January Bee Blocks

Here are the blocks I completed for Virtual Quilting Bees this month.

The Incredible Shrinking Quilters' Bee

Jessica asked for 9.5 inch star blocks which would look great set on point. I had trouble with my first one which you can read about here so I made another using some fabrics from my stash which I thought would go with Jessica coffee, sugar, and cream quilt. 

 

The Maple Leaf Quilting Bee

Barb asked for 12.5 inch improvisational blocks in tangerine and blue/aqua for her sons "big boy bed". Barb sent some awesome fabrics and this these were a lot of fun to make. I think her quilt is going to be amazing.

February is my month for this talented group of all Canadian  quilters, my fabric has been sent out and I can't wait to see what all of the women come up with.

Beatnik Bee

Heidi asked for 12.5 inch Churndash blocks using the Modify Tradition tutorial. She asked for 2 blocks, 1 with black background and 1 with the reverse in Kiwi background.

Doll Quilt Mania! (DQS8)

I've gone crazy, doll quilt crazy. I'm seeing little tiny whirligigs in my sleep, but had a brainwave last night and had to try it today.

It was my intention to make 2 quilts. One for me and 1 for my partner.

My partner hasn't given me much to go on but from looking at her flckr site I think she likes pastels. Perfect, I won a FQ pack from Hawthorne Threads recently, and I think it will be perfect!

I don't know what possessed me to make 3.5 inch whirligigs, (they are a lot of work) but I went with it and I love them. I made 50 of them and then had some left over pieces from each of the fabrics.

Last night I dreamt about what I wanted to do with the scraps and after the kids went to school today I went for it. I was like a crazy women. Ironing pieces onto fabric using light Steam a Seam in between, then doing some sketchy raw edge applique following Aneela of comfortstitching's tutorial.

Then came the feature branch and bird applique. Here it is what do you think?

Here is my completed top ready for embroidery of legs, quilting, and accent stitching.

Edited to add: That overlarge branch previously on this post was bothering me so I took it off today, and re cut it to make it more delicate, and added a few leaves too!

Now I have 3 options for my DQS8 partner! Originally I was only intending to make 1; now I have 3! Which one do I send to my partner?

To witness the mania over at DQS8 go to flckr here.

Hoop Up! Swap - Initial Inspiration Piece

Here is the embroidery I drew and stitched up as my initial inspirational piece for the Hoop Up! Stitch & Send Swap

I'll be making a wallhanging with this piece and all of the finished pieces I receive. My theme is "In an Oriental Garden". I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

I also wanted to let you all know that Aneela from comfortstitching has created an awesome tutorial for the raw edge appliques doll quilt she gave away just before Christmas which you can look at here. I can't wait to give this a try. As soon as I find some time I'll be making one. Aneela also has designed some awesome fabrics and embroideries which she has for sale over on her etsy shop here.

Breast Cancer Awareness Blocks

Dana from Old Red Barn Company asked for Breast Cancer Awareness blocks in pink to be sent by February15.

I dedicated this past Thursday while my kids were at school to making these blocks.

Here are the blocks I will be sending.

Block 1 - I used Oh, Fransson "Map of the States" tutorial. I really enjoyed making this block.

Block 2 - My first ever improvisational blocks.

Block 3 - I used my leftover pink fabrics.

 

I will also be longarming one of the quilts for no charge as I feel this is a very important cause.

Please, remember to do regular breast exams and mamograms.

Studio Update

I hope everyone has had a fantastic start to 2010.

I've been super busy with family and been extra busy in the studio. At the beginning of the month I actually had 8 customer quilts for LongArming. I've managed to complete 3 and I'm going to finish another one by Friday.

Here are photo's of the quilts I've completed this month so far.

 

I've also been super busy late in the evening stalking all my new swap buddies so I can make them pieces they will really enjoy. I joined 3 virtual quilting bees, you can see the buttons with links on the left sidebar. I'll be showing you the blocks I've completed for bees later in the month all in one post.

I've also joined a Hoop Up embroidery swap and Doll Quilt Swap 8.

I've been working on my initial piece which I designed myself for the Hoop Up swap, I'm hoping to show you this later in the week but here is a photo of an embroidery I did last week, just for more practice before I get started on other peoples pieces.

I don't know why but I'm really into birds lately!

I've drawn up 3 designs for my Hoop Up buddies but I can't show you those until Aprilish when I've sent them off to my team members. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise for them. Take a look at the flckr pool to see what we have all been up to.

I've started on a mini quilt for my new DQS partner. After stalking my partner I've decided that the fabric I won in the Hawthorne Threads giveaway, Girly Girl, will be perfect for her. Hope she'll love it. There are 160 quilter's participating and were over on flckr here.

 

I've also finished my second ripple blanket and we are using it already.

So, I'm super busy but I'm loving it, and feeling so creative right now.