Bees... bees and more bees... and some swaps!

Mostly Finished and One Work in Progress

I've been busy with my quilting bees. I was a bad bee member and was behind on finishing my July blocks but they all got mailed out last week!

First up we have Liz's blocks from Sew to Speak. She sent red and aqua fabrics, white triangles and a plastic template to make the blocks you see below. I had some trouble getting these to line up when I sewed the final center seam, but my hope is once quilted it will improve the look.

Next, Jeremy from The Hive sent the fabrics below and requested the specific block you see below. I actually made 4 of these, but have only pictured one.

I also finished this block for my quilting journey bee. This block is for Melissa. She requested any type of pinwheel block as long as it was 12" finished. She also sent along some Heather Bailey, Nicey Jane fabric and the owl fabric in the center which is Alice Kennedy. This block is my version of the pattern found here. The second picture is all the blocks that have been made so far, Melissa's starter block is the bottom left.

Now for some swaps. I participated in a fabric post card swap. Below is the post card I made for Vickie, she is a member of the quilting journey bee.

I am also participating in a mini quilt swap below is the fabric I sent to my partner, Kimmie. I sent her fabrics (30 - 4.5" charm squares) from the Heather Bailey Freshcut line that I snatched up at the craft supply rummage sale I went to a few months back. I decided this would be a good use of it. I also sent along some coordinating Kona jelly roll solids and a fat quarter of Joel Dewberry. She gets to use my fabrics to make the mini quilt of her choice and then it gets sent back to me.

I received Christmas charms and some Michael Miller fabric with kids building snowmen. So I will create a Christmas mini quilt for her. Even though is seems a little weird thinking about Christmas already, it is actually a welcome thought in 100 degree heat. Also on my plate for August bees and swaps are blocks with Alice in Wonderland, math symbols, and more fabric post cards to name a few.

Shower Curtain

FINISHED

My new place is now complete with a new shower curtain! I decided I wanted a shower curtain that no one else had, so I made my own. Since I now have lots of fabric on hand I decided to make is a mix of lots of different prints. I even added my own grommets at the top. I actually started before I moved but wasn't able to get it finished until last week. It is up now and looking good!

One problem presents itself when piecing together a shower curtain like it is a quilt top... all those ugly seams on the back side. Sure it is facing the liner but I wanted it to look pretty. So I got some white fabric that was super cheap and not 100% cotton because who cares it is after all facing the liner and pieced together a back and then hemmed the edges.

I'm really happy with the finished result.

New Apartment - Sweet Craft Room!

Finished

It has been almost 6 weeks since I posted anything and that is because I moved! I've been very busy setting up my new place and fighting with comcast about installing my internet. So not having internet has kept me away too! But finally with the arrival of my first visitors - my mom and my aunt... I got my place together and with the help of RCN I once again have internet.

But the most exciting part of my move, the reason I rented this apartment is the space I am using as my craft room! I couldn't be happier with the way it all worked out. I love every inch of it! But don't take my word for it, see for yourself:

My door desk!

Beads in salt-n-pepper shakers!

Love my built-ins!

A great home for my fabric stash!

My sewing table with a great view of a ginko tree!

My card catalog to organize all of my supplies!

All of the pictures of my craft room and the rest of my new place can be found in this set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/imalisawork/sets/72157624612234232/

Cheers!

Quilting: Quilting Bees

FINISHED

I got everything done for June Bees so I can focus my energy on moving at the end of the month. I've been working on so much! With everything done for other people maybe I'll have time to finish my shower curtain tomorrow.

First up we have the Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee and two very different quilts. One is for Karie's son. She wanted to do something special for him since he is the youngest and always getting his big brother's hand me downs. She sent along Heather Ross goldfish fabric and asked for block in blue and orange using the print or applique blocks that didn't use the print. I ended up making two applique blocks.

Close-ups

The quilts journey so far. Her starter block is the top center, mine are on the left and the other three have been created by other quilters on the journey.

The next one is for Cindy. She didn't really have too many guidelines she said to just make whatever the starter block inspired you to make. She also said red was her favorite color. This is what I came up with:

This is the quilts journey so far. Her starter block is the top left.

And the finally I have June's blocks for Sew2Speak done. The request was flying geese. I'd never made this before and used a great method that didn't allow for too much wasted fabric like some of the other methods I've seen. You can find it here.

I should have pressed them better so they would have looked nicer in the pictures, but in my apartment I can't run the air conditioner and the iron at the same time without blowing a fuse. Then I have to go outside and downstairs to the creepy basement to reset the circuit... as I often forget that I have one going before I turn the other one on. The microwave causes the same dilemma. Anyway I didn't feel like sacrificing air for my iron especially since they were about to get folded and squished to go into their envelope for their journey back to Canada. I can't wait to move!!!

Quilting: Quilting Bee - The Stitchin' Bee

FINISHED

I got some sewing in this morning. I made this block for Jennifer in on of my quilting bees. She sent some great fabrics and asked for a 12.5x12.5 block in any style as long as it was "organic". I hope this qualifies as organic. I think I'll have to make some blocks for myself that are similar to this one. This is probably my favorite block out of the ones I have made for bees and it will be hard to give it up! I hope she enjoys it!

Quilting: A Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee

FINISHED

A Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee started about two weeks ago when I sent my starter block and I received my first block from Vickie. She sent along Alexander Henry's Spotted Owl print in green and white. The print reminds her of her grandmother. We were given free reign to create a block in any size that used a fussy cut piece of the owl fabric and incorporated a star.

Below you will see Vickie's starter block on the left and my contribution to her quilt on the right. She wrote in her instructions about the possibility of someone making a wonky house with a star in the sky and I immediately thought about a tree... with a star in the sky and a partial star as a flower.

Close-ups...

This owl was my favorite...

I had a lot of fun making this block and I hope Vickie enjoys it! I can't wait to see her quilt come together!

Quilting: Quilting Bee - The Hive

Work in Progress

June is my month in The Hive. I mailed out my packages today! They are filled with lots of black, white & grey fabrics... and a little bit of red. I left it pretty open as far as style of block. My only rules were size (12.5"), the only part of the block that can be red is the bird. There are 9 members in my group (10 including me) and we are a group that makes 1-4 blocks, most bees only make 1-2. So I can be expecting anywhere between 9 and 36 blocks... how exciting!!! Below is a sample block I made: