Bee Blocks Done

 I finished all my blocks for the [3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee.  I made the Diamond Stack block and think they turned out pretty good.  They aren't all perfect but close enough for me.  :)   Most of the gals wanted yellows and I discovered I have a huge gap in my modern fabric stash -- hardly any yellows!   I really have to remedy that.....more shopping, yeah!

Here are the individual blocks.  For some reason all the pics have a blue tint to them....and I took the pic outside on a sunny day.  Anyhoo...the backgrounds are all white...really.  

For Fran who wanted red, pink and aqua.

For Laurie who wanted aqua, yellow and light grey.

For Heather who wanted grass green, orange, yellow and light blue.

For Jane who wanted yellow and white.

For Loretta who wanted pink, yellow and orange.

For Michonne who wanted yellows and brown.

There ya go! That's it for this round. Can't wait for next quarter so I can try out another fun block pattern.

Test Block

I made my test block for the [3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee today.   It's called "Diamond Stack" by Anna of Six White Horses blog.  Her tutorial was pretty straight forward and easy to follow. But the cutting and sewing were a bit time consuming and I can't decide if I want to make 6 of them.   Will think on it tonight.

It's fun that the diamond can be up and down like this:

Or on it's side like this:

Which do you think looks better? 

May Bitty Blocks

These are the Bitty Blocks I received for May's theme of "houses".   Aren't they wonderful?  Mine is the  Hawaiian hut with palm tree.  I picked up some Hawaiian fabric while vacationing at the beginning of May just for this idea.  I still can't decide on a favorite this month!

Check out the other bitty blocks being made by this great group of people here.

Modern Blocks Revisited

Each month that Rhonda and I teach the Modern Block of the Month class we make samples to hang in the shop the month before.  That way folks can know what we'll be doing and whether its a month they want to participate in.   I showed those blocks yesterday. 

On class day we each teach one of the blocks construction.  And for that block we make a second sample but don't sew it all together.  That way we can show how to do the various units.
I'm using a different set of fabrics for these.  I have collected lots of Aneela Hoey fabrics and am pairing them with solids and grays for backgrounds.

This is "Follow the Leader".  I fussy cut some triangles out of one fabric for the center to form a distinctive pinwheel.  I also rotated the flying geese to face away from the center in a single column rather than in pairs.  I love the way this change in construction looks.

This is "Best Friends".  I fussy cut a center...so cute.  I also pieced those inner rectangles rather than have them be one fabric.  I also love this change.

It's been fun to see what I can come up with to change the block a bit to show students how to make something their own.

Modern Blocks

Rhonda and I are teaching a year long block of the month class at Quilted Strait.  We are excited to journey alongside our students as we explore the Modern Quilt movement via the contributors in the book "Modern Blocks".

 The book covers all kinds of techniques and our students will have had a taste of all of them by the end of the year.   We choose two blocks each month to make in class....often teaching different methods of making units.  For example, using the "no waste" method of making 4 flying geese at once.

I'm using "Reunion" by Sweetwater for my fabric - with some "Circa 1934" by Cosmo Cricket and solids thrown in too.

Here are the blocks I've made so far:

"Best Friend" block.  1990 date in center is the year Rhonda and I met.

"Follow the Leader" block

"Boxed In" block.

"Meagan's Star" block.


So cute, right?    :)

Tablet Sleeve Finished

I finally finished  the sleeve I cut out for my hubby's tablet.  I used Faith from Fresh Lemon's tutorial.  Its a really well written tutorial and the sleeve went together easily.  My only problem was *my* problem of not being good at sewing openings closed in a pretty fashion.  Sigh.  

I used Etsuko Furuya's Mini Car fabric for the front....I LOVE that fabric!  And then I used some Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket for the pocket interior.  Cute.  

Happy tablet in his new cushy home.

I was Nominated!

Remember my entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival?

Are you sick of seeing it yet?  :)

It was nominated  for the Doll/Mini category and I'm so excited.   I didn't seek any nominations (thank you, though, to who ever did) but I am gonna ask for votes!   Soooo...would you take a minute and go vote for my quilt here.   Scroll down....I think its the second to last category.  ANYONE can vote....you didn't have to participate in the Festival or be a quilter.  :)    Thanks a bunch.

