So Many Blocks - So Little Time!

I am a bad bad bee block person.

My life is kinda turning upside down right now as I am attempting to make some HUGE changes.  So I am now so late and so sorry!

Seriously, I am totally hanging my head in shame over here.

But I am caught up now!

First off the one I was most behind on, do. good stitches.   For September we made green monochromatic blocks with a pop of color that was our choice so I used some scraps of Flea Market Fancy gold seeds.



For October we made rectangle and cube blocks using a pattern from Ashley at Film in the Fridge.



Finally for November we all made mod circles blocks using a pattern from Moda Bake Shop that is just adorable. Sadly though my machine doesn't do a blanket stitch as called for in the pattern so I had to use a satin stitch.



Next up are the blocks for my String Me Along bee. Back in September we were asked to make half square triangle blocks using all Amy Butler fabrics. And can I say how much I LOVE HST!! Seriously, that is easily my favorite quilt block. So simple, so versatile, and so pretty!



Then in October we were asked to make more Nicey Jane string blocks, which are always a pleasure to make. So easy to make, yet it makes wonderfully complex blocks.



Finally we have the Neptune Bee, which uses my favorite fabric line ever!! Oh Tula how I love your fabrics! Back in September we were asked to make hexagon blocks - one hand pieced hexie block and one using the awesome Lee's tutorial. This one took me a while simply because of the hand piecing but I loved making them!



Then in October we were asked for 2 dresden blocks, but sadly I really only had enough time to make 1. This was my first dresden block, and while I love the outcome, I did not like the process. I had so many complications with this block. I couldn't ever get it to lie flat, the circle just barely fit. Overall it was just frustrating.



Finally for November we were asked to make Rain or Shine blocks from Elizabeth Hartman's book Practical Patchwork. I loved making these, and I love the outcome, but good grief I had issues making that center point come together, and still obviously failed. Thank goodness the lady these are going to has plans to cover the centers with some awesome buttons.



Finally I did a little bit of secret sewing!  I tried out an X-block and it was a ton of fun!  Sadly though I think I didn't choose my fabrics very well so the contrast isn't quite what it should be.  Still I do love this block!



So there you have it - 3 months of blocks that I have been working on the last few weeks and have finally finished!



Now I just have to get them mailed out on Monday so they can fly their ways home!



Also this weekend I have finished a quilt and finally photographed another that I actually made in 2008 but is my favorite quilt ever that I want to share with you, so there's more to come!

Innocent...Something or Other Quilt

GIVEAWAY POST HERE!

Have you ever spent $100 on fabric, hours and hours in planning, changing, sewing, ripping, resewing, changing some more, and finally throw your hands up and just finish the quilt just to be done with it??

I now have. 



I finished this quilt a bit ago but just never got around to photographing it.  Lazy?  Me??? Or maybe it just has something to do with my apathy towards this quilt.



This quilt was definitely my first real foray into making an entire quilt improve style.  It started out as a charm square quilt, morphed into a charm square on point quilt, and ended as a charm square on point with sashing quilt with days/weeks of agonizing mental debate over each step.



After every change I made it still just didn't look right and I am still not sure if I got it completely.



I really did love this I first saw this collection of fabric, when the idea popped into my head, while it was making it - but now, I don't know, it's just kinda meh to me.  Either way I am hoping someone loves it because I am donating it to the Texas Wildfire collection.

Also as the title suggests I am totally at a loss as to what to call this quilt.  Any ideas?

Fabric: Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush, Kona Sky, Kona Eggplant, and Kona Windsor

10 years.

10 years.  It's hard to realize it has been this long.  I was just coming out of an 8am archaeology class at UT Austin when I saw a number of students clustered around a huge tv in the pharmacology's lounge area.  I stood there with a bunch of strangers I didn't know, crying, holding hands, and just trying to understand what was happening.  I don't remember any of those people I shared something incredibly profound with them that I will never forget.

*****

I am happy to live in a place that allows me so many freedoms, and the ability to work in a good job and have the time to spend my free hours doing things I love like quilting and sewing.  Last weekend which was Labor day weekend I spent almost all my time sewing for various bees and myself.  I finished a tons of bee blocks and a quilt that I will show you later that I am going to donate to those who have lost everything in the Texas wildfires.

I got caught up on my String Me Along bee and finished Lee's July block and Vicky's August block.






I also got kind of caught up on my Bee Neptune and finished 1/2 of Yolanda's August bock (still working on the hand sewn hexie block) and Julie's September block.








Finally I got my August block done for do. good. stitches!




I am so glad I got all of these blocks done and caught up a bit!  Keep your eyes peeled for a huge giveaway coming up real soon!

And remember to be thankful every day for what you have.

Fabric, Blocks, and A Giveaway! Oh My!

Hello lovlies!

So this past month has been one of insanity in my life.  One complete with life changes, annoyances, long working hours, trips out of town, meeting unbelievable people, and many other things.  So needless to say - I have been a bit busy.  Thus the small absence.

But now things thankfully seem to be back to our regularly scheduled broadcasting and I have time to sew (and buy fabric online) again!

First off - can you believe that I totally missed the release of Tula's Prince Charming in online shops?!  I couldn't!  Bad Tula Troop! Bad!  So I quickly rectified this by ordering a FQ set of the entire line.  Now I just need to get my hands on the lovely lovely voiles.



Also I got my act together and finished my May bee blocks and even got started on a June set! First up is Elizabeth's blocks in my String Me Along bee. She asked for 15" square in a square blocks.  Love making these!



