Pardon me while I do a jig

Why yes, I do have a spring in my step today.  Oh that's right I got me some Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy also known as FMF!

Everyone (tweeps, co-workers, and my family) have been hearing about FMF.  How I SO need this fabric line. Oh yes, I even blogged about it back here.

I finally calmed down a bit when Julie over at The Intrepid Thread took a pre-order. Julie has the best service I've found on-line!

Oh you wanted to see?  Ohhhh Okay! 

Last week LQS just got some FMF in.  I was standing there begging them to inventory the gray seeds while I was standing there!  I held back and only bought a little and I'm sure I'll go back for more!

This was me holding back because I have a yard bundle {plus some} AT MY DOOR STEP TODAY!

I'm not the only one out there drooling over FMF there is a whole flickr group that is going gag gag over this original and reprint! Oh how I love the quilting network I've tapped into.  ♥
 

I'll be adding a little of my new pretties out with my 33 bee packages I'm sending out this next week.  {crazy}

March Bee Blocks . . Part 1

March has started as such a funny month really cold and lovely spring weather with in the same week.

For me throw in traveling, for work, and the daylight savings time change and you have a frazzled woman.

  I'm pretty sure it's calming down as I had a moment of sewing frenzy.  Oh the sewing machine was a going. 

Here's a few photos of what I've gotten accomplished.

Threadheads

This Bee is officially over now.  I'm amazed at how quickly an entire year can fly by. 

Here are my two "tree" blocks. 

These came out just as I planned.  Funky to say the least.

Aqua and Red

Two lovely queen-bee's asked for some awesome blocks.

OneyGirl , she blogs over at Leona's Quilting Adventure, asked for a lovely Reverse Rainbow Starburst block, the tutorial found over here at Diary of a Flutter.Kat

And littlemamaD, she blogs over at Little Ms. Sew-Unsew 

*** Go check her out if you are a Dr. Who FAN***

She asked for a spiderweb block and had the center pre-glued.  The tutorial that we used can be found here.

Aqua and Orange

Our lovely queen bee in this group, tracey pnw, asked for Converging Corner a new tutorial from Film in the Fridge.

These are so awesome. 

Plan on seeing more of these as I'm gonna have some bee-mates make these for ME.

Orange you Glad

The Hive B Queen Bee, MargaretW319, she blogs over at A day in the World Around Me.

She sent some lovely batik's that I couldn't capture well with my camera.  This is what she requested. 
A tutorial can be found on her blog here.

Quilting for Kids

So Sarah Sews is hosting another quilting for kids quilt. 
Here are the two asterisk blocks I signed up for.   

 

I had to "put a bird on it" with the designated color choices. 

 

Meh - they aren't perfect but I leaned a ton with them.  I hope the recipient loves it.

~~~

There are a few more bee blocks I haven't had time to get to . .but I shall.

Hope everyone is grand!

Mute Mouse

I've lost something but not sure where to find it again.

I realize I've been mute and haven't even answered comments from some of you lovely people from my last few blog posts.  I'm sure I'll be back again with joy - but not sure when.

I have been enjoying the moments I get to sew!

I've finished all but one of my February commitments - whoo hooo!

I haven't taken photos of them all but here are the last few that I haven't blogged about.

Aqua and Orange

The lovely Queen Bee heidigoneaussie (she blogs here) provided the greatest scraps. 

 

I wanted to keep these for myself. . but I made these instead.

I even sent them to her. . pfft.

I had to include this cute mer-girl in here.  There wasn't a ton I could do with the cut of fabric so I improvised.

Aqua and Red Bee

The second lovely Queen Bee, guiltyquilter,  asked for a flying geese.  I made her a block in the first round of this bee back in August blogged about here. 

 

This time round I used starch and these points are sharp baby sharp.

~~~

Hope everyone is grand.  Rest assured I'll be back, but it may take me a bit to get out of my funk.  Keep up with what I'm doing over at my flickr account. Or find a group of us that talk over on twitter.

Story of my first pin cushion

Do ya ever have something that just moves you to almost tears?  Well I get a bit of that with my interactions I have through my on-line bee's, reading the many crafty bloggers, and my tweeps.

