January 30, 2012

Grandmother's Flower Garden

My first Grandmother's Flower Garden Block is completed. This is for Wendi, who requested either an orange or yellow center. I tried to use the teflon (I think that is the material) templates but my points just didn't get sharp enough so I went back to using the sew line pen. I learned about the glue pen method from Sheryl, over in Australia when I made her a Spiked Wheel block and it works for me better. I rather enjoy the paper templates and will use them on any future hexagon work!

January 27, 2012

Bento Boxes - Check

I signed up for a Bento Box swap a few months ago and low and behold, the deadline has come. I used more jelly roll strips than "scraps" but look forward to the squares I will get back. Each of these squares was cut into 4 pieces and will be swapped with my fellow Bento Box makers!

January 25, 2012

Is it possible to NOT be wonky enough?

For my mod mosaic bee, our hostess for February said the following:

If anyone wants to get started early - my request is super easy

2 - 12 1/2" blocks - prefer kona white for the strips - otherwise super scrappy - any color, any fabric


Me Me! I love to work ahead, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. So...I went right to work and knocked out this block.

Here is my question though, is it wonky enough? I am worried about having 3 rows that while different fabrics, follow the same pattern (vertical spacer lines).

Here is my second block and I do feel this one needs to be re-done, it's just too simple.

You see when I started in the Mod Mosaic Bee, I got a bit ahead of myself and didn't do it right, I had too many angles going on and it wasn't turning out very nicely. I didn't have a strip of white between each color and I thought it so easy that I was sewing it up so fast that I was not thinking about design, just sewing fabric so I had some pieces that I couldn't use.



Tell me, is the top block wonky enough for a Mod Mosaic Bee or no?

January 24, 2012

For the Love of Solids - Round 2

I got in! I got in!
Last season I was admiring all of the projects and mosaics of the "For the Love of Solids Group" and this season I got in! Woo hoo!
Here are a couple of mosaics. The first one belongs to Alix and second one to Leona
For the Love of Solids Round 2 Mosaic My Favorites of my Favorites! I love rainbows all colors of a happy rainbow...
These are created to give your partner (super secret partner I might add) a glimpse into your style, what you like, what your eye is drawn to and use it as inspiration on what to make you.  Of course, as the name implies, you must use all solid fabric. My partner likes a clean style with pops of color so I am pondering what to make her and very excited for this challenge!

January 23, 2012

Mark Another Challenge off the List!

Elizabeth in one my Flickr groups had the choice for our January block.  Here is the description she gave:

My block is going to be a challenge! I hope you are all up for it!

 
I'm not even sure what it would be called...its curvy and challenging. I'm going to say its just a type of piecing haha Really the difficulty level depends on the design you create...I can tell you mine was very challenging so if you are not very experienced in this type of piecing then do not do small pieces or big curves.

 
I was inspired by the water and how much I miss it right now!
So I am asking you all to draw a 15x18in block that is inspired by waves, you can look at my block that I've posted to the group, and then create the block using my fabrics (you can add fabrics from your stash but please keep to my colorway.)

Deep breath. Sounds hard and I am a beginner.  Ok, I can do this.  Mind you the package sat on my sewing table for over 2 weeks, staring at me every time I came into the room but I just wasn't up for it.  I was scared. Last week I had to dig in as I am prompt with my bee blocks and didn't want to be late.  The time had come.

Her directions were fabulous and anticipated lots of questions so they were already answered.

First we just had to draw some waves, sounds easy enough.
Then cut each piece of paper with a 1/4" seam to each fabric.

She gave us an order to sew them in and also advised we mark each piece. 


It turned out ok, except for when I joined the top half and bottom half of the block, but I think that is ok. There is a bit of a ruffle where it does not lay flat, but she said that sometimes they don't lay flat.

Imagine a whole quilt of these blocks, it's going to be beautiful!



January 21, 2012

Garden Fence Blocks

Just finished up some Garden Fence Blocks using this tutorial and they really are so easy! This has me thinking that I may just add a whole quilt of this block to my list.  These two blocks are for Alisha in a Fall Bee and she requested pink and green.  She only asked for one, but they were so quick and easy to do that I whipped up two for her!

January 11, 2012

Tumbler Swap

The idea of quilts using the tumbler shape have always interested me, so I couldn't say no to a Tumbler Party. We are sending in 12 Fat Quarters in gray, yellow and turquoise and will receive 96 jumbo tumblers back.  Yippee! I recently finished cutting my fat quarters and am patiently awaiting the return package. It will be a little bit of a wait though since they aren't scheduled back until the end of January. I'll keep you posted, but here is a sneak peak!

January 8, 2012

2012 is here

We are already a week into the New Year - Yeah!
I have been a bit busy working on some projects.
One - I am already getting blocks back from my Modern 99 Bee Members and they are so pretty!
Two - I started and completed a couple of blocks for a Mod Mosaic Bee I am in this year.  I decided on pink and here they are!


Three - I have decided NOT to make the Summer Splendor quilt as I am not feeling the love I once was for it.  The upside to this decision is that I have a WHOLE bunch of Kona solids and that makes me happy!

Four - I have been surfing blogs, Flickr and all over the web for inspiration for yet another group I joined (I just can't stop myself, it's just so addictive) called "For the Love of Solids".  You make two projects, but the big one must be made out of ALL solids so I think I am well prepared, but we'll just see. I have not received my parter match yet so that could all change.

That is a glimpse of this week. Stay tuned for more activites next week!