December Fabric

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone. Am I the worst bee leader or what?! My fabric for December is now officially 24 days late. You are all so sweet to not harass me about it. I'm hoping that you were all so busy crafting for Christmas that you're relieved to not have any additional work to do.

I already have 2 sets of completed blocks from my other two bees, so I'm perfectly happy to skip my month. I would actually be very relieved to not have a whole other, new set staring me in the face and making me feel guilty.

What do you guys think? Are you okay with that?

Anita, I haven't forgotten about you. I'm doing your blocks as soon as we get back from our Christmas trip.

Enjoy your holidays, everyone.

Katie

Big Oops

Good morning:

I made a mistake on my instructions. Please divide the square of kona into 4....not two as I indicated on my blog.

If you have already made the blocks, or are in process with just two...do not worry! I'm not. I just wanted to clarify for those who hadnt started.

this is me, in a big hurry.....grin

September Quilt WIP

Hello Everyone!! I'm just checking in and sharing my progress. Here are all of the blocks so far! I think this quilt is going to be great.


I've received blocks from Balinda, Kellie, Margaret, Anita, Shelly, Ruth & Liz. If you've sent blocks and I haven't mentioned you please let me know. I tried to organize my sewing room, now I don't know where anything is! I may have put your blocks in a different spot. Anyone who still has blocks to send, I'm in no rush, take your time.

Spiderweb blocks for Anita

Same blocks, rotated differently.

Hope you like them!

November-a little early

Hello Fresh Comfort 2!

I am excited to finally be getting to my month! I would like the blocks to be a string block. Here is a link to a great online tutorial. One thing that I have discovered as I have started making these blocks is to do a quick backstitch at the beginning and ending of each strip-this helps to keep it from pulling apart when you take of the backing paper. I used an old phone book for the foundation, but any light weight paper will work.

The width of each strip can be varied and feel free to put as many or as few strips on each side of the center as you like. I just want the center strip to be the kona snow and to start out as 1 inch. I would like the size of the blocks sent back to me to be 8.5 inches square. Please feel free to add any additional fabrics to these blocks that you would like. I am not worried about having modern fabrics/vintage linens or brighter/softer fabrics mixed together.

I sent the packages in the mail today, I am a little early so I thought I would go ahead and get them off. I am in no hurry, this quilt is kind of a long-term project for me :)

If you feel the desire, I have sent enough fabric to do 2-3 blocks. This is going to be a bed quilt for my king sized bed so I can use all the help I can get!

Thanks so much!!!

Liz

Hello! it is the deliquent

Hey everyone. I am alive.

I believe that all should have received their blocks..and mine for October is in the mail. Don't worry about a timing on this one, I don't have one. I apologize for the delay in getting this out. It took me a few days to get some measurements worked out.

I want to apologize for not being present. I'm not sure I could have anticipated this year, father's death, followed by annoying months of my step mother's issues, then my mom started having strokes and stroke like symptoms. So then I was in Phoenix far more than I had ever imagined. And then I would come back and try to catch up with work..just to have it all go to pieces in an instant. And then we were lucky enough to have our basement flood in August. Just like all the other Central Iowa folks. What a mess! And since life was so unstressful, my migraines were completely unmanageable. Some weeks I was having one/day. Luckily I was referred to Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago..and wow, what a difference in my life, just since August. Who knew that after 15 yrs someone could make that big of a difference? I'm hopeful that this winter is better. I certainly never imagined that this would be my midlife crisis.

I've named my quilt Chocolate Cherry Mint. I'm asking you to do spider web quilt blocks for me. My inspiration for this block is here. Please follow the basic directions here--with my modification explanations here.

I've included a letter with details in the packages. please let me know if you have any Q's. I can be reached at anita (dot) maherlewis (at) gmail (dot) com.

September blocks for Jaclyn

Done and in the mail today!

September blocks for Jaclyn

I hope you like them, not quite as perfect as yours, I hope they work!

September's Blocks

How about using school supplies while sewing?!

I have chosen a block I hope you will all find to be quick and easy, Dale Fleming's 6 minute circle. Curved piecing is scary but this method may just change your mind. Our own Shelly demonstrated this at a NEMQG meeting & I decided I needed to make these.

Included in your packages is the freezer paper for the template. You will just need to cut along the pencil line (while the paper is still folded) to finish the template. If you are making two blocks the template can be used more than once. Just use a pressing cloth so you don't get any of the residual glue on your iron.

You will need a zipper or open-toe foot and a glue stick. I'm hoping everyone happens to have those things laying around.

