Day 4 - 31 Day Blog Challenge- Favorite Tool and "The Clock"
Hump Day! Just 2 days until Clue #5 of Ticker Tape Parade! I'm on day 4 of the 31 Day Blog Challenge. Whew! I'm starting to wonder if I'm crazy, but hopefully you are enjoying it! Please comment if you are... 💗
Today's Challenge topic is to discuss our favorite tool (so hard), plus I will be giving the 4th tidbit (fun fact) to prepare you for my next Mystery Series, Grand Central, which starts in January.
My favorite tool
This is so hard, but I think after much debate, it has to be the Studio 180 Design's Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star! The Wedge Star is starting to run a close second, but the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star (RFLS) is still my favorite
When Deb Tucker created the RFLS, she revolutionized the way to make Lemoynes. There isn't a quilter that I haven't been able teach to use this fabulous tool! The techniques are endless with this one tool!
What is so awesome you ask? Well the RFLS allows a quilter to quickly and easily piece traditional Lemoyne Star blocks accurately in 10 different sizes! You make the units by strip piecing the background and star strips. They are assembled without using any “Y” seams. Plus, they are pieced so that the blocks themselves are slightly oversized so at the end each can be trimmed with the RFLS and Tucker Trimmer I or III to an exact size. Woohoo! They come together awesomely (is that a word)!
The size of the block dictates when you would use the Tucker Trimmer I or III. The Tucker Trimmer I can be used for Lemoyne Stars from 3" finished through 6" finished. While the Tucker Trimmer III can be used for Lemoyne Stars from 3" through 12" finished.
I used the traditional Lemoyne Star in my Whirling Lemoyne Pattern, mixed it up with the Corner Beam and tada it creates a Octagon effect!
Whirling Lemoyne pattern has three sizes and the size is determined by the block size. The Baby is made with a 6" Lemoyne Star, the Throw is made with a 9" Lemoyne Star, and the Large Twin is made with a 12" Lemoyne Star. All made with one Lemoyne Star tool!
If you wanted to make this quilt more traditionally, you can just add a border. It looks great with a light background too, you can see one in my Etsy shop.
There's more
If that isn't enough for it to be ranked #1 in my book, the RFLS currently has 7 published Techniques Sheets that add to the possibilities. Do the math - Original method + 7 = 8 x 10 sizes = At least 80 possibilities.
I've featured the first 6 Lemoyne Tech Sheets in my Loco for Lemoyne Star pattern. Still one of my top 5 quilts! There are at least 2 of every Lemoyne Star, plus the Lemoyne as Triangle, in each variation, makes this quilt a stand out!
I put together two of the published Lemoyne techniques together to create my Lightning pattern; the Banded Lemoyne and Lemoyne as Triangles. I just love it.
Similar to Whirling Lemoyne the size of the quilt is dictated by the size of the block. The Wall is made with a 6" Lemoyne Star, the Throw is made with a 9" Lemoyne Star, and the Double is made with a 12" Lemoyne Star.
Create your own technique
I really just can not get enough of Lemoynes, so I created my own technique using the RFLS. I created what I call the Majesty Lemoyne. I named the pattern after the technique. I set the Majesty Lemoyne with Log Cabins blocks to create an awesome effect. This is a great stash buster, for all four sizes you need 1 1/2" strips and 1 1/4" strips of Bright fabric to make the Lemoynes and Log Cabin blocks. You got to do this one, the picture just do not do it justice.
I decided to Pop the center of the Lemoyne Stars, for my Moonlight Garden Quilt, to create my flowers. The shading of the Strawflower block gives this it's glow. This is a really popular pattern and definitely one of my favorites. Love it. This quilt pattern has four sizes, but it is dictated by the number of blocks. So, the light cascades wider in the larger sizes. Offered in throw, twin, double, and queen.
Last by not least, I featured the Lemoyne and Lemoyne as Triangle in my 2019 Summer Mystery, Holiday Extravaganza. You can purchase all 17 clues in 2 downloadable files in my Etsy shop. Holiday Extravaganza, teaches you over 14 different techniques to do with your RFLS, Wing Clipper, V Block, Tucker Trimmer III, and Quilter's Magic Wand.
Do you see why the RFLS is my favorite tool!
Let's see who is paying attention. For today only (12/4/2019) you can get 20% off anything Lemoyne in my shop with the Coupon Code: LEMOYNE1. Includes the RFLS ruler, Lemoyne Tech sheets and patterns featuring Lemoynes.
