be primitive. I know many of the quilters here are experts, some professional and some teach quilting. All of them I've seen in pics on this forum are beautiful and that makes me clueless as what is "good enough"....but figure if one doesn't stretch themselves one does not learn. So jumped in there and tried.

I am very open to help and positive criticism as I know it will teach me in the long-run. I rejected the first two as I didn't think they were good enough and made two more. It took me a evening to do each block. So, I spent four nights and made a trip to town especially for the material.

The last two I think (hope) were good enough to send, so I did. If they're not, I understand and it won't hurt my feelings. I've mentioned three times I am sending/have sent two of them but the count continues to show one. I'm wondering now if one of them is just so bad it won't be used? Maybe both aren't but you're being kind? Paranoia has set in, lol, and if this is the case just pm me and tell me, as I can use them if they're not. Otherwise, please adjust my contribution to two blocks, as there are two in the baggie.

I feel the same way sometimes, I'm self-taught as well and certainly nothing close to an expert. Everyone has been very supportive on this forum, and every time I try something new, I get a little bit better. I'm sure yours are lovely. Where you look at them and see every little mistake, most other people won't even notice most of them . . . and those tiny mistakes vanish even more as the blocks are combined with others into a quilt :)

Oops!!!! I'm so sorry I didn't notice it had 1 here! Of course ALL the blocks that come will be sent on to the winner of the lotto. I would use both your blocks if I won the pot; they are just fine. Remember there is NOTHING prefect this side of heaven.
Vicky

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2- received
judylee59 - 1
alabamajanet -1
calliope -2- received
stitches-1
cziga -1

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2- received
judylee59 - 1 received
alabamajanet -1
calliope -2- received
stitches-2- received
cziga -1

I just put mine in an envelope--they'll go out in tomorrow's mail.

Annie

Thanks Vickie and Cziga for the reassurance! You bet all the folks on this forum are supportive. I've tried new things and light bulbs have 'gone on' since I started checking here every day. I'm still making those blocks in different materials because I am going to make a quilt in this pattern. I'd have NEVER attempted it if you hadn't lured me with the lotto. And each block is getting better. LOL.

Vicky,
I mailed my block off today - just the 1 - hope it won't take too long to get to you. Just to let you know :)

I probably wouldn't have attempted this block either, without the lotto. I had lots of trouble with it too. But it is such a pretty block and will make such a beautiful quilt for someone that I'm really glad I made one.

Vicky, I'm sending two blocks but just put my name in once. I had a hard time working with a solid black fabric so I used a black mottled fabric on one. Sorry, I am sending both. Hopefully the next pattern will be a little easier. I had a hard time with the blocks with the corners. They just gave me fits. I hope they are good enough for the swap.

Janet

alabamajanet and all others,
I hope no one thinks I judge their work. All the blocks are fine, I put them all in the pot and the winner can decide what to do with them. I know not long ago someone offered their winning lotto to the first person that wanted them, they won and just didn't have time to put the blocks into a quilt. Just think if one of the newer quilters win what fun they will have! This lotto is a very good way for beginners to try out new blocks. So please send what you make and don't worry someone is picking them all to pieces! Remember what I posted earlier, There's nothing perfect this side of heaven!

Vicky

I've hosted several block exchanges and participated in many more on my sewing machine forum and I've served five years now as exchange coordinator for that group. Basically I help the hostesses set up the rules for their exchanges and make sure that we don't pile up too many in one year. It's an active group and there is almost always an exchange going on, so I've seen and heard it all.

One thing that everyone seems to agree on is that one of the purposes of an exchange is to encourage the timid to try their hand at quilting. Because of this, I almost never get any complaints about the "quality" of anyone's block On the two occasions when it did happen, I told the complainers to lighten up and try to remember that they were beginners once upon a time.

I like getting blocks from newbies and those who are still learning the craft. I think it's great that there are newbies out there enjoying the learning experience and persevering in spite of problems just like I did in the early years. I wish that we'd have had these opportunities when I was learning to quilt.

Annie

zoopme-3- received
damascusannie - 2- received
marty_mo - 2
patti60 - 2- received
judylee59 - 1 received
alabamajanet -1
calliope -2- received
stitches-2- received
cziga -1- recieved