Welcome! This blog is for fans of the 'Nearly Insane' quilt created in the 1870's by Salinda Rupp. If you would like to purchase a copy of the book by Liz Lois with the patterns, check with your local quilt store, or visit the Nearly Insane website.

If you would like to contribute to this blog, leave a comment and we can get back to you with permissions.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Block #47 - Ann

I don't think I chose the easiest method for this block, but I did enjoy the colors and the final result. These are becoming addicting.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Block 76 - Tazzie

Here is my Block 76. I managed to blur the picture a little - oops! I'm sure you'll forgive me :-)

Of course I had to foundation piece this little beauty - unless you're hand piecing your whole quilt, foundation piecing is the best way to tackle this one.

And to keep on with Lynne's fabulous theme of adding little pictures and interest with conversationals, I've added a little scene from a toile fabric I picked up in the USA in 2006. Can you see it there - it's a horse and cart outside a little building. I've just realised that it will be sideways when the block is set on point in the quilt, but I will live with it. I'll just have to remember to set things better in future blocks :-)

My love for this project is growing with each block, and I will have to be careful that I don't allow it to overtake all other aspects of my life ... it CAN happen!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Block 54 - Tazzie

Here is my latest block - Number 54 - it's the Nearly Insane Yahoo Group 'BOW' for this week. I see that Lynne's up to date too :-)

I've been so impressed with Lynne's fussy cutting of fabrics in her blocks, that I thought I'd take a leaf from her book. The soldier in the middle of my block is from a Kaye England fabric 'Travels in Time'. It's an oldie, but very cute. I'd have centered him better, but it was a small piece and I'd have run out of seam allowance.

After making the block I was a little disappointed, thinking that he'll be forever sideways, but then I remembered that the blocks are set on point, so all is well :-)

Monday, February 22, 2010

Block #35 - Ann

This is my fourth block, and I'm really enjoying them. I still have no real color plan, but am enjoying just choosing fabrics from stash that seem to go together. I've been mainly using fabrics that read solid in these small pieces, but after seeing the beautiful effects with everyone elses blocks, I want to spread my wings a little bit more.

Lynne Nearly Insane Block 54

B54wbest
There are Cherries in the middle of this block. I am not normally a brown person but they work perfectly with Pewter, Indigo and Honey. Love that Poison Green  and the Double Pink too. The Double Pink was part of Christine's scrapbag :-) Thankyou. She by the way is having a giveaway :-)
Enjoy your week everyone Cheers Lynne

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Lynne Found some more :-) Last

Block3w2B3Block5gw
B5Block10bwB10
Block11wB11
Block12wB12 This block was made out of scraps of scraps I cannot throw anything in the scrap bin :-) Block13bw
B13 Love the little birds. Some of these fabrics are little treasures that friends have given me.
Block25bwB25 Love this Block. If you look carefully and use your imagination you will see the Christmas BonBon in the centre. This was the block made Christmas 2008. Block36bw2B36 Love the little birds as you can see :-)Block42bwB42Look there is one little mistake and this block is a challenge. decided that I could live with the hiccup.49WB49 Love the little birds.  you can see them in the background. I have only the tiniest wee bits of those red fabrics courtesy of my friend Nancy :-) OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         B70        The Conversational here is Playing CardsBlock73bbwB73 The little butterflies are in the background while the kittens are playing ball :-)Block78wB78OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         B80      the Conversational in this one is hiding. The pink background fabric was the perfect colour and it was originally a Toile of a Buxom LadyBlock81bwB81 Love the little birds in the green fabricBlock83wB83  Not as hard to make as it looks. Just fiddlyBlock87vbw B87 This is a Rooster block. Some of the fabrics in here came from a Charm pack.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         B88 This block is two halves Block94w2 B94 This block is two halves
Block95wB95 This block is two halves and they are not going to be anywhere near each other so why not have them different.
This is the last of the catchup blocks. :-) Enjoy Cheers Lynne

Lynne More Blocks

Block71wB71 Now I know you will not recognise the coffee beans in the background fabric :-)B89awbHalf blocks B89  Now the red+ fabric in the centre is an aboriginal fabric Block90webb
Half blocks B90 Birds Birds and more birds Oh and my favourite flower Roses :-)Block91wb
Half blocks B91 Now I live down by the beach so here is the Beach block. Repro Shells for the centre, Yachts Lots of blue and the yellow wattle in the cornerstones :-)
Block93wb2Half blocks B93 A pretty block :-)
I have just found some more blocks so will put them in the next post  Cheers Lynne

Block 60 - Tazzie

Yesterday I put Block 60 together. It's the Nearly Insane Yahoo Group's 'block of the week' challenge. I'm so pleased I got it put together in time. Lucky for me it's an easy one :-)

I was so thrilled with how neatly this one went together, I thought I'd show you the back. I still have all the freezer paper pieces in place.

