Stash Bee blocks

 I finally got back to the sewing machine. And as it is the start of a new month, I need to make my blocks for Stash Bee. This time we had a lot of freedom to make our own pattern just use greens and blues and make a 6 inch block.  I really like 6 inch blocks; I find they are easier to be precise in the piecing. 

The project I most need to finish in the next 3 days is to cut out and sew a robe for my grandson.  I promised him at Christmas. His brother received a robe, but he only received fleece  blanket. I volunteered to make it into a robe for him.  I ordered the pattern and a coordinating fabric for sleeves and such. 

And I have started Lori Holt's Flea Market Flowers in the patriotic colors to hopefully be completed by the big celebration next year.  It is my first time to use evenweave.  I have had to do a lot of frogging!!!!

I like to do this in front of the tv each evening with my husband.  I will say he sits way over on the other end of the couch to avoid the movements of my needle.

Spring is here!

 While it may be almost the end of April, I am so excited to really see the spring season show her colors.  Lots and lots of daffodils, some forsythia, magnolia blossoms, and even a yard full of dandelions are showing their soft spring colors. And the promise of leaves has arrived in the buds on the trees.  Oh, I couldn't be happier. 

View in neighborhood of beautiful colors

And look who showed up in my backyard!  We watched for several minutes these 2 and another doe.

We think this was the pair born a year ago.   You can see they are starting to shed their winter fur.

And I do have a red scrappy block to share:  this was for Stash Bee this month. My 9 year old Jensen wants a red and white quilt. So this is where I will start. 

Other than this, I have nothing to show: I have been down with a nasty cold that has sucked my energy, my appetite, and my where with all to do anything except consume cold medication and a box of kleenex.

Cold season

 My dear spouse brought back a cold from vacation. He really struggled with him which is so atypical.  He even went to a doctor after a week or so.  And now, a week after that he is still coughing. 

And wouldn't you know, he so kindly gave it to me. I NEED naps and have gone into hibernation from the world trying to recover and not spread it further. I have taken to placing a cough lozenge in my mouth while I sleep to abate the coughing. 

So I have done more handwork than sewing this week. 

I did make 2 blocks for Stash Bee.

I finished another mini St. Patrick's cross stitch.

I cut out my setting square pieces for my sampler quilt with one more block made. This whole quilt has been made with what I have on hand.  I did order sashing fabric, as my piece was not enough for all 25 blocks.

And I have been working on my miniature quilt for the guild's show at the end of March.

Yes, I admit it; I like small piecing. Not everyone else's favorite.

Enjoying the creativity

 I am back to quilting. Not that the vacation to Hawaii wasn't wonderful and I missed quilting while I was there, but sitting at the machine is fun and I so enjoy it. 

So here are some projects I have been working on: 

Stash Bee: for those who don't know, it is a group of women who sew for each other once a month. Every month, I new person decides the design or block and colorway. This month is a Terry Rowland block designed to use up scraps. Here is a video of how she makes the blocks for the colorwash quilt: here. it was also made by Kate of The Last Homely House in England. Here is her instructions: scraps. Each block within the block is 3 inches finished making the 9 patch 9 inches.

Anyway, our queen bee of the month wanted a block of 9 individual blocks together in a colorway. We only are asked to make one block.  But I love sharing with others so much, that I always make extra. 10 blocks does not a quilt make. 

And I got out my Dear Jane box and forged on for more blocks: 

These are 5 inch blocks and the last one needs hand applique.  Evening work. 

And lastly,  working on a seasonal wall hanging for me: 

Each block is 4 inches.  This is creativity in progress. Center design is to be determined. 

Retirement!

My husband came home in the middle of the day!  ( I was home as a comp day for parent - techer conferences.) What?  " I retired!" he exclaimed. He had been counting down the days now that all his medical appointments were done. And now social security health care is in place. 

I am so happy for him. 

Now a couple more years for me.

But I am working on the little projects here and there.

First some appliqued tea towels.  DONE! 

Next a crane for my Stash Bee. This will be my last block.  I am stepping back for now.

I have had a great time making blocks for 2 years.

Finally a quilt block

I made a quilt block, on my sewing machine even.  .It has been quite a great while. But it is a new month. And this is stash bee block for October.  Like putting on training wheels to get started.

My other photos are from the China Lights display at a local park. They were really impressive and so beautiful and this is a mere sampling of the many displays throughout the park. The grandboys loved them, too. It is a traveling display. We would have stayed longer to see the programs and food, but it began to rain and we had not brought any rain gear and became drenched.

Hubby and I

 A Phoenix

Son, daughter in law and one of the boys in a lighted tunnel that the colors changed.

The other munchkin at dinner beforehand.

Hubby

Retreat weekend

I feel like I have been out of commission as far as my quilting. School is in full swing and I do enjoy my new position. I don't seem to have energy to do any sewing or needlework after I make dinner and sit down.  

