Out of my system

Yesterday, I was so motivated to work on embroidering my little mini.  I put the final borders on, spray basted it to some batting, and took it with me to karate.  After my class, I sat through my youngest son's class, first drawing on some freehand vines, then getting going on the embroidery.  In a perfect world, I'd have gone home to stitch some more, but like a moron, I declared on here yesterday that I was going to make a Pine Burr Block.  I'm too proud and stubborn to not follow through, so that's what I did when I put the kids to bed.

I'm happy to report that I got that out of my system, and can now go back to my mini.  Let's just say, I didn't find making the Pine Burr Block quite as addicting as LeAnn over at Nifty Quilts.  From now on, I think I'll satisfy myself with seeing those beauties come together over on her blog, instead of in my sewing room.  I love the way my block looks, but getting there...whew!  LeAnn obviously has talents (and patience and persistence and vision) that I just don't possess!

I cut my 12.5" square piece of muslin, cut out the fabric I wanted in the center of my block (surprise, I didn't quite follow the directions - I wanted a focus fabric in the center, not the burrs), and cut my first ring of 3" squares to then make into prairie points and set around the center.  I could tell RIGHT AWAY that this block was going to take more time and fabric than I was anticipating.  I immediately trimmed my muslin down to 10.5" square.

A couple rows (and a couple hours) in, as I cut and folded and pressed and pinned and sewed and repeated, I went ahead and trimmed it down to 9.5" square.  I swear to you, if I had left it at 12.5", I'd probably still be working on it.  Holy moly!

And not only is that block a lot of work, it is also HEAVY!  I could rename this post, "The Heaviest Quilt Block EVER!"  Or, I could rename it "Orphaned at Birth," because I feel pretty confident that I won't be making any more of these blocks.  I kid you not, I used nearly a full quarter yard of fabric on just the teal color.  There is probably over 1 yard of fabric in that one little (heavy) 9.5" block!  I can't imagine how heavy a whole quilt would be made this way.  It would smother a child or small pet.  You could use it as blackout drapes.  Folding it would constitute a weight training workout.

IF I were to make another, and that is a huge IF, mind you, I'd go ahead and just use my scrappy, pre-cut 3" squares.  That would reduce a lot of the time from cutting, and would make a nice dent in my precut stash.  Or maybe I'd use larger squares?  We may never know.

For now, I'm going to finish that puppy off into something useful - maybe a hot pad for setting hot dishes on the table?  Or a candle mat?  Or what?  Any suggestions out there in blogland?  After all that time and fabric, that block is going to become SOMETHING!!!