If I have a chance this week, I'm going to try to make a couple more triangles, maybe even the corner ones. But first I have quite a bit of customer quilting I really need to tackle. Talk soon :-)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Block 48 - Tazzie

One block made so far this week - I'm going to have to lift my game!

I picked up some new fabrics at the quilt store on Tuesday - just little pieces. Many of them are from the Dear Jane collection. Two of those fabrics I used in this block - block 48. The red is a scrap left over from my 'Starstruck in Paducah' quilt. I don't think I have a single piece of that red left anymore. Of course, now that I've said that, I'll probably find it everywhere :-)

This was a fun block to piece, and easy too. I'm really enjoying using the 'new to me' yellow. You'll be seeing it again and again I'm sure.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

#16 & 17 - Barbara

A nice easy one.

Hated doing this one! I don't know how I ended up with that tiny corner piece but I will need to inset a new one before I put the sashing on (in ten years' time?)

Nearly Insane Block 41 and 60

Block41wcB41  Look Carefully and you can see the little Birds in the black and grey. Enlarge to have a clearer picture.Block60wbB60  There is a little girl playing with her doll and the bottom has a little bird. The Green is a New Zealand Fern fabric given me to my good friend Rosemary.  That is 43 blocks now :-)  
Cheers Lynne

Monday, February 15, 2010

Block 90 - Tazzie

I thought it would be fun to try one of the half blocks, so I selected one of the easy ones. I think it's really quite cute.

Somewhere I read that there are two options with the half and quarter blocks - one is to simply make up the block and chop it in half, and the other option is to add the appropriate seam allowances. I elected to add the seam allowances - it was just my feeling that it would make the final construction less than perfect if I had to stretch any of the blocks to compensate for the seam allowances being absent. If you've had a different experience, be sure to let me know, because it would be easier to just chop them in half. For me, I think I'm taking the lengthier option.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Blocks 58 Lynne

B58w
I managed to make B41 and 60 today but have yet to photograph, so though I would put some more of the ones that were made last year. All my blocks so far have been paper-pieced Remember to click and enlarge and see the detail.Block61w2 B61 Now this one is Cats and Cats playing ball. A challenging block.
B64w1
B64 Just love the Waratah’s and wattle in this one.
B65wbest
B65
B68w3 B68     Just love the conversationals in this one The Hare and the Tortoise fishing. the Hen and the Eggs, The Chicks just hatched out of the Eggs and the Yellow Cat. If you click on the photos you can see the full size :-)
B69wbst B69  More conversationals in this one.  A Bird or two, Roses, a teapot of flowers and a fan. 
Cheers Lynne

Friday, February 12, 2010

Sashing Audition

What do you think of the fabric in the centre there as a candidate for the sashing strips in my quilt? I have a decent chunk of it, it's actually a Judie Rothermel Sturbridge Village backing fabric, and one of my favourite fabrics also.

I was hoping to find something that might calm the quilt down with all the wildly coloured blocks, and this could be just the ticket. Do you like it?

#15 - Barbara


This is another block I did last year, totally foundation pieced. Although foundation piecing is supposed to give you great accuracy, using it for the NI blocks has disappointed me. When I've finished posting the ones from last year, I'm going to try a different method for the next ones. By the way, Ranette (who has just finished a wonderful red and white NI) recommended that I look at this blog where there is a Nearly Insane album with photos of each block, all hand sewn, a lovely version of the quilt. Well worth a look. Thanks, Ranette!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Block #31 - Ann

I was in the mood for red, and this was quick and fun and satisfying; standard piecing instead of paper foundation. And I decided not to worry about the imperfect points. It's good enough for me.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Blocks 31 to 40 Lynne Patchworkrose

Block31bw
Block 31
Block37bw
Block 37 Both of these blocks can be enlarged when you click on them. Cheers Lynne

More Blocks Lynne Patchworkrose

Block23w
Block 23 Love that Cheddar
Block24wbest
Block 24 In the centre of the block there is a girl fishing I just Love the roses cut from an old Liberty Patchwork Cotton. Cheers Lynne