This is the only thing I have to show for 2 weeks.  I have done other sewing last weekend. I had a wonderful time at a retreat on a lake with my guild.  The weather was in the low 80s, a big change from the cooler days we have. But inside the air conditioning was running, and I was cold.  So hard to plan for clothing.   

But... I did put blocks together for a small baby quilt that had been leftover from my grandson's big boy quilt.  And I left it with one of the members to practice quilting on her long arm machine. 

This is my stash bee block for September.  ( We did another like it earlier in the year.)

We of course, went to the local quilt store and I purchased some Wisconsin red Bucky Badger fabric along with some blacks and whites.  I am planning to make a throw for my daughter's boyfriend.  He did graduate fro UW Wisconsin.  So I hope he will like it. I plan to use the Yellow Brick Road pattern from Terry Atkinson. 

I also started a tree skirt for my nephew whose wedding will be the end of October

These are the colors turned 90 degrees.  I have a few other strips to add to it and then cut wedges and assemble. I had a friend there who had the beautiful red tree fabric left over from another project. It is perfect to go with my Tonga strips of reds and greens.  I was so appreciative to find just the right fabric.

Quilt for Jensen

Totally finished!   This is the quilt for my grandson as he is now in his "big boy bed".  It started as a Stash Bee quilt block for May, but needed far more blocks for the complete quilt . These Garden Fence blocks were easy to construct. And probably one of the quickest quilts from start to finish.

Here is a close up of the quilting which I did not do. 

And the perfect binding for the grays and all the bright color. 

The back is the same fabric used for his baby quilt 2 years ago. 

And Ta Da............. the complete finish! 

 Label coming.

Foxes and Fanta

Hooray! I have quilted the baby foxes. I used the ideas online to have the quilting resemble trees having a few knot holes throughout.

Now to bind it. I have a lovely stripe that coordinates with both sides.

This is the lovely back.  I purchased 1 yard which is normally sufficient for a baby quilt.  But the print is directional and looked better vertical. Hence the extra shot cotton above and below.

I don't like the shot cotton for piecing. It was too stretchy.  I should have starched or used Best Press prior to cutting.

.

Also completed are two blocks for my Stash Bee hive. The pattern is Wanta Fanta. The windmill looking block is paper pieced in four sections

A little of this and that

So I got this wall hanging together. It is made of 5 extra blocks from our guild's raffle quilt.  All had been paper pieced. Two had to be tweeked to be 7 inches square. One had a pattern run off from and email file that was slightly larger.  The other needed the sashing strips redone. 

The rusty orange batik really makes it. 

So I made the setting squares and have put it together.  It took one movie to remove all the little paper pieces. 

Any ideas other than more rust for a border?  

Next is my stash bee block for July.  Easy peasy!  12 inch block.

Fox baby quilt

As I am already making a Christmas tree skirt for one niece, I asked if the other one, her sister, wanted a baby quilt ( precious little one due mid September).

She, of course, said yes and was thrilled with all the fox options I found for her theme. She selected the Elizabeth Hartman pattern.Link here.

So I was bored with the tree skirt and started the blocks for this one.

Here are 2 versions. One with green foxes. One only with orange/rust ones. What do you think?

Also made this Stash Bee block:  

It was nice to be sewing again. 

Stash bee block

New month...New block.  This one is geometric, bright and super easy! It is a 15 inch block called Up from Here!   Yeah for March!

And I saw the first Robin of spring yesterday in my backyard.  It was in our birdbath looking for water and probably food.

A new month, another week

Not much in the land of cold.  It was a sad week at at school as a 7th grader had died. Sometimes, life is not fair.  It touches many people.

But on another note, I didn't get much sewing; I think a bug has hit me again. Fortunately, swimming really seemed to boost me mentally and physically.  I can't really describe how being in the water makes a difference. I swim laps for a half hour before school a couple days. It is peaceful and yet a time to focus on the inner self while working on the repetitive stroke, stroke strokes.

So I did not sew much at all during the week.

I did get my new Stash Bee block done.  I try to be prompt at the beginning; and it gives me a small accomplishment at the beginning of the month.



Then I pulled my purples out for the new RSC color. I really don't have much purple.
But here is the  start



And then I just wanted to do something fun.  And as it is February, I pulled the hearts I had started last year:
These blocks are made using fusible interfacing with a grid on it.  Cut the fabric in squares. Arrange on the grid.  Iron lightly to adhere. Fold on the back and sew rows. Clip seams, open them up and then resew the perpendicular lines.


Here is my inspiration for more blocks to add to them from Small quilts and doll quilts.





So I started creating some new blocks:
These are just after ironing.

These are after vertical rows are sewn:


These are some letters: done on grids:



Now to finish them and assemble all together.