Coffee

When my beemate Felicity @felicityquilts announced the Bee Sewcial prompt for this month, I had to smile. Coffee.... the first thing I reach for every morning. Felicity specified: "Rich browns in all shades, including very dark all the way to cream. Think roasted beans, a freshly pulled espresso shot, an iced coffee with swirls of cream, latte art." She also shared a small pin board for inspiration, and asked for at least two blocks that add up to the equivalent of our standard two blocks at 12" finished.

Right off, I knew I wanted to try my hand at improv coffee beans, using a mix of brown solids combined with Essex cotton-linen blends in Espresso and Nutmeg, as Felicity OK'd our use of additional substrates this month. After rearranging my "beans" for a while, I settled on the layout about, with a block measuring 14.5" x 17.5".

Since my first block was on the large side, I aimed for a smaller block for my second. What started as a bunch of improv espresso shots may or may not have become a row of coffee drinks on the counter at the local coffee shop. Depends on your viewpoint, I guess. But it's Felicity-approved, and measures 7.5" x 11".

After working for months on my own Bee Sewcial quilt finish in Albersesque, it was a fun breather to be able to work on these smaller improv projects and in browns even! Plus I'm looking forward to seeing what my beemates come up with for the coffee theme.

Tiles

My Bee Sewcial mate Kari @quiltsforthemaking was inspired by all the ceramic tiles she saw while traveling in Spain and Portugal, so she challenged us to create tile blocks this month. Her suggested dominant colors were cream, terra cotta, navy, and cobalt blue with accent colors as we see fit. I decided to stick with the four colors for both of my blocks. We were also asked to make two or more blocks of different sizes, squares or rectangles.

My first go at a block is a mix of ruler-cut and freehand improv, and measures approximately 15" square. I really wanted at least one of my tile blocks to include some improv curves and love the secondary shapes mine turned out with. Those corner sections were trickier than they look to make the correct size, each being totally improv. I like the result though!

I went with pretty basic shapes for my second block, though I think it still packs a punch. This block measures about 12" square. I (Kari too!) especially love that portions that are a little wonky or don't 'match up.'

Kari's prompt kind of stymied me at first, but once I got started and saw that limited mix of colors together, I really enjoyed myself. I kind of hated to stop at just two.

Linking up with Patchwork & Quilts weekly linky.

Rooted

As the calendar turns to a new month, it's always an anxious moment waiting to see what the new Bee Sewcial prompt will be. Felicity/@felicityquilts chose "Rooted" and my first thought was, "oh yes." It was a prompt I could connect to, and I liked Felicity's fabric request - a bright solid background for each block, with the design in variegated values of a contrasting color.

I took a very minimal approach with the first block, still in the mood to dabble with inset seams, as I had been over the weekend. At 6" x 19", I loved it for its simplicity and of course, its color.

For the second block, I specifically wanted a horizontal orientation, had a design in mind, marked it roughly in hera marker on my background fabric, and in all honesty, had trouble making it happen. That to say, I tossed it aside and started again. The second block went together better, though haltingly, but once it was done, I really didn't like it. Ugh. So I walked away for a bit, and came back knowing I needed to slice into it and trim it up. That brought it to 11" x 18.5" and resulted in a design I could live with. With my two blocks somewhat on the literal side, I'm curious to see how my bee-mates interpret the theme.

November Bee Blocks

Bee blocks this month started out with a bit of déjà vu. Elizabeth/occassionalpiece had the Mid-Century Modern make pineapple blocks. She went above and beyond by sending us the fabric cut to size plus the pattern printed on parchment, which I found delightful to sew on. Funny thing was Elizabeth and I were also in the Always Bee Learning bee together, and she has us make the same block there. So by now I'm a pro, right? Not. But it did go together pretty well.

For FAITH Circle this month, we have a partnership - Sharon/sharonhuismith is doing the quilt designing and Melissa/~Me1issa will be quilting the finished quilt. Sharon wrote a pattern for butterfly blocks, and asked for lots of color.

And finally, in more ways than one, were July Star blocks for Toni/HoosierToni for That Stash Bee. These were fun to do in Toni's chosen palette. Though I'll be watching as more That Stash Bee finishes show up in the group feed, these are my last blocks for the bee. It's been a fun 2 years with a great group of women, but time for a change.

