I’m number 64 out of 100. Or at least I used to be – a month ago. My block date was switched due to Mother Nature and the great flood of 2016 here in Baton Rouge. So here I am today – a month later – rescheduled as block #64 and ready to go!
Oh my gosh - it seems like yesterday that I got an email from Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson with this idea of the Splendid Sampler, and they asked if I would like to join in the fun. What a fabulous idea – and of course I said yes. A six inch block was all that was needed, but I had to provide a little story about me along with the block! Hmmm. Well as anyone who knows me can attest, a LITTLE story usually isn’t what you get. I’m one of those folks who can’t stop talking once I get started. But I digress. (You see?)
I received a packet of fabrics in the mail from the Leaders of the Pack (aka Pat and Jane) and the fun began. I quickly chose the three that immediately caught my eye, and began the process of formulating the block! I knew it had to be an easy one – ‘cause that’s my ‘thing’, I knew it had to be fun – or why else do it, and I knew I had to have a story to accompany the block, and that’s when the idea hit me. “Rising Star” is all about my life as a quilter!
I started my journey in 1994, and am a self-taught quilter. I watched every episode of Simply Quilts that I could watch, read every quilting how-to book that I could read, and gathered as many tips and tricks from friends as I could gather. And slowly but surely, my style developed. The first block I attempted wasn’t perfect, but it was a start. My second one was better, the third was better than the second, and so on. In essence, each block and each quilt that followed was like a “Rising Star” – destined to be better than the last!! So this “Rising Star” block was born! If you look at the points, they aren’t fully formed – just like me! I’m still learning in this quilting journey each and every day. And in that journey – I’m rising – just like my star!! Here are a few pictures to show you the steps in the Rising Star block! Take a look, then hop on over to the Splendid Sampler facebook page to download my instructions. And Happy Quilting!!!
Thank you so much for being part of our Splendid Sampler Project, we love your block!!!!
Posted by: pat sloan | September 22, 2016 at 06:03 AM
Nice story, Kathy!
Posted by: Kim | September 22, 2016 at 11:40 AM
This is a great block, thank you !!
Posted by: Linda Janovitz | September 22, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Sweet story and cute block. I look forward to creating some this weekend. I hope life is returning back to some semblance of normal for you and your community after the flooding.
Posted by: Beth LaMotte | September 22, 2016 at 06:17 PM
Love the story! Nice block!
Posted by: Sharon | September 22, 2016 at 11:43 PM
same story here - I watched every show I could from Alex Anderson and learned a lot - self taught started in the late 80's although I quilted a little bit before that but not too well :)
Posted by: Karen | October 03, 2016 at 05:50 AM
VERY NICE BLOCK!
Posted by: LINDA | October 17, 2016 at 09:42 AM