January Blocks

January is my month and I have been thinking about what I would really like. I went to my stash and stared for a while. (I like to do this a lot) What I realized is that I have a large I spy square collection. This collection should really be shared with the children in my life. I also have a solid fatquarter bundle that i really don't have a project for until now. And so January's bee block is born....
The I Spy Square in a Square.

I hope you all have fun making these blocks. I hope I can get the quilt put together to be able to use this summer.

Thank you all this has been a wonderful year.

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!