Good luck & have fun!! I know this time of year can be crazy so no rush to get these back to me.

Happy Sewing!

August Blocks a little late

I finally got so me time in front of the sewing machine. I was able to finish two blocks. They were sent on their way home on Friday. I enjoyed the pink purple block more than the yellow blue block. My mother decorated my room for me when I was a teenager and she made all the decisions. It was yellow and blue. I therefore have a bit of a dislike for this color combination.

More Blocks

I know this is no substitute for posting a picture (shame on me!), but here's a pic of the blocks I did for Emily, and mailed today.

http://quiltsoflove.blogspot.com/2010/08/week-of-puttering.html

August blocks for Emily

Wonky star for Linda

July Blocks

Hi All,

My month is July, so I thought I would get patriotic. I am super busy and I'm sure you all are too, so the blocks are very easy. I am asking that you make wonky star blocks in the tradition of Gwen Marston (from her book "Liberated Quiltmaking") and explained very nicely here.

My background fabric is Kona in white and the star points fabric is red and/or blue. I would like the center to be square (i.e., not wonky), but it can be off-center and the star points can be wonky. The points and/or the center can be pieced with different fabrics if you want. Or not - it's up to you.

I am including one center color and the "points" pieces plus the white (I didn't cut it so you can decide where within the white you want to place the center of the star). Please do feel free to add some red or blue from your stash - in fact, I'd love it if you would add your own fabric to it so that the blocks are more personalized. Since I'm fairly new to quilting and I don't have much of a stash, I purchased all of the fabric for this project (I have A LOT of pink for some reason, but not much red or blue) and cut the pieces about 4-1/2". Again, feel free to piece the points and/or the center (as long as it remains a square) and I've added some additional scraps for that purpose. You don't need to return any of the fabric.

If anyone is willing to make an extra block, please leave a comment and I'll send extra fabric. There's no pressure - I want this block to be easy.

I will put the packages in the mail in the next day or so. Thank you!!

Catching Up

Hi Everyone,

I'm a little behind on quilting and a LOT behind on blogging (and apparently redundant, too, since I just posted almost the exact same thing over on Fresh Comfort One). Ruth, I sent your blocks out on Wednesday. I hope you have them by now. I'm so sorry they were late. Here they are . . .

And I actually did get Shelley's done and sent out in time, but I never posted photos, so here they are . . .

They were both a lot of fun to make, and I'm looking forward to making Kellie's blocks, too.

Happy Summer!

Katie

More for Ruth

Wonky in shades of pink & purple.

Blocks for Ruth

I finally got these done for Ruth. I was a bit worried about making them, until I realized that "Drunk Love in a Log Cabin" is another way to say wonky log cabin. That I understand. So anyway, here they are. I am putting them in the mail Tuesday. Ruth, sorry they're a few days late.

Happy Memorial Day!

Hi ladies! Hope you're enjoying your long weekend. Just a friendly reminder that today is the last day of May and soon you'll be receiving Kellie's fabric. Please let me know when you anticipate being done with blocks for me (if you haven't already sent them or let me know)!

Happy Memorial Day!

Blocks for Ruth & June Blocks on the Way

Here are Ruth's blocks. They'll need squaring up...I only trimmed off the rough stuff. These were really fun to make and I can definitely see a quilt like this in my future!

I've also mailed out the June packages to you(all but one that I missed and will send out Tues.) The instructions are in with the packages and on Flickr.

I have decided to go ahead w/the two different blocks. Some of you will be making 12.5" Strippy Circles and some of you will be making Wonky Log Cabins in various sizes. I'll be adding white to the log cabins to size them up to 12.5 later. Expect to see lots of weird and random scraps as they are mostly apron leftovers. I hope you'll enjoy making what I've sent!

Ideas for June Blocks

Hi Ladies, Kellie here...I'm the June Queen Bee. I think I've finally settled on an idea for my month. I've gone back and forth on this soooo many times! What I really wanted to do was something like our current Queen, Ruth, is doing. However, that would involve me running out buying fabric this week and right now, that's not really an option.

So, I'm going to go scrappy!

I'm thinking I'd like two blocks. This scrappy circle, and a variation on one of my favorite blocks, the wonky log cabin.

Rather than asking each of you to make two different blocks, I was thinking of randomly selecting six of you to do one or the other. What do you think? Is that within the rules? If not, I'll settle on one block and make up the others. Either way, I'm good!

For Ruth

These fabrics are so lovely together. I had a hard time getting the colors to look right when photographing. (The second photo is much more accurate than the first.)