It's a Wonder...

...I didn't buy these sooner!

See those red clips?   They are called Wonder Clips by Clover.   I had seen them before but only really read that they were good for holding on binding while you sewed. I figured I'd been sewing binding on for about 18 years without them and didn't need 'em.   When all my co-workers were buying them and raving about their uses I decided to join in....sewing peer pressure gets me every time! 

  I gotta say....they really are great.  I won't be using them for binding, but they were perfect for the zipper in the tablet sleeve I'm making for hubby (picture above).  The bottoms lie flat so they slide easily on the sewing machine.  And no pins means no distortion.  

Ok.  Enough said.  Time to get back to sewing.   :)

ps. I bought mine at Pink Chalk here, of course.

Pincushion Received

This is the wonderful package I got from my swap partner, Lynda, in the Fabulous Little Pincushion Swap.

Lynda is from England...one of my favorite countries!  Do you see that cord around the Union Jack pincushion?  It's so you can put the pincushion around your sewing machine....clever, huh?  And she made a slice of cake pin topper in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year.  Some day I'm gonna have to learn how to make those cute pin toppers and save money buying them.  :)

This was a fun swap and definitely one I'd do again.

Pincushion

This is the first pincushion I've ever made and I love it.  

It is for a swap I'm in over on Flickr called Fab Little Pincushion Swap.  I'm pretty sure my partner will like it...if I've figured out her likes correctly!  :)

I used a block from the Midget Block collection over on Sentimental Stitches to make the top.  Have you seen these little beauty's?  So cute.  They are 4.5 inch blocks and the patterns are free.  I used print scraps and blue Essex linen (from Pink Chalk Fabrics).   And those cute bird pins I got from The Chip Chop Shop.

I had fun making this and plan to try my hand at more pincushions.  

Bloggers' Quilt Festival Spring 2012

Hello to those of you who have popped over from Amy's Creative Side to see my entry for the Quilt Festival!

I've decided to enter a little mini quilt I made for a swap I was in.  It was called The Name Game swap...the purpose being to create a mini inspired by our secret partners blog.  We got to stalk their likes, etc, via our Flickr group.   I blogged about it earlier.   I had so much fun creating this little beauty.

This was my first time making Cathedral Windows and I enjoyed the process.....though it was time consuming.  I can't imagine making a full size quilt this way!   I used Kona Snow for the background and raided my scrap bag and button jar for the rest.....oh, and used this tutorial from Moda Bakeshop.

  I'm working my way through the list to see everyone's entries!    Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back to visit again!

Edited to add:   My entry is #296 if you are nominating and/or voting.  Thanks!

April Bitty Blocks

These are all the black and white with a pop of color bitty blocks from April.  I love them all but I think the tea cup is my favorite.  I like how she did the "pop of color" as the tea bag tag....so clever.   My block is the two cats facing each other and the blue ball is yarn I fused on.

Go pop in and check out the current bitty blocks being made at the Bitty Block Committee group on Flickr.  

Mothers Day Firsts

Jenny and her family came over for Mothers Day and we went to the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island.  A first time visit for me despite living nearby for 20 years!    Bloedel is a beautiful public garden with 150 acres of natural forests and landscaped gardens.  I loved it and can't wait to go back again.

This was the easiest way to get pics of my grand children -- when they weren't looking!   :)

Nana is enjoying the view from the estate home while Heidi is looking for something to climb on.

Another first that happened on Mothers Day was teaching Liam to sew.  He has wanted to make a quilt for a while and Sunday was the day to start.

I worked the foot pedal for a couple of rows but then he did it standing up.  It actually helped him slow down to work the pedal himself rather than telling me to go faster!  We will work on it again the next time they come over.

So much easier to teach my grandson than my own kids.  Why is that?   :)

Great day.

A Month? Really?

I can't believe I haven't posted any thing in a month!   And now I discover Blogger has changed......and oh how I hate tech changes!!!   My head hurts already.  :)

I have been sewing this past month....and vacationing.   I have a few things to share but I'm gonna put them in multiple posts and help myself get comfortable with these new Blogger changes.

