Showing posts with label First Time Bee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label First Time Bee. Show all posts

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Building Blocks

This weekend I managed to finish up a few things that were on the "to do" list.  First, I made this block for Kat, who is this month's queen in the Sew and Bee Happy.  She is doing a reverse rainbow quilt and asked everyone to do a different color block.  I had aqua/teal, and I thought this color scheme would be easy given that I just finished up my Teal We Meet Again quilt.  I was right, but not in the way I imagined.  Most of the scraps in my scrap basket were too small, so I ended up raiding the stash and cutting 4" squares.  I really was surprised at how much aqua and teal fabric I had - I think I could have made 2 blocks and never repeated a fabric.  This was a simple wonky star block with a fun twist, and I enjoyed making it.

I have now received all of my blocks for the 3x6 bee, which I started before the Teal We Meet Again block swap.  I've been thinking that 2 teal and red quilts might be too much, so for this round I tweaked my block request by adding yellow.

I really like the aqua and yellow combination.  I hope it will look great with the aqua and red and brighten up the quilt a little.



And finally, January was my month in the Fall Bee and I asked that everyone help me with my GMFG quilt I started in the First Time Bee.  I think I have figured out that I need 80 hexi flowers to make this quilt, and so far, I think I have 20, so I need all the help I can get.  This is the perfect project for a virtual bee, because I really want a scrappy quilt, and so the more folks who contribute from their stash, the better.  Hexis are so fun to make while you are watching TV or just need a few minutes to relax.  It's also a very portable project, so you can take it with  you if you have a few minutes.  Wish I had known about hexis when I was spending endless hours sitting in karate studios and waiting for piano lessons to finish.  Oh well.



Anyway, I received my first 3 blocks from my bee friends and I finished 3, so I'm making progress.  I finished another during the Super Bowl this evening and  have 3 more started, with 10 more expected from my bee friends, so I'm closing on 35.  I am participating in 2 more bees this year, so if I decided to do GMFG blocks, maybe I'll collect enough by the end of the year to make my quilt.  I'm really excited about these blocks.  Aren't they fun?  I'm actually getting enough blocks that I'm beginning to wonder what color to use for the filler rows.  Suggestions gladly accepted - the only colors I don't want to use are white, black and gray.  I'm actually thinking about yellow, maybe a cute yellow polka dot.  Would that be too busy?

Meanwhile, it's back to work tomorrow, so I'd best run along.  Have a great week.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Block Party Saturday

First Time Bee Blocks for Saricx





It's been another Block Party Saturday, and I'm trying to finish all my bee sewing before next weekend when the wedding invitations are in.  There won't be much more sewing after that for awhile, I think. 

This is the last month for the First Time Bee, and I'm really going to miss it.  It has been such a fun bee to participate in.  Everyone has chosen something different, and each one has tested both my skills and my creativity.  I've learned a ton in this bee.  The ladies in this bee have been wonderful.  Every single one has followed through every month.  I understand that this isn't always the case, so I am very appreciative.  And the creativity these ladies exhibit is just awesome!


This is actually a copy of the inspiration block, but Sarah said she would particularly like a hexi block similar to this.  I hope she likes it.  It was a pretty fun block to make, but I had to really talk to myself to convince myself to cut the hexis so that I could attach the borders.  It was like chopping into an old friend.



Here is the other block I made.  I've been wanting to try something like this for awhile, so I experimented on this block.  I kind of like it.  It was a very simple block.  I pieced strips of different widths in rows, cut it apart, and put it back together.  I kind of like the effect.  Kind of reminds me of mountains and valleys on a sunshiny day.

CF Bee block for Corley
Corley wanted improv fussy-cut blocks, and sent the fussy cuts already done.  I wasn't feeling very angular, so I just randomly sewed the pieces together.  I had a vague plan in mind,, and it turned out pretty much like I thought it would.  This was a fun block to do.  It's huge, too, at 16-1/2 inches.  Wow!

