Been Around the Block
My quilt square for the Virtual Quilting Bee destined for Mama Urchin's playroom.
Now I need to go buy a non-crap iron. Bye-bye Rowenta. Hello Black
& Decker. I took the internet's advice and spritzed it with water
(rather than using steam) and it added a boatload of tiny wrinkles.
I have that exact same B&D iron and love,love,love it! But I have a reminder on my door to make sure I turn it off!
Posted by: LeeAnn | 28 February 2008 at 10:13 AM
I love that block! The embroidery is so much fun!
Posted by: Anina | 28 February 2008 at 10:16 AM
SO ADORABLE!!!!
Love the embroidered car!
Posted by: Carla | 28 February 2008 at 10:49 AM
nice work. i'm with you on the iron. i need a change.
Posted by: melissa f. | 28 February 2008 at 10:58 AM
Oh my goodness, your square is wonderful!
I'm with you on the iron - my Rowenta sucked! I think I need a Black & Decker...maybe today.
Posted by: beki | 28 February 2008 at 11:03 AM
That is so clever with the car and path embroidery! I just love it.
Posted by: Sarah | 28 February 2008 at 12:27 PM
love it- but question...I am a newbie sewer, just graduated from my class and have v. basic machine...They told me I need an iron (I know- I do not own one, I am a flake) I looked at some at craft store and they seemed to push me to buy Rowenta...that they were good...not true? I trust you above a badged gal named Ruth at local! I just want to know how muc I should spend....merci
Posted by: amy | 28 February 2008 at 12:40 PM
I love the wee car.
Posted by: Lil' d | 28 February 2008 at 12:43 PM
Remember she wanted some of that puckering a loved quilt gets? Your square is pre-puckered, that's all! It is really gorgeous, with or without wrinkles.
Posted by: Eren | 28 February 2008 at 01:25 PM
Hmmm... I had the worst ever experience with my Black and Decker iron (the exact same one from the picture this post links to). I was using it and the water spontaneously boiled over and out and gave me a wicked burn all over my hand and arm. It was so bad that my doctor made me get a tetanus shot and I lost all my skin. I think the iron was totally defective- I was so traumatized that I never used it again. If you get a Black and Decker be careful! I don't think that iron has anything to prevent hot water from coming out when it is in the position for pressing. I hope this comment isn't completely annoying- I didn't realize I still had issues over the whole thing until I started typing... Apparently the incident impacted my mental health...
Posted by: Annie | 28 February 2008 at 02:02 PM
Ooh, I need a new iron. Love the block! The embroidery is fantastic.
Posted by: Sarah | 28 February 2008 at 02:21 PM
You will LOVE that iron! I borrowed my MIL's and loved it so much I bought my own.
Posted by: lera | 28 February 2008 at 02:33 PM
I love it so much I want to go and copy it right now!
Posted by: April | 28 February 2008 at 04:44 PM
Such happy colors! I love the car detail.
Posted by: patricia | 28 February 2008 at 04:59 PM
I love, love the block! The embroidery is great! So fun. :)
Posted by: Margie | 28 February 2008 at 05:07 PM
Well, I'm in love.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | 28 February 2008 at 06:11 PM
So adorable! I love the cute little car.
Posted by: Cami | 28 February 2008 at 06:43 PM
WOW, a whole town in one small block! Great idea to go so tiny and very well done.
Posted by: Alex | 28 February 2008 at 07:57 PM
Such an awesome block!
Posted by: dorie | 28 February 2008 at 08:46 PM
hi, what is the model # of that iron?
Posted by: sharon | 28 February 2008 at 08:47 PM
Oh I love the added embroidery. That is such a great quilt. Luving it~
Posted by: norma | 29 February 2008 at 12:50 AM
I love the concept--you're so creative! Looking at your quilt was my first smile this morning!
Posted by: sue | 29 February 2008 at 09:08 AM
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this block and all your little embroidery additions are what really take it to the next level!! Like Sue it brought a huge smile to my face as well ... makes me want to go sew something this morning! Is it a 12" finished block, or a bit larger? As for irons, I'm still using my $10 black and decker from ... gasp, my freshman year of college ... 15 years ago and countless sewing projects later it still works great. Thanks so much for sharing so much talent with us!
Posted by: Kathleen | 29 February 2008 at 10:04 AM
What a beautiful block - just perfect for a playroom.
