QBOTMC News - Colour, Secret Star Block, Flapjacks and Blue Lotus Tote!

Published: Tue, 01/30/18


We hope you've had a good week. Aaaarrgh.... The days are flying by, and the Happy Potter quilt
is still in large-ish pieces in my sewing room, and I still have to finish it, quilt and bind it before
Monday night, so it's done for Tuesday's birthday!!

This week, it's one of those weeks!  I'd rather be sewing and quilting with my special glow-in-the-dark
thread, but I'm having to get my head around fun things like migrating servers, and updating nameservers....
It's about as clear as mud to me, but we are getting through it, and there's an end in sight!

On a positive note though, both kids are finally happily back at school after their big Christmas break. 
I reckon I'll have about a week's grace, then the homework sagas will kick in again...

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This week's block is a more tricky pieced star block.

Please click the link below to download the Secret Star Block.

http://www.onlinequiltmagazine.com/members/content/f/id/600/

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These tips were on the AQS Blog recently:

"Here are some tips to help you build a color palette with confidence.

Consider your light source. Like a painting, you direct light with the values of your fabric selection.
Use value to create depth, drama, and focus.

• Frame a quilt by going from darker outer borders to a lighter center.
• Open a quilt by going from a darker center to lighter outer borders.
• Ground a quilt by using a darker value background fabric.
• Create focus in a quilt by using a light value background fabric.
 

Work with what you cannot change. Is there some part of your quilt that must be a certain color?
Start there.

• If there is a huge green tree in the center of your quilt then you know green is in the palette.
• If your daughter wants a quilt in hot pink, hot pink it is.
• If you have a white cat and you want to camouflage the fur on the quilt as much as possible, your
cat is in your palette. (Thank you to the quilter who explained this important color deciding information!)


Pick a color. If there are no constraints or dictates, pick your color. What is the predominate color
for this quilt?

• Consider the mood the color will convey.
• Work with a color you have enough variety and yardage of to complete your palette and project.
• Pick your favorite color of the day.

Use your main color to influence the rest of the palette choices.

• To create strong contrast or movement, add fabrics of the same color but that have a lighter or darker
value (monochromatic). The stronger the value contrast the more the drama.
• Arrange your stash in Roy G. Biv order. (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet) Select
colors beside your main color (analogous). This creates a cozy palette.
• If you are looking for pop, split your stash in half. Put the greens under the reds, the blues/indigos
under the yellows. Add the color above or below your main color to your palette (complementary).
This will add pop!

This gives you a good start to building a color palette you will love for your next project. Play around and
have fun. If you don’t like something, try again. If you get stuck, it always helps to ask a friend."

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Flapjacks

Not to be confused with fat breakfast pancakes, this flapjack is a Scottish slice and is incredibly simple to
make. Oats are very nutritious and Flapjack keeps well, it's perfect with a mug of tea or glass of milk - or
try it crumbled over ice cream as a crunchy topping.
 
Makes 24 pieces
 
•  400g/14oz medium porridge oats
•  175g/6oz butter
•  150g/5oz brown sugar
•  1/3 cup golden syrup
 
Pre heat the oven to 180°C/356F (Medium oven).
 
Line a Swiss roll tin with non-stick baking paper.
 
Melt together the butter, golden syrup and brown sugar then mix in the oats.
Press into the prepared tin and compact the mixture pressing down firmly with a spatula or palette knife.
 
Bake for approximately 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and score into pieces with a
sharp knife. Cool completely before removing from the tin. Store in an airtight container.
 

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And it's Bag pattern week again too!

This week is our Blue Lotus tote - it's a roomy over-the-shoulder bag with all sorts of fab outer pockets to
tuck things in.

Please click the link below to download this pattern.

http://www.onlinequiltmagazine.com/members/content/f/id/602/

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Until Next Week - Happy Quilting!


Regards,

Jody & Annette