Wednesday, January 30, 2013

New Leaf - Bee Block Blog Hop ~ Building Foundations

How super exciting to be asked to help with the new line 'A New Leaf' an organic line by Daisy Janie.


New Leaf fabrics is they are100% GOTS Certified organic fabrics {you can read more about this here}. 

I have to tell you I've instantly fell in love with this line with the colors but ohhh baby it feels like a cloud.  Wait didn't I already gush about this over here?  Why yes I did.

The blogs that were asked to make blocks had a theme to work from ~ New Leaf
These fabrics helped me for sure.  I wanted to have triangles {as I love them} but also blocks that represent how I've been growing.  It takes a lot for me to learn before I think I can get to the next level. 
And the reality is that where you end up is not always where you wanted to get when you started.  And sometimes it's not perfect but it's still and awesome ride on the way there. 

I wanted to share my block I'm calling Building Foundations
This tutorial creates a block
unfinished 12" x 12"
finished 11.5" x 11.5"


Materials:

7 pieces of the lovely New Leaf.  I worked from a fat 8th bundle. These do trim down but as you'll see there is some flexibility in the placement.


Cutting:

Top Flying Geese:
Center:  1 ~ 3.75" x 7" 
Edges: 2 ~  3.75" x 7" {general length}
Middle Flying Geese:
Center:  1 ~ 4.5" x 8.5"
Edges: 2 ~  4.5" x 7" {general length}
Bottom Flying Geese: 

Center:  1 ~ 4.75" x 9" 
Edges: 2 ~  4.75" x 7" {general length}



Construction:

We're making flying geese - with long tails.

The tails point down.  This will give you the length.

I eyeballed the marking of each block as shown below.  

You sew on the line, trim and repeat.


This is where you get to be unique and place these as where ever you choose.  I personally didn't want these to line up straight ~ but it's your choice.

Trim to 12" square and ta-da!




I want to point out to you to the other fantastic people in this blog hop.  Here is a line up of the folks in-case you missed them.

New Leaf Bee Block Blog Hop Schedule
Mon, 1/14 - Becky Moyer, My Fabric Obsession
Tues, 1/15 - Lynn Harris, The Little Red Hen
Wed, 1/16 - Candy Glendening, Candied Fabrics
Thurs, 1/17 - Holly DeGroot, Bijou Lovely
Fri, 1/18 - Melanie Thornton, Melanie Dramatic

Mon, 1/21 - Emily Cier, Carolina Patchworks
Tues, 1/22 - Rachael Gander, Imagine Gnats
Wed, 1/23 - Maureen Cracknell, Maureen Cracknell Handmade
Thurs, 1/24 - Leanne, She Can Quilt
Fri, 1/25 - Cindy Wiens, Live a Colorful Life

Mon 1/28 - Cheryl Arkison, Dining Room Empire
Tues, 1/29 - Jacquie Gering, Tallgrass Prairie Studio
Wed, 1/30 - Shanna Bailey, Fiber of All Sorts {you're here}
Thurs, 1/31 - Jan, Daisy Janie
Oh did you know there is a prize you can win?  It's a puzzle that involves all of us  :)  Go check out Daisy Janie's post here

The FQ Scramble letter is V


Thanks for stopping by and remember the February goal setting party for A Lovely Year of Finishes starts on the first and is open for seven days.  Start to pick your projects.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Baby you've come a long way

When I first started quilting I couldn't get enough of orange.  
It was kind of annoying really.  
It seemed as if every fabric I bought or wanted to buy was orange, orange, orange.  

Well I've embraced change and right now it's yellow - but that's besides the point.

I gleefully signed up for a swap over here on flickr called Crazy Nine Patch Orange-Style


So I went to my orange stash and was pretty much shocked.  I barely have enough large pieces of orange fabric left.  I barely squeezed out these 9 blocks with my orange fabric.  

Crazy nine patch orange-style

I am pretty proud that I've not continued to stash without using up these lovely fabrics.
I'm also happy I had enough for these fun blocks.

If you wanted to join in these blocks are super fast and fun.
The deadline is the end of this month.



Thursday, January 24, 2013

January: A Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Finishes Party

The end of January is in sight.
Seriously?

So, remember that one item you choose as a January finish?
How did you do? 

Here's my January finish ...
Jan finish - well it will be #alovelyyearoffinishes

This is the position it was in for ohhh a week - still on the machine.

Zig Zag Quilt ~ Front

Zig Zag Quilt ~ Back


Yet taking the above photo is what inspired me to finish it up.

Off to the washing machine for you!















Did you complete your goal?

Please link up your finished it project below. 
Oh and grab a button for your blog post!
Or point people to the flickr group if your linking up a photo.

A Lovely Year of Finishes
<a href="http://fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/p/lovely-year-of-finishes.html" title="A Lovely Year of Finishes"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvBE7uofUE15qEda8ii_lCUv9l9ajbjKBxw5xuQHlMIkMtwM_aDuyXvP350NArINiIsI944NN1d1nnvh4WUKQcPN01tr519Pg9cNPbImu-G1P-vihiQu88UZr7jpHTG7HCO5NHNnKSAj4/s400/2013btn600.gif" width="180" height="180" alt="A Lovely Year of Finishes" style="border:none;" /></a>


Melissa and I are excited to host this monthly link with tons of prizes!

To be eligible for January prizes you must have entered into the goal setting party.





**Please note, this is the same linky on both Melissa's blog and here, so no need to enter twice ***



Prizes for January are as follows:

1. $20.00 Gift Certificate from the Quilting Lodge


2. $10.00 Gift Certificate from Contemporary Cloth


3. Choice of $15 or 2 charm packs from Stitch n' Giggles


4. Charm Pack donated by Melissa and Shanna 

4 winners will be chosen by Mr. Random for those that post here and the wrap-up at the end of the month with a completed finish.

Need more information on this year long party? 
Check out the details of 2013 ~ A lovely year of finishes found here or here.

Also our flickr group there are lovely participants and some Q&A on it's own page .

Sunday, January 20, 2013

New Leaf - Bee Block Blog Hop

As a child my mother subjected me to fabric stores.  Oh the many HOURS could she spend in just one store {insert kid & teen eye roll here} The only thing that seemed to make the time go by is that I could feel the fabric.  Ohhh pretty fabric.  

When I go into fabric shops today I still want to run my fingers across all the bolts of fabric to feel them.  If it feels extra nice or out of the ordinary I stop and ponder if really "need" this! I so usually do!   

I was over the moon when Jan from Daisy Janie asked me to participate in a bee block blog hop for her new line, New Leaf.  I've drooled over her fabrics and used her awesome tutorial for a gifty way back in 2010!


When some of the New Leaf  fabrics arrived in my mail box all I could do is DROOL!  This fabric felt like a cloud in the best dream you've ever had.  I'm so happy to have a little of this in my possession.

Let me tell you the colors and the feel of this fabric would make me stop in my tracks and make me debate long and hard how much of each of these fabrics I "need".

So, the beauty is the New Leaf fabrics is they are100% GOTS Certified organic fabrics {you can read more about this here}.  I'm hooked on saving the environment and if I can have fabric that feels like a dream I'll jump on that ship too!

You'll see what block I'm making for this hop at the end of this month.  But do go check out the rest of the participants and the amazing blocks they've created. 

New Leaf Bee Block Blog Hop Schedule
Mon, 1/14 - Becky, My Fabric Obsession
Tues, 1/15 - Lynn, The Little Red Hen
Wed, 1/16 - Candy, Candied Fabrics
Thurs, 1/17 - Holly, Bijou Lovely
Fri, 1/18 - Melanie, Melanie Dramatic

Mon, 1/21 - Emily, Carolina Patchworks
Tues, 1/22 - Rachael, Imagine Gnats
Wed, 1/23 - Maureen Cracknell, Maureen Cracknell Handmade
Thurs, 1/24 - Leanne, She Can Quilt
Fri, 1/25 - Cindy, Live a Colorful Life

Mon 1/28 - Cheryl, Dining Room Empire
Tues, 1/29 - Jacquie, Tallgrass Prairie Studio
Wed, 1/30 - Shanna, Fiber of All Sorts
Thurs, 1/31 - Katy Jones, Monkey Do


See you soon!



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

January mid-month check-in linky party

Can you believe it's mid-month?  I can't!

So we're doing a mid-month check-in for A Lovely Year of Finishes.

This is a reminder to keep working towards your goal :)

Ra-ra!  You can do it!  

Yesterday I spent the day at my local long-arm rental place.

Ohhh long arm!

Ohh pretty!  It's not perfect but it's pretty awesome.

So I'm on my way to finishing this beauty that I have as my January goal - yippee!

As a PSA - only one quilt a day people!  Two is just way too much!

Melissa and I would love to see how you're all doing.
This is an optional linky but it's super fun to share where we are!  Oh and remember to go check out the flickr group there are super fun things and TON of photos there too.  






And remember to visit some of these lovely people and grab a button for your blog posts.

