May Bee Blocks

After cutting it close on timing with my bee blocks last month, I really hoped to get them taken care of in good time this month. So that's been this week's first order of business.

I figured I'd take care of what I perceived as the hardest first - the Anna Marie Horner feather requested by Susan/PatchworknPlay of Mid-Century Modern. I loved her choice of color - orange and turquoise  and I was able to find enough scraps in my basket to use each fabric just once. Good news: this wasn't hard at all! And it's big - finishing at 9 1/2"x17"!


Next up was FAITH Circle. Tackling Debbie/Blue.Ridge.Girl's scrappy triangles by Film in the Fridge meant another foray into the scrap basket, which was awesome - it is still SO full! These blocks finish at 6.5"x9", so we each are making 4.


Considering it's my month for the Always Bee Learning Bee - which is coming along quite nicely, thank you - all I had left was That Stash Bee. Blueberry Patch Cathy asked for depression blocks. I had made these blocks once before, but very colorful and scrappy, so it was quite a switch to make them with gray and black. (We were told to "think black and white tv!") So many of my favorite fabrics in this set.


So that's it for this month - yay! Cross those off the list.

52 lists in 52 weeks//week 44 and Other Such Randomness

This week's list assignment actually is quite helpful!

In April I want to.....

As to other randomness . . . 

I love when website names tell you exactly what you're looking for. (ie. I bought hubcaps once from www.ineedahubcap.com. Serious.) Anyway, when cleaning out my magazine rack last weekend, I was thumbing through one and noticed http://www.heatpressbattingtogether.com/ and had to check it out. Has anyone tried this product?? Inquiring minds want to know. . .

And if you're participating in the Zakka Style Sew-Along, or even just bought the book for future use, be sure to note the errata list referenced on flickr today . . .

I was so excited to come across this block, which was the inspiration for my scrappy depression blocks! Now I can properly give credit to Ryan Walsh, of Ryan Walsh Quilts.

1. Buzz Cuts for Andrea

Have you been following the Fat Quarterly Modern Madness 2012?? Starting with 64 of quilty blogland's favorite fabrics, it's down to Ruby by Bonnie & Camille for Moda Fabrics and Echo by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics. Wow! There's been several rounds when I was pretty surprised by the results! There's still time to vote!

And lastly, in the spirit of full reveal and all, if it seems that I made alot of blocks for March's Modern Blocks Bee, that's because I {somehow, crazily} made my initial blocks with the wrong background! I just couldn't sleep until I made up a new block and sent it off. (Not totally true, but it did really bother me!) 

"Pathways" designed by Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr

Enough randomness for one day - better get back to marking things off my list!

Finish-A-Long First Quarter Finishes

Back in early January, Rhonda from Quilter in the Gap began a Finish-A-Long that had my name written all over it! {see my post about it here} The simple goal was to list projects from 2011 that you would seriously like to get finished in the first quarter of 2012. I made a list that was short, and hopefully doable. And I confess this commitment niggled my brain many times as I veered off onto other projects. But in the end, I persevered and can claim a 100% finish rate - big whew!

This set of Color Block placemats were a Christmas gift for my coworker, and as of January 2, I had 2(!) of 8 done. (The pattern, by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Fransson!, can be found here.)

Within a week, I had my first finish of the year.

Next on the list were these scrappy depression blocks from Scrapbuster Swap Round 3.

As I showed off earlier in the week, the addition of scrappy sashing and border resulted in this twin-size quilt, which was donated yesterday in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Holden Village, an ecumenical retreat center in the mountains of Eastern Washington. {a whole quilt story blogged here}

Lastly, was my Hometown Wild Thing by Thimble Blossoms. I had one block done at the time.

I really enjoyed these pinwheel blocks, and chose solid borders and simple quilting to frame them up. {blogged here}

 

Three for three feels pretty good.

Linking up for the Finish-A-Long's First Quarter Linky Party!

Scrappy Upon Scrappy

Almost a year ago, I dipped my {quilting} toe into the pond of swapping, and joined the Scrapbuster Swap's Round 3 on flickr, hosted by Kreated By Kari. In this round, we were making scrappy depression blocks. I remember being very excited to be in my first swap (thanks to Marci's encouragement!) and proudly sent off 10 blocks.

I even did a little extra "mod tree block" as a thank you to Kelsey.

By August, I had gotten all my swap blocks back! (There are also two in this dozen that I made and kept for myself.)

Marci and I did a little private swapping, and now I had 15. 

 

The blocks unfortunately dilly-dallied in my fabric closet for several months. Eventually I came across this picture. (And if anyone knows the source, please let me know so I can credit appropriately!) Updated: I found the block on flickr and am pleased to give credit to Ryan Walsh of Ryan Walsh Quilts!

The light-bulb lit up, and I decided how I wanted to pull these blocks together - adding scrappy 'borders' to make the blocks larger. (My original plan was to set the blocks 4x4, so I made one more block. In the end, I settled on 3x5, so one lone block is stitched into the backing.)

Even though I posted the next couple of pics a few days ago, I'm sharing them again as part of the 'story' of this quilt. Here's the top complete with a scrappy border.

I was really pleased when I was able to catch my first 'stained glass' photo!

Some wavy white quilting and solid KONA Raisin binding and it's done!

All washed up and ready to be shared!

Linking up to the Festival of Scrappiness hosted by Rachel at Stitched in Color! Do check out the festival and be inspired by all things scrappy! Also will be linking up with Rhonda's 2012 Finish-A-Long at Quilter in The Gap, TNT at Happy Quilting, Finish It Up Friday, sew & tell Friday, {sew} Modern Monday, and Fabric Tuesday!


Update 1/29/12: The first quarter of Quilter in the Gap's Finish-A-Long is over! My original post about it is here, and the First Quarter Linky Party is here!

