Friday, July 13, 2012

Celebrate Red White and Blue!

It is my turn to share my blocks for the Celebrate Red White and Blue blog hop hosted by Jane at Jane's Fabrics and Quilts and inspired by Madame Samm!


 There is quite a list of talented quilters on this hop and I have been out of the country for most of it. I have been doing my best to keep up. I love to see all the inspiration! So as soon as I'm finished showing you my blocks, I'm off to do some more hopping. 
If your new to my blog, a warm welcome! I'd love for you to stay a while and look around or come back another time to visit. 
Greetings to my loyal readers! I hope you have been enjoying the hop!

The first block that I made was the State of Tennessee block I found here. My first attempt used templates (ugh!) and after cutting them and the fabric out, I realized that they didn't fit together very well and the instructions were lacking. I still liked the star, so I decided to draw a paper pieced version. Sew Much Easier! 


I bravely wanted to do the State block of Hawaii from the same website. However, I decided to just go ahead and draw another paper piecing version instead of even trying the directions given. 


I am really enjoying paper piecing stars so I began my search. I checked out the blocks that I pinned on pinterest. Next up is the birthday star block found here.

I love how this star intertwines together.

Further searching for paper pieced stars lead me to this ribbon star and tutorial.


Using only fabric from my stash, so far no repeats!

Oh how I find great inspiration on Pinterest! Another star found here


And this one too! Found it here!


I love how this one reminds me of pennants!

So I found a similar one here...just a little different.


I think my block actually looks very different from Lee's block even though it is the same. It is amazing how fabric choice and color placement play in the outcome. 

The last block that I have completed is a vintage block that I saw here. This was displayed in Houston and is called Stars of Stripes.
I could not find a tutorial or pattern so I drew up a paper pieced version. 


I love how the stripes twirl around. 

I hoped you liked my parade of stars. My blocks are all 12 1/2" unfinished and all paper pieced. I'm not sure how I will layout my quilt...depends on how many more paper pieced stars I make. I'm having so much fun! 
So stay tuned! But for now, here they all are crowded on my new vintage table. 


 I didn't have time to write tutorials for any of the blocks (that I drew up). If you have questions about any, please leave me a comment and I will try to answer them.
Edit: I had this post completed before I left on vacation but I squeezed in another star block. Lynne from Lily's Quilt posted this paper pieced star and I just needed to make it. It fits so well with the other 'banner' stars.

It was fun to make. I love it!  

 Thanks for stopping by! 
Now won't you join me in hopping over to the others on the hop today? 

July 13th


If you missed any of the hop, the complete list can be found here on Jane's blog.

81 comments:

  1. Wow , that is an amazing parade of stars , simply beautiful, some of the prettiest blocks so far.Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Your blocks are all so gorgeous! Love seeing them all together on your vintage table! What a glorious quilt they would make! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I love all the stars block! Very amazing!

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  4. HOW do you just choose one...and these are all paper piecing, I am sew darn impressed...I LOVE THEM, and even on your table they look this would work....lol HOPE you are enjoying your holiday as much as we enjoyed the parade lol

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  5. Dear Dawn
    I can only agree with Madame Samm and the other comments the stars are magnificent. I love paperpiecing which shows in the crispness of the points. I cannot choose just one so will come back & stare with wonder.

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  6. Your blocks are stunning and beautiful. I love each one.

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  7. I really love all your blocks but I think I like the birthday star block the most.

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  8. Now my head is spinny with all your wonderful stars - amazing what paper piecing does for those wonderful points. Great blocks. Judy C

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  9. Dawn your blocks are every one just wonderful but I love the polka dot fabric birthday star and the Tennessee Star. I can't imagine sitting down and drafting a pattern for any of them but at some point I hope you share your patterns with us! blessings, marlene

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  10. I love all your blocks, especially the intertwining one. Great job. Great post.

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  11. Wow,your blocks are awesome. They look very detailed.

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  12. Glad you squeezed in that last one, I think is my favorite. They are all spectacular tho, so good to hop with you!

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  13. Dawn, Your Blocks are Beautiful!! This has been a Great Blog Hop!!

