Friday, April 22, 2011

3x6 bee blocks...Part Two

3x6 bee blocks, hive #7 by meg_norrell
3x6 bee blocks, hive #7, a photo by meg_norrell on Flickr.

For my hive #7 girls this quarter, I used a tutorial from Elizabeth (http://dontcallmebetsy.blogspot.com/). It gobbled up scraps, though again, I've got so many, it didn't make such a big dent. I did alter Elizabeth's directions a little, and made the centers square instead of rectangular--I wanted the blocks to take up more of my scraps!

Now, to get these puppies all wrapped up and mailed off to their new homes! Don't worry--I took a page from Bonnie Hunter and started a couple of leader/ender projects. I know, I need more projects like I need a hole in my head, but it means that I have most of the piecing for a throw quilt already done. One of these days, I might even have a finish!

In the meantime, happy holiday weekend!

3x6 bees, 2nd quarter...Part One

I love these blocks! I chose to use a tutorial from Christina (http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/), and dipped into my box of pre-cut 2.5" squares. They were easy to chain piece, and came together really quickly. Sadly, they hardly made a dent in my stash of squares. It's given me great ideas for a scrap quilt soon, though!

Monday, April 18, 2011

FMF lovers, rejoice!

From Denyse Schmidt's Facebook page today: "With FreeSpirit, I'm reprinting a limited Flea Market Fancy collection for January 2012." For those of us who have been begging, pleading and petitioning and dreaming, for those who missed the boat entirely, hoarded obsessively, or used stashes sparingly, this is delightful news! We don't yet know what exactly "limited" will mean--just a limited printing of the whole line? Select original prints in their original colors? Or in new colors? Any number of possibilities--all of them exciting!!

No idea what I'm rambling on about? Go check out some of the obsession here.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Delicious DS Quilts!



If you haven't heard the news blowing up the quilter's corner of the internet this week, then I am about to impart great wisdom and excellent news. No, no, this has nothing to do with car insurance.

This has to do with Denyse Schmidt releasing a line via Fabric Traditions, exclusively for chain stores. Namely Jo-Ann Fabrics in the US and Spotlight (in May) in Australia. At $9.99/yard, it's not cheap. What it is, though, is soft and lovely, and so, so pretty.

Forgive the lighting, I wanted to set the mood...


Cue the Barry White. I think I'm in love...

*shakes head" Where was I? Oh, yes.

I called my local Jo-Ann's on Monday, when I first read that someone had randomly found it in their local Jo-Ann's. The staff at mine said it was in the building, having just been delivered, but that it wouldn't be out until later this week. I took a chance this afternoon and, after work, drove over. Only to find a bolt of every one of the 21 prints on a U-boat (think tall, giant dolly with two sides, forming a U) along with some Alexander Henry Farmdale prints (roosters, apples, some of the hatch and dot, and the turquoise floral). Ordinarily, just the Farmdale prints would have sent me into a tizzy. But not today. Oh no. Today, I was on a mission.

I flagged down an employee and asked it anyone would mind if I helped myself off of the U-boat. She looked at me like I was nuts. "Honey," she said, "if it's what you want on that cart, help yourself." Right on!

Think of a cross between the joy of Christmas morning and an Easter egg hunt, as there were at LEAST 70 bolts of fabric all mashed in on the 3-level cart, stacked a good 6 feet high. I sized it up, planned my attack, and started pulling. At one point another employee came around the corner and asked if she could help. I explained what I was doing, and she began to grin. She GOT it. She knew who and what I was talking about, and was so excited about the fabric, too! I don't often get to share my geekery with real people, you know, in person. There might have been squealing. Maybe.

I showed some small restraint and left 3 bolts on the cart (I am not totally sold on the small ginghams, and one of the green florals), then counted. And recounted. Only 19?? Then I realized--the dots were missing!! Those dots you see in at the bottom of the stack there? Were not on the cart. ONOES!

Then I felt stupid. When I'd called the store on Monday, the two product ID codes I'd had them check were the dots--the girl had offered to put them aside for me. So I took my cart and zipped back to the cutting table and *phew!* there they were! I'm a dope (and if you are not new to my blog, you know this already. Heh.).

