Blossoms of Friendship Block of the Month: The Best Light Table Money Can Buy

Good Morning Quilting Friends,

As always, I brought more projects with me to the cabin than I could ever hope to finish. My good intentions fly out the window when I get distracted by nature just outside in my field of vision.

I don't have a light table. In fact I've never had a light table. I just use my window to the world....the world of the forest. The only downside is this light table doesn't work at night! So I plan my activities around the natural light that filters through the boughs of the pine and spruce trees.

I have a block taped to the window for Party in the Garden. It's coming along nicely yet I can't wait until every block is designed and every applique stitch is complete.

From this window, I spot an occasional deer and rabbit. I watch the antics of squirrels and chipmunks performing their high wire acrobatics on top of the bird house. More than once I've seen a swan dive performed from the bird house to the closest tree.

One of my many projects is the Civil War Tribute quilt and the companion quilt that I'm making with the leftover fabric in my Lil' Orphan Scrappy pattern.

Here's the 18 1/2" block from month #2. You will have to make four of these blocks. Hope you like half square triangles that involve stripes. My suggestion for month #2 is to make one block first. Put it up on your design wall, then make the remaining three blocks together at the same time. I'm so anal I have to have all of my stripes going in the same direction. You might not care, but I do and it drove me crazy.
Month #3, you will make (2) 18 1/2" blocks and (2) 12 1/2" blocks. These blocks were a piece of cake compared to month #2. They almost sew themselves together!
I try to make three to four blocks each month to add to the secondary quilt. I liked the fact that this month introduced a lighter blue and pink to the mix. I just love scrappy quilts!
Here is Zinny with the twelve additional 6 1/2" blocks. She always has to be touching whatever blocks and quilts I lay out on the floor. She hasn't yet run off with a block in her mouth. But she always has to touch just one block. I'm liking these blocks so far.
So friends, it's time for me to sign off and get to work at my light box that overlooks the forest.