So mission accomplished. Feels good.

October Bee Blocks

Bee blocks were short and sweet this month, and I have a new crush. The maple leaf block that Katie/kldemare had That Stash Bee make were just a delight, and I'm trying to figure out when I can make some for myself.

Debbie/Blue.Ridge.Girl chose Social Climber blocks for FAITH Circle, a pattern by Pat Fryer of Villa Rosa designs.

I accidentally cut too many colored fabric strips, so went ahead and made an extra 'combo' block per Debbie's specifications.

Pretty painless, which suited me just fine.

September Bee Blocks

Though I had great fun over the weekend creating my Mini Saltwater quilt and it piqued my interest in sewing again, I found that the back-to-work days this week have been pretty exhausting. Wanting desperately to make progress even though I couldn't yet face any of my w.i.p.s, I decided bee blocks might be manageable. They were.

For FAITH Circle, I made 4 Patchwork Chevron blocks using a tutorial by In Color Order. These were a great place to start, and I like the palette we were given to work in.

I was kind of apprehensive about the Pineapple Blossom blocks we were asked to make in That Stash Bee. But Quiltville's tutorial made it easy, and these blocks went together quite quickly. Again, the palette made these extra fun, and I really enjoyed them.

The Mid-Century Modern bee was asked for Union Jack blocks, one I've been wanting to try for a long time. Molli Sparkles' tutorial was terrific, and I really love the unique size of this block.

So sooner or later, I really need to face some more complicated projects. And some deadlines. But these were certainly a pleasant diversion...

Bee Boasting

It's always a treat to see finished quilts made from bee blocks, and if you're like me, you search for your own contribution. Do you ever have to go back (like I often do) to be reminded what your block(s) looked like? Well I've got beautiful finishes to share today from every bee I'm in, which I find very cool indeed.

Melissa/Me1issa of FAITH Circle just finished her Shape Shifters quilt, with the most exquisite quilting. You can read all about it here and see the quilting close up, and if you're as smitten with Melissa's Shape Shifters block as we all were, you'll find the tutorial in her post here.

Also for FAITH Circle, Anita/RhubarbPatch asked for Wonky Log Cabin blocks, and made the sweet quilt below. I love that it has three borders, and the diamond grid quilting is unique and fun. Here's Anita's blog post about her quilt.

All quilts made by FAITH Circle are currently being donated to Restore Innocence, an organization devoted to helping young girls rescued from sex trafficking. I just know these 2 new contributions will be a comfort to their recipients.

On to the Always Bee Learning bee where Hettie/hettie k asked for Trip Around the World blocks. Here's the block tutorial we used. Isn't this pattern always a winner?

In That Stash Bee, Cathy/blueberry patch cathy had us make 16-Patch blocks using this tutorial and made this delightful picnic quilt! When I saw the photos in her blog post, I wanted to drop everything and run right over!

Mid-Century Modern Bee's Carla/Carlaf2 gave us choices! First she suggested arrow blocks using her own tutorial, or if we preferred, an Anna Maria Horner feather. As you can see, she got some of each, plus made a few other blocks herself to help create her own quilt design. Love it with the low-volume background, don't you? **Can you believe I got so excited to share this with you, I forgot it wasn't quilted yet! Please forgive and go read Carla's post about this flimsy. I know I'll be watching for the big reveal to come!**

Hope you enjoyed this little show and tell! You can see why it's certainly a pleasure to sew with my talented bee-mates!

August Bee Blocks

The truth is, I have things to do, places to go, and people to see. So this month, I wanted to get my bee blocks done as quickly as I could.

Anita/RhubarbPatch of FAITH Circle shared her own tutorial for Highclere Castle blocks on her blog, Bloomin' Workshop. These blocks are a great use for string scraps and I enjoyed that Anita asked us to use a scrappy low-volume background.

On to Mid-Century Modern Bee, where Mary/Mary @ Molly Flanders asked for scrappy HST blocks with the printed fabrics toward the center and the solid on the outside of the block. Her preferred background was pale pink, and luckily I had some on hand. I added in just a few pieces of Kona Snow to add to the scrappiness. These blocks are 6.5 inches unfinished, so I made 4, the equivalent of a finished 12" block. (I cut squares to make the HSTs 4" and then trimmed the blocks to 3.5 inches after stitching.)