Grand Central Mystery Quilt Series
Alright are you ready for some more clues on the my next Mystery Quilt. Grand Central!
The Information Booth Clock
The Main Concourse floor is wide-open, supposedly allowing easy movement (Just don't be there at the height of the commuter rush hour along with Holiday tourist).
The clock atop the Information Booth, in the center of the expansive floor, stands out. That’s as it should be, it is truly a marvel of beauty and elegance!
The photo below was taken during one of it's rare closures, the clock looks so small but you have to understand how large this floor is, the concourse along measures 275 ft long by 120 ft wide (about 35,000 square feet total) by 125 ft high.
Try and take a moment whenever you are in town and check it out. It is fashioned of brass from when Grand Central Terminal opened. The clock sits on an exquisitely detailed pedestal. It has four faces of opalescent glass, and the lighting behind the faces given it a warm, creamy-colored glow.
At the very top is a brass acorn, part of the acorns and oak leaves Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad baron, chose as his family’s symbols. It is said that Cornelius Vanderbilt supposedly choose those symbols from the old saying, “from an acorn a mighty oak shall grow.” Mighty sure describes Grand Central Terminal!
The Connecticut-based (woohoo Connecticut) Seth Thomas Clock Co. was actually turning 100 years old when the company manufactured this clock for Grand Central’s 1913 opening, according to ClockHistory.com.
While it hearkens to the early 20th century, its timekeeping is far advanced from that era and is amazingly accurate. It’s set every second by the atomic block at the U.S. Naval Observatory at Bethesda, MD, and thus is accurate to within 1 second every 20 billion years.
"The Clock" is considered one of the most recognized icons in the world, maybe due to the many articles and guide books that mention it. However, us commuters think it is due to the number of people that say “Meet me at the clock.”
The clock has been featured in several movies; North By Northwest, The Fisher King, The Godfather, Arthur, The Cotton Club, and Grand Central Murder. It’s gorgeous timepiece.
However, I love the clock’s intangible qualities, it commands attention without being big and garish. Whether I'm running for a train, meeting someone, or at Grand Central to dine, I find it calming, with its lovely clock face that seems to say “you have time”.
You can even see the clock on days when a storm has put a halt to train service... and we all wait to get home.
Well, time has run out today, I must get back to work. I hope you are starting to see the beauty and interest that I find in this great iconic beauty and legacy know as Grand Central Terminal!
If you want to get caught up on the Grand Central Mystery Quilt Series, make sure to check out the last few posts.
Grand Central Highlights:
Quick recap, here is what you should know, so far, about my Grand Central Mystery Quilt Series:
Today's Challenge topic is to discuss our favorite tool (so hard), plus I will be giving the 4th tidbit (fun fact) to prepare you for my next Mystery Series, Grand Central, which starts in January.
My favorite tool
This is so hard, but I think after much debate, it has to be the Studio 180 Design's Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star! The Wedge Star is starting to run a close second, but the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star (RFLS) is still my favorite
What is so awesome you ask? Well the RFLS allows a quilter to quickly and easily piece traditional Lemoyne Star blocks accurately in 10 different sizes! You make the units by strip piecing the background and star strips. They are assembled without using any “Y” seams. Plus, they are pieced so that the blocks themselves are slightly oversized so at the end each can be trimmed with the RFLS and Tucker Trimmer I or III to an exact size. Woohoo! They come together awesomely (is that a word)!
The size of the block dictates when you would use the Tucker Trimmer I or III. The Tucker Trimmer I can be used for Lemoyne Stars from 3" finished through 6" finished. While the Tucker Trimmer III can be used for Lemoyne Stars from 3" through 12" finished.
I used the traditional Lemoyne Star in my Whirling Lemoyne Pattern, mixed it up with the Corner Beam and tada it creates a Octagon effect!
 |
| Whirling Lemoyne |
If you wanted to make this quilt more traditionally, you can just add a border. It looks great with a light background too, you can see one in my Etsy shop.
There's more
If that isn't enough for it to be ranked #1 in my book, the RFLS currently has 7 published Techniques Sheets that add to the possibilities. Do the math - Original method + 7 = 8 x 10 sizes = At least 80 possibilities.