Last months Bitty Block Committee theme was Black & White with a pop of color.  My color was aqua.  This is the block I made for everyone:

I saw a poster online with these silhouettes of cats facing out and thought it'd be fun to turn them in and put a ball of yarn between them.   Pretty cute, if I say so myself.   I still have one more block to receive and when I do I'll post them all....so much creativity to see!

March Bitty Blocks

All my blocks from last months Bitty Block swap are here so it's time for a picture:

Row one:  Sandy's, Susan's & Kim's

Row two: Ruth's, Kandra's & Mine

Row three: Melinda's, Pattiann's & Rick's.

So cute, huh?   These are each 3.5 inches and the workmanship is amazing.  Love this swap.

Mug Rug received

I received my Spring Mug Rug yesterday and nearly fell over!  We don't know who has us in these swaps so when you peek at pictures in the Flickr pool you drool over your favorites hoping....HOPING.....you get one you love!   And I did!   There were lots I liked but only a few I loved.  I am so dang happy.

   Many thanks to Edy who made this adorable mini quilt.  My picture doesn't do it justice. I didn't take any close up shots either but her raw edge stitching on the applique is perfect and her embroidery is perfect too.  Some day I'll be this good.   :)

Bee Blocks

I joined my first Bee via Flickr earlier this year.  It's called the [3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee.   I like that the time frame is short.....no year long Bee's for me.  Each quarter (if you participate) you make blocks for 6 other Bee members and yourself.  And, of course, then get back 6 different blocks.  After making the Urban Nine Patch for myself, I decided to make it for my Bee members.  Here they are all finished and ready to package and mail.

For Jana who wanted rainbow colors and a white background:

For Loretta who wanted red, white and blue:

For Mary who wanted yellow, orange and lime with white:

For Erika who wanted rainbow colors with black:

For Wendi who wanted aqua, red and a touch of yellow with white background:

For Sara who wanted rainbow colors with black:

I wasn't able to get a complete rainbow in each of the rainbow blocks and keep the design.  I'm hoping those ladies will be ok with a color or two missing from the rainbow.   :)

As soon as I get all my blocks I will post a picture of what I received.

It's been fun and I intend to do the next round. 

Sewing on a Small Scale

I am in a swapping group over on Flickr called The Bitty Block Committee.  This group makes and swaps 3.5 inch blocks according to the monthly themes.  I've been following the group for several months but they didn't have any openings until recently.  I was soooooooo excited to be able to join..........and also a bit intimidated by the level of work they do.   There are always two themes per month and members can do one or both.  I am starting with just one!   This month I was in a Pirate group.

Here are the blocks I made - Captain Peg Leg:

I have received some wonderful blocks in return -- a ship, a treasure map, pirate girl, parrot & more -- but words just can't describe how amazing these little works of art are!  You have to go peek at the Flickr group pool.

Next month it's black & white with one other color (mine is aqua) with the design of our choice.  I already have an idea for mine and can't wait to see what the others come up with.

Scallop Quilt

I have not had blogging on my mind for a while!  This is the Scallop Quilt top I made in the Curves class I took.   Its a nice crib size or small lap quilt.   Rachel made hers in all solids but I wanted to use only fabrics from my stash and didn't have yardage enough in any solids.  But I like this version too.  :)

This was a quick quilt to make.  Definitely one to remember.

Name Game Swap - What I Made

My partners quilt finally arrived in Australia so now I can show pics of it.  

I knew from the info given me that Sally liked bright colors.  I read her blog and peeked at her Pinterest boards to get an idea of quilts that she might like.  I decided on Cathedral Windows......even though I knew putting her blog name on it was going to be a challenge.   My co-worker, Carrie, gave me the idea of a tag to hang from a button.  Perfect!

Sally's blog is called Fat 1/4's and Bobbins.   I traced her logo and embroidered it.  Cute, if I say so myself!  :)

I used this tutorial from Moda Bake Shop to make my Windows.  Well written and easy to follow.