Next up are some crazy blocks for do Good. Stitches May.  These blocks were hard for me even with the tutorial.  I tried so hard to just go with whatever scrap I pulled out next, but I don't think they have enough angles (too many squares) and the sizes of the scraps are a bit all over the place.  Oh well.  Hopefully they can be used and appreciated once the whole quilt is done!



Finally, I worked on the June blocks for do. Good Stitches which were these awesome slanted diamond blocks!  These were so fun and easy to make, the tutorial was super simple, and I cannot wait to see the finished quilt!!



Now onto what you all have been waiting for!

A GIVEAWAY!  

While I was totally absent from the internet this past month I surpassed 10,000 page views, plus the Bella Solids Parade was conducted and concluded!  For the parade I made another of my Cacophony of Color mini quilts with 31 different Bella Solids courtesy of Fat Quarter Shop, which means I have TONS of left overs!!

So the giveaway is for a HUGE STACK of Moda Bella Solids (scrap to over 1/4 pieces) as well as a ziplock bag full of small scraps!



To enter is easy!  Plus you have 3 chances!

1. Leave a comment - it can be anything from a simple howdy to a story about how quilting has caused you to be known in all your LQS to the point that the employees have a picture of you behind the counter so that they know when they see you they are about to have to earn their paychecks by cutting 42 pieces of fabric.

2. Leave an additional comment if you are a follower - new or old - doesn't matter!

3. Leave an additional comment if you participated in any way in the Bella Solids Parade!

Easy right?!  I will leave comments open for a week and will draw a winner next Sunday evening (6.12.11)!

GOOD LUCK!

A Wonky Neighborhood

For this months Do. Good Stitches bee blocks Jolene asked for some wonky houses.

She was inspired by this quilt.

My Neighborhood by A Quilt is Nice

This was the first time I have ever made wonky houses and I was a bit nervous at first but found it pretty fun in the end!  

I loved picking out all the contrasting fabrics, and a few fussy cut pieces and just going for it!  

I just hope the style and colors matches well enough with everyone elses and it makes someone's day once it is sent off to My Very Own Blanket!

Best. Weekend. Ever.

Seriously.

Not only did I get to do a lot of awesome non-crafting stuff like play with a baby bunny, go to a book signing with the AMAZING Patricia Briggs, and hang with one of my best friends, but I also finished all my bee blocks for the month and got new fabrics!

SO PRODUCTIVE!!!

First I worked on a drunk love style block for Beth in my bee String Me Along. She sent some super yummy Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush strips and a bunch of Kona greys!

Then I worked on my row for Liz for the HMQG Round Row! I am loving this traditional indigo and white color scheme!

The only problem I had...well you see I am blond, so even though I did the math I ended up doubling it somehow and cut and sewed enough for 2 rows! Oops!

Also I completed my 2 blocks for the do. good stitches Joy circle. Our leader for this month asked for star blocks in a light colored color scheme so I used charms from Kate Spain's new Central Park line (which I ADORE!) and Sweetwater's Sunkissed line and this tutorial.

Also, I finally got off my butt and created my blocks for the 3x6 Bee! I really hope the girls from Beehive 24 love them!  I especially loved working on the green, yellow, and grey color scheme!

I also got these fabulous fabrics in the mail!! YUM!! 



Anna Maria Horner's Folksy Flannels FQ set.



A FQ set Jay McCarrol's new Habitat line in the plum colorway.

And just to make you go AWWWWWW - this is the new baby bunny  I mentioned way back at the beginning of this post! 

 

Me and the Bunny! I <3 Bunnies!

Sewing Obligations...

Wait...obligations is too strong of a word.

Especially when I enjoy it this much!

So lets call it Happy Sewing for February instead!

This month I worked on Beth's Row Robin for the HMQG!



Her original row is on the left and my addition to it on the right!I adored her fabric choices and it was so easy to pull matching colors for this!

I also made blocks for do. Good Stitches! This month we made Starburst blocks using the amazing Ashley's (from Film in the Fridge) tutorial.



Working on that block on the right was when I managed to have my blond moment of the year. Oops.

Can't wait to get to next month's Happy Sewing! 

Satisfaction!

I love the feeling of finishing a project! So when I finish 3 projects and get a start on a 4th I feel fantastic!

Fist I finished my super late A Little Fabric A Little Chocolate December swap package! And it is now all done, and ready to be shipped out to India!



These are the hand towels I made for my partner from Moda's Arcadia line, which I won from one of Sheree's awesome giveaways!





I also finished my first blocks for do. Good Stitches! For January Jolene asked us all to make these adorable rainbow blocks which I think is going to make the most fun and wonderfully colorful quilt!



And for the virstual quilting bee that I joined, String Me Along, I finished my block for Linda which is an x block. She is making a quilt for her daughter that will match her son's. I think it is going to be such a sweet and wonderful gift! (And sorry for the blurry photo! I didn't realize till I posted it that it was so off and I had already wrapped the block up for mailing!)



I also got a start on Fi's Round Row for the Houston Modern Quilt Guild's Round Robin! I have lots of hexagons to make by Saturday but I think it will be super cute and thus worth it!! I shall share once it's all done!

Hope everyone else had as productive of a sewing weekend as I did!

Me in a Bee!

I joined my first bee! The String Me Along Quilt Bee! So excited! Can't wait to get started come January!

EDITED TO ADD:
Just found out I have been accepted as a stitcher in the do. Good Stitches {Charity Bee}! Every month you make 2 blocks to contribute to a quilt that will be made and donated to charity. My group within the bee -"Joy"- will be donating blankets to My Very Own Blanket, an organization that donates blankets to children in the Foster Care system.  I am so pleased and excited to have been included in this bee for such a great cause!