These blocks were fun to put together!


I can't wait to see all of the color combos together. This quilt is going to be great!

For Shelly

I just realized I haven't posted my blocks for Shelly here. Oops!

My first block came together quickly & easily. I don't know what happened with the second block but I just could not get my seams to line up properly. I had to wield the seam ripper a few times before saying, enough is enough.


When all is said & done I think they came out great! Looking forward to seeing them all together!

Two "April" Blocks for Shelly

Sorry these are late but here they are mailed off today!

May blocks for Ruth

The block on the left is 10.5" square and the one on the right it 9.75" square. I added a couple of my own fabrics to the mix. Hope you like them!

More Blocks for Shelly

These are on the way, Shelly! I adore this block and your fabric choices!! What line(s) are these fabrics from?

April blocks for Shelly

This post is late, but Shelly should have received my package on Friday (I hope!).

They went together surprisingly quickly.

May blocks

Hi ladies! I'm sending out my fabric and instructions tomorrow. Keep your eyes on the mailbox! Here are the instructions (which are also in our Flickr discussion and in your envelopes):

For this month, I’d like you all to make improv log cabin style blocks based on Denyse Schmidt’s classic quilt, “Drunk Love in a Log Cabin.” You can view the original quilt in the previous post. A number of other quilting bees have made blocks inspired by this design so I’ve posted an inspiration mosaic in our Flickr group and our blog.

I’m using a rainbow of colors and have six different color schemes. The design for this is pretty open – please use the original Denyse Schmidt blocks to inspire you but don’t feel the need to replicate them exactly. Please make two blocks, ranging from 9.5” to 12.5” (though if you don’t want to square them up, I’d be happy to do so once I receive them). You may use coordinating prints from your own stash – small prints only please, and keeping with the appropriate color scheme of the fabrics that you receive. This is meant to be fun and individualized – I’m looking forward to having a piece of you all in my quilt!

Feel free to keep any scraps or send them back – it’s up to you.

Inspiration mosaic from Flickr:

May sneak peek

Hi all - it's almost time...

For my month, we'll be doing blocks inspired by this classic Denyse Schmidt quilt.

Fabric will be going out this weekend or early next week.

More fractured nine-patch blocks

April blocks for Shelly

I guess 12 is my magic number...

I sent off Rachel's ticker tape blocks today. It looks like 12 is my magic number as without knowing it both of these blocks include 12 bits of fabric each. These were a lot of fun to make and I can't wait to see the final quilt! (BTW I totally forgot to include the little bits of scraps in the package that I sent these in...Rachael would you like them?) I never posted the February blocks so here they are!

I've recieved my fabrics for April and can't wait to get started!

Rachel's Ticker Tape Blocks

Sorry they're a bit late, Rachel, but they did get mailed this morning! I added a few of my own scraps and enjoyed putting these together. I'm excited to see the end product!

More blocks for Rachel

Here you are Rachel - they're going in the mail Monday. Love the fabric you sent. I added a few scraps of my own too.

-Linda

April blocks

Helloooo Spring! I'm being hopeful here. I'm a bit behind the eight ball and I apologize for that. Fabric packages will be going out Monday for the April block......a fractured nine patch.


Directions will be enclosed......pretty simple......a bit wonky.....and best of all, they work up pretty quickly!

I pressed my seams open here.....once the cross piece gets inserted there is a bunch of intersecting fabric.......and it can be difficult to quilt through.

So be looking for a soft and squishy in the post........I'm just sayin'!

ticker tape for rachel

What a fun way to use up your scraps! I can't wait to see the finished product!

More Blocks for Rachel

These were so much fun. I really loved the gray background.



And the other fabrics Rachel sent were great, too.

I added some of my own. Thanks for choosing such a fun block, Rachel!

I put them in the mail on Monday, so you should have them soon.

Katie

Blocks for Rachel

I love doing puzzles and these blocks are basically fabric puzzles. I had so much fun with these. Great block choice Rachel!

I couldn't resist adding a few of my own scraps. I hope you like them. Can't wait to see them all together, this is bound to be a very fun quilt.

I am popping these in the mail on Saturday.

More ticker tape

These will be headed your way, Rachel, tomorrow!

Blocks For Rachel

My blocks for March are finished and I hope Rachel likes them. The colors are great and I was able to include some small pieces from my stash. At first I thought it was going to take me a long time to sew around the little pieces but it was arranging the pieces that took me the longest.

