November Block Round up

This month’s queen in Bee Inspired is Paige from Quilted Blooms. Her block choice is one she designed herself and is based on the pines and colour of the clay near her house. It’s a very simple block but Paige’s planned layout looks stunning. You can find the tutorial and the story behind it here.

Paige is the star in this group with a book co-authored with Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs due out in February – Modern Plus Sign Quilts, among numerous other quilty accomplishments. 

The last block for the year for Stash Bee is this simple block for Diane. She requested a combination of bright colours and black and white prints. I think it should make a simple stunning quilt and I know the others in my hive have been seeing the potential in it. I’m not sure if the block has a tutorial elsewhere but you can find Diane’s here.

Sign-ups for next year’s Stash Bee are still open but will close soon I think so don’t think too long!

I started a new long term project this month. My plan is to make at least a couple of these blocks a month but we’ll see how that pans out. 

The block is effectively a Pickle Dish Variation variation and since I’ve modified it and lost the dish shape I’m going to call it my Hold the Pickle Quilt. At this stage I’m not sure just how many blocks I’m going to end up making, either 30 or 42. It’s a project that fascinates me since it’s a step out of my usual style and it will end up being a great scrap buster.

The decorations are all up in the shopping centres and Santa’s there for photo opportunities with the youngsters around here. Hope your Christmas sewing’s on track!

Sue

Linking up to Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Just a Little Improv

I’ve had a little experience in improv piecing with a couple of the bee blocks I’ve made but a full project? No. So I decided it was about time I had more of a go and what better project to take a foray into this technique with than a mug rug or two.

According to improv tutorials I read a common mistake is forgetting about the seam allowance and making the blocks smaller than you wanted. I made that one, and the whole mug rug could have been a little more generous in size if you ask me, but it still works and I’m using it *slurp* so it’s practical. They finish at around 4 inches by 6.

I’m a fan of Cindy Grisdela’s work so these pieces channel her influence and I quilted them in a fairly dense crosshatch with dark green thread.

After that experience I’m still keen to do more but it doesn’t really suit my control-freak-must-work-with-plan personality so the projects will likely stay small for a while.

What about you? Have you tried improv and what are your tips?

Till next time, enjoy your sewing

Sue

Linking up to Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

October Block Round up

Janice from Color Creating and Quilting was queen in Bee Inspired this month. She chose an unnamed block to be made up in colourful brights a la her bright and colourful style and asked for two. Being queen in Stash Bee this month as well means she has blocks rolling in and is making significant progress.

It turns out the block is very layer cake friendly and the back ground on my second block is from a Bonnie and Camille basics layer cake I picked up as part of a gift certificate I won for Lady Belle fabrics a little while back. It worked well in this block I think.

In Stash Bee, queen Kathy chose the Prairie Flower block from Missouri Star Quilt Co. She asked for autumn fall colours. Part of her sample fabric pull included fabrics that featured autumn prints of pumpkins and such so I thought this leaf print might be just right. I was surprised at how effective it looked once it was sewn up. This was a great block to sew.

Sign-ups for next year’s Stash Bee hives open November 1^st if you’re interested. If you’re hesitant, when you sign up you can pick your skill level and style and the hives are sorted to suit. I really enjoyed my time this year. I met some new people, I learned some new skills and making blocks that are your best work makes you a better sewist all round. And I had fun!

I finished quilting the Modern Waves quilt and it’s ready to go for Christmas. I decided I would tackle making a couple of simple items for my summer wardrobe this year so that’s what I’m currently working on. I’m choosing quilting cottons for the most part and that’s working out great since any leftover pieces can be recycled back into my scrap stash. I feel just like a pioneer J!

Spring is at its floriferous *sneeze* best at the moment and this kookaburra and his mate decided to settle and hunt in my back yard for a few days. Usually they seem to sit at the top of a tree and make their signature laughing call but he was kind enough to perch in photogenic spots and I was able to get some good shots with my camera.

And this mud brick birds nest fell out of a tree at my work car park. It’s not often you see these up close and I was glad to see that it looked like it was abandoned before it fell. I think it is a magpie lark nest. Amazing!

Cheers

Sue

Linking up to Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter