Hi Quilting Friends,
Welcome to the “Be A Diamond” blog hop, hosted by our friend Carol from “Just Let Me Quilt“! A great big “Thank You!” to Carol for being the hostess with the mostest!We always look forward to Carol’s blog hops, and are so excited to see all of the great projects that are posted by the participating bloggers. You’ll find a list with links to their blogs at the end of this post!
This blog hop has me thinking about diamonds, so here are some things that occurred to me:
Science time! (I just LOVE science time, especially chemistry! Quilting time will come in a couple of paragraphs, so please be patient!) Diamonds are made of carbon, element #6 on our Periodic Table of Elements, which is the 4th most common element in the universe, and the 15th most common element here on Earth.
A single carbon atom can form up to four covalent chemical bonds, and is the basis for organic molecules. We’re “carbon-based life forms”, after all! Coal and other fossil fuels are made of carbon too.
Pure carbon, when in its solid state, most often occurs in the form of graphite (the “lead” in your pencil) which forms in the lower crust of the Earth. Diamonds are created deep within Earth’s mantle under enormous heat and pressure, which is why they are so rare. Diamonds are unique in that they have the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any naturally-occurring material, and they are chemically inert as well!
So, perhaps, this is why “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” and “Diamonds are forever.” It could also explain why the diamond shape is such a popular design element in quilting patterns. Diamonds are a representation of strength and beauty, and quilters are a wonderful combination of both characteristics! Today I’m going to share some of our designs that feature diamonds.
The border of this miniature quilt features diamonds!
So does this pretty pieced snowflake block!
And this Hunter’s Star miniature quilt,
And the Mariner’s Star! Are stars made from diamonds? Or does it just twinkle, twinkle like a diamond in the sky?
I usually create a small project to follow each blog hop theme, and this time I decided to make a pair of pretty hot pads for our kitchen. I love this Mariner’s star block, and so I did a quick search through my stash and found the perfect fabrics to coordinate with our kitchen wall paper.
I’m pleased with how they turned out, and they are MUCH prettier than the other hot pads that we normally use around here (see photo below, LOL). I don’t even know how this sort of thing happens. Perhaps it is because my hubby likes to cook, but isn’t very careful with our hot pads? Or we could just blame it all on our kids and their love affair with tater tots, LOL!
And now, on to another Diamond! His is a rare talent, and I’ve always loved Neil Diamond’s songs. Here’s one of my favorites, and you’re invited to sing along as I always do:
Thank you SO much for hopping by today! I hope that you’ve enjoyed seeing my little project, and that you’ll take the time to visit the rest of the bloggers who are “hopping” with us.
Happy quilting,
Sharon
April 22
April 23
You Are Here! Ms P Designs USA
April 24
April 25
April 26
Beautiful diamond projects, thanks for sharing them all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great job and love the colors tytyty for sharing with us.. happyness04431@yahoo.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice pieces for your day! Everything is colourful and done so well…great job!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous ideas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
All lovely projects.
LikeLike
Great diamond projects. Your hotpads made me smile. Thanks for the song, and a sweet memory. We took the grandson’s on a long trip to the west coast one year. They didn’t like my ipod music. We told them that when they got older that whenever Sweet Caroline came on in a bar that many times people will sing along. We were in a small town and the only place to eat was a bar. They were disappointed when the waitresses turned off the jukebox and turned on cartoons for them. But they still sing Sweet Caroline, and What’s New Pussycat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Terrific collection of diamond projects. Enjoy your lovely new hot pads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many lovely diamonds projects.And your hot pads are so awesome. Thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
You post sparkles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many pretty diamonds showing here today, but those potholders shine the most…love them! My potholders are pretty pathetic so I may have to dig into my stash to make some shiny ones like yours. Thanks for hopping with us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh how fun! My oven mitts look similar… terrific idea to make new ones!
I saw Neil Diamond in concert twice and he was very sparkly… loved it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful diamonds! Enjoy your day! 🙂 🙂 angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for all the diamonds in your post – the science lesson, the blocks, the hot pads and the song. I’ve had worse looking hot pads. Please tell your kids no tater tots with the Mariner star pads – they’re too precious for that. If they’re making your Mother’s day dinner, all is forgiven though 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the science lesson and for sharing your diamond projects. The new hot pads are so pretty. Maybe you need to make a couple more in the same colours but different positions. I, too, love Neil Diamond and have seen him once in concert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Mariners Star is a perfect pick. Was it paper pieced or not? I really am not a fan of doing paper piecing, but I know in something like this you might need to paper piece. If it’s not paper pieced, where did you get the block from? Thanks.
LikeLike
Thanks Daryl! The block is paper pieced, my own original design, and you can find it in our pattern shop, here: https://wp.me/P9bPb0-M8.
LikeLike
Great diamond projects, thanks for sharing. I’ve seen Neil Diamond at least 22 times in concert!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! I would have loved to see him, even once. That is amazing!
LikeLike
Oh you beat me, Karrin! I’ve seen him a lot, but not 22 times! He must have played in California more than he did in Arizona. =)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your new pot holders are really too pretty to be used!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! You can bet that my kids won’t be using them. ;o)
LikeLike
Neil Diamond! I haven’t heard that name in years! We MUST be from the same generation. Or at least close. Love your new hotpads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely Hot pads! Mine resemble your beat up batch! I love Neil Diamond, too! Song, Sung, Blue, Everybody knows one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love all your diamonds. I am a Neil Diamond fan as well. I recently set up a Pandora channel that features his music and style. I think we may be kindred spirits. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your diamonds are so pretty. My hot pads look pretty ratty too, but I would do the same to pretty ones. Sigh. We say Neil Diamond last summer. He still puts on an amazing show.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely great blocks and wonderful photos of your diamonds! Neil is a long time favorite of mine, and I’ve seen in him person MANY times. My favorite song is Shiloh, partly because it played on the radio as Paul and I drove to the church to be married, back in the dawn of time. =) My favorite album is Tap Root Manuscript, though I also like Velvet Gloves and Spit. I’m so sad that he can’t perform publicly any longer, but grateful he’s still writing music. Sweet Caroline is good, too. Wonderful diamonds post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a drawer full of hot pads that need to be replaced. Great diamond ideas for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
what a fun stop on this hop. I look at your old hot pads and think it is great that they ” were used”. I would probably still use them and just admire the new ones. Love all of your sparkling projects and thank you for the chem lesson. It was like taking a mini refresher class.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many beautiful diamond beauties…and hot pads that resemble mine! LOL!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your diamonds are all beautiful!! And Neil is one of my favorite Diamonds too! LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your diamond projects!
LikeLiked by 1 person