A double horror story (and a link party)

I guess that I need to trust what others say... :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - April block has been released... it's technically free, so if you want to check it out and get back in the free QAL group, that's your chance!
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) 3 blocks done, 4th bocks with the double horror story (see below)
3. Minion QAL - Hula Minion done (see below)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - made my blocks (see below)
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - waiting to hear from the quilter
6. Splendid Sampler - preparing the next few embroidery blocks
7. SECRET quilt 2 for exhibit - dropped (thinking about joining a different challenge instead)
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - waiting to hear about the blocks sent before making more
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

--
Let's start with the double horror story.

I am working on an exhibition quilt... I decided to use a jelly roll I received in a Quilty Box: black and white Kona Solid. I have heard that it frays a lot but while I was working on it I didn't really see that (I didn't have to manipulate the pieces too much).
Since the block has curves, I traced the lines with my washable crayola marker (black... the color that fades the best).
I pieced my block and then I used the Flatter spray (starch alternative) to press it flat...
HORROR 1: the black crayola marker start bleeding... but the terrifying part was that was bleeding blue!!! O_O ... I thought the block was ruined... then I took a deep breath and I thought: maybe if I soak it in cold water as usual everything will fade away.
I did that for several hours... when I went back to check, the water was colored and the block was clear... HORROR 1 recovered... only to discover HORROR 2: the fabric was suuuuper fraying!!! I've never seen anything like that! I have soaked tons of blocks: they shrink a little bit but never frayed so much! I lost between 1/4 and 1/2 inch around the entire block... and considering that it was 5 inches to begin with, you can understand why I cannot recover from HORROR 2 :( :( :( :(
I was very surprised because I didn't really move the block or anything... just static soaking made it happen!
Oh, well... I guess I have a nice label for the finished quilt piece :)

--
This is this month pattern: Go board (done with embroidery).

If you want details on how to get the pattern

visit this link!

We have about 50 people playing along, it is so fun!!

If you didn't join, it's not too late!

Visit the QAL page for more details.

--

I am working on charity quilts to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 
No progress this week... I need to just measure one of the top and get it basted (I have all the material, just need to find some time)

--
I am participating to the fun Minion QAL over at Fandom in Stitches.

Each of these blocks takes me at least two weeks to complete: one week to cut the pieces and hunt in my stash for the perfect background fabric... 5 to 6 days to think "did I choose the right fabric? maybe I should try this other one, or may that other one"... and one day to put the block together smile emoticon they are extra fun!

Block 2, Hula Minion (pattern by Jennifer Rowles, available at Fandom in Stitches)

--

Have you heard about Ello? It is basically Instagram without ads, no weird algorithm to show you only what they want you to see, no selling data, and it is for creative artists! :)

I never joined IG because I felt the goal was more about "showing off" than focusing on creativity, so even if I know there is a good quilting community there (which is creative and inspiring) I never felt it was the right place for me. Ello sounds much more fun!

It is a relatively new platform, so it has some issues (not too fast because it is still in beta but it's getting better, the signup is easy but if you don't pay attention the default groups that you are "following" may not be the ones you want, etc). If you want to join, it is free and there is a fast-growing quilting community. For helpful tips and finding your quilting tribe, you can read what the coordinator of the account @elloquilt says!

My handle is @alida-tweloq and to bring the community together I decided to coordinate a Block Swap!

You don't need to have an Ello account to join! Just fill this form http://goo.gl/forms/upr4FSDW6x to leave me your contact if you are interested. I am still collecting general info to see who is interested in what. I highly recommend to have an account, as I plan to post reminders, pictures of blocks, etc over there!

I decided to encourage everybody to test the blocks they ask to their partner. Not many did this until now, but this is my set:

Curved log cabin, Drunkard's path and Quarter Dresden

I will link to short instruction files for these blocks soon! They are so fun and scrappy! I hope my partners will enjoy making them!!

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up