And lastly, my first Pineapple block was made for Elizabeth/occasionalpiece of the Always Bee Learning bee. In this bee, we send each other the fabric we want our blocks made from. I confess that was a blessing this month and really sped up the construction process. Elizabeth also sent us translucent paper patterns as the foundations for our blocks. I hadn't worked with that product before, but I really liked using it. There are photos and details about it plus a link to this 8" block pattern over at Occasionalpiece-Quilt.

And with that, I'm bidding farewell to the Always Bee Learning bee as we finish up this round. Thanks, girls, for a fun 2 years of sewing together. 

July Bee Blocks and Such

Time for a block round up for July! Believe it or not, we had to twist PatchworknPlay's arm to let us make blocks for her in the Mid-Century Modern Bee this month! She gave in, asked for star blocks, and I chose an adaptation on Megan's Star by Maverick Quilts in Modern Blocks.

It was Christmas in July in That Stash Bee, where mihertz had us make either a 4-patch or a 9-patch AND a 16-patch or a 36-patch in Christmasy fabrics. I was reminded how much I like those chartreuse Metro Living Rings with Christmas fabrics as I put that block on the right together. I used up my last little bit, so I ordered more to put with my Christmas stash.

As I may have already mentioned, FAITH Circle is making Postcard blocks for me this month, with solid or tone-on-tone "fronts". Here's several that have shown up in the group so far.

And though not technically bee blocks, I did make 2 blocks for the giving committee of our Seattle Modern Quilt Guild. These are 2 of the suggested blocks of the month. First I made a hashtag block, using some crazy-piecing left over from last fall's Crazy Rainbow.

Next was a wonky star, using the tutorial by The Silly BooDilly, using our signature guild colors of aqua/light blue, citron green, greys and white/ivory/neutrals. Blocks are being collected for charity quilts in  4.5″, 6.5″ or 12.5″ (unfinished) - these 2 are both 12.5".

So that's it for miscellaneous blocks for this month! Enjoyable, but it's always a relief when they're done!

June Bee Blocks

Bee blocks were a breeze this month and can't say that I minded. Always Bee Learning Bee is one where our partner even sends the fabric she wants us to use, so the Boxy Stars for Celeste/
celestejohnson2008 were quick and easily pieced.

Mary Ann/SoapsByMareMare asked FAITH Circle to make a pair of 9 Patches inspired by Red Pepper Quilts. I love the color mix for these blocks and am pretty sure the finished quilt will belie the simplicity of these blocks.

And for Mid-Century Modern Bee, Linda/Flourishing Palms asked for 60-degree string-pieced diamonds with the request to include an orange string in each. These blocks will help her finish up a "Picket Fence" quilt she already has underway.

Meanwhile, I'm still receiving April, May, and June blocks from 3 of my bees, so one day soon, I'll have 3 new quilts to finish up. yikes.

May Bee Blocks

This month's bee blocks were a delightful mix of patterns I had never done before. Cathy/blueberry patch cathy asked That Stash Bee for St. Louis 16-Patch blocks using the tutorial by Sew with Sass. They were a quick sew, and I look forward to seeing this quilt - scrappy-ish and with the variety of low-volume prints.

A fun discovery were the Funky Wrench - Nuts & Bolts blocks we did for Kimberly/Perfection Not Included of FAITH Circle. This tutorial is by Happy Zombie, which gives a wide variety of size options.

And lastly, for the Mid-Century Modern Bee was an Arrow block for Carla/Carlaf2, using her own tutorial!

Meanwhile, I'm still receiving blocks from April/Mid-Century Modern and May/Always Bee Learning, plus guess who's up for June in That Stash Bee? Yup, busy bee times.

April Bee Blocks

Whoa! This month's bee blocks were somewhat challenging for me!

A totally new-to-me block was the Ogee block that Mary/QuiltGenius of the Always Bee Learning asked for. This is my one bee where I get sent the fabrics, and it's always fun to see what my bee-mate has chosen. Mary did an awesome job cutting out the pieces for this block, so that definitely helped! But this was one I had to lay out completely and then piece each component as I carefully 'built' the block. Just for reference, Cristy/Sew Much Like Mom posted this unique technique for curves on Ig. I was too far along to try it this time, but it is interesting none-the-less.