    Huggs, Nancy

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  14. these blocks are awesome of course. I would really like the pattern for the Star of Tennessee. I am planning on making a Quilt of Valor using about 12 of the blocks from this hop. This one would look great with the others that I have picked so far.

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  15. Awesome blocks1 thanks for sharing.

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  16. All of your blocks are amazing and look tricky! My favorites are #6 and #7 - love these!! Thanks for sharing in the blog hop!

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  17. Oh my ... it is like choosing all kinds of pies : ) and I love them all blocks and if I am brave enough (being a newbie and all that : )- I will try to make each one of them : ) Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  18. Love, love, love those stars! Thanks for sharing.
    Diane P

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  19. Oh my goodness, they are all absolutely gorgeous! Love them all!

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  20. I just completed twelve 12" Christmas blocks for a block exchange - an intricate flying goose block which I paper pieced. It was my first real attempt at paper piecing and I gotta say - LOVE the way the points came out!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blocks. Thanks so much.

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  21. Supercute blocks! I tried the Lone Starburst one but it did not come out as fabulous looking as yours! (http://six-white-horses.blogspot.com/2012/01/lone-starburst.html)
    I'm terribly jealous of your skills, lady!

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  22. Wow those look great!! Nicely done!

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  23. Great Blocks. I like how they look on the table. Maybe a table cloth would be a good quilt?

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  24. Amazing! Beautiful! Love all your blocks!!! TFS

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  25. What a gorgeous parade, I was sorry when it ended. They are all lovely. I am convinced, I really need to try paper piecing. Thank you so much for sharing. Enjoy your travels.

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  26. Wow Dawn! Your star blocks are gorgeous! I think the way you have them layed out on your vintage table makes an awesome quilt design too! Your work is beautiful!

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  27. What a surprisingly huge array of blocks. I thought they looked lovely all grouped together on that table, too. If they were mine, I would be tempted to make them into a single topper, back it with a fabric that didn't show through the white fabrics, and just leave it as a table topper or summer-weight quilt.

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  28. Your stars blocks are just awesome,love,love stars blocj¡ks and paperpiecing!!

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  29. WOW!! What a spectacular parade of RW&B blocks ...luv the birthday block...that is so cool. Thanks for the inspiration....I'm definitely going to make a paper piecing quilt...TFS!!

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  30. Dawn!!! I am speechless and for me that is saying something!! These are stunning! I love how you just draw a pauper piecing pattern! LOL!! I love to PP but could never draw a pattern. Hmm, now I know who to call!
    Thank you so much for sharing all your stunning blocks! And for making them before you left, pictures taken, and post up! You are a star!

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  31. Those are all gorgeous and go so beautifully together.

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  32. That is going to be one stellar quilt. Thank you for sharing.

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  33. Wow! Gorgeous blocks. Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Wow they are all lovely - the finished quilt will look fabulous! thanks for sharing.

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  35. That was a fantastic parade of stars!! Thanks for sharing!

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  36. The best thing about hops is that I find new blogs that I just have to follow - like yours!
    That is an amazing array of blocks and they are beautiful! I am going to have to do the Birthday Star.

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  37. Thanks for showing your beautiful blocks on the blog hop. I especially liked the birthday star block.
    Lequilts.blogspot.com

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  38. Hi Dawn, I found your blog through Plun and June. So nice to meet you. I love your stars. They are just so pretty!

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  39. This is inspiring! I keep saying one day I will make a star quilt... Maybe now I can at the very least start looking for star blocks...these look great!

    sowingstitches [at] gmail [dot] com

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  40. I love them all. What great variety and complexity. These are blocks that i will surely want to make. Thanks for sharing.

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  41. WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT!!! Unreal! I have several books with paper-pieced stars so I never even gave designing them a thought! NOW I'm thinking - why not?! You lit a fire! I too love paper piecing - but I use the freezer paper method. Have you tried any Mariner's Compass blocks? Thanks for sharing! I've added you to my favorites list!

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  42. Just went back to the top of your blog. Where in the Chicago area? I'm from St. Charles!