I've featured the first 6 Lemoyne Tech Sheets in my Loco for Lemoyne Star pattern. Still one of my top 5 quilts! There are at least 2 of every Lemoyne Star, plus the Lemoyne as Triangle, in each variation, makes this quilt a stand out!
 |
| Loco for Lemoynes |
 |
| Lightning |
Create your own technique
I really just can not get enough of Lemoynes, so I created my own technique using the RFLS. I created what I call the Majesty Lemoyne. I named the pattern after the technique. I set the Majesty Lemoyne with Log Cabins blocks to create an awesome effect. This is a great stash buster, for all four sizes you need 1 1/2" strips and 1 1/4" strips of Bright fabric to make the Lemoynes and Log Cabin blocks. You got to do this one, the picture just do not do it justice.
 |
| Majesty Lemoyne |
I decided to Pop the center of the Lemoyne Stars, for my Moonlight Garden Quilt, to create my flowers. The shading of the Strawflower block gives this it's glow. This is a really popular pattern and definitely one of my favorites. Love it. This quilt pattern has four sizes, but it is dictated by the number of blocks. So, the light cascades wider in the larger sizes. Offered in throw, twin, double, and queen.
 |
| Moonlight Garden |
 |
| Holiday Extravaganza |
Let's see who is paying attention. For today only (12/4/2019) you can get 20% off anything Lemoyne in my shop with the Coupon Code: LEMOYNE1. Includes the RFLS ruler, Lemoyne Tech sheets and patterns featuring Lemoynes.
Grand Central Mystery Quilt Series
Alright are you ready for some more clues on the my next Mystery Quilt. Grand Central!
The Information Booth Clock
The Main Concourse floor is wide-open, supposedly allowing easy movement (Just don't be there at the height of the commuter rush hour along with Holiday tourist).
The clock atop the Information Booth, in the center of the expansive floor, stands out. That’s as it should be, it is truly a marvel of beauty and elegance!
 |
| Rare closure of Grand Central Terminal |
Try and take a moment whenever you are in town and check it out. It is fashioned of brass from when Grand Central Terminal opened. The clock sits on an exquisitely detailed pedestal. It has four faces of opalescent glass, and the lighting behind the faces given it a warm, creamy-colored glow.
 |
The Connecticut-based (woohoo Connecticut) Seth Thomas Clock Co. was actually turning 100 years old when the company manufactured this clock for Grand Central’s 1913 opening, according to ClockHistory.com.
While it hearkens to the early 20th century, its timekeeping is far advanced from that era and is amazingly accurate. It’s set every second by the atomic block at the U.S. Naval Observatory at Bethesda, MD, and thus is accurate to within 1 second every 20 billion years.
"The Clock" is considered one of the most recognized icons in the world, maybe due to the many articles and guide books that mention it. However, us commuters think it is due to the number of people that say “Meet me at the clock.”
 |
| Meet me at the Clock this Holiday Season |
 |
| The Clock in The Fisher King |
 |
| Storm Delay |
Well, time has run out today, I must get back to work. I hope you are starting to see the beauty and interest that I find in this great iconic beauty and legacy know as Grand Central Terminal!
If you want to get caught up on the Grand Central Mystery Quilt Series, make sure to check out the last few posts.
Grand Central Highlights:
Quick recap, here is what you should know, so far, about my Grand Central Mystery Quilt Series:
- The Series will run from mid-January to mid-April
- Two sizes to choose from; Large Throw or Queen
- Required tools are the Studio 180 Design:
- Wedge Star
- Tucker Trimmer III
- Large Square Squared (and no a regular Square Squared will not work).
- Recommended tools are Studio 180 Design:
- Tucker Trimmer II - for subcut - ideal for sub cutting strips ending in 1/4" and 3/4"
- I plan on releasing yardage in the next week. Make sure to subscribe to my Blog for more information this week.
- New Grand Central Facebook group for those planning on participating in Grand Central Quilt Mystery Series. Be sure to answer all the screening questions or you will be declined. If you are a member, in good standing, of another one of my groups, you will not have to answer the questions.
Upcoming December Blog Topics, in addition to the 31 Day Blog Challenge :
- The rest of this week, I have a few more inspiring architecture tidbits of Grand Central...
- Next week, I plan on taking you step-by-step through selecting the proper border for your Grand Central mystery quilt.
- The third week of December, I plan on taking you step-by-step through selecting the proper fabric to go with that border.
- The fourth week, we will see what I come up with!
Thanks for joining me daily! Let me know if you are enjoying it.
Keep Stitching,
Michelle
Keep Stitching,
Michelle
Hi just dropped in to see what you were blogging about on this challenge. Love your quilts. Will be back to say hello again next week.
ReplyDelete