chocolates

Valentine's day is almost here with pretty chocolate boxes in mouthwatering flavors tempting at every turn. I got to thinking about making a cute candy of patchwork kind with our own favorite fillings and shiny wrappers that won't disappear in a matter of seconds but are safely satisfying.

A short tutorial if you are also in a chocolate mood :)

Candy block size = 2.75" square.

Choose a fussy cut center ( a ) - cut 1 square - 1. 5".

choose background ( b ), candy wrapper  (c ) - cut 1 of each, 1. 5" square.

background (d ) -  cut 4 rectangles - 1. 5" x 1 1/8" wide.

background (e) - cut 2 squares - 1 1/8".

Make 2 Half square triangles with b, c. Trim to size 1 1/8".

( steps to make Half square triangle block is in the above photo )

For a snowball like center piece..

* Cut 2 squares from background ( f ) = 3/4" 

* Take center square ( a ). Place ( f ) on opposite corners. 

* Draw a line from corner to corner diagonally. Sew on this line.

* Trim the edge leaving 1/4" seam allowance. Press corner piece to outside.

* Now follow the above photo and sew the pieces together one row at a time, pressing seams toward ( d ).

* Sew top row to center row, press seams open.

* Now sew the last row to the center row, press seams open. 

* Enjoy your colorful candy!

I don't know if a pattern for this block already exists, I just made this out of a whim and I hope the measurements are correct. I did test them on two blocks, if there is a mistake or a typo, please forgive me ( ^ o ^ )

♥ Have a Happy day! ♥

minis

waiting for spring and baskets full of posies

sweeping stars in the sky is a rare sight these days

ladybugs on the lawn are even rarer

itsy bitsy bear waved a hello

we went to yummy house and had a round round cookie, all our worries melted like snow.

These are the blocks for Amanda's Block-a-day quilt along. I came to know about it recently and got so smitten with her mini patchwork blocks that I couldn't stop myself from tagging along. Only rule is to use scraps and have fun. 

Some of the patterns I followed are from 'Quick little quilts' book which has neat lessons for piecing tiny blocks including pressing directions which was very helpful for my first blocks. Quilting.about.com also has nice tutorials to make them in different sizes. I am waiting for Susan Briscoe's '130 mini quilt blocks' book in the mail, then I can simply turn a page and make a block for that day :)

Have a cookie and stay safe in this wild weather! ( * - * )