A Whirlwind of Summer Block Piecing

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Toward the end of 2009, I joined a second quilting bee, the 2010 Round Robin Quilt Bee.  At the time, I didn't have so much "real" work on my calender, so it sounded like a great opportunity to learn more quilting skills with the pieced block designs that were coming my way. 
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However, have things changed!  My work calendar has filled up since the late spring, and my bee work fell a bit behind.  There was a bit of a glitch with the round robin schedule, and I ended up with five blocks to piece in May and June.  I'm new at this traditional piecing, and the prospect of sewing each block -- five! -- with the members waiting on me was quite worrisome. 
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Along with figuring out each bee member's instructions, I must coordinate fabrics, and you know how I worry over getting fabrics just right.  So, all my free creative time the last six weeks has been spent bee block piecing.  The one at the top of the post was my May block for the One Block Over bee.  Carol's batik block above turned out stunning!  I don't think I could do that again. 

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You might notice a common theme among several of these blocks -- half quarter squares -- triangles!  I've got my game on now, though, especially since noticing a lovely little stitch option on my machine called "1/4-inch." 
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My goodness, I've been tediously marking out 1/4" lines to guide me for the last six months and not quite getting a perfect block.  How long have I had my machine??  Well, things are looking up on that seam requirement now, as it's an automatic function for me.  The snail's trail block came out exactly right. 
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This Christmas star block finished up the backlog but had me in fits, even with the new found stitch option.  Two of the corner blocks were cut and sewn three times!  Things were so bad, I nearly ran out of the neutral color and had only small strips.  I sewed a couple pieces together to create a 3" block just so I could have new triangles for the "bear claw (?)" corners.  Please see the lovely closeup below for a sweet ending to my mad summer of piecing!  Next up:  A paper pieced block for Doris.  The skills building continues! 
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My Mailbox Makes Me Happy

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.There have been more than the usual bills and junk mail in my box lately! My One Block Over Bee blocks are coming in from all over. I could never have guessed how beautiful they would be. You know how I worry over getting things right. I'm so glad I bought that bundle of fabric for the scrappy scarf-a-long I never made! And now to see the color combinations and style the bee participants are sewing up is so wonderful and inspiring. 



I love this warm color combination at the top of the post sewn by Amy, and the same coziness was created by Shelly.  Then, on the creative side, I was so surprised to see Angie's shooting star design (right below).  All of them with the same pattern!  I'll show more on the next post, but you can check the bee blog link above to see them all. 



Yesterday I was at my LQS picking up some home dec fabric I need and was drawn to a specific set of fabrics. Isn't it funny when that happens? One is surrounded by every color and texture and potential sewing ideas, and something special or familiar just draws you in. The bolts had colors that felt so perfect together to me. I slid the bolt forward and saw that it was Riley Blake again. It may have been from the Just Dreamy line.  I was wishing I had one of the blocks with me so I could compare colors and see if I should buy some of that line to add to the additional blocks I'll be making to get this quilt a bit bigger than the pattern calls for. I'm thinking I may not sash this quilt in the spring green Kona cloth that you see in the corner blocks of the frame but use a tone-on-tone calico out of that set. Something new to obsess about now …..

So, last week, Margaret at the Q4 (I coined that nickname for her -- hope she doesn't mind) invited folks to participate in a Round Robin Quilt Block Exchange. I couldn't help myself and joined it. The leader is looking for one or two more participants, if she hasn't already found them. If you are interested, go here to the 2010 Round Robin Block Exchange and let Alicia of lucyquilts know. You can read all about it there. 

Okay, laundry, kitchen, general pick-up around the house, clocking in at noon … Uh, I think I have to run back to Bruegger's right now and get a DC refill for strength!

Busy With My Bee

The blocks I chose to have made for the One Block Over Bee are beginning to show up on the bee blog as well as in the mail! You'll have to pop over there and see. So I wouldn't be last to create my own choice of block, I got to it last night and finished this morning. I wanted to have it done before bed, but this one block took me a couple of hours and at 12:45 AM, I found that I had sewn the last strip on backwards. My fingers were just too numb to fix it at that point, so all was finished this morning. I'm so glad 11 others are making a block. I'm not sure I would want to make all these myself. The thought of the sashing and putting them all together makes me a little nervous, too. 
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Did you participate in Jacquie's "Joy In The New Year" WIP Challenge? I did and got four out of five projects done. I finished one and a half of the quilt tops for my guys. I'll be showing those soon when complete. Jacquie was giving out prizes for those who participated in the challenge and completed projects. The pillow above was my contribution to her prize cache. I was hoping to win the #1 prize of her neighborhood quilt, but another lucky gal won that little beauty.

Otherwise, my days have been filled with work and embroidery design files and still sorting out the sewing room. It's soooooo coooollllldddd here! We expect a bit of snow tonight, but I hope it is just a dusting. South Carolina + Snow = Way Too Much Trouble! Plus, our home and neighborhood are older and all the phone and electric lines are above ground. If we lose power, it's such a bother. Okay, I'm off to dry my hair and get dressed to clock in at my desk at noon -- I have to look good for myself! Plus, I need to run up to Bruegger's for a DC refill and over to Zaxby's for a Grilled Chicken Salad for my lunch all before my shift starts.

