August ends and school begins

Well it's been a weird weather summer around here.  I haven't been driven inside crying because of the super hot days.  I've enjoyed a house with just my fella and I while his daughter goes and spends some much needed time with her mother. But all things change.  And here it is again.

We're preparing for school, dealing with purple hair (sigh), and adjusting to the old routine.  {Yes you must go to bed!}

Besides prepping for my month as queen bee in September.

I even got to sew a bit for myself with this block. . whoop.  This quilt will one day be a reality.--->

I've been sewing for my other bee-mates.  How super fun is this!  I totally made a dent in my commitments before August even started (previous post found here).

Here's the rest of my August bee blocks. Although many of them are considered late- sigh.


Threadheads

Jennifer that blogs over at Ellison Lane Quilts sent us the cutest package ever.  Not only did it have lovely fabric in it.. it was cut up and SO easy to put together!  The longest part was ironing the seams open as I usually press to one side.  {So go me!  I read the intructions before it was too late}

If you are interested in these block dearest Jennifer is having a quilt along for a whole quilt with these. . the results are a rocking!



Twice as Nice

Our lovely Queen bee in this group wanted blocks made from Joel Dewberry fabrics. . YUM!  She wanted to have us pick our blocks ahead of time. . this was an interesting concept. 






It actually took me awhile to motivate myself for these blocks although I chose them. :)  But here they are all shiny and pretty. 

The hexi block is a change of plans as I couldn't bring myself to do more flying geese. . and it doesn't help that I lost the pattern.  Le'sigh! 



{Modern 12}

Lindsey joined this group late with me.  She was so super busy last month that we extended the group one more month.  She asked for Liberated Cross Blocks.  Wow. . these were fun!











{Sew Bee It}

Sarah sent a yummy package of Joel Dewberry fabrics - love them!  This is a colorway I usually don't play with .  I've had SO much fun planning these for her.  ♥ I hope you love these as much as I do!

This block is called Girl's Favorite.  YUM!

This is the one block I've made.  Sarah know's I'm good even if I'm late.   I'll try to whip something else up before I post this after the holiday.  

 

WIP Wednesday 7.13.11

What a good sewing week.
Twitter, rocking out, and sewing.  Oh the girls life!

Finished:

A few bee blocks

The past June blocks that I blogged about here

I also added this cute Snail Trail block because I was so late in getting my blocks out to my {Modern 12} bee-mate.

Sew Modern Quilt Bee

Monday was a busy day as I also had to finish up a flower for a few bee blocks.  There were some awesome fabric flowers but I decided I wanted to knit something up for Issabella the Cat.

Here's the flower I whipped up {took me much longer than I anticipated}



I even started in on my *July* Bee Blocks for the Sew Modern Bee Queen Bee - mad for dyes

I haven't been able to work on a garden fence before.  These fabrics were cut out so perfectly it was a dream!

Can you see my goof on the block to the right?  I didn't until seeing in the photo.  The small pieces don't match up.  Ugh!  But the queen bee said not to worry about it! So I won't. :) 

I also finished up the sewing of  2 mug rugs I have started {no photos please - they are supposed to be suprise} What to do for the stitching. . ohhh dear!

New Projects:

None. . really!

Works in Progress (WIP):

Because it's offically Stashtacular!


~it's time to get the July bee blocks done but also tackle some that's on my list show here (sigh)

- Knitted sweater for 18 month old

I'm on the arms - finally.
Slowly I'm telling ya! Didn't help that I forgot this at my parents when I went to go visit them a few weekends back.

Things I would love to be working on but are on hold:

-Postage Stamp

-Mug Rug for Swap

- Quilty Gift for GF

- Arcadia quilt
- Sliced Coins Quilt
- Choose and cut fabrics for Dresden quilt
- Finish top for quilt for nephew

- Summer top for me

- PJ pants for fella

- Summer dress for friends little girl
- Pick fabrics and blocks for on-line quilt bee's - the other ones I'm in
- Birdie Sling bag
- "baby" quilt  
-Skill Builder Blocks
-Embrodery 101 blocks (these are on the cutting table. . does that count?)

I'm adding this post to be part of

I'm excited to join Lee at Freshly Pieced this week.  Go check her and many other great folks.

No really it's June

Last month was full of traveling and I got behind in a few of my bee blocks.

Some of these were giving me a hard time.

I did prevail! And finished all my June lingering blocks up today!  

Whoop!

{Modern 12} 

Our lovely LemondropDezign wanted a traditional block

a snails trail 

Easy. . right.   WRONG!  I was getting myself in a tizzy over the different sized squares you cut.

I first came up with this block. 

It's around 12" unfinished 

Yet the instructions are for a 12.5" block.  Sigh!





My second attempt was much better.  This one is 12.5" square but just barely.  If I have time tomorrow I'll whip out another one and see how that goes.

This makes me wonder how faithful of a Farmers Wife I would be.

I need to think about this more - although I did buy the book the other week.





Aqua and Red Bee

Another block that I tried too hard at first was this awesome kaleidoscope quilt block.