Melissa/~Me1issa  of the FAITH Circle of do. Good Stitches chose Shape Shifter blocks for us. These have the most unique construction process. In general you start with WOV strips, and since I didn't have any in the colors needed, I complicated the process for myself by using fat-quarters. But once I straightened that out, these came together like magic. Each of the small blocks in the photo are 7" unfinished.

And lastly, for That Stash Bee, Ginny/fishcreekstudio had us do mini churn dash blocks that are 6 1/2" unfinished. Easy right? In reality yes, but I got chain-piecing and mixed up my colors and texts and pretty much had to unpick everything and start over. Gee whiz. I love them finished though and kinda wish they were mine to keep. sigh

I haven't received many Rolling Diamonds back from my Mid-Century Modern girls, but am really looking forward to getting those! But still. Another round of bee blocks under the belt.

March Bee Blocks

Bee blocks! They're done! Always a good feeling. . .

Marci/Marci Girl Designs, from the Always Bee Learning bee, asked for 2-12 1/2" Modern Maples blocks - still one of my very favorite traditional blocks, updated here with the lovely prints and low-volume backgrounds. Always Bee Learning is my one bee where we send fabric out to our bee mates, and I confess, Marci's choices was another reason these were fun. Can't wait to see this quilt!

hettie k's Always Bee Learning bee block plan for February came after I reported in last month, so I'll include them here. Hettie had us each make 3 - 6 1/2" blocks for a "hobo quilt." Mine were called "Jail" blocks.

The Mid-Century Modern Bee did Spider Web Quilt Blocks for Cindy/liveacolorfullife. Isn't this something with the low-volume centers and bright solid 'web?'

FAITH Circle had a special task this month - using Debbie/Blue.Ridge.Girl very first tutorial for Wonky Disappearing 4 Patch blocks! It is a great tutorial and I highly recommend it! You actually make two 12 1/2" blocks at once!

I saved the Darting Birds for whitney (the peacock tree) till last. These are for That Stash Bee, and instead of doing our normal 2-12 1/2" blocks, we each did 8-6 1/2" blocks, using Whitney's own tutorial which worked like a charm. She'll also have some chartreuse/emerald blocks in the mix, even though I concentrated on the orchid and aqua/turquoise. You may notice some remnants from my Pantone Challenge project. {wink, wink} These were really fun to make too.

So that's it for March! Meanwhile, I've received all my blocks back for my February FAITH Circle quilt and am excited to get that top pieced! I also need to make a plan for the Mid-Century Modern bee for April. Fun stuff.

February Bee & Charity Blocks

Time to report in on this month's bee blocks! The first set I tackled were Crosspatch (aka Roman Cross) Blocks for Kelli/Kelli W of That Stash Bee. The block is from Vintage Quilt Revival by Katie Clark Blakesley, Lee Heinrich, Faith Jones, and though I was intimidated at first, once I got sewing, they went together easily. What made them unique was the combo of regular and paper piecing.

 

Carla/lollyquiltz of Mid-Century Modern Bee asked for the same block and palette she did last time around, while adding in some white. She's going to have a really nice-sized Church Dash quilt when she's done! There's something about this that I just love, and I think it's one of my favorite traditional-done-modern blocks!

As host of FAITH Circle this month, I already shared my block request - Vice-Versa blocks designed by Gen-X Quilter. But I thought you might enjoy seeing what my bee-mates are up to! (That's my sample block in the first square.) Looking good, huh?

1. Vice Versa BOM January blocks, 2. vice versa block, 3. Faith Circle, February, 4. Faith Circle, February, 5. Feb 2014 blocks done, 6. Do. Good Stitches Faith February 2014, 7. February Vice Versa blocks ~ Faith Circle, 8. Faith Circle, February

And these last blocks are a bonus - Urban Chicken blocks for a SMQG charity quilt. The original block is by Michelle Freedman/Design Camp, and I was helped along by the photos posted by Wombat Quilts.

So that's it for February - and of course my list is already growing for March!