Progress!

I'm on a roll to finish up some UFO's that are taking up room in my sewing closet. Progress was made with getting this sampler put together and ready for the quilting....

 These blocks represent one year of swapping with quilters literally all over the country. Each quarter during 2010 I participated in the 3X6 Mini Sampler Bee on Flickr. I made and received 6 blocks every 3 months...thus the name "3x 6 Bee".

 The 3x6 Bee is unique in that each participant chooses a block to make for that quarter. She then makes and sends that same block in the six different color ways picked by the other participants. I was consistent in selecting aqua/green and white every quarter. By sewing up a practice block in my colors each quarter and then making a couple of extras, I had enough to create this 72"x 83" inch quilt top.

 After mulling it over, I decided to sew the blocks side by side without sashings and then added a six inch white border all the way around. My plan is to make a scrappy aqua/green binding to tie it all together.

I'm thinking of calling the quilt "Swimming Pool Sampler" because the colors remind me so much of swimming pool tiles every time I look at it!

Sew Day

Yesterday I took a sew day. (That's kind of like a sick day for quilters, I think.) Over the weekend, I did a bunch of yard work. It wore me out...thus the sew day! I got a lot done...

 Being a bit behind on my Bee blocks (Say that three times really fast!), I concentrated on getting caught up. What fun I had!! This is my last month to participate in the Kansas City Scrappy Bee with the MQG. Beth sent fabrics in grey, orange and yellow and asked for any block with a flying geese design. I added a few scraps from my stash and sewed this Circle of Geese paper-pieced block. This is my second effort at making this block and I will say that it is a little like child birth.....the end result is so wonderful that you forget the pain involved...(eventually!) Whew!

 After that major effort, I treated myself to something fast and easy...this wonderful scrappy Japanese x and + block for Amy (better known as Mrs. Schmenkman) This was her request for the May block in the One Block Over Bee. She had even cut all the fabrics and mailed them so all I had to do was sew! I'd love to sometime make a quilt with this block using my scraps. Love it! Here's a teaser of what it would look like all set together and the tutorial.

 Next up, I needed to create two house blocks for May and June in the Calendar of Houses Bee. Here's what I came up with for May, using two of my favorite Sherbet Pips fabrics. See the polliwogs in jars on the window sill? Gardening, frogs, pretty weather and little girls swinging...that's May! (I left out the rain and tornadoes!) Hope you like it, Linda!

 For June, I decided to go with a bird house theme. (Did you know I'm nutty for birds?) I used a large, pretty vintage button to make the door on the house. This design for Sandy was a snap to make using one of my favorite bird fabrics as the background. I wish now that I'd used a stronger color for the base of the house to sit on. The pink cherries gets a little lost. Sorry!

Look what I'm up to today...sorting and swapping all of the wonderful I Spy Charms that have been arriving at my address over the last few weeks. Around 45 quilters are participating with a grand total of 125 sets of charms. There are 20 charms in each set. If you do the math, that's a BUNCH of charms!!  This might take some time....I better get started! Stay tuned!

 Good-bye May!  Hello, June!!

Mail Bag

Have you heard the rumor that the U.S. postal service may discontinue Saturday deliveries? I don't want that to happen, so have been doing my part to keep the mailbags full! I made a trip to the post office just yesterday to mail off a few of my Bee blocks before the end of the month.

OUT:

This paper-pieced hexagon Christmas Flower went to New York City for Victoria in the

 One Block Over Bee. She sent the reds and we added greens from our own stashes.

Lynette in Wisconsin gets this March themed house in the Calendar of Houses Bee.I like to add a little selvage to the blocks.

 I didn't actually mail this one, but thought I'd show it anyway. Angela gave us blue and cream fabrics and asked for a six inch wonky star. I was happy to oblige! Angela and I are part of the  MQG Kansas City Scrappy Bee. I'll be seeing her soon, I hope.

IN:

My mailbox has been full with some fun stuff lately too!

I came across some Katie Jump Rope fabrics and decided to treat myself.  You may have noticed that I've already used a couple of them in the Bee blocks above. 

These other items are very special, as well!

The Sherbet Pips charm pack contains some of the cutest fabric I've seen. I keep thumbing through the squares, picking out my favorites and dreaming up ways to use the fabric once it becomes available in April. 

Do you know what this book is?

It's the Blogt2Print copy of the 2010 Lollyquiltz posts that my husband gave to me for my birthday! Wasn't that nice of him to let me  order it! If you haven't seen one of these "diaries" yet, I'll just tell you that it is a fun treat! You can choose your own cover color and design, as well as pictures for the front and back. My dedication reads, 

"To Megan for talking me into starting a blog....and to all of the lovely, invisible and visible quilty friends I've gained because of it!"