This was seriously a lot of fun

I had to get over the fact you have to use larger pieces.  I had about 5 pieces in a ROW that I cut too small or almost fit and I had to rip out.  I put this block down many days in a row.  But look at how it came out. . I'm so happy!
I hope FQNB that is too.  Despite my tardiness.



Sew Modern Quilt Bee

Oh yeah and then I finished up some wonky quarter log cabin blocks
These were fun to work on for the wonderful Issabella the Cat
{if you haven't seen her blog yet  . . . go seriously some amazing work!}

So these two blocks finished up to be 15.5" blocks.  Seriously I never knew they would be so larger.

For being a scientist, I just laugh at myself.  Distance, measurements, and conversions are not my strong points.




I particularly like this blue block.  YUM!

I don't have any of these fabric lines.  I've got to play with them twice now.  I'm happy I get to see how they go together.




So now that June is officially over for me, I can get to the piles of July fabrics hanging on my design walls.  No photo of this. . it's embarrassing how many projects for others and myself I got going on.

Stashtacular! starts on  Monday and not a moment too soon.  Go check out the details (lots o' giveaways involved!)

May's nearing an end

Phew . . . I made it! 

May's coming to an end 

and

I finished all of my May bee blocks!

So, here we go ~

{Modern 12} Bee

gock's frocks asked for 

an awesome wonky string block.

She's put a tutorial up for anyone that's interested.

I didn't want to chance the red being perfectly matched so instead I made two centers for her.

I did add my own red as a backdrop to show the idea she has in store for these blocks. 

Threadheads 

JennyGoLightly asked for  

Oh Fransson Mod Mosaic block

I had a bit of trouble with this one.  I adore the smaller pieces in blocks and wanted to use this with the wonk.  I ran out of sashing.  No worries, she'll put these two pieces that I'm sending to make up one block.

Aqua & Orange Bee

breathe and sew asked for

whatever we want with the fabrics she sent.  Oh gads this one was hard.  Not only was this hard but I'm in two bee's with breathe and sew.  She did this for each group.  

What a grand idea.  Here's what I came up with. 

I based this on Lily's Quilts block 

and 

I also had to roll with it to actually make it big enough (only 10") since my HST's were SMALL!

Aqua and Red Block Bee

This is a great group.  It's a 6-month group with 12 gals.  

It's two blocks a month but we'll be done so much faster.  So, I like it a lot.  

First gal is breathe and sew 

She asked for whatever we wanted. . yep same gal as above.  Since I had SO many small HST's left I decided to make a few pinwheel's  I {heart} Why not Sew's tutorial and then filled the space with the fabric I had left.  

Crazy I know.

The second gal is whynotsew?  

So not only did I use her tutorial for a block from someone else, I get to sew for HER!

She asked for

a  wonky star block.  I learned from this tutorial a few months ago

I adore these colors!

Sew Modern Quilt Bee

FairlyMerry asked for

two confetti blocks.  

These blocks my mother {I think} would love.  These were fun to make.  

I even have a few scraps to send back with these blocks

GO ME

Twice as Nice

Kreated by Kari supplied us with enough fabric to make a Spiderweb block.  I mainly followed 

{House} of a la Mode's tutorial

I love the colors Kreated by Kari and it will make a great fall quilt.  

 I learned that I'm not a fan of the Spiderweb blocks. I don't really know what about them isn't fun.  Well at least I know now!  :) So, I'll glad it make it for other's but not myself.

There's the low down on May.  I'm so glad that I actually finished my blocks before the end of the month, but as well as before my next business trip.  Which I have no craft ideas to bring with me - yet!

Sunday Stash Report- Week 17 of 2011

This is the real week 17.  Apparently the counting got off somewhere.  It's May 1 and it really is the 17th week of the year.  How time flies.

You know what I did this this. . I didn't buy any fabric! GOLD STAR FOR ME!

 

I must admit, I did try.  I'm now enlisting my poor sister to go to JoAnn's in her state to find me more DS Quilts fabric.  My stupid stores, within a 2.5 hour radius of my house (aka local) don't carry more than the same 5 prints of this line.

So, I didn't add anything to my stash. I didn't sew anything from my stash. I did finish out my month for the few on-line flickr bee's I'm participating in.  Here's a run down of April

{Modern 12} - Yummy Kitchen Window blocks. This is from Elizabeth Hartman's inspiration, she blogs over at Oh, Fransson!  It's been fun to see the variations of this theme.  This is my block I made for the April queen bee.





Threadheads - Lindsey introduced me to a Dresden Plate. There were a few issues within the group talking about traditional and modern blocks. 

All in all, the Dresden Plate will always have a special place in my heart.  I think Lindsey is an amazing woman who I can learn from of how to handle a bad situation and make it something wonderful.

Look at these amazing colors.  The center block didn't fit on mine, but Lindsey said she'll fix that when it arrives at her house.  LOVE these blocks!

