This
gorgeous block has been on my to do list for a while. The Arkansas
Traveler die is currently only available if you attend a class at an
Accuquilt dealer. Unfortunately, there are no dealers or classes
near me.
Thankfully,
I found the Traveler's Star 12” die (same design) by Blue Wren from
A1 Craft and Quilting in Australia. I also ordered a 1” finished
strip die, and both came with free mats. Including international
shipping to the USA, the total cost was only $106. Not bad for 2 dies and 2
mats. The dies work perfectly on my Go cutter.
 |
| Aussie Stars |
Aussie
Stars is 43” square, made up of nine blocks in teal and bright
green with black bandana print and cream prints. I've had the teal
and green leaf print for a while; it gives a modern look as sashing
and borders.
It
takes precise stitching, pressing, and alignment to get a perfectly
flat block. I'll admit to using the seam ripper on the first two,
but my practice blocks went in the quilt after I got them right. The
rest were a breeze.
The
back is an extra block that I framed off center with leftover wide
strips of teal, green, and black. I quilted with a dark cream thread
in long serpentine patterns with a walking foot.
I'll
be making more of this classic design, and I'll definitely order more Blue Wren dies. Good customer service from Norma by email. My order took a little over 3 weeks to arrive, but it sat in customs here for days.
Blue
Wren dies used:
Traveler's
Star 6361
1 ½”
strip 6015
Leap day is this Saturday