(Megan is my lovely daughter.)

This last jewel that arrived in the mail two days ago, is my favorite! You can get a glimpse of who sent it to me on the card packed in the shipping box. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow since this post has gotten a little long already. I'm saving the best for last!

Up Close And Personal

Have you seen the Parisville collection by Tula Pink? I don't mean, just on line, although that is certainly lovely enough. No, I'm talking about Up-Close-And-Personal seen it? If not, then you are missing out on some real color therapy for the winter doldrums, my friends! 

 I joined a new virtual quilting bee for 2011 called One Block Over. Michelle has the month of February and chose these beautiful prints  and a scrappy block to use them on.

 Using the strips that she mailed us and squares of muslin, we were to create four foundation blocks, and then join them to make a large 18.5 inch square. The center of the big block was purposely left with just the muslin foundation, onto which we were to raw edge applique the main featured fabric. What fascinating and imaginative fabric this is!

Here is the tutorial for making this fun block if you'd like to make one for yourself.

 Michelle thought it would look nice if we used some pretty stitching for the applique. Admittedly, I had to dust off the fancy stitch button on my Bernina as it is a little neglected! Somehow, I have amassed quite a collection of purple thread. Weird, because I seldom even buy purple fabric. The spools were all waving their hands and shouting "Choose me!" 

The one named Violet got to come out and play!

Okay, so now that I have actually touched these pretties and they have tempted me thoroughly, I'm going to be wanting to add a few to my stash. 

One of the benefits of joining a quilting bee is getting to play with fabrics that we might not own ourselves. 

Yet, anyway!!

Beezy

I've been beezy sewing up some blocks for my Bee pals.......................

 Here's the January house block for Calendar of Houses Bee. Terrie in California gets this one. She says it snows in her neck of the woods of CA, so hopefully this is still appropriate.

(The block doesn't look very square, but in person, it really is....I swear!) I decided to add the tree and bird after I had the block all finished. I should have realized that it would need a little color in that corner.... Better plan ahead better next time to avoid pulling out so much hair! Argh!!

 The One Block Over Bee is a new one for me this year. First up is Michele in SC who sent us these pretty Meadowsweet fabrics and asked for 14 inch wonky log cabins. She's also requested that the solid lime and aqua fabrics be present in each block. It was lovely to get to work with springtime colors!

My little batch of Kleenex Box play is growing.  I'm beginning to think about how I might set them together.  Thank you Victoria for your  inspiration of playing with fabric for 15 minutes each day! (My 15 minutes usually gets multiplied, I'm just sayin'!)

Good-Bye December

Determined not to sew on Christmas blocks in January, I've been working the last few days to finish up the virtual bee blocks due by the end of the month.

Jessica gave us jade green and dark red fabric and asked for any Christmas themed block. I chose to make a couple of angels for this KCMQG Scrappy Bee. Can you spot the difference in the two blocks (other than the obvious color choices)?

Tammy's theme for the Nittany Block Bee is trees....Christmas trees, to be exact. She sent grey Kona background and some pieces of various green fabrics and a red, inviting us to add some from our own stashes to add variety to her project.

A couple of little redbirds somehow managed to join the snowy scene. I thought they added a little Christmas cheer, don't you! With December coming to a close, I'll also be saying a sad goodbye to the Nittany Block Party. I've made some good blogging friends as a result of participating in this virtual bee over the last year. If you haven't tried swapping blocks with other online quilters.....2011 might be a great year to begin!

 These beautiful blocks were all  made for me by the members of the Nittany Bee during my month last March. I have big plans to get these lovelies all set together by spring.

2011, I'm looking forward to lots of sewing fun!

Scrappy Bee Blocks

Last evening, I spent some time in my sewing room turning out some easy Square- in- a Square blocks for Hannah's month in the KCMQG Scrappy Bee. 

 Hannah requested the blocks to be 10 inches finished, with no more than three rings. 

  Hopefully, her request that the blocks not be "wonky" does not include "off-center" because that's certainly the way this one turned out!

Hannah included the grayish-tan snowflake fabric and asked us to use our stash to create blocks in a lovely grey, yellow, white and light blue color scheme.  It's going to be a wonderful quilt, I think!

 Have you seen this magazine in the stores yet? I tried hard to win one during all the recent give-aways but, sadly didn't. Instead, I picked one up on a recent trip to a quilt shop. There are some fun blocks inside to tempt you....if you need tempting, that is!

 This one caught my eye.  I've been seeing pod shaped blocks all over the Internet lately.

 Here's another using curve shapes.  As you know, I'm being drawn to faux circles lately!

And, if you've been collecting selvages, here's a charming block that would be fun to create.