I'm in an interesting bee run by Staci (she blogs over here) She runs a tight ship and is helpful when something goes awry.  She's like the many mother's I've adopted over the years!

The Orange you Glad bee is 2 hives of talented and very talkative ladies. Many of them, I believe, are older and many of them are religious.  I find that I don't mix in a lot of their conversations - although it's entertaining to watch.  While I feel a bit different it doesn't mean that I don't feel welcome.

I had 10 of these lovely ladies make me blocks back in November.  I've yet to make this into a top but here's a blah photo of their creativity with my fabrics. This night photo does not give any justice to these amazing blocks! 

One of these lovely ladies, grendelskin (she blogs over here) sent me two amazing blocks, a note, and a start of a block. I was totally confused when I opened this package but when I read the note I was taken aback. She included a small (around 4" square) block with amazing stitching with a small burn in the middle.

She had an iron malfunction at the start of this block.  Totally happens. I'm happy she didn't rip this all out and start again. I personally would have cried, complained to my fella, and thrown out this mistake. No word to the Queen Bee. . . I mean it wasn't a ton of fabric.  I expect some mistakes to happen and I hope that I provide enough fabric to compensate. 

I think that's why grendelskin sending me this block has just stuck with me.  I adore this little block!

I love it so much I made myself a pin cushion from it! 
I couldn't get the burn from the center and I'm glad it didn't come all the way out.
I pondered putting some stitch the burn area but decided against even that.

Here's my cherished first pin cushion.



Now I can't live without this pincushion.  I'm sure a few more of these will be on my to-do list this year - with or without burns. . it doesn't matter.

This time last month

I'm feeling behind this month.  My 7 bee's are still going, yes some are ending soon.

Sad that one gal didn't want us to sew for her this month. One queen bee is asking for a free-style block. Even with the below finishes, a lack of sun around these parts and life just hitting at once has make it where I'm a bit of the white rabbit.

I'm late . .  I'm late. . .

It's not getting me down per say, I'm just gonna wait for fabric love to hit and enjoy getting these creative blocks out the door.

Here are a few that I have made a few to-date for February.

Here's blocks for one (of two) Queen Bee's in  my Red and Aqua group.

This one is for tangled_threads . . . it's going to be a lovely quilt!

For the{Sew Bee It} group.

monkeysx2 requested confetti blocks.  These were rocking to make! 

I love the background color, I happen to be using it in one of MY projects. And the snippets of color are something else.  I wish I would have added more empty space (I actually thought I was!). I love these blocks. I could envision a huge quilt from large snippets.  I'm not sure if I could handle making tons of blocks for a whole thing. . . wait maybe that's why we are in bee's ;)

I also finished my blocks for Orange you Glad.  The queen bee miniaturequilter asked us to make pumpkin blocks.  A few photos and some fabric . . here's what I made.  I'm pretty happy with the stem. 

The blocks I haven't gotten to yet include a flying geese block, a tree block, and a few spiderweb blocks.

I'm pretty sure I can knock these out during my Quilt Day with Jo and Becky this weekend.

 

Still sewing and by hand too!

 

I've been doing quilty things in between life things.

Kinda difficult with life being so busy.  Lots of things going on. 
I'm having to come to grips with some of my bff's leaving town, darn better opportunities and family being closer. 

To ease my pain I've been sewing on a few things, one of them is this hand stitched block.




My fella told me it's so authentic!  And the fabric is from England.  Oh my - I'm spoiled rotten!

I'm thinking I'll turn this into something else and make another without wonky edges.  I do love my first hand pieced block. 

This is the first block of a new Quilt Along with Erin over at Why Not Sew? I'm behind but it doesn't bother me. :)  I'm not sure if I'll do all of these or not.  But having a new tool is helpful!

Hope that you all are doing grand and a bit more productive than I have been the last few weeks.

She's doing it again - jump on the bandwagon

It's better to give {again}.

I'm so happy to have participated in (the first round and second round) of Quilting for Kids with Sarah over at So Sarah Sews.

Head on over the flickr group there is another round - Sarah has blogged about the chosen block and awesome colors here. 