Okay not only do I love these blocks but my 11-year old step-daughter loves them too.  And while we've been out doing things or visiting folks, she's the one that points out these are all around us.  I'm impressed my own passion is something she is enjoying participating in, even in small ways. 



We used the Dresden Plates tutorial's on Sew Mama Sew. AND Lindsey also added some helpful information, some extra steps that Elizabeth didn't picture, on her own website through this mini-tutorial

Aqua &Orange Bee- wonky log cabins from Quilt Dad. I already blogged about these here (last month-hee hee).  Yeah for fun colors!

 Twice as Nice - We made ticker tape blocks.  We mostly used the tutorial created by Crazy Mom Quilts for Sew Mama Sew.  The colors we were sent made these blocks a lot of fun. 

The sewing of each piece of fabric did take some time but nothing that I couldn't accomplish for two blocks in one month.  I'm not sure if I could accomplish this on my own project without it sitting around forever. And I got these done before April finished! 





That's all for this month.  I did sign-up for two more bee's. I'm just crazy! Next month will be more blocks but since I already have some of the fabrics, it should be a nice paced for such a great time of year. I'm so happy to be using new growing talent to participate in a community of amazing women. 

On with the stash report. . .

Sunday Stash Report- Week 17 of 2011

FABRIC

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 7.3 yards
Added this Week:   0 yards
Added Year to Date: 170.8 yards
Net Used Added in 2011:  -163.5 yards (Negative = added to my stash)


YARN

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 867 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 655 yards
Net Used for 2011: 212 yards (Positive = used/sold from my stash. . YEAH)

Click on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing.

March {Modern 12}

How lucky am I to be part of a few on-line bee's.  I now get mail all the time, the best part it isn't all bills.

For March in my {Modern 12}group, Jeni from In Color Order is the Queen Bee for the Month.

Since I was the Queen Bee last month I'm excited to sew for others for this group.


Jeni choose square in square patchwork blocks using Christina's tutorial!

Here is what I came up with.

Thanks for the grand inspiration.  I adore these colors together.

For what others will come up with check out our flicker group {Modern 12} 

Lisa 9 patch block - quick tutorial

Lisa 9 patch Block 

Based on a block I found from imalisawork on flicker.  

Ingredients: 

Solid for corner blocks and sashing

9 printed fabrics

Step 1 - cutting

From 1 printed fabric, cut 1 squares measuring 2.5" - this will be the center square
From 2 printed fabrics, cut 2 squares measuring 2.5", each.

From 2 printed fabrics, cut 1 rectangle measuring 2.5" x 5", each.

From 4 printed fabrics, cut 1 rectangle measuring 2.5" x 5" and 1 square measuring 2.5", each.

 *Since I'm visual I usually cut 1 rectangle and 1 square from each fabric and just add that to my scraps for another project.

Step 2 - sashing cutting

From solid fabric, this will be the corner squares and the sashing. Cut the following:

4 squares measuring 2.5" - corners

4 rectangles measuring 1.5" x 2.5" - small sashing

2  rectangle pieces measuring 1.5" x 6.5" - medium sashing

2 rectangle pieces measuring 1.5" x 12.5" - long sashing

Step 3 - lay out

Use a 1/4" seam for all sewing throughout this block.

Just lay out what you've done and how you want to arrange these beauties. This is where the extra pieces come in handy.








Step 4 - Sewing

You'll be sewing a 9 patch at this point in time. Just make sure that you use the 4 printed fabrics with the extra 2.5" squares on the "outside" of the top and bottom rows.

*To the right is an experimental photo where I used  9 rectangles but I found the side piece didn't "save any time".  I therefore would eliminate this step as included in these instructions.*

Step 5 - slashing

Taking your extended 9 patch, measuring 2.5" from the outside raw edge of the rectangles.

I should have a clean 9 patch and 2 three colored blocks.

*You can use 2.5" squares for this instead of slashing but you will have to pay attention to make sure that the fabrics match up properly. *

Step 6 - sashing

Between the the cuts you just made,  sew the the medium sashing.  

Step 7 - side column construction 

On each of the side columns you'll use, from the top, solid 2.5" square, 2.5" x 1.5" short sashing, corresponding 9-patch color to match center, 2.5" x 1.5" shortest sashing, solid 2.5" square.  This should result in 3 pieces as shown in the picture below:

Step 8 - sashing

Sew column A and C to large sashing. Then add these to column B (with the 9 patch).

Should look like this

Your unfinished block should measure 12.5" square.

*Many thanks to my {Modern 12} bee group for weathering through this first attempt of a tutorial

January {Modern 12} Bee Block

Such a busy year so far.  I'm bursting with excitement. 

I've been asked to join the {Modern 12} Bee group.  Using fabrics from our own stash in the block the queen bee chooses.

While I feel very intimidated if this meets the proper specifications here is my January block. She choose a pattern from 'The Sometimes Crafter' blog called Stacked Quilt block.

Yeah for new beginnings! Here be sure to see the Flicker Group for all the blocks from the {Modern 12} bee group.