CF Bee Block for Marci
This is the final block I made.  I really love this star block.It's going to make a gorgeous quilt.  I had a little trouble following the directions.  It said something like add 1/4 inch for seam allowance, and I couldn't quite figure out how that was supposed to work, but after I got the block together the first time, I did figure out that it wasn't working, so I had to take it apart and re-do it.  It actually turned out a bit small, so I hope she can still use it.

So, I'm all caught up for now.  The CF Bee has one more month to run, I think, and then it's over too. Making bee blocks is just so relaxing, I think I'm going to have to find a new bee or two to participate in starting this fall. 

Happy sewing!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Weekend Progress




Here are my finishes for this weekend.  Hard to believe it's all I have to show for a whole weekend's work...  Well, I did finish 8 placemat tops, but they're not quilted yet and I can't take pics until my partner receives them.  So here goes...

Black and White "Pop" Block for misscarolann53

Black and White "pop" block for misscarolann53

CF Bee block for Julie@DistantPickles

Mug Rug Swap Adventure 2 for my partner

Friday, June 17, 2011

So Far Behind... Big Sewing Weekend Planned

This is the PTS4 pillow I received from Lexiloo in January
Don't forget about my Little Apples giveaway  which ends Saturday at midnight Central time. 

Since BD#1 introduced me to Flickr and swapping last fall, I've been having a great time.  I have had fun making projects for others, and received some awesome things in return.  I have tried things I might never have tried if it hadn't been for the creative challenge of the swap.  My own creativity has been stimulated as I observed what others have done.  It has been a blast.

But, as with so many things in my life, if a little is good, a lot is better.  When I was a kid, my mom would say that my eyes were bigger than my stomach.  I think maybe it's the same principle.

And I didn't expect the distraction of a wedding...  or a second trip to Salt Lake City in less than a month...

And so now I am way behind, and deadlines are looming.

The good news is that I have this weekend to sew, and I am determined to get these projects done on time (the placemat swap is due June 23, but everything else is due July 1). 

Here is my list for the weekend:

1.  Placemat Quilt Swap 6.  This one is new to me and it sounded like so much fun!  My partner keeps sending me teasing emails and even posted a black and white picture of her project, complete with polka dots and stripes, and it has points, similar to a Dresden.  Such a tease!  And I know what I'm going to do - finally - so it's just a matter of sitting down to do it.  Let's just say that I'm thinking "summer"...

2.  Pillow Talk Swap 5.  I loved PTS4, although that was my first "real" swap.  I really struggled with it, and I don't think I would do that project again if I had it to do over, but it was a real learning experience.  I received not one but TWO great pillows from my partner.  Here's the second one...

This is the other pillow I received in PTS4 from my partner, Lexiloo.
3.  Mug Rug Swap Adventure 2.  This is another swap that is new to me, but it sounded like so much fun.  One of my partners from a prior swap is the swap mama.  Mug rugs are amazingly hard for me.  They are so small and look so easy, but their size is deceptive.  But I have an idea for this one too, and just have to execute it in fabric.  For this one, I'm thinking "beach"....

4.  Spicing Up the Kitchen.  I did the first round of this swap and it was a blast. My partner gave some pretty good hints, so I know exactly what I want to do for this one, but my idea seems a little bit challenging, and will require WH's help.  I've been admiring the embroidery hoop clocks - in fact, BD#1 actually received one in a swap and I wanted to swipe it, but restrained myself.  Anyway, I found an awesome tutorial online, and can't wait to try it.  I really struggled with this one last time too, but I'm hoping this time it will go smoothly.

5.  Santa Sack Swap.  This one is not a Flickr swap, but it sounded like so much fun.  You make a large Santa Sack, and two items and send to your partner on July 1st.  Then, 2 items a month until December.  On Christmas Day, your partner gets to open her sack with all her gifts in it.  This one isn't a secret swap, so I'll have to be discrete with the photos and hints.  My partner is Pauline from the UK.  She has already sent me her 1st package, so I really feel like a slacker.

6.  Christmas Fabric Bee.  June was my month for the CF Bee, and I mailed my fabric {almost} on time (it went out June 1st), so that's one I can wait a little bit on.  {The blocks the ladies are making and posting on Flickr are AWESOME!!!  I'm so excited about this quilt.  It is going to be way fun!}  The other QB for June is Julie, and she chose a "village" of trees and houses.  My assignment is a tree block, so that shouldn't be too hard, although she wanted pieced blocks, not appliqued, so that takes a little more thinking maybe.