There's still room if you're interested.

~~~

 

And I've decided to use this idea for one of my 3 on-line bee's I'm Queen Bee in March. Phew that's a relief to decide on one of these.

 

 

Still working it. . that's right

I want to share some links to some local (amazing) bloggers that have some photos of the ice storm that we had. 

Becky over at Becky's Blabber is a local quilter.  We've had coffee a few times and have to plan a quilting night - she said with WINE.  Oh lala!  Some of her photos of the ice storm are here. 

A good friend of mine has a way with the camera. She hasn't posted in a while but she did post an amazing photo from this past storm here and here.

I've been blah blah blah.  I think it's because I'm forced to work.

I was able to catch up in my Sew.Happy.Quilt quilt along. 

This beauty is called Fireflies

I used this tute

And this is called Template Star Block

I used this tute.

My brain apparently couldn't grasp this block to save my life.  I re-cut this thing FOUR TIMES {yes, that is me cyber-yelling}. First I didn't have the template large enough, then I cut the white too small.  Then I re-cut this and I had the blue (used to be orange} cut on the wrong side - twice.  I used my seam ripper more times on this than I want to admit. Lalalala.  So eventually I got this block right.  And let me tell ya. . I'm happy to have it done with.  :)

 

Another block came out yesterday.  I might break into my fabrics soon - maybe.

 

Go check out the flickr group of the amazing 100+ participants and Jenna over at Sew Happy Geek {click the pretty button}.

 

January Bee Blocks

Taking a break for the holidays and doing a little sewing for myself has done a world of difference.  I've just whipping out the bee blocks that I have arrive at my door.  

Here's a rundown of all the blocks that are out the door before of the end of the month deadline.

Threadheads

The lovely gockfrocks (blogs over here) sent us pre-cut japanese x and + scrappy blocks.

 

This was so super easy I was shocked! I won't be mailing this off yet as I might have to throw in a few more just because.  She sent me three lovely blocks for my month of being queen bee a few months back.

Aqua and Red

fqnb (she blogs over here) asked for a lovely block, not only is this block wonderful but she had her fabrics pre-cut.  So simple. Some DS Quilts fabric might be included in this package back over the sea.

The second January Queen Bee [dreamfctry] (she blogs over here) let me make her a Swoon block.  I posted about that here.  Oh course I want to show it off again.



Ohhhh Swoon!

Aqua and Orange

betc1978  (blogs over at here) sent some lovely fabric.  She was looking for some blocks inspired by Denyse Schmidt's drunk love log cabin quilt. We used this tutorial.



I constructed these at the same time.  And I didn't have enough to finish either but I'm sure Betsy will finish them up at home.

Sew Modern Bee

Our January Queen Bee ask for HST blocks.  And I put my hand up to make two blocks.  Especially when the smaller HST's were already squared up.  Ohhhh Pretty!

 

This larger HST was super easy compared to the above block. I'm enjoying HST's and how crisp they can be.

   

{HST Queen I'm telling ya!}

{Sew Bee It}

foxflower asked for presents.  She sent some lovely fabrics for her blocks.  We used this tutorial. I got to make these with with Jovanna on our sewing day.  Jovanna dealt with me bringing out my new old machine.  It was super fun to sew these blocks together, mix fabrics, and try out my new old machine. 

Orange you Glad

I was able to sew a spiderweb block for Vegetarian Hunter (she blogs over here). This block went a lot faster than my first attempt.

~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~

And since one of my bee's Twice as Nice has officially ended, I might have joined in a new bee/swap group called Bee a {Modern} Swapper.  It's a swap and a stash bee.  Oh gads it's something different for sure.

By the way, if you want to see me freak out just wait and see. . I have 3 bee's I'm Queen Bee and will be sending out fabric for in April.  I still have NO clue what I'm going to have everyone make me. The options are not endless anymore I'm kinda at a loss of what I want.

Made in Cherry Progress Report 1

I picked out this lovely stack of fabrics specifically for the Made in Cherry QAL (blogged about previously here). 

And while some of these had to be swapped out because of quality most of them are the same.  I decided to spray starch ALL of these fabrics before cutting into them.  What a pain to pre-measure, what a lot of starch, a lot of ironing {not my favorite}, what a dream to cut, what a dream to sew.  Totally worth those hours of preparation.

 

I was able to construct the entire center 100 squares of the center.  I'm making the larger version with 5" squares.
  

The above photo is only 1/4 of the center as now I'm working on the points. So, as you can see the top point is pretty cool, and I now see the left one needs help! This is taking up a lot of room on my design wall. I'm so happy!

I told my fella this quilt was for him.  It's so large that it will be for our bed, but it's still his. He was so happy it made it very apparent that I need to make him a lap quilt soon.  Ever since I've been making things he is getting more into my hobby.  I {heart} my fella!

There are a few other people in this QAL.  Go check out Chelsea by clicking the button or the flickr group by clicking here.

What do you do when your iced in?

In my little part of the world we have freezing rain not only closing school but preventing my family of three stuck in the house.  What would you do?  My fella and I are lucky enough that we could complete the most of our jobs from home.  And the 12-year old has been amazing! Fingers crossed the ice melts and we can prevent cabin fever.

With ice all around I'm still basking that I'm pod famous!  Yep I've been mentioned in a podcast a few times!  I am super lucky to tweet with some amazing gals! The usual line up recently have included Jenna – SewHappyGeek,  Bonnie – Beeclef, Melissa - CraftyMamaD, and  Susan - HQSuz. Susan is super talented and had a podcast and she just celebrated her one-year anniversary of her podcast!  Look at her go!  Check out Susan’s blog and listen to her podcast over at – The History Quilter.

While dealing with the ice storm I've been able to SEW!  I finished up my first Swoon Block!  I'm so excited!  In my Aqua and Red Bee our January Queen Bee Bek indulged me and let me sew her a Swoon Block for her.  HST cower at my feet I tell you!  I need to master flying geese next!

So here's Bek's block with a comparison of a Japanese x & + tiny block next to it!  This is one big block.

 

I believe I'm in ♥

So a random question to fellow starch lovers.  Have you used Sta-Flo?  I LOVE how easy and quickly any pieced block go together with starch but I may go broke if I continue to use Best Press.

I'll show you all my January Bee Blocks soon. . yep I'm officially done before the month is even over.  Now to get to the post office - that is after the ice melts.

Spider legs

***Edited below***

There must have been a few of these that I blocks that I saw online. It got into my subconscious and I had to make it. I knew I could make it work for my 4x5 bee blocks.  A little bit of traditional but using my modern fabric {rarrr} I made 6 of these lovely things, as I actually made one for myself . 

I am surprised how practice makes perfect.  I'm becoming an HST queen.  Okay I'm not perfect but the points are getting way better.

 

Handfulofboys wanted purple (magenta) and orange and background of medium grey.

 

cbmauro8 wanted tangerine, aqua, & grey

 

i like orange, too {she blogs over here} wanted orange, aqua/teal, lime-citron

 

HandmadeRetro {she blogs over here} wanted red with white background

I really like this one!

 

For Michelle from CityHouseStudio {she blogs over here} wanted tan/khaki, brown, rich red/wine
My fella really liked this one!

And this is what has become my block.  Not exactly the color pallet, of aqua, green, grey, but it's going to tie in very well with the other blocks that other's have make for me. 

I can't wait to show you all the blocks I've received from my two quarters of 4x5 beemates. 

And a huge shout out to the above ladies for being such a great hive to be caretaker for.

*Edit*

A huge shout out to Heather that blogs over at Crafting ... for pointing many of you here.

As for a tutorial -

I learned what this block is really called.  It's called a flyfoot block. 

You can find some paper pieced directions but you can also find some over here:http://www.quilterscache.com/F/FlyfootBlock.html

I didn't have a pattern . . and wasn't into paper piecing at that point in time.

Basically making 4 HST's of each color combo.  I used 4" blocks of the color + background as I want a little wiggle room for squaring up. Then I trimmed each HST block to 3.5" squares.  Then arranged at will.

Make sense?

I was way too lazy to make flying geese! But you could do that do.. oh the math hurts.

Jenna of Sew Happy Geek has done a similar tutorial, just change the layout and the colors during her last
quilt along.  The block that would be most helpful can be found here.

Hope that helps

*****