For Rachel

Dear Rachel-
Had a great time today playing with your idea. Like you, I adore the gray foundation. The first block I made is on the left.......always seem to approach these kinds of things with some trepidation.....but before long I thought I could conquer the Ticker Tape world. If you hadn't heard, I have been living under a rock and was not at all up to speed on my Munki fabric.......I thought that crazy women of the modern quilting world were cutting up their $94 pajamas to make quilts......silly me......one of the kind bee peeps from my other virtual group gave up the goods when she told me that the coveted PJ's sold for much less at the Maxx. Irregardless (is that really a word?) I couldn't cut up the Munki fabric you provided.
So you see, by the time I got to the second block, I had great courage. I thought I would work a bit on point and with some irregular shapes.
Thanks for letting me play with you today.
Shelly xo

I'm really here!!

Hello...

At long last I'm coming aboard and catching up.

My name is Anita Maher-Lewis. I live in Ames, IA. Some of you know that as you've mailed me blocks and are patiently waiting for me to send them back! I'm working on them, I promise. :)

I am a quilter, a gardener and a knitter. I pay for these projects by doing environmental engineering/consulting projects during the day. I'm self employed. I dissolved my partnership in a mid-size firm in Des Moines IA about four years ago because I was tired of the constant traveling and the loooong weeks which no matter how often they told me would end, didn't. Well, I made them end. I took a couple of clients and went to my own sand box. It really has worked well for me.

I am a wife to wonderful man who manages a project management dept for a local agribusiness firm. I also have a beautiful 24 yo daughter. I'm also mom to 2 dogs and 2 cats.

I apologize for being absent for so long. I could tell you that I've been buried under 3 feet of snow that is just now starting to melt...which would be the truth. However it just has been a hard three months. My father died suddenly late last year and then my mom got really sick. Probably as a result of being so sick, she had a couple of small strokes (TIAs). She is doing better now. But unfortunately they both live(d) in Phoenix (with separate partners) so dealing with all of this has been very strenuous and stressful as you can imagine. I'm coming up for air now and so grateful that spring is around the corner.

I was in Phoenix this last weekend to check on my mom and for a very very joyous event. I and my siblings joined my grandma to celebrate her 90th birthday. She is hale and hearty. I love her so so much.

Thank you for your patience and I'm excited to be here.

Block For March: Ticker Tape!

I will sending out a couple of 8.5" squares of grey background and enough scraps to really cover both plus a little extra. Make one, make both... I'm easy.
I hope to put together these little "tiles", so please leave a half inch around so I can sew them together.
Feel free to trim and reshape the scraps to fit the space you need. Want to make a flower? Feel free.
Please try and fill as much of the interior as possible.
Please secure your start and stop stitches.
Yep, it really is as easy as pinning or glue sticking your scrap down and sewing around it.

This is supposed to be fun, fussy cut, use your own scraps, do whatever you want...or think I will like...
Please no batiks...

Ticker tape pool at flickr is HERE. have a look for more inspiration if you want.

thanks! Rachel

February Block Update

In case you missed it, I posted a picture on my blog of how my quilt is progressing. Have a look here. Now that it is March...if the following people could please update me about their blocks. Four packages have not been received yet: Liz, Anita, Jaclyn and Rachel.

Thanks

March 5 Update... Thanks Liz & Jaclyn - your blocks arrived today.

Address Update in your Inboxes

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that I just emailed an updated address list. It seems like a couple people have had my emails get caught by their spam filters, so if you don't have an email from me check there.

Thanks,

Katie

Block update

I appologize for being pokey at sending personal emails of thanks for your blocks. Here are the fantastic wonky log blocks I have received thus far...

Emily, Ruth, Shelly, Balinda, Linda, Katie and Kellie.

Many thanks ladies!

Blocks for Margaret

I've finished Margaret's blocks but didn't make the final cut (hence the slight difference in size). I threw in a few bits from my own stash. I'll try to send them out tomorrow or Monday!

Blocks arriving

I wanted to let people know who's blocks have arrived. I have been remiss at individually emailing. I have blocks from Katie, Linda, Shelly and Balinda. They look fantastic, ladies.
Thank you! I'll post a picture soon so you can see how they look together.

Thurs...
Kellie's just arrived today. THanks!

More of Margaret's Wonky Blocks

Will be putting these in the mail this week! Thanks to a couple snow days I finished them much sooner than I anticipated! Yay for snow days!

They were a little challenging for me, but fun! I love Margaret's choice of colors for these blocks. I decided to leave them at the 16 in.(or thereabout) and let you trim them down to 14.5, Margaret! Can't wait to see the finished quilt!