Cleopatra's Fan

I love to get quilting magazines, and have received many of them over the years.  I keep them for a while, and then I go through them and tear out any patterns I think I would like to make sometime, and I organize the patterns in binders, and get rid of the magazines.


One that I tore out many years ago, in 1996, was a Cleopatra's Fan.  It is a pattern from the 30's time period, and I thought this block would lend itself to hand piecing because of the curved pieces. There are templates for this block available from Shar Jorgenson and a free online pattern from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. I like to have a hand piecing project to carry with me, and usually make large quilts, so a hand piecing project can last me for several years. I chose this pattern and cut out the pieces for several blocks.


This block is beautiful, but to be honest, this has been a difficult block and not a good choice for being my portable project. I have to lay this block completely out before sewing it together to keep the pieces correct, so that I don't get them sewed upside down or on the wrong side, which doesn't always work well for portability.  After making 5 of these blocks by hand, none of which ended up being accurately sized, I decided I would finish the blocks that I had cut out by machine and this would be a smaller project. I am experienced at hand piecing, and know that I am capable of hand sewing a block to finish the right size, but not this one! I did have better luck by machine, but was still unable to get these to come out as an accurate sized block, so I had to be real creative in putting these together.

I did get them sewed together and actually made the fit properly, but the size only comes to a 51" square, which is much smaller than I prefer to make. For now, I'm setting this one aside to wait for some inspiration.


Now, I'll be on the search for another hand piecing project.



THIS WEEK'S RECIPE
TEXAS CAVIAR
This recipe was given to me by a co-worker from Texas. It is very easy to put together the night before you need it and requires no cooking.
1 can black-eyed peas
1 can black beans
1 can whole kernel corn
1 pkg cherry tomatoes, quartered
3 green onions, chopped
1 cup Zesty Italian Dressing


Drain peas, beans and corn. Rinse and drain again. Pour into large bowl, stir in tomatoes and onions. Add 1 cup Zesty Italian dressing. Stir. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Joshua 24:15  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.