W.i.P. Wednesday

It looks like the thing I do best lately is add more projects to my TO DO list! Yikes. Not much to show for this W.i.P. Wednesday, but I did just barely finish my scrappy depression block quilt. Like just pulled it out of the dryer finished!

Completed projects

Scrappy Depression Blocks - What started as my first swap ever eventually became this quilt! Hope to have a full post with pics later today, in time for the Festival of Scrappiness.

Ongoing projects
Hopscotch - fabrics chosen, 60-degree ruler borrowed. Pretty excited to get going on this! And obviously cutting my own 'jelly-roll' strip

Windows Improv table runner - no progress. In fact I may try going a different route before I decide what I really want to do.

Upcoming projects  
* scrappy Metrolink
* April Modern Blocks Bee blocks NEW
* April do.Good Stitches blocks NEW
* FAITH Circle Pouch Swap NEW
* a quilt to coordinate with my Christmas tree skirt - On a Whim ??
* DS Quilts Doll Quilt Swap project 
* Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap Group Round 4 project 

* Zakka Style Sew-Along projects NEW
* Festival of Half Square Triangles NEW
* tutorial for pieced binding
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .

Three Words

Adventurous.
Trendy.
Clean.

These are the three words I finally settled on to describe my quilting style for the FAITH Circle swap.

Thank you for your kind comments this week as I reflected. It really was a gratifying and insightful exercise.

I was cheered when you loved my scrappy project more than I did. Thankfully, Jessica predicted correctly, and this quilt and I are friends again. 

Linking up with (sew) Modern Monday and Fabric Tuesday.

W.i.P. Wednesday

Since last W.i.P. Wednesday, it's pretty much been all about bee blocks!

Completed projects

Modern Blocks Bee blocks, 4x5 modern Quilt Bee blocks, and do.Good Stitches Faith Circle blocks for March - done! See here and here. Whew! Good to have those all done and mailed, though I enjoyed making them very much!

Ongoing projects
Scrappy Depression Blocks - I feel like I really need to get this one done - yes, for the Finish-A-Long, but really, because I just need to move on. What passion I had for this one is gone. sigh But! I did comple several more blocks - 10 done, 6 to go. Unfortunately I have no idea where to go with them once the blocks are done - sashing or no? borders or no? All TBD.

Windows Improv table runner - Finally getting to this runner that's been on my list for a while. I'm using Malka Dubrawsky's pattern, which I made in solids months ago and really loved. This one's for my cousin, and when she said she liked contemporary, geometric patterns, this one came to mind. So we'll see how I like it as I get further along.

Upcoming projects  
* tutorial for pieced binding NEW
* scrappy Metrolink
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too
* a quilt to coordinate with my Christmas tree skirt - On a Whim ??
* Hopscotch

* Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap Group Round 4 project NEW
* DS Quilts Doll Quilt Swap project NEW

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .

W.i.P. Wednesday

I always look forward to W.i.P. Wednesday - I really enjoy our checking in on each other, while at the same time keeping track of progress. So here's what's been going on in my sewing room this week . . .

Completed projects

A QWERTY quilt - This was my entry in the Modern Mini Challenge.  I really had fun on this mini - you can read all about it here.

More blog goodness - a Tuesday at the Table button - always available in my sidebar.

Ongoing projects
Scrappy Depression Blocks - two more done, 11 to go.

4x5 modern Quilt Bee blocks - I've made "Three Wishes" blocks for two of my bee members, three to go. (Pattern by Jamie Moilanen from "99 Modern Blocks".)

Modern Crosses mini quilt - A new project, and I am loving putting this one together! I was debating leaving it at this (24" inches square), but decided to keep going. At this point, I'm planning on another couple large blocks and 24 small ones. (I used this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew to get started.)

Upcoming projects  
* scrappy Metrolink
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too
* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt

* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin

* Pattern for Mango 

* A light box
* Quilts for siblings #2 and #3

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .

W.i.P. Wednesday

W.i.P. Wednesday is here again already. A busy week has left little time for sewing, but I've made a bit of progress . . .

Completed projects

Sparkle QAL - Pictures of this one have been floating around blogland (and facebook!). It happily resides at my mom's house now.

For the Love of Solids small project - see it here.

And a little redesign of the blog! Very fun!

Ongoing projects
Scrappy Depression Blocks - Two more done, 13 to go.

Modern Mini Challenge quilt - binding in progress! Can't resist showing a little sneak peek!

4x5 modern Quilt Bee blocks - My test block is done {here}, so now I need to get started on blocks for my hive-members!

Upcoming projects  
* scrappy Metrolink
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too
* Modern Crosses mini quilt

* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt
* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin

* Pattern for Mango 

* A light box
* Quilts for siblings #2 and #3

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .

W.i.P. Wednesday

There are lots of odds and ends to report on for this W.i.P. Wednesday.

Completed projects

Hometown "Wild Thing" - This comfy cozy took longer than it should have, but finally it's done!

Solstice Stars Series - My five blocks are done and they were each so fun to do. I loved Faith's post about quilt top layouts, and am now debating what direction to go next. 

Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap project - Loooved working on this little one that is now winging its way to its new home. 

Ongoing projects
Sparkle QAL - Hand-stitching of binding IN progress!

Scrappy Depression Blocks - Three down, 13 to go.

Modern Mini Challenge quilt - let's just say I've started.

4x5 modern Quilt Bee blocks NEW - I've chosen a block, now to get sewing!

Upcoming projects  
* For the Love of Solids small project 
* scrappy Metrolink 
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too 
* Modern Crosses mini quilt

* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt
* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin - starting with this bundle.

* Pattern for Mango 

* A light box
* Quilts for siblings #2 and #3

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .