1000 scrappy squares

Well, the swap was hilariously chaotic. At the end, we 1300 sheets, for over 20,000 squares. If you sewed them end to end, you'd have a 2 in wide strip that is 1 kilometer long.
Here are my squares. Doesn't look like a thousand, but it is.
I plan on just sewing squares together in rows of 5, and eventually 5x5 squares. That way I can be sure that the 5x5 has unique fabrics. Later I can add the outer strips, after I decide what color I want to use as a background.
I'm looking forward to sewing this quilt as leaders and enders.

My swap squares chrysanthemum

OK, so it doesn't look much like a chrysanthemum.
But it's still 55 sheets, totaling 1100 squares, enough to make my triple Irish.
I decided to weigh the sheets to see if we could use a scale to check the sheets as we allocate them. Turns out my sheets weigh almost exactly 12 grams apiece. 
Now back to my regularly scheduled program of getting ready for the BFQ meeting: photos, scans, video, prizes, quilt history, make backups, check out the PA system, ...

testing pens on fabric

Before I buy any more pens to write on fabric, I thought I'd check and see how well the ones I already had worked.
The big picture below shows the progress from the original writing on freezer paper-backed muslin, through handwashing and finally machine washing hot. Below that are the individual scans.
The grayness on the handwashing is from the ink, but from the machine washing it's also from some new batiks I washed. There was quite a bit of ink released, judging by the darkness of the two color catchers I used.
My conclusion? I can use the Edding 8400 CD marker without worry. The Stabilo OH Pen Universal and the Staedtler Permanent Lumocolor can also be used, but I need to be careful to write lightly.

Sunday Snapshots / Sonntagsbilder - Tiefenbronn

Before we went to the Nadelwelt, we stopped off near Tiefenbronn for a walk.
It was perfect weather.
This sign has been attached to the tree so long, the tree is growing around it.
Bevor wir Nadelwelt besuchte, haben wir einen kleine Waldspaziergang gemacht. 
Wir hatten ganz tolles Wetter gehabt.
Dieser Schild ist fast am Baum gewachsen.

Cutting squares

Sometimes I notice that I'm a little too emotionally attached to a piece of fabric. That's why this latest swap from the Black Forest Guild is good therapy for me.
We are creating sheets of 20 squares and swapping them. Each sheet (in my case 1/4 of an A4 piece of paper) has to contain 20 different fabrics.
My goal is to get as many sheets as possible so I can make a Triple Irish Chain quilt. Last time I calculated, I'll need about 1200 squares, so I need to make about 50 sheets.
Finally I've got my system down so I can cut lots of squares at once.
First I grab all the fabric in one of my 12 drawers, organized by color.
Then I cut 2 1/2 inch strips from each.
Next, I iron the strips, 5 strips on top of each other, with the shortest lengths on top.
From each stack of strips I use my favorite ruler to cut 10 inch lengths. I can fit 2 strip sets under my ruler.
Finally I cut, using a brand new blade, 10 squares at a time.
Makes the work much easier.