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  43. What a great set of star blocks! I prefer to re-draw into paper piecing on these diamond shape patterns and you did a lovely job. Thank you for sharing with us today.

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  44. Beautiful work Dawn. I really love the Birthday Block myself from DreamCastle. I love the way it intertwines. All the others you have shown are just as beautiful however. Great job. Thank you for showing us.

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  45. Lots of great blocks- I love the birthday star block but they all are very pretty.
    Thanks for participating in the blog hop- it has been great fun.
    Regards from western Canada,
    Anna

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  46. Wow!! Your blocks are amazing! I can't wait to see how you put them together. They will make a beautiful quilt.

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  47. Great blocks..I love the contrast between the white and the dark blue! Love the table cover when they were all put together..Thank you for sharing..this has been fun!

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  48. You came up with so many great star blocks! I especially like the intertwined birthday star. Congrats on being one of the chosen blocks for today.

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  49. since I live paper piecing, I perked up when I read that was how you made your blocks. They are just beautiful.

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  50. I love all of your blocks - paper piecing is such a joy!!!

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  51. Fantastic blocks, Dawn! You shared some wonderful inspiration here, thank you so much.

    You're going to have a beautiful quilt from all these lovelies.

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  52. LOVE all your blocks and want to make every one of them, lol... thanks for the awesome inspiration!

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  53. Every last one is "STELLAR". Thanks for sharing.

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  54. WoW!! I'm in awe! Your blocks are a-maz-ing! How clever that you can just see a block and whip up a paper piecing pattern for it. Awesome job! Can't wait to see the finished quilt. Thanks for sharing.

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  55. Wonderful stars they are all beautiful. I really like the Birthday Star! Thanks for sharing all your hard work!

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  56. I love ALL of your blocks! Very beautiful!!!

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  57. Love the star from Madamme Samm and I repinned it too.

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  58. You were soooo busy making all those beautiful blocks!!

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  59. Wow...loads of beautiful blocks! They are all great and I can't pic a fav!

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  60. That was quite an impressive parade of blocks. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. They seem to have movement which I love. Great job! I may try and copy!
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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  61. all of your blocks are so stunning, and you were quite prolific! i think i will sign up for email updates!

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  62. I can't believe you made all these beautiful stars before going on holidays. They are amazing and how great to make your own paper piece patterns. Thanks and really enjoyed all your blog.

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  63. WOw, your blocks are so gorgeous! I'll be watching your blog to see if you post tutorials on any of the blocks in the future. I've never tried paper piecing, but with results like this, I"m ready to jump in. I've signed up for the bowls with borders blog hop to force myself to try paper piecing and would love directions for your blocks as well. They are just so pretty.

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  64. What great blocks they are all so beautiful!

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  65. Hi Dawn,
    I tried printing your paper piecing block for your template A for the Kansas Dust Storm and only half of the page will print. Could you possibly email the form to me? I would appreciate it. Thank you.
    Karen Meyer
    cmu.1951@gmail.com

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  66. Dear Dawn: Those are absolutely stunning blocks. Paper piecing really works nicely, doesn't it? I've enjoyed visiting your blog and hope you'll hop over to mine and let me hear from you. I'm a new follower, so, I'll be back to see you again soon. Thanks for letting us stop by.

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  67. wow - love all your blocks and the birthday star is gorgeous - but the et (lily's quilts) block with the red polka dot has made my day :)

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  68. Love them all, but that birthday star is just so totally cool!

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  69. I love all your blocks. Especially the stars of stripes I love how it looks like its twirling.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  70. Absolutely love all your stars! Great job :)

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  71. Love all your blocks and they look so cute on your table :)

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  72. Love the crispness of your blocks! They make the red and blue really pop against the white backgrounds!

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  73. Oooh, love your stars, Ms. Dawn!! I think I must try the birthday star block and Lynne's block for sure! Beautiful!

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  74. Love the beautiful stars. I especially love Tennessee, Star and Stripe, Birthday, Lee, Lynne and the 1st pinterest.

    Thanks for sharing.

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Sweet sentiments