Simply Solids Bee Block

Earlier this week I showed the quilt top I made from the blocks I received in the Simply Solid's Bee (on Flickr). I was a bit late on this November block, but last weekend I made this fun and easy block.

The pattern called for sewing the blocks together in tubes and ripping out a seam in different ways. I wasn't crazy about the planned-looking pattern that occurred after I did that, so I ripped a couple of blocks out and rearranged them. There's still a little bit of a planned look to the block, but I think it looks much better and a little less random. 

September Simply Solid Bee Block

Last month was crazy, so I was a little late making my September bee block for the Simply Solids Bee.

We were to make feather blocks, but I was only able to make the feathers and attach background fabric to once side, as there wasn't enough fabric provided to add the rest of the background fabric. Oh well, the hard part is done!  This should be a fun quilt once it's all assembled. I can't wait to see it. 

Simply Solids - August Block

August completely got away from me. I don't know where the summer has gone or where 2013 is going. Wasn't Christmas and New Years just a few months ago?

Anyway, last week I squeezed in some time after a late night of work and finished the Simply Solids bee block for August. I finished it with just a few days to spare in the month.

The august block was a HST block using a bunch of solids and a few shot cottons. I've been hoarding a few shot cottons for a while now, and after making this block, I have the urge to cut into them. Not to decide what to make... 

Simply Solids Bee Block

Last week I finished my Simply Solids Bee Block for them month of June. This was a fun block to make that went together pretty easily.

After what seemed like forever, I finally sat down in front of my sewing machine and did some sewing. This was the first think that I tackled. I'll share more of what I'm working on throughout the week!

Needless to say, it feels good to be doing some sewing. 

WIP Wednesday: Quilts For Boston and a Bee Block

The past few weeks have really been focused on trying to get quilt tops pieced together and starting to quilt them. I'm excited to see more of these get finished in the near future.

Last night I finished quilting this quilt that I'm pretty sure was pieced by Alice.

You can sort of see the quilting better here.

We have another sew-in tonight at Quilter's Way to continue to piece tops, backs and bindings. If you're in the area, come join us.

In addition, I also finished my Simply Solids Bee block for the month of May over the weekend and sent that out to its recipient.

Simply Solids Bee

I've posted a few pictures of blocks I've made for the Simply Solids Bee on the past couple of months. Lucky for me, April was my month. I picked April because I knew it would be an absolutely crazy month for me and I probably wouldn't have time to make something myself.

I've been inspired by all sorts of improve quilts and low-volume quilts and decided to combine the two. I sent folks a bunch of cream and white neutrals and a couple of pops of color in lime, pink and navy to be used sparingly throughout the quilt. I asked folks to make completely improve blocks and this is what I got back!

I'm still waiting for one more block and then I need to figure out how to lay everything out. I'm probably going to add quite a bit more neutral fabrics to balance everything out. At the end of the day, I don't want it to be noticeable that these were a bunch of blocks pieced together. I want the quilt to have more of an organic feel to it.

Simply Solids Bee

I'm participating in the Simply Solids Bee and April is my month. I've been loving a lot of the low-volume quilts out there these days, so I decided to use a lot of creams and whites for my bee block with just a hint of lime, dark blue and a lime green.

In going with something completely different for me, I am asking for some wonky/improve blocks.  Here's a sample block that I made during retreat last weekend.

There's no real plan to the block, which I like.  The hints of color are small and random.  When looking at the quilt, I hope to see mostly creams and whites with a few random pops of color. I'm hoping it will look really nice when everything comes together.

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Simply Solid Bee Block - March

Tonight I finished the Simply Solid Bee block for the month of March.

This month belongs to Roonquilt, aka sportsew.  She asked for a skyline block.  This is what I came up with. Her quilt will consist of all sorts of blocks using the same dark blue as the sky.  I think this is going to be a really awesome quilt.  I can't wait to see it finished.

My month is next month, so I need to get my act together and mail out the fabrics and post instructions for my block. 

Simply Solids Bee

This year I signed up for the Simply Solids Bee on Flickr.  I have been wanting to get in on a bee and I thought this sounded like a fun one.  There are over 100 participants from around the world broken down in to a bunch of different groups.

The bee doesn't technically start until February, but we were given our instructions and told we could start early if we wanted. The groups are named after obscure colors.  My group is the Cochineal group.