7.  First Time Bee.  Carol has asked  us to do a black and white block with a pop of color.  I have ideas of what I will do for my two blocks, so it's just a matter of actually doing it.

So, I think that's it.  Over committed?  Undoubtedly.  Insurmountable?  No, I don't think so.

I will say that I have scaled way back for the rest of the summer.  I have a wedding to help organize and a wedding dress to alter, after all.  The good news is that it's too hot to be distracted by ANYTHING that has to do with outside. { It IS Father's Day weekend, and WH probably deserves a bit of attention.  I told him I'd take him to a movie.  And we'll probably do dinner or something easy.}

And I just couldn't resist another round of the Make Mine Modern swap - it was SO much fun last time, but I don't even have my partner for that one yet, so I've got awhile. 

Anyway wish me luck - and a productive weekend.

Happy sewing!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Block Party Saturday


Mondo Bird pair for Laine in First Time Bee.

With all the craziness going on at my house lately - graduation, Quilt Market, work and DD#2 getting engaged, I've fallen behind on my swaps and bees, so I spent yesterday catching up. 

Taking the most tardy first, I completed the Mondo birds for justplainlaine in the First Time Bee.  I tried them a couple of weeks ago, and messed them up, so I was a little bit intimidated going back to them, but I was pleased with the results.

Mondo Mom

Mondo Baby

Then I worked on the blocks for the 3x6 Bee.  I had a terrible time with these because my pattern was for a 12 -inch block and I was supposed to make 12.5 inch blocks, and somehow I didn't ever seem to get the math right.  To top it off, I broke my quilting foot just before quilt market and haven't been able to find a replacement locally.  Guess I'll have to hunt the Net.  In any event, here are the blocks I made...  Can you believe 6 blocks took me all day? 

For Sabi - green and cranberry with pink and orange

For Darcy - autumn theme

For Dorrie - blue, aqua, green

For Dustin - beige, burgundy and dark brown

For Kathleen - greens and burgundies (totally missed the sunset comment though, sorry)

For Micci - blue
I have also received 5 of my 6 blocks for the 3x6 Bee.  It has been fun to get little packages in the mail the last couple of weeks!

From Sabi

From Darcy

From Dustin

From Kathleen

From Micci

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Block Party Saturday





All this travel has gotten me behind on some swaps and projects.  I've really got to get with it.  Today, I decided that I could at least get caught up on Bee blocks.  I expected it to take a couple of hours.  Well, I did get some blocks done, but it seemed to take a lot longer than I thought it should.



Carrie wanted picture blocks.  I don't know why, but I always seem to have a little trouble visualizing how the angles should go.  I made a big mistake and cut some fabric wrong, which made the second block (above) a real challenge.  Finally got both these blocks completed.


The bento block was for Kristina.  She had all the pieces cut and so this one was really easy.  A little trimming and it was all done.


I still have a couple of blocks to make for the First Time Bee.  This bee has been a challenge.  Everyone has chosen something different, and it has really stretched my skills.

 Mary gave us a photo and had us design our own blocks based on the photo.



 
 
I chose Grandmother's Flower Garden, and so we all got to work on hexagons, which turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be. 








Kari chose tree blocks.  I did a couple of different kinds of applique.  Those blocks were really fun.










This month, we are doing Mondo birds.  I haven't ever done them before but there's a great tutorial here. I hope to get those done tomorrow.

And, before the end of the month, I need to finish the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap and the Stitch Duchess Pin Cushion Swap.  I know what I want to do, but I just can't manage to sit down to do it.  It's hard to sew when you're not home.  And I was hoping to get the MIAGIA quilts quilted and bound before Monday.  Hmmm... 

And on a more mundane note, my girls have sent me all their jeans that need mending.  I read somewhere that asking a quilter to mend was like asking Michaelangelo to paint the bathroom.  LOL.  Guess there's always plenty to do.