A Lovely Year of Finishes
<a href="http://fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/p/lovely-year-of-finishes.html" title="A Lovely Year of Finishes"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvBE7uofUE15qEda8ii_lCUv9l9ajbjKBxw5xuQHlMIkMtwM_aDuyXvP350NArINiIsI944NN1d1nnvh4WUKQcPN01tr519Pg9cNPbImu-G1P-vihiQu88UZr7jpHTG7HCO5NHNnKSAj4/s400/2013btn600.gif" width="180" height="180" alt="A Lovely Year of Finishes" style="border:none;" /></a>


You people are amazing!




Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Come join me in a new QAL with Persimon Dreams

I'm in totally awe of how many lovely people are joining in 'A Lovely Year of Finishes'

Not only is there a great amount of January folks but I have to tell you we have a fantastic list of prizes throughout the year! And Melissa and I are add more sponsors as fast as we can!

I'm planning on tackling my January project with a long-arm machine this next Monday.
I'll keep you posted on how that goes! I'll take photos!

~~~
So many fantastic projects are starting or are underway

One that I want to remind you of is 'My Favorite Block Quilt Along' over at Persimon Dreams.

Photobucket

Kim has posted out the fabric choosing methods

Make a note this QAL starts in full swing on January 15. 

You'll see a little tutorial from me on February 28th. Whoop whoop! It's going to involve some triangles or HST's!  Surprise surprise! I'm stitching up a few mock-ups by this weekend!

Once I choose my own fabric choices I'll be posting them in the flickr group found here.

Can't wait for this project to start.




Sunday, January 6, 2013

2012 ~ A Year in Review

For some reason I've been hemming and hawing about looking back to 2012.  I did my 2 year blog birthday back in October and it totally energized my outlook of my little corner of cyber crafting space. So, let's see if it happens again.


What was 2012 in my craft room?

I completed 13 projects.
Hey that isn't bad!  Some were smaller projects and a few larger ones.
I didn't even include the quilt tops as that would just be cheating!  :)  Oh and I haven't taken photos of them all.

2012 Finishes


Like 2011 - I got a few bee blocks out the door.  Not as many as I have been sooo good and haven't signed up for any more "bee's"  although I'm doing some private swaps! Those are a totally different animal, right {just nod and say yes}

2012 Bee Blocks {1}

2012 Bee Blocks {2}

2012 Bee Blocks {3}

If you click on these photos it will whisk you to flickr where you can see more information on any of these.

Around 80 different bee blocks walked out of my house this past year. 
Sweet!

~~~

A Lovely Year of FinishesIt really was a good year.  And I can't wait to finish a few projects this year for 'A Lovely Year of Finishes' that Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are co-hosting.

We have a few sponsors, but if anyone wants to throw us a suggestion just email me.

This month's initial link-up is still open til the 7th.  Remember you must link up twice in the same month with the finished it with a completed project, to be entered into the prizes. 



Here's to a great 2013! And all it brings!


 

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

January: A Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Goal Setting Party

2013 is here!
January is here!  

Check out the details of 2013 ~ A lovely year of finishes found here or here.

Also our flickr group there are lovely participants and some Q&A on it's own page .

~~~

As this lovely year starts I'm going to go ambitious and finish a quilt that I already have the top done, back ordered, and the binding is sitting here waiting for a quilted beauty. Crazy I know.
{You have no idea how many of these I have sitting in my sewing room *cough* 6}

Here's a photo of my unfinished beauty and I have all it's parts.  Eeeep!

Zig Zag - Layer Cake

I actually have the binding sitting and waiting.

~~~~

So what are you going to finish in January?

Remember you should only choose one item.  You for sure have more going on but pick one that you'll finish. 

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) here.

Oh and grab a button for your blog post!

A Lovely Year of Finishes
<a href="http://fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/p/lovely-year-of-finishes.html" title="A Lovely Year of Finishes"> <img src="http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/image004.gif" width="180" height="180" alt="A Lovely Year of Finishes" style="border:none;" /></a>




**Please note, this is the same linky on both Melissa's blog and here, so no need to enter twice ***


Melissa and I are excited to host a monthly link with tons of prizes!

Prizes for this month are as follows:

1. $20.00 Gift Certificate from the Quilting Lodge


2. $10.00 Gift Certificate from Contemporary Cloth


3. Choice of $15 or 2 charm packs from Stitch n' Giggles


4. Charm Pack donated by Shanna and Melissa

4 winners will be chosen by Mr. Random for those that post here and the wrap-up at the end of the month with a completed finish.