In any case, there was much cutting. And much more geekery, as the girl working at the cutting table also was sooo excited about the line.

And then I met a blog lurker! Not one of mine, sadly, at least I don't think she is. She did, however, know Amy (Badskirt), because really, who doesn't? (I meant that in the nicest way possible, Amy, honest!) I didn't want to ask her if she knew who I was. Because either way that could go would just be strange, no? However, lovely girl and fabric addict whose name I didn't catch at the Milford, CT Jo-Ann's, it was wonderful to meet you and I hope I left you enough Picnic and Fairgrounds!

Now, off to drool a bit over the goodies, and then sweet dreams!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

With a little help from my friend...

If you're familiar with the song in the title, I'm sorry--I know you'll be singing it for the rest of the day. :)

I am referring, of course, to my quilting buddy:


This would be Timmy, keeping half an eye on me while I sew, in between his naps, of course.




What is it about cats and niches? Does that look comfortable? (please don't look at the fact that we're missing the baseboard on that wall. It's been on the honey-do list for...5 years? Oy!)

Timmy was supervising my work on this:



A ginormous 20.5" log cabin in Echino-inspired solids, for Andi of The Beehive. I left this slightly large for Andi to trim down--it's bigger than my cutting mat! I loved working with the range of bright colors, though, and every time I work strictly with solids, I promise myself that one day, I'm going to do a solids quilt. Of course, you and I both know that means I'll start one... *wink*

This week also saw the kickoff of the second quarter of the 2011 3x6 Sampler Quilt Mini Bee over on Flickr. This is my second round with the group (though I did help out with a couple of angel blocks in the 4th quarter last year), and it's my first time acting as caretaker! Yeah, I don't know how I managed to get roped into that, either. *sheepish* So the first week has been hectic, getting everyone set up, information shared and links mailed. I also spent two nights knocking my head against the wall with total quilter's block. I had a flash of clarity two nights ago as to what I'd be doing for one of my groups.

Did you catch that?

That's right, in addition to The Beehive, and do. Good Stitches, AND caretaking one group for the 3x6 Bee, I'm doubling up and participating in a second hive with the 3x6 Bee.

Am I insane?? Quite possibly. We'll see if I can manage to make this all hang together the next few months.

In the meantime, I've been cutting up lots and lots of little squares...


Spending the rest of the day working on my trial-run block, and if all goes well, tackling a few more of these!

And since I'm running behind on my Sunday Stash reports...

Used this Week: 3 yards (bee blocks sewn from stash)
Used year to Date: 161.5 yards
Added this Week: 3 yards (Solids from Pink Chalk Fabrics)
Added Year to Date: 53.25 yards
Net Used for 2011: 108.25yards

If you don't see me for a day or four, don't worry--you know where I am. :)

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Progress?

I can't say that my design wall has changed much in the last month or so. I've developed a wicked charity sewing habit lately, it seems! I think for me, charity sewing is like joining a bee. I think my favorite part of quilting is making blocks, and both bees and my recent charity sewing ( Just One Star, Log Cabins for Japan) allow me to indulge in making some blocks and then moving on to something else. I don't know, I guess I'm finding it rather liberating!


April will also be my first month taking part in the do. Good Stitches Charity bee on flickr, a project started by the talented Rachel Hauser. I'm so excited! My circle's first round is being led by Katie, and she's asking us to use a brilliant tutorial by Elizabeth of Don't Call Me Betsy. I had a little time the other night to dig into my scraps and try out a block...



The light in here is weird today--that light color actually is Kona White. Can I just tell you how much fun this block is? And with the surplus of scraps going on over here, it just eats them right up! I've sorted through and pulled for the two blocks I'm making for the April quilt.


So you can see what I'll be up to this weekend! (I'm almost disappointed I have a wedding to go to tonight--I'd rather be sewing!)

Also, just a little thank you for everyone's kindness in putting up with me being a bit whiny in my last post. We all have our days, right? Good news it that the treatment seems to have helped, and I'm feeling quite a bit better! Whew!