4x5 bee blocks

Me and my sewing machine spent some quality time the last few days sewing up bee blocks for my hive 15 beemates in the 4x5 modern quilt bee, and I am super thrilled with how they turned out.

I used this tutorial as the basis for these blocks, and altered the dimensions slightly so that each finished square measured 2" and my unfinished block measured 12.5" square.  I toyed with buying the lil twister tool to make these blocks, but I wasn't crazy about the fabric waste it looks like you end up with.  My way was probably the more time consuming way, but still fun and fairly easy to piece together.  By far it was harder to keep the pieces in order than the actual sewing!

This block is for Little Bluebell.  Adrianne requested pink, orange and aqua.  This wasn't a color combo I would have thought of as something I'd like, but this block ended up being one of my favorites!

For creationsbyrachel.  Rachel requested light aqua and light yellow, with some light grey thrown in as well.  I just love this block, the colors are so calming, reminds me of a spa!

For Stitch 'n' Bits.  Rachel requested aqua, yellow and grey, which was a popular color combo in our hive!  Including myself, 3 of the 6 of us requested aqua, yellow and grey.  Could be cause its just so darn pretty :-)

For Charise *.  Charise asked for yellow, red and pink.  I typically don't lean toward pink for myself, but every time I make a block for someone using pink I think, "I should use more pink!"  Just so so pretty.

For Seaside Stitches.  Tina asked for pink, orange and yellow.  Yummy :-)

Hopefully my hivemates are as happy with these blocks as I am!  

WIP Wednesday (8.17.2011}

Before I tell you about what I've been up to, I just want to let everyone know that our dear friend and WIP Wednesday host, Lee has entered one of her adorable fabric design's into  Connecting Thread's fabric design contest!  Her design is called Flourish and is located under the Floral/Botanical section.  You can vote here.  Voting is open through August 31st.  Be sure to hop over and vote for Lee's design!  

As for me, I feel like I've been working on the same few projects for far too many weeks now, and am itching to get things crossed off my list.  Here's what I've been dabbling in this week:

New Projects

Rocco's Garden Fence

These pretty fabrics will soon be turned into a commissioned baby boy quilt.  I love making quilts as gifts, and occasionally will do a commissioned piece for family/friends/coworkers, however my only stipulation is I get to have full (or close to it) creative liberties with what I'm making.  The request was that I use blue and browns, and that the mom is quite "preppy."  I thought these fabrics fit the bill, and will be using Cynthia's Garden Fence block  which I have been dying to try.  Stay tuned!

Completed Projects

DQS 11

I've just about finished doing my happy dance that this mini is finished, and it came together just as I had been picturing in my head!  Now just to make a few little extras, I'm thinking a pincushion and some pin toppers are in order, and this mini should be on its way to it's new home this weekend!  More about this mini here.

In Progress

4x5 modern quilt bee blocks

While I find selecting the fabrics for each of my 5 awesome hivemates blocks my favorite part of the block making process, I have the fabrics cut and 3 of the 5 blocks completed, more on these soon!

This Weeks Stats

New Projects: 1

Completed Projects: 2

In Progress: 7

DQS 11

For the Love of Solids {a modern swap}

4x5 bee blocks

FWQAL

Secret Mini Swap

August Bee Blocks

Rocco's Garden Fence Quilt

UFO Quilt tops (maybe, one day...)

Postage Stamp quilt top

Central Park quilt top

What have you been up to?? Head over to FreshlyPieced and add your WIP!

DQS 11: Completed Paintbox Hexie Mini

I finished up sewing the binding down on this little pretty last night.  I really usually do not enjoy hand sewing binding on, but on these little projects, its the perfect thing to do while vegging on the couch, catching up on our Netflix cue.  Instead of using the usual double fold binding I use on regular quilts, I tried a single fold binding, using this tutorial from verykerryberry.  I really like how slim and non bulky the binding is, I think I will cut the binding maybe at 1 1/2" vs. the 1 1/4" I did for this mini, but all in all I like the look!

The finished quilt measures 17" square, and the center square of "paintbox" hexies measures 11" square.  I didn't follow a pattern in making this, but based my bordered hexie idea off of Lee's tutorial for her Hexing around block, only in miniature.  I'm pretty sure my partner digs this, fingers crossed! 

After spending far to long just looking at the quilt top and waiting for it to just tell me how would be best to quilt it, I decided to go simple, with nice clean echo quilting 1/4" on either side of the borders and horizontal seams of the hexagons, and I'm quite happy with my decision.

Now just to whip up a few extras to add in to my package, I think a pin cushion and some pin toppers are in order. 

Hopefully my partner enjoys!

WIP Wednesday {8.10.2011}

Well, I'm afraid like I mentioned the other day that I don't have all that much to share this week, with all things wedding consuming the weekend, and visiting with out of town family as well, my sewing machine was likely enjoying a much earned break!  Here's what I have been up to...

In Progress

DQS 11

My DQS 11 quilt top has been hanging out on my design wall for the past week or so while I had been internally debating how to quilt it.  I was going back and forth between a nice clean simple echo style quilting, or getting a little more fancy-pants and doing some sort of FMQ either in the borders or over the entire piece.

  After much flip flopping on my decision, I ultimately chose to keep the quilting simple.  The more I looked at it, the more I was set that I wanted the pieced hexagons to be the star of the show, with nice clean "frame" looking borders around it.  Here's a quick pic of the finished quilting.  I should have a finish to show soon, as I just need to hand sew the binding down and make a label for the back.

