WIP: Bee Tweet quilt

Last year I joined my very first quilting bee - Bee Tweet. It was a great experience! I loved making new blocks each month, some I'd never tried before. I loved making new friends and getting fun packages in the mail. When it was my month, somehow I never blogged about it.

This was the fabric I sent out.

The blocks I picked were based on Nettie's quilt that I had pinned.  These are my test blocks, below.

As of the beginning of March - here are the blocks I had gotten back. I'm loving it! Today I am only waiting for 1 more block, but I still have a lot of blocks to make. I think I'll make this twin size - my usually go-to size (that way, if any bed is missing a quilt, there's one all ready for it).

bee blocks

Sometimes it seems like all I do are bee blocks. Does it seem like that to you? I think I'll start a new quilt just to be working on a quilt. And I think I'll keep working on another one I've started. I'll take some photos and show you. I also did write several quilting goals and I think I'll try to post them on here with photos. It may or may not happen.

This first block is for Rachel in Bee Tweet. She asked for houses. That little house on a pole is supposed to be a bird house. Or maybe it could be a light post. Either way. Also - that roof fabric was something vintage. It even smelled vintage. Not sure I love it as the roof, but it was a great fabric.

These next 6 blocks are for the 4x5 Modern Quilt Bee. 

And these next 3 are for the HARMONY group of the do good stitches bee.

Hopefully my next post does not include bee blocks!

a few blocks and another giveaway!

Well - I was late on these bee blocks - but I did get them done! They were for do good stitches - Harmony circle. I used this tutorial. Not my favorite block, but I'm glad to use up some white and black fabrics - I've got tons of them somehow.

I'm also having another giveaway for my etsy shop over at Amy's blog Diary of a Quilter. If you'd like another chance to enter, please head on over. She's also offering a special discount.

And last but not least, here's my littlest and me on our way to church Sunday. He's wearing a sweater and hat my mom made for my oldest 11 years ago!

I'm still working away on Christmas presents. What are you working on?

Happy Thanksgiving and a few other things

Wow - I cannot believe it is almost Thanksgiving! That means Christmas is just around the corner! It seems to go so fast once school starts. Halloween comes right away and then Thanksgiving and Christmas just speed by.

Since it is the holiday season, and my grocery store seems to have gone crazy trying to display the most holiday foods possible - I caved and picked up some nuts for the kids to crack. I got to use this pretty little Pyrex bowl a friend gave me (a set of 2 - with 1 smaller one). The kids seem to like the walnuts better than the hazelnuts and almonds, so I got them some more. The other day I walked into the kitchen to see them hammering them with a meat tenderizer and trying to squeeze them open with a lemon juicer. Hopefully from now on they'll just use the nutcracker.

And onto some sewing. I made this lined drawstring bag for my friend Angela. You may remember me mentioning something about a fabric diet and that if I bought fabric before I made 5 quilts, I would have to make her something. Well - I didn't get my 5 quilts done before I bought fabric, so this is what I made her. I love the scrappiness - I may have to make one for myself :)

A couple of bee blocks for Amber - in la beeda loca


A secret bee block . . . (thanks so much to colleen for the fabrics!)

For Colleen - la beeda loca. This one was hard. I will not be making a circle quilt ever.

For Jen - Bee Tweet. I love these blocks and I would love to make a similar quilt.

And last but not least - some ornaments for a family ornament exchange. I totally stole this idea from here. Sorry if that offends anyone. They were quick and easy and I didn't mind buying a few things for them.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

p.s. I've recently become addicted to instagram photos. If you're on there - look me up at leedledeedle. I'll try to get some photos together soon for a post.

bee blocks

At one point last month I made enough bee blocks to make an entire quilt! I do enjoy learning new blocks and working on things that are sometimes out of my comfort zone. Here's what I've got since last time.

First up - these are for the 4x5 modern bee on flickr. I also made one that was grey and turquoise, but I can't seem to find the photo. I used Oh Fransson's tutorial for her map of the states block. It was time consuming. I think I'll look for a cheater way next time.

This one is for Amisha in Bee Tweet. I enjoy hexagons a lot. And I love the idea of using lots of different sizes. I also love that background fabric (moda crossweave I think?)

These 2 are for do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee}. We all did a greek cross with pink center or background fabric.

This one was for Brooke in La Beeda Loca. I totally did the block wrong. It was supposed to be Lee's Supernova, but I inverted the corner pieces. Oh well.

This is another bag I made for sewing summit. It's the Jane Market bag. Several other girls had the same pattern. I wish we could have gotten a picture of all of them.

2 more for do. Good Stitches. I did these ones at the very last minute. I think I'll make a quilt with these colors . . .

And 3 for Rachel from Bee Tweet. I copied one of Ashley's blocks, one of Cara's and made one up. I really liked making these blocks. I think I need a quilt with these kinds of log cabin blocks . . .

These were for the Super Secret Sewing Summit Bee. We (Ali and a bunch of other people) made 2 quilts - one for Erin and one for Amy. My blocks were used on the backs.

Wow! 16 blocks! Could have made me a nice little quilt!

blerg!

Well, I'm sitting here, I've seen everything there is to see on Pinterest (not really, but stay with me), I don't want to do any laundry, I don't feel like sanding or painting my living room trim - I want to sew! But my sewing machine's been in the shop for 2 weeks now. I called them this morning to see when I might be able to pick it up and they said at least another week!

I'm not sure if I told you about my fabric diet. But I haven't bought any fabric for 3 months! I told myself a while back that if I want to buy more fabric I have to start using it up. So I committed to make 5 quilts before buying any fabric. Angela and I made a deal. If either of us buys fabric - we have to make something for the other one. With all the swaps I entered this summer and the kids home, I didn't really make it happen. And now my sewing machine it broken.

I know - boo hoo and poor me.

And after reading all my whining and complaining - here's a photo.

It's Amy's block from Bee Tweet. She asked for all types of Christmas blocks and I wanted to make this one. So here's what I came up with. I'm really loving wonky stars - especially tiny ones.

What are you all up to? What are you sewing?

ps - I updated this post to include box bag tutorial links. Sorry that took me so long!