one way to make a firework star block

There are only three of these (65 piece) 8 inch blocks
 in Jordan's quilt

and at 2 hours and 45 minutes each,
not counting fabric cutting,

I'm not terribly sorry

that there aren't more.
(though they are quite striking,
if I do say so myself )

This was one that I spent a good bit of time on -

figuring out fabric cuts,

and how it should go together.

(I found the block online,
looking for something similar to a swoon block,
and drew it up on graph paper,
then dissected it.)

Then I went and let almost 2 months go by
after making a block to test my maths,

before sewing another block,

so I had to re-figure 

a lot of what I'd already figured out.

I thought I'd write up a quick tute

(complete with awful photographs)

so I don't have to figure it up again.

As you can see in the above photo,
this block is made from an assortment of rectangles and squares,
and more rectangles and squares
sewn into flying geese, half square triangles, and square in a square units.
Since this tute is mostly for my benefit,
I haven't included specifics on making those units,
since I *think* I'll remember that part
and there are already (far better!) tutorials out there
should you need them.

I recommend
 using non directional, all over prints (or solids) for this block,
but if you disregard that recommendation,
(and I did, on my first one)
just know that you'll need to take that into account
when you cut your pieces,
and
when you sew them together.
(for example - when you sew the hst,
you sew 2 blocks on the diagonal / one way
and 2 blocks \ the opposite way)
And you will most likely end up with a headache.

Obviously, the center square is exempt from that recommendation 😉

Once all pieces are cut,
you'll want to,
using chain piecing,
pair up your 2" squares
and turn them into 8 half square triangles,
(press open)

turn your 1 7/8" squares + diagonally cut 2 1/4" squares
into 4 square in a square blocks
(press to the outsides)

and make 4 flying geese blocks
with your 1 3/4" x 2 3/4" rectangles and the 1 3/4" squares.
(press to outsides)

Trim all units
( FG - 1 1/2"  x  2 1/2", Sq in sq - 2 1/2",  HST - 1 1/2")

I've said it before; I'll say it again. Though ridiculously pricey, bloc loc rulers are the bomb!

then lay out the block

and begin piecing,
top to bottom,
left to right.
again, chain stitching - always chain stitching 😇

Press seams open if your stitching line crosses stitching on both sides,
and to the side (that doesn't have a seam)
when it doesn't.

Lay pieces out again,
and repeat,

and repeat again

A tiny iron is fabulous for this block.
And bonus ~ it doesn't turn itself off!!

and keep repeating,
matching seams where necessary

until all pieces are joined into complete rows.

Then join all rows,
and press all seams open
(I do this one row at a time)
until you have a complete block.
then flip it over,
and press the heck out of it again.

And you've got a gorgeous,
albeit time consuming,
firework star block.
😊

all purpose grain-free low carb wrap / flatbread / tortilla

Now, admittedly,

I tried out more recipes for chocolate chips cookies

than wraps,

before deciding to come up with my own,

but I have tried quite a few wrap / flatbread/ tortilla recipes.

None of them satisfied.

About a year ago,

heady with my cookie success, I guess,

I came up with my own flatbread/ wrap /tortilla recipe,

and then tweaked it

until I was happy.

(the wrap recipe didn't take nearly as many tweaks as the cookie recipe,

I can tell you that!)

You know how, 

at Chuy's,

you just rip up a tortilla and eat it 

- plain -

and moan something about it being food of the gods?

no?

That's just me, then.

Well.

Anyways.

Let me be the first to tell you

do not eat these plain!

There will not be moaning;

there will be face making.

And, if you took a big enough bite,

spitting, perhaps.

They are not tasty plain.

But

- and this is a big but -

they are a wonderful vehicle for all sorts of fillings/toppings.

We use these as tortillas for tacos and fajitas.

as wraps

for all kinds of sandwiches.

And as individual pizza crusts (dry 'em out in the oven first)

This recipe makes five 6(ish) inch wraps.

What I am using them for 

determines the size I make them.

If I'm making, say, sandwich wraps for the whole family,

I'll make a double batch and make 8 larger ones.

Grain Free Low Fat Low Carb Wraps for everything

Throw the following ingredients into a small mixing bowl

1/4 c  LC grain free baking mix*

2 Tbs Psyllium husk powder**

2 tsp oat fiber

1/2 tsp xanthan gum

couple shakes of salt

Give that a quick stir - I usually just use a fork,

then mix in

2 tsp refined (no flavor) coconut oil or olive oil

Then add 

1/2 c hot water

and stir briskly to combine.

Set a large skillet on the stove over medium heat.

(I guess you could use a griddle, too, if it's easily accessible.)

Divide the dough into 5 (or however many you want) equal portions.

Set one of your dough balls on a silicone baking mat

or piece of parchment paper 

(For goodness sake, buy yourself some mats!

They reduce a lot of frustration in low carb baking.

If you can't afford two, at least buy one...)

flatten it slightly

then cover with another silicone mat

(parchment paper works better on top than on the bottom if you just have 1 mat)

and roll out super thin.

(I forgot to take a picture of this. 

I am so not a food blogger!)

Carefully peel off your top silicone mat,

and carry your bottom mat, with the rolled out dough on it,

over to your pan,

peel it off

and lay it neatly in the pan.

As if you needed the absence of a picture to let you know I am not, in fact, a food blogger. bahhaha

Cook  the wrap /flatbread / tortilla about 1 minute, 

then flip it over and cook about a minute more.

Remove from pan and place on a cooling rack

(If you don't have one, a plate would work just fine, I imagine)

While your wrap is cooking, roll out the next one

and so on and so forth.

When cool, store in a plastic bag, or eat up :-)

*if you haven't yet made the baking mix (why not?!)

just use 2 Tbs ground flax, 1 Tbs almond meal or flour, and 1 additional Tbs oat fiber

in place of it

For the Trim Healthy Mamas:

each wrap  only has 2.4 gr of fat and  .7 gr of usable carbohydrates

(based on 5 wraps/recipe)

so  you can eat 2

 (provided you have no additional fat, except in your low fat protein source)

and stay in FP mode.

**Psyllium seed powder also works fine in this recipe,

but your wraps will be considerably darker colored.

This is not a problem, just useful information,

lest you wonder why yours don't look like mine...

I will admit

the kids all prefer a regular tortilla to these.

Quite honestly, I might also.

(although, I am quite pleased with these!)

But if eating a regular grain filled tortilla isn't a good option for you,

these make a mighty fine substitute in my (rather picky) opinion.