Name Game Swap

I joined a few swaps this year....something I haven't done in years....and have been having a ball challenging myself.  The first one I joined was back in January and is called the Name Game Swap.   Anorina of Samelia's Mum organized it.  We were given a partner (its a blind swap so you don't know who has you!) and had to make a mini quilt with their blog name or real name on it.  I chose to have my blog name done.  After "stalking" your partner for a bit you made them their mini ("stalking" via reading their blog and peeking at their Flickr pools....I also stalked my partner on her Pinterest boards!)    I will show you the one I made for my partner as soon as she gets it.  But I can show you the one I received cuz I just got it today!!!!  Woo hoo!

Cheryll of Gone Stitchin' made me the cutest mini!  I totally love it.   She captured my blog header so nicely and added applique bits of things I love......coffee, books and fabric!

Cheryll was a sweetie and also included a few goodies - some daisy fabric (yes!), pins and fun embellishments.  She lives in Australia and I love the stamps on her package -- Santa coming up from the ocean...so cute. 

  Thank you, Cheryll!!!

Urban Nine Patch

One night while surfing blogs I ran across Sew Kind Of Wonderful  by Jenny Pedigo.    I was immediately drawn to her curvy quilt patterns that you can see on the right hand side.  LOVE them.  I told my boss about them (these quilts are so Pink Chalk!)...and funny thing was Kathy had just found them too!  Long story short...Kathy ordered the rulers and now carries the patterns.  I bought a ruler but can't decide which quilt pattern to get so haven't yet.

Jenny recently created a new block called "Urban Nine Patch" that uses the ruler.  She posted a free tutorial on her blog for making it and I figured that was the perfect way to learn the ruler and get more practice sewing curves.  So today I made one.  

Here it is:

So gorgeous!  I totally love this.   And it turned out perfect.  

Totally perfect points see:

And it's perfectly 12.5 inches.  I followed the tutorial to the "t" and everything was great.  Jenny sews her curves differently than I learned years ago (and different from Rachel's teaching in the Curves class)...by sewing with the convex piece on top instead of the other way around.  I did it Jenny's way and it worked fine for this block.  

I think I will be making this block for my [3x6] Mini Bee members.   :)

Improv Curves

This week in my Curves class with Rachel we worked with improv curves.  I  ended up having a busier week than expected so didn't get to accomplish much...we had 3 projects to choose from and I only finished one mini top, still have to quilt it.

It's called O Christmas Tree Mini.  Isn't it cute?

Free-form...unplanned work is hard for me....curved or otherwise!   I struggled a bit with this.  Kept thinking I wished someone would just give me a pattern to follow.  Curves aren't scary but no planned pattern is.  :)

Here's a close up of the tree.  I think it turned out nicely.

Not sure if I'll try the improv table runner that was also this week or wait till I have more time to concentrate. 

Can't wait for next weeks projects.   :)

Clamshell Pillow

I'm taking an online class on curved sewing from Rachel of Stitched in Color.  Last week was our first week (out of  five) of class and I loved it.  I'm not new to curved sewing or curved piecing but I am new to improv curved sewing (which we are doing this week!) which is why I took the class.  Plus I love classes and always seem to learn something new.  Rachel is doing a fabulous job!

This is the clamshell pillow project from last week that I finished yesterday:

Matches my red chair so nicely, don't ya think?  :)   The printed fabric is Salt Air by Cosmo Cricket and the solid is Essex Linen.

I thought I had done pretty good sewing in the invisible zipper but it actually has a little bump on it.  Not sure what I did that caused that.  Will have to surf some other tutes and see if something jumps out at me so I can do better next time.  

Baby blanket

Finished this crocheted baby blanket on Friday.  Isn't it lovely?   I love making these soft and cuddly blankets.  This one is for one of best friends first grand child.....due in less than two weeks!   It'll be in the mail tomorrow.  :)      

Come Rain or Shine

Isn't that the cutest little wall hanging?  I just LOVE it.   During one of my blog reading days I came across Mia's darling wool felted items.  I pinned one on Pinterest and then thought....I want one I can hang on an actual wall and not a cyber one.  So I splurged and bought one.  This design was one of my favorites.  Birds and rain....so appropriate for here, don't ya think?   

This is the back.  

Check out more of Mia's items at her Etsy shop and maybe splurge for yourself!