Jenny from Squawk! is up first and requested wonky log cabin blocks that alternated warm and cool colors.  This was a stashbuster block, and I just happened to have a bunch of solids out last week, so I threw this block together.  

I'm currently deciding what I want to do for my month - April.  I have some ideas, but haven't yet decided. 

Returned Around the World

On Saturday at the Boston Modern Quilt Guild meeting, we returned our Around the World quilts to their owners.

Here's my quilt that was returned to me.  I'm really happy with how it turned out, especially seeing as though I had no idea what to do with the block that I had initially created.  It was just sitting around for over two years, waiting for me to do something with it.

I have to say, I really enjoyed this bee.  It's certainly something that I'd do again.

Here are the rounds that I contributed to over the past few months:

Meagan's Bee Block

I finally managed to get a picture of Meagan's bee block before I sent it out to her. 

She sent a bunch of solids and a few prints.  I decided to use just one print and the rest solids. 

I hope she likes it!

This is the end of the bee that I'm participating in right now.  I've got so much going on that I'm going to hold off in participating in another bee for a little while. 

Monet's Bee Block

I also finished Monet's bee block to give to her at our March meeting of the NEMQG.  She posted a tutorial for a spiderweb block on her blog and asked us to make one for her with the fabrics she provided.

Here's what I was able to come up with.  I had to add the dark grunge fabric because I didn't have quite enough.  I think it works well in it though.  

Aimee's Bee Block

I finally finished Aimee's bee block the other night.  Aimee asked for a butterfly block for a quilt that she's making for her daughter.  She sent along some great Art Gallery fabric, which I love.  

Here's the block that I came up with.  I really struggled with this block.  Aimee gave us a lot of freedom, but that almost worked against me.  I kinda wish there was a bit more guidance besides no applique.  I think I used my seam ripper more with this block than I have in a very long time.  

In the end, I like the outcome and I hope Aimee likes it. 

Bee Block

Last Saturday was our January meeting of the NEMQG.  At the meeting we gave Laurie her bee blocks.  She provided some awesome purples, grays, and white to make a very cool block.  I absolutely loved the colors Laurie picked and would love to make a quilt using this colorway sometime.

Here are all of the blocks together.

This is going to be one great quilt.  I can't wait to see what Laurie does with it.

Bee Block

Last week I finished a bee block for Rebecca for the bee we're doing in the NEMQG.  This was due at our December meeting, but there was a bit of confusion and I thought it was due at the January one. Oops.  Needless to say I felt bad. I'm never late and I hate the fact that I messed up.

I had a lot of fun making this block.  It's not something that I would have made for myself, so I really liked the challenge of doing something outside the box.  I think it turned out great and I hope Rebecca likes it. 

NEMQG November Meeting

Yesterday was the November meeting of the NEMQG and the first one I was able to attend in person.  It was great to be able to meet everyone that I've been talking to online and those that have been participating in the bee.

In this meeting we learned needle turn applique.  I was excited to learn this because I've always wanted to make an Aunt Millie's Garden quilt.  Joanna, the applique queen, taught this lesson using her tree tutorial.  Here's my tree in progress.

I also received my blocks back from my month in the bee.  Here are the blocks (one is missing).

I had asked for a star block and these are everyone's interpretation.  Now to think of how I'm going to put it together.  Hmm...

Bee Block Fabric Sent

Today I swung by the post office during lunch to drop off 8 packages.  One contained 12 Christmas blocks for a Christmas Block Swap. I made them out of a Fruitcake layer cake.

  I forgot to take pictures if the blocks before I sent them, but the blocks use the Moda Bake Shop pattern, Christmas Packages by Antler Quilt Design. 

I also sent off my packages of fabric for the NEMQG bee that I'm participating in.  October is my month and I sent along a bunch of jewel toned fabrics with a basic grey grunge white for the backing.  I am asking everyone to make me a star block and a signature block for the back of the quilt.  I'm a bad blogger and forgot to take a picture of those as well.  At least I'll be able to share the blocks as they come back.  I look forward to seeing what everyone makes. 

New England Modern Quilt Guild Bee Block

I signed up for a quilting bee as part of the New England Modern Quilt Guild.  This month marked the first month.  Jill was up first for the month of September.  She asked for a 12.5" block with a friendship star somewhere in the block.  I decided to do a friendship star within a star.

What do you think?  This is the first bee that I'm participating in and I really hope that Jill likes it.

I'm up for next month and I think I'm going to send out some jewel toned fabrics with white background fabric and ask for any sort of star block.