Barb's blocks done!

Finally I got myself to the store and bought some freezer paper. I thought I had some but it was just easier to buy some more than to tear apart my quilt room looking for it!!

I really like this technique and have made a quilt using freezer paper piecing before which was fun and successful. It was nice to forget about convention and do something a little different, so thanks for stretching our minds Barb!

I separated the colors into warm and cool and did a block of each.
I will get to the Post Office asap - hopefully tomorrow - we are meant to be getting a new roof tomorrow but with all the rain here in the north east, I don't see it happening, so the Post Office will be on my agenda. If not tomorrow, definitely Thursday.

I look forward to doing the next blocks - they look like fun!!

Barb's Blocks and April Packets

I have mixed feelings about this technique. I love the completed block but it did take quite a bit of time. I would consider it for a smaller quilt but I don't think I'd have the patience for it on a larger quilt. However, it is a great way to use my scraps, so I will probably try it again on a baby or lap sized quilt. Thanks for having us learn this. I really enjoyed it.

The packets for April will go out today. Do you want a sneak peak??

The theme for my blocks is one I found at the flickr site for another bee I am following. It is called "Opposites Attract" and I loved the way the blocks turned out so much, I contacted the queen for that month and asked if I could use her idea. She gave me permission so we are ready to roll.

Basically, the block is an improvisational block in which there is a busy, pieced area and a quiet, un-pieced area. You are free to do what ever strikes your fancy. The only thing I ask is that you use the Starling fabric (white fabric with birds) as the focus fabric for the quiet area. It might sound complicated but it really isn't. Check out the blocks from the other bee for ideas. You can go here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. I may have over done it with the fabric, but I wanted you to have plenty to work with. Just send back any that you don't use. If there is enough fabric and you have the time and the desire to make two blocks, I would be very thankful.

I hope you have fun with this. Be as creative and wonky as you want. I would like 10" blocks. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

more blocks for barb

I think I am the only one so far who is not in love with this technique. I really like how they turn out and I think the finished quilt is going to be amazing, it is just a little too fussy for me. I can't wait to see what your quilt looks like!

Edit: I put your blocks in the mail today! (March 26)

Blocks for Barb

Here are my blocks for Barb. I'm so glad you chose this pattern, Barb. I'd been wanting to try it for a while. I had read the instructions before and it seemed too complicated, but once I got going, it really wasn't that bad. Like everyone else so far, I want to make a few more for myself.



I put them in the mail on Monday, so you should have them soon.

Thanks again for pushing up your month!

Katie

Baby Announcement & Blocks for Barb

Like Carrie, I was a little nervous about this block because I've never done paper-piecing before. I love how the blocks turned out, though.

This first one had a plan as far as the placement of the fabrics so it's a little more balanced than the second one.


I had to be more creative with the second block so that I wouldn't run out of fabric. It's definitely a bit more random.

Am I the only one who does "practice" blocks to keep for myself before putting together the actual blocks? This time, I was so glad that I did because I made a few mistakes that would have been disastrous if I hadn't had extra fabric on hand. Here are the two "Map of the States" blocks that I made for me. I also have blocks that I made with these fabrics to match the January and February blocks. I think I'll probably put them together when I have a total of twelve, so I'll end up with three quilts at the end of the Quilting Bee!

And, because I know you all want to know if our little one finally made his appearance, here's a picture of Warren Charles "Charlie" at one month old:

Charlie made his arrival early on the morning of February 12th during the biggest snowstorm in Dallas, Texas history--12 1/2 inches of snow! He weighed 7 lbs., 11 ou. and was 21 1/2 inches long. He's a very easy baby so far, and the whole family is enjoying him!

March blocks for Barb

So when I first started these blocks, I was excited, but nervous. It seemed very complicated and I couldn't figure out how to sort the fabrics in groups. Value? Print and solid? Nothing seemed to work right. I just went for it, picking the fabric and piecing each row one at a time for contrast.

That seemed to work well.

Though I'm not entirely happy with the batik strip in the second one. I really didn't notice until I took the picture, so I hope you don't hate it, Barb!
Anyway, I fell in love with making these blocks! I didn't want to stop, so I started a third with what fabric I had left. I'm sending along the rest of the freezer paper pattern. I hope you like them Barb!



I am so making one of these quilts myself sometime soon!

March Madness

Ok.  First things first, I finally got Hilary's Blocks out to her.  I had an issue with my machine's tension mid-month and had to take it into the shop, and it made me late.  Better late than never, though!  Here they are:

Traditional log cabin.  Totally fun.  I too, added a little bit from my stash to both.  I also wanted to do a wonky log cabin super bad, thus...

Wonks away!  

Hope you like them, Hilary.