But don't spend all your days inside sewing. Be sure to enjoy these last days of autumn. Winter's on it's way and the leaf angels will soon turn to snow angels!  

Turkey Lurkey

We had a turkey spend about 30 minutes in our yard this summer.  He's sure hiding now! I was thinking about that bird pecking around in the woods when I created this block for the Calendar of Houses Bee that I belong to.

The turkey was a labor of love, I'll just say.  The only pattern for a turkey that I could find in my books was for a  pieced turkey lurkey that was supposed to end up a 14 inch block or something.

But, the little diagram accompanying the pattern was the just the size I was needing so I measured the little pieces in the picture and made up a mini bird.  It took a while.  But, he's kinda cute, don't you think. (You better say "yes"!)

Inside the house, Mom and the little girl are busy getting the feast ready...just like I should be doing.  Oh, I guess I better go buy a turkey tomorrow since I don't think Tom is coming back to my yard anytime soon!

Outside the house, the wind is blowing and....wait!  Is that snow I see blowing in? I sure hope not! I'm not ready for winter weather quite yet. Are you? 

The Heart of the Matter

My daughter-in-law, Kodie, is in love with this poster because her husband (my son, Adam) had open heart surgery on Friday to replace his bacteria damaged aortic valve with this little beauty! Adam is recovering well and we are thanking God for his watch over him through this crazy merry go round ride!

Many of you have asked about Adam over the last weeks after this post about his scary illness and hospitalization. Thank you so much for your concern and prayers for our family.
There's a long road of recovery ahead, but the modern miracles of medicine are definitely on our 'Thankful list' this year.


Between hospital visits, I came home to find the last of the six blocks for this quarter's 3X6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee exchange. 

My colors, green and turquoise,  have been the same for each quarter. Aren't these fun and lovely? Thank you Rachael, Michelle, Tami, Jill, Ellen, and Melissa, for sharing your talent with me.  In just a few months my green and turquoise sampler quilt will become  a reality! 

Bee Blocks

Whenever I make blocks for one of my virtual bees, I am hoping that the receiver gets a big bright smile on her face when she opens up the package! Here are a couple of blocks that I just finished for my quilting friends........

Beth belongs to the Nittany Block Party and is making a lovely quilt of half-square triangles. She mailed squares of white Kona and enough prints to make one block. She asked us to make a second block using fabrics from our stash.  This quilt will be a bucket load of eye-candy. She plans to set them side by side.  I can't wait to see the finished product!

Twelve gals from my Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild are participating in a block exchange each month.  Paula gave each of us a fat quarter of the cute blue bird fabric and asked for a wonky star as her September block.  I had fun digging into my orange fabrics to create this twelve inch block.  You may recall that I bought some of this exact bird fabric a while back to make a dress for Lula, my grand daughter.  Didn't happen!  Oh, well, there's always next spring. Maybe Jane will want one too! 

September Already!?

Can it really be? I really had to get my act together to finish these blocks in time to meet the deadline of mid-September! That's when the blocks for the 3rd quarter of the  Virtual 3X6 Sampler Bee are supposed to be mailed out. I'm just under the wire and plan to visit the post office tomorrow. Before they travel, though, I want to give you a peek.

Does anyone know the name of this block?  Let me know if you do! I must have changed my mind 3 times before finally deciding to make this fun block for my 6 virtual bee members.  Actually, I was walking through a LQS and looked up to see a quilt made using this type of whirligig.  I got out a piece of paper and sketched it. My blocks are smaller and have a border. Do you ever do this? Oh, dear, now I'm feeling like I cheated.  What do you think?


Well, anyway.  Here they are.  Out of the six other members, four chose orange as one of their colors. What are the chances, I ask you!  The other two said, "Surprise me!". What are the chances, I ask you!

                  Tami from Nebraska wanted gray, green and orange and loves modern fabrics.

Ellen from Georgia chose orange, white and aqua.

Melissa from California is making a quilt for her 21 year old brother-in-law and wanted blue, gray and orange.

Rachel loves fresh modern looks and chose orange, white and aqua.  Hopefully, this block isn't as crooked as it looks in the picture! Ewww....

Jill, who likes bright happy fabrics and patterns was one of the "Surprise Me" gals. Can't get brighter or happier than red!

t

The other "Surprise Me" block goes to Michelle in California who is collecting blocks with a gender-neutral or boyish bent for making up some baby quilts to add to her stash. These owls are one of my favorite fabrics from the last year!


Well, that's what I've been up to.  That, and making another lap quilt to send to New Hope Homes in Rwanda.  I'll show you that soon.  It's a real stash buster  pattern!


In other important news...................

                                                                    HE'S A SHE!!!!!!!
                                               (Good thing we didn't name him, I mean her, Ralph!)