Ponder with me, if you will, the traditional Birds in the Air quilt block. Think about how you'd piece this. First, you'd make a half square triangle, right? And then you'd sew two smaller triangles to each side being very careful about those bias edges. Finally, you'd sew a larger triangle to the opposite side.

And then you'd reevaluate your life choices as you realize that your pattern will require a BUNCH of these little birds in the air. But... what if I told you I found a way to make them FOUR AT A TIME!!!!

Seriously, I can't tell you how excited we all were at Quilted Joy to figure this out. It saves so much time and gives a beautiful traditional block new wings!

Because we could make them four at a time, I used them in the border of my new Songbird Stars quilt! Don't you love how it frames out the center blocks?

And, speaking of those center blocks... those are ALSO made from four at a time Birds in the Air units but these are made much bigger and in a different color way. They are the momma birds! I crowned each out with half square triangles and a plain square.

The result is that the ENTIRE center of this quilt is made from one block- it is just rotated differently to give the look of the two different starts. Isn't that FABULOUS? Can you tell I'm in love with this quilt?

I couldn't wait to show my Songbird Stars quilt and birds in the air blocks to Sara on the Love of Quilting set. It is so fun to surprise her with a technique she isn't expecting. :)

Keep your eye out for our the latest Love of Quilting episodes and the Songbird Stars quilt on your local PBS station. If you don't get it on your PBS station, you can buy an online subscription to the series here.