Words Of The Day

Inspiration struck recently when I saw similar pillows in a magazine. I thought, "I can do that!" So, I did. I saw the "love" style pillow in the magazine. As I was creating the embroidery file, I wondered what other words would work alone on a pillow, and "nest" came to mind.





By a happy accident, as I laid out the finished pillow covers to iron, I read, "LOVE nest." That works. Someone can order a set of words to create a special message for the living room or bedroom.

You can find the "LOVE" and the "nest" in my calicodaisy etsy shop. Check out the pretty little dragonfly accents floating around the words.

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At the same time I was working on the words above, I designed a number series - you've seen them around, I'm sure: No. 1, No. 2, etc. I just haven't decided yet what fabric or color to use. Generally, I see them in an off-white with black embroidery, but maybe a series of colored fabrics and black or white embroidery would look nice, too. Any suggestions?

Little Bird, Little Bird, Fly Away Home!

One little bird needs an address to fly home to. Judy wins the drawing! Thanks for all your comments. The birds are so easy to make, and you can find the pattern in Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I bought the book when it first came out just because of the birds sitting on top of a stack of fabric, however, there are a number of great little projects you'll find in there as well.

Oh, lots of work here today and so diverse that I don't even know where to start. Well, actually, I do. At the mall of all places. I have to pick up a pantsuit for my daughter, then to the hospital for p.r.n. work, then some applique and embroidery work, then work on a computer project, and then finish a set of fingerless mittens for an order made before Christmas while I sit for two to three hours this evening at a mock trial scrimmage, and then, I guess, it will be back to bed where I will think, "Where did this day go, and what did I accomplish?"

Holiday Reindeer Pillow and Other WIPs

This weekend, I was busy with the WIPs again. I have so many different ideas going on and have purchased so many different components, I had to put the big STOP sign up on myself and get to it. I am in three holiday shows in November. Unbelievable! I really don't like doing those, but since I was invited, I thought I should get involved. What's hard is most of my work is custom, so to think up ready-made items to sell is difficult, since the possibilities are endless. I've made more buttons, some coffee cozies with freehand decor, tissue holders (these are crazy easy and so cute!), holiday pillow covers, and ... I can't think of anything else in the stack at the moment, but I am finishing up the cottage quilt blocks for Freda's Hive Swap.

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Above is a personalized reindeer pillow cover I finished. He's so cute and could be done up girly, too. I've posted a custom order listing for a personalized pillow cover in my shop. This can be ordered with a choice of fabric color for the antlers and, obviously, thread color for the personalization. I think it would be nice with "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" around the design or below it.

For the sewists, I have a listing for just the fabric panel with your choice of coloring and personalization. I think this is sort of like ordering special scrapbooking stationary or your fabric designs from Spoonflower. Ordering a personalized panel with your choice of design and wording can be a terrific way to enhance your project.

Check out my candy-striped piping. It sure pops, and the fabric was dizzying when ironing out. I've listed some of this in the etsy shop, too. This listing is for 64" of piping, enough to go around 12-14" square pillow.

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Well, I think this will be my last post before leaving for Houston on Wednesday to go the Quilt Fest! I need to do a little shopping for myself, organize the house a bit more for my family, and finish up some of the above-mentioned projects that need to get out. I'm hoping to meet some of my blog friends there; I've already got a couple of you loaded in on my cell phone. Plus, I get to stay with a friend from college while in Houston, and we haven't seen each other in nearly 20 years! Amazing, and yet it seems like yesterday.

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I hope you have a good week and weekend. I'll be back next week with photos of the market and a list of my must haves for next year!

Easy Sewing Projects for You!

While blogging last week, I came across two places listing great, easy, sewing ideas for your creative holidays. Check out the Sew, Mama, Sew blog. Everyday all month, this blog has great ideas for your gift list or your just-to-try list. They also have a fabric store (!!) on line at Sew, Mama, Sew. Very cool fabrics you don't necessarily see at the regular stores.

The other place listing easy projects is Cotton Spice. There is a super easy pot holder idea - made from a dishtowel - on one of the days. Try this link: Potholder tutorial. Really, you should try it for yourself.

I made the sweet jacket pictured above. It is an 18-24 month size. It took just a few minutes to make -- really. It is cut out on two folds, so there are only the arm seams to sew and the binding around the neck. However, you have to take the pattern to Kinko's and have them increase the page up to the proper size. I found the pattern in the Bend The Rules Sewing book by Amy Karol. She has really fun ideas in that book. Seasoned seamstresses and novices alike will enjoy the ideas.

Try something new this season. I am working on my garland for the garland swap. I have already received mine from my swap partner, though the send date isn't until 11/16. I have some glittering to do still.