Happy August!  Today is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!

[Find the source of this lovely, gratuitous Ice Cream Sandwich image and recipe here.]

Today it's all about birds and birdhouses!

This is my Blue Repro block - it's prepped but not stitched down yet.  I'm going to try something a little different with this block for the stitching - I'll let you know how it goes.  The fabrics are from Snowberry by 3 Sisters, Alice's Scrapbag by Barbara Brackman and Garden House by Jan Patek and Chateau Rouge by French General.  (The yellow bird has a little bit of color-transfer from an "accident" and I'm hoping it doesn't wash out as I rather like how it looks.)

And yes, I didn't have my pattern in front of me so I goofed on the placement of the holes.

This is Tammy's block - the background is Miniature Gatherings Backgrounds by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings, and the prints are from Rachel Remembered by Betsy Chutchian, Timeless by Jo Morton and Garden House by Jan Patek.

CLICK HERE for the link to Jan's blog and the pattern for Block 22 - Birdhouse.

As before, the fabrics are from the Farmhouse and Chestnut Street collections by Fig Tree & Co., and the background is from Liberty Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings.  The selvage is still on the side because I cut the background square at 7" and then down to 6-1/2" when it's complete.  It will get some handling during the stitching - whether by hand or by machine - so trimming after it's stitched helps me keep a nice, clean, straight edge.

Question of the Week ~ What kind of batting do I use?  Why do I use that one?  

All of them.

How is that for an answer?

I like trying new battings - not because I'm not happy with any of them but because there are always improvements, changes and new products.  I've also found that quilts sometimes "need" one look or another - thin, a bit flatter and more old-fashioned versus a bit loftier and squishier.

My favorite battings these days are -

• Hobbs Heirloom Wool.  Lightweight and very soft after washing.  The package tells you not to dry the quilt with heat but I do.  It just means a little more shrinkage but it does "relax" down a bit with use... so the shrinkage isn't quite as much as it would seem when it first comes out of the dryer.  That makes sense, right?  I love how beautifully it washes, and how lightweight the quilts are.  I have a quilt that is made with lawns, the silky-weight wovens and wool batting - it weighs next to nothing.
• Hobbs Tuscany Wool.  My very-close-second favorite wool batting.  It also washes beautifully and if Harriet Hargrave designed it, it must be good.  It comes in a lot more pre-cut sizes - one of the reasons I have been using it more frequently.
• Hobbs Tuscany Cotton - the Bleached and the Unbleached.  This is my favorite 100% cotton batting - and I do prefer 100% to the blends.
• Kyoto Bamboo Blend Batting.  I tried Bamboo battings when they first appeared and this one has been my favorite.  It's a 50% bamboo/50% cotton blend.  It washes beautifully, is naturally anti-bacterial and is very soft before - and after - washing.
• Luna Loft.  This is an 80/20 Cotton/Polyester blend.  Washes beautifully, nice weight, all of those very important things.
• Warm & Plush.  This is a slightly heavier 100% cotton, needle-punched, no scrim batting.  It's squishier than most, and for those who sometimes like a "heavy quilt" in cold weather, this is a really nice option.

Six favorites.  There are others I like - even love! - but these are the battings that I use the most.

Just in case you missed it - CLICK HERE for the link to Jan's blog for the link to Block 22 - Birdhouse.

Don't forget that there is a Blockheads Archive with links to all of the published blocks and blog posts.

That's it for today, August 2.  Be sure to visit Lisa, Lynne, Betsy and Jan to see their blocks and what other good things they might have made:

• Lynne’s Blog / Facebook / Website
• Betsy’s Blog / Facebook / Instagram
• Jo’s Blog / Instagram
• Jan’s Blog / Website
• Lisa’s Blog / Website / Instagram

Be sure to see the blocks being posted to #modablockheads on Instagram and Facebook. If you're not already a member, you can also join the fun in the Moda Blockheads Facebook group.  It's a busy group with folks sharing tips, suggestions and support.

But I'll bet they don't have Ice Cream Sandwich Cake...

[Here is the source of this picture and recipe - a YouTube video.  How easy is that?]

Happy Blockhead Wednesday!