Posted by: Ali | 29 February 2008 at 02:09 PM
So cute--love it!
Posted by: Alicia W | 29 February 2008 at 02:38 PM
the block is great. the car, my absolute favorite part.
i'm curious about the iron. i've always thought that rowentas were better than black and deckers (i've got a black and decker and i've been hoping there's something better). eager to hear your results with the b&d.
Posted by: emily | 29 February 2008 at 04:13 PM
oh, i love your block so so much, courtney. good luck with the iron!
Posted by: erin | 29 February 2008 at 06:33 PM
I have a feed on igoogle that shows me the flickr interestingness photos of the day. This one came up! Congrats!
Posted by: Monet | 29 February 2008 at 06:39 PM
It's the embroidery that makes me want one. Love that you creative wonder you!
Posted by: Susan | 29 February 2008 at 06:43 PM
ah thats such a beautiful quilt...i love the touches of embroidery ....it makes it quite perfect :)
Posted by: nosheen | 29 February 2008 at 06:51 PM
this is a lovely block and a cool little car - this must be very satisfying despite the iron incident .
Posted by: fanja | 29 February 2008 at 07:19 PM
ACK!! That is the sweetest thing!
I am planning a car/road/city quilt for my kids this year, and this just adds to the inspiration.
Posted by: Lasso the Moon | 29 February 2008 at 07:29 PM
This is beautiful! Anyone would be so lucky to have it. Awesome work!
Posted by: linnea | 01 March 2008 at 01:34 AM
Love it!!! So adorable!
Posted by: sarah | 01 March 2008 at 07:58 PM
Love the bit of embroidery! The colors are so uplifting (I must have spring fever)...
I have a Rowenta, too, and I'm always fighting with it. It won't hold water any longer so I have to use the spritzer (though I put lavender in it and I love that)...
Posted by: Berlinswhimsy | 02 March 2008 at 12:53 AM
Wow! What a great *great* idea for a quilt square. And oh the possibilities of school buses and puppy dogs and... and...
It's settled -- I must learn to embroider!
Posted by: Tiffany | 02 March 2008 at 02:30 PM
I love love love the embroidery. I bought some street/car fabric a while ago and never thought to create my own picture like this. How inspiring! (and only you notice the wrinkles, trust me!)
Posted by: Tammy | 03 March 2008 at 11:29 AM
that's really beautiful, really really...
Posted by: annieb | 03 March 2008 at 12:14 PM
I LOVE this block. Love, love, love it. And the play-on-words with it. And just everything about it. And also, my mom just gave me a new Black & Decker iron for my birthday. I'd never researched it, and always figured I'd pick up a Rowenta one of these days. My mom did a bit of research, not a ton, but everything was saying to go with Black & Decker. So now I'm pretty glad about it, since hearing a couple of people complain on their Rowentas lately. Phew.
Posted by: Grace | 03 March 2008 at 01:01 PM
You really inspire me - Both the creative work you do and the fact that you do it with young kids! Mine are just a bit older and I find it hard to get more than the most mundane work done...
I've had the black & decker iron for about a year and am very happy with it. I bought it after my last rowenta died, hoping I would be able to invest in a lovely gravity feed soon, but now I'm not in a big hurry. I have had some leaking from the iron like the previous poster (fortunately no burns), so I usually fill it only partway or keep the iron dry and use a spray bottle for moisture.
Posted by: Kerry | 03 March 2008 at 01:53 PM
I missed this 'til now. What a fantastic idea - the little car going round the blocks. Wonderful!
Posted by: Ellen | 04 March 2008 at 07:55 PM
What a super-cute quilt block!
Posted by: Scrappy | 07 March 2008 at 02:42 PM
OH That is so CUTE!!
Posted by: Kari | 07 March 2008 at 11:41 PM
That quilt is going to be awesome.
Posted by: Kristi | 11 March 2008 at 06:46 PM
LOVE this quilt, stuck this idea in my idea bank for sure, so cute!
Posted by: kate | 12 March 2008 at 12:35 AM
what great prints. I am jealous.
Posted by: erinn Johnson | 12 March 2008 at 10:03 PM
Oh my! How much do I love, LOVE this little quilt? It is just dreamy!!
Posted by: kirie | 25 April 2008 at 03:59 PM