Row Robin Swap

I've been waiting for a long time to post about this swap. This was the first swap I ever joined. The sign-ups for it closed way back on February 28, 2009. I am terribly disappointed with the way it ended up.

Things were sailing along smoothly until after the first send out date, our swap mama had to drop out because of some health issues. Understandable.

That's when everything fell apart. One lady in the swap held onto each row she got for months. Yes, I said months. The deadlines were supposed to be every 6 weeks. How nice is that? Not.

Another of the swappers in my group had her father pass away. She told us she was going to get back into things shortly. That was six months ago.

The whole swap was supposed to be done back in November. It's now April. I still haven't got any rows back. In fact, I don't think any have been added. That's nice, because the lady who has been holding things up the entire swap just got a complete set of rows back. Isn't that nice?

I didn't even take photos of the row I did for her. It's been sitting on my desk for about 3 months waiting to be mailed out to her. We decided to hold it hostage in hopes of getting everyone else's rows back. I'm now wishing I hadn't done one for her at all.

I had high hopes for this swap. Do you remember my first wizard of oz row? Well, I'm pretty sure that even though it sat with Lady #1 for six months to be sent off to Lady #2 for an additional six months, it's still a single row. Isn't that a bum deal?

Anyway... it's over. Hopefully, our rows are on their way home. I hope Lady #1 enjoys her full set of rows enough for all of our group. She's the only one getting a full set back. Unless, of course I'm completely wrong and those two actually made rows for everyone else and were just holding them hostage, but I really doubt that's the case.

Completed row!

It's done. My row is ready to be sent off.



It's surprisingly difficult to photograph because of it's length. I figured out how to get it though! Please disregard the grilled cheese. I was making lunch when the idea of how to photograph it came to me.

I also redid the bottom part of my hot air balloon. I'm much happier with it.

Blocks #8 & 9

It's done. I've completed all the blocks.

Block #8 - Hot Air Balloon



I have decided to leave off the text from the film. It says State Fair Omaha on the balloon when the wizard takes off. I've decided that since this is just a representation, I don't need all the fine details.

Block #9 - Ruby Slipper



This one is a mirror image of the other slipper.

This is something I did in Photoshop. I used the images of each of the blocks and lined them up to see how the strip will look.

Block #7 - Ruby Slippers

I chose the witch fabric for the background, since when Dorothy first puts on the slippers, the wicked witch first appears. The blue is to represent her blue socks. I think the sparkly red is self explanatory. I was considering adding a bow to the toe that would be three dimensional.

Blocks #4, 5, & 6

Here's a few new blocks I did for the swap over the weekend.

Block #4 - The Basket


There is a basket in the beginning of the movie when Ms. Gulch takes Toto away on the back of her bike. Dorothy also carries a basket on her journey.

Block #5 - Kansas Tornado


This is the tornado that hits the Kansas farm. It's the point in the movie that turns from black and white to color.

Block #6 - Glinda's Magic Wand


This is the wand that Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, carries. I chose the pink splotchy fabric to represent Glinda's dress.

Block #3 - Toto

Block #3 down.



This is Toto. The background is ruby red slippers.

Block #2 - Kansas Farm House

Do you remember the beginning of the Wizard of Oz movie? Do you recall how it is filmed in black and white before the Technicolor kicks in?

Block #2 for the Row Robin Quilt Swap is my representation of Auntie Em & Uncle Henry's farm house in Kansas.



This image is the sketch I made prior to sewing my block.



Jason and I watched the movie over the weekend (which is an excellent movie if you haven't seen it recently) and I sketched a few more ideas during our viewing.

Here is an image I cartooned out of my strip. We'll see how close it ends up to this.



I also drew this block design. It's of the farm being hit by the tornado. I'm planning to paper piece it. We'll see how it turns out. I might decide to leave off the farm and just do the tornado. That would really simplify it.

Block #1 - Emerald City

I worked on my quilt blocks for the Wizard of Oz quilt over the weekend.

My first block is nearing completion. I still need to clean it up a bit (miscellaneous threads, etc.) and decide whether or not to leave the sign, but I like it.



I think the sign might be too big and too dark. It'll be easy to remove if that's what I decide since I appliqued it on. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?