Secret Mini Swap 

One more sneaky-peek (yes, I know.  I'm a terrible quilty secret keeper).  How about some curved piecing?  Check.  Bright colors?  Double check.  More on this next week!

Farmers Wife QAL

More on this weeks Farmers Wife blocks here.  

This Weeks Stats

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 8

DQS 11

For the Love of Solids {a modern swap}

4x5 bee blocks

FWQAL

Secret Mini Swap

August Bee Blocks

UFO Quilt tops (maybe, one day...)

Postage Stamp quilt top

Central Park quilt top

Be sure to pop over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIPs!

farmers wife blues

It feels like its been eons since I've posted anything, and well, its because I just haven't had anything to show.  We had a family wedding this weekend, which many days last week were spent baking cookies, and attending various wedding related functions.  In case you were wondering, the wedding was wonderful, and the bride loved the double wedding ring quilt I made for them!  The happy couple is now off to Mexico, and I am back down in my sewing room.

I was jonesing for something quick-ish and relatively simple to "finish", and turned to the next two blocks in the Farmers Wife Quilt Along.  Apparently I was feeling quite bluesy when I choose my fabrics for this weeks blocks, but I'm quite happy with both.

Block #22 Corn & Beans

Holy.  Triangles.  44 triangle to be exact.  All pieced into a finished block measuring 6 1/2" square.  That's a lot of teeny tiny triangles.  This block actually pieced together a lot easier than I was anticipating. Aside from a few of those small light blue triangles, the points matched up quite nicely, and for the ones that didn't, I'm ok with it.  I figure it adds character.  The grey is Alexander Henry Heath in Metal, the darker blue is Amy Butler Daisy Chain and the light blue is Monaco by Dena for Freespirit.  

Block #23 Country Farm

I think this block is one of my favorites so far.  It was an easier one to piece together (easier as in much less than 44 triangles!), so that was nice, and everything just matched up with nice perfect points, which was a bonus, as that doesn't happen often!  I sort of haphazardly pulled out these fabrics, and was quite pleased with how well they look together.  There is some Picnics and Fairgrounds by Denyse Schmidt, Central Park, a Freespirit fabric and the grey is a print I picked up on my local MQG's shop hop a few months back.  

All in all a good, yet "blue" Farmers Wife week!  Here are all of my blocks so far:

In peeking ahead, there are many many more teeny tiny triangles in my immediate farmers wife future, more to come next week!

WIP Wednesday {8.3.2011}

It's Wednesday, lets hit it!

Semi-Completed Projects

DQS 11

Not a complete "finish" finish, but I consider a quilt top a quasi finish, and here it is!  I hunkered down in my sewing room Saturday, and didn't come up for air until this top was pieced together.  I'm pretty sure this is right up my partner's alley, she said she liked scrappy...  More on this top here.  I'm stalling a little on finishing this up, as I'm still deciding on the quilting, but a finish finish should be soon!

In Progress

Secret Mini Swap

This has been on my "list" for a few weeks now, but I haven't posted anything about it because, well, its a secret!  I finally have an idea in mind, and I *think* it will work.  Since I'm not super good about keeping crafty projects a secret, I'll share a sneaky peek:

Think schmorgasboard of Kona solids and white.  More on this in the next few weeks!

Farmers Wife QAL

Another 3 blocks down, only 90 more to go!

This Weeks Stats

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 7

DQS 11

For the Love of Solids {a modern swap}

4x5 bee blocks

FWQAL

Secret Mini Swap

UFO Quilt tops (maybe, one day...)

Postage Stamp quilt top

Central Park quilt top

Be sure to head over to Freshly Pieced and add your WIP!

an update from the farm

After missing last week, I was super eager to get back in the saddle and put together some more blocks for Farmers Wife QAL.  To stay "on track" the goal is to make two blocks per week, with it taking about a year to make all 111 blocks.  I have been making more than two blocks a week, which seems to work for me, as then I am able to skip a week when need be, and still feel "on track".  Here are this weeks blocks:

Block #18 Century of Progress

This block technically should have been done last week, but the templates must have mysteriously grown legs and walked away.  No seriously, I would swear I printed them out, and vaguely remember cutting out those triangles.  Anyways, I skipped over this block last week, and here it is this week.  

I have to say, while its not my favorite, its slowly growing on me.  I think its because I like pattern and symmetry.  While I suppose those pink triangles are symmetrical, they just seem randomly placed to me.  Especially when you turn the block on point.  So its just "eh" for me.  I also wasn't crazy about the fabrics, but they are also growing on me.  The orange is Robert Kaufman Metro Living, the yellow is Sunkissed by Sweetwater for Moda, and  the pink is a random fabric I picked up on my latest trip to my LQS. 

Block #20 Churn Dash

I actually like this block, nice and simple, but terribly horrible fabric selections on my part.  Really, what was I thinking.  The green totally blends in with the brown, and all you see are turquoise triangles on the corners.  Oh well. I don't dislike it enough to redo it.  The brown is from Central Park by Kate Spain, the green is an Anna Maria Horner Good Folks Print  and the turquoise is scraps from the binding of my DWR quilt.

Block #21 Contrary Wife

This was another super easy block to put together.  Nice clean and simple.  The greeny-yellow and background fabric is more Central Park and the purple is Joel Dewberry Aviary 2.  

Here are all 21 blocks I have completed so far.  This week's blocks were pretty simple.  I peeked ahead, and next weeks blocks look like a doozy.  Lots and lots of teeny tiny HSTs...