Now, onto the March block.  I have a confession to make.  I really love Batik fabric.  I'm fascinated with the colors, and how they swirl together.  I also wanted to experiment with linen, linen blends, and cotton.  And I  didn't prewash.  I wanted it to be, frankly, a surprise when I washed the whole quilt,  what with the different shrinkage rates and junk.  This might bite me in the butt, and all the colors might run together and the fabrics might pull strangely.  Funky charm, right? Anyway, the blocks I want to make are called "Map of the States".  Here is the link to the tutorial: http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2009/07/map-of-the-states-blocks.html

This woman is amazing.  Her quilts are beautiful.  She has many, many tutorials that have helped me, in my quest to quilt.  Also, her free motion stitching is impeccable.   

I would like the blocks to 9.5" square.  Also, if it's not a problem, would you send back any decent scraps with the finished blocks?  That would be great.

I really hope you guys have fun with this, and I can't wait to see the finished blocks!

Packages, ready! (and sent!!)

Introduction

Hi ladies!

Thanks so much for letting me join in the bee. Like Katie said, we met in person last week, and I was looking at her blogs and saw this one, saw that you might be in need of a 'filler' person so I jumped at the chance. I'm excited!

I thought I should at least introduce myself since I missed out on that the first time around!

I have lived in New Hampshire for almost 4 years now, and was in Salt Lake City for 7 years before that. I am originally from New Zealand and as Katie can attest, I talk kinda funny!! I met my husband - wait for it - online! So embarrassing:) But 11 years and 3 kids later, I think it worked?!

I can't remember a time when I wasn't quilting - I remember tying quilts with my mother when I was a child in the 70's and 80's. I got serious about quilting 17 years ago in 1993 when my manager at work bought in a copy of the quilt book "Watercolor quilts". I was mesmerized - I never new quilts could look like that!

Now my passion is applique, needleturn to be specific. But I can do a bit of everything:) I was lucky to marry my husband, as his mother is a quilt teacher and I really learned to get the basics right from her. I love my MIL!!

I am a stay at home Mum, and with just 1 left at home I have plenty of time to quilt!

I am so impressed with the blocks you all have made so far, and I am really excited to get working!

Hillary, if you are missing out on getting your blocks done this month because of the change, I would love to do them for you! Like I said, I have lots of time to quilt ;)

I'm off to look at all your blogs!!

Activate the March Plan!

I did not hear back from Jennifer, so let's go ahead and implement the March plan I talked about in the last post. (Sheesh. Do I sound like an IT geek or what?!) Thanks again for all your feedback. Thank you Barb, Tacey, and Carrie for being willing to shuffle around and thank you Joanna for joining us. Barb, thanks for racing around to get things together early. I can't wait to see what you came up with.

I'm really sorry everyone for the delay, and Hilary, I'm really sorry you probably won't get your blocks from Jennifer. I would be happy to make them if you have more fabric.

Thanks again everyone for helping us get back on track.

p.s. I updated the links at the right with the new month assignments. If you want me to link up to your blog, just let me know.

Plan for March

Hi Again Everyone,
Thanks so much for your great ideas and offers to help out. How does this sound to everyone:

1. We give Jennifer until the end of the day today (3/9/10) to respond.
2. If we don't hear back then Barb would take March.
3. Tacey would take April.
4. Carrie would take May.
5. A very nice woman named Joanna that I just met at the first meeting of the New England Modern Quilt Guild volunteered to join us and take the empty spot. She's working on the Joseph's Coat Quilt from Don't Look Now, so she really knows what she's doing. She would have December.

Barb, Tacey, Carrie, and Joanna, are you okay with this? Everyone, let me know your thoughts. I really appreciate your feedback and help in figuring this out!

Thanks again,
Katie

In Response To . . . "March Package???"

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to answer Tacey's post with a new post instead of in the comments - just in case people aren't reading all the comments. Tacey - thanks for bringing it up.

I've tried contacting Jennifer a couple of times and haven't heard back. I did check in with her about my January block a while ago, and she did get back to me on that, so I may still hear from her. I do feel like we should start thinking about what to do if she doesn't come through. Do any of you have experience with this? Any ideas?

On thought is to try to recruit someone else. It's still pretty early in the bee. Hilary and I would be out our blocks and fabric, but I can certainly live with that. The other thought is to see if anyone else is prepared to switch months to give either Jennifer or the new recruit more time. Or we could just skip March - then we only get 10 (or 20) blocks instead of 11 (or 22).

I don't feel like any of those things are great solutions. I'd love to hear some suggestions.

Thanks!
Katie

March package??

I haven't yet received the fabric for March. I am worried that it got sent to the wrong address. Has everyone else received their fabric?