March Bee Blocks

I finished up my March Bee Blocks today.  I think they're pretty cool!  I will tell you though, having made 9 versions of this block, each with 24 - 2" half square triangles, that I'm over HST for awhile (if you were doing the math in your head that is 216 HST). I signed up for two spots this month, which means I'll get 8 blocks back instead of the usual 4.

You've seen my test block:

Hive 1:

Teal, Coral/Orange, Navy on Low Volume
For Jennifer

Black, White, Various Grey with Hints of Color
For Tiffany

Pink, Red, Teal on White
For Debbie

 This one was hard to photograph.  The background is a beautiful deep purple.

Yellow, Orange, Red with Dark Pink or Purple Background
For Terri

Hive 3:

Sunny Reds, Pinks, Orange, Yellow with Berry Tones on White
For Jocelyn

Red and Grey on White Low Volume
For Tamara

Purple, Cobalt Blue, Kelly Green on White
For Jenn

Coral, Aqua, Mustard on Low Volume
For Renae

I think they look so fun together too.  What do you think?  If you want to make a similar block Amy Friend did post a tutorial awhile back.  She calls this block a "Winged Square".

Linking up with Caroline at Sew Can She for Show off Saturday.

More Paper Piecing

I've really had the urge for some paper pieced blocks recently.  Sometimes I just crave those crisp lines, sharp points, and unique patterns.  I made three yesterday during my snowstorm induced day off.  I found all the patterns at Wombat Quilts.  She has complied a great list of free pieced block patterns.

I've been making them in my [Pink - Yellow - Grey] color scheme to add to that sampler quilt.  My personal favorite is the Neon Snowball block.  It was so fast too.  With only 5 pieces per piece, I had it done in under an hour.  I liked the Lost Geese block pattern but I'm not super pleased with my fabric and color placement on that one.  Hopefully it will blend in okay with the rest of the blocks.

Neon Snowball Block, Wombat Quilts

Icky Thump, 627Handworks

Lost Geese Block, Wombat Quilts

I'm linking up with Quiet Play for this weeks Paper Piecing Party.

Happy Quilting!

Another Test Block

I'm being incredibly indecisive about what block to make for March's Sew Pieceful Swap.  I signed up for 2 spots and have to make 8 blocks instead of 4 as a result so subconsciously I want to make a block I REALLY like.

This one is called a "Winged Square".  It's made up of 24 - 2" half square triangles and 3 - 4" blocks.  I love how dynamic it looks when the center block has some of both colors in it.  I didn't use a pattern for this block, just sketched it and dove in after seeing some on Flickr, but Amy Friend did post a tutorial awhile back.

Winged Square Test Block

I also found a blog post about using printable foundation paper templates for sewing 18 HSTs at once.  I used them to make the HSTs for my first two blocks and so far, I have to say, it's WAY FASTER.  You can find the printable templates here.

The broken camera issue has been resolved also.  I just came into a Nikon D3000 DSL camera (shout out to my dad!) and I'm excited to start using it.  I've snapped a few photos with it already but nothing quilt related yet.  I'm really happy with it so far and can't wait to learn more using it.

Sunrise Saturday 3/8

Chickadee on our new bird feeder.

I'm linking up with Stitch by Stich for anything goes mondays.

Paper Pieced

I've had the urge to do some paper piecing over the last few days so I started up a block to add to my Pink, Yellow, and Grey blocks which I'll receive from this months round of Sew Pieceful.  I haven't been able to do much else, what with my sewing room full of wood. Though I need to get a move on finishing my Challenge quilt since we present them next Wednesday!

My camera broke the other day (major bummer) so I won't be able to share many photos until I'm able to replace it.  In the mean time, Happy Quilting!

WIP Wednesday - Sew Pieceful Blocks

I promised to share the blocks I received from the Sew Pieceful block swap over on Flickr.  These are from my [Red - Orange - Green] color palette.  Don't they look wonderful together!  Many thanks to the wonderful people who made these blocks for me.  They did absolutely wonderful work.

My plan is to break them up into two groups of 8 and make two quilts for two very special people, they don't know who they are yet.....  They will be thank you's gifts.  To see any of the blocks up in a larger format you can see them in this Flickr set.

These are my personal favorites:

Thanks for visiting!  Happy Quilting!

I'm linking up with this weeks WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

Test Blocks and Some Random

Spend some time after work last week working on some test blocks for my Pink, Grey, and Yellow color scheme.  I'm really liking the Rocky Mountain Puzzle block at the moment.

Rocky Mt. Puzzle

8 pt star

I also went a little crazy and pulled all of the pink and yellow fabric in my stash that I might like to use for this quilt.  I had the urge to do some paper piecing so Friday night I worked on some fancy stars in this color scheme.  They aren't quite finished yet but I'm really happy with how the colors are playing together.  I think this will be a bright happy quilt.

On a slightly different note,  I cleaned my sewing room.... only to have it filled with firewood.  Guess I'll be splitting wood at night instead of paper piecing for awhile.  I've also contemplated taking over the living room in the mean time.

I'm linking up with Stitch by Stich and guest host Val's Quilting Studio for anything goes mondays.

As well as with Lily's Quilts for Fresh Sewing Day and the Small Blog Meet.

Happy Quilting!

A new month of block swaps

I am excited to be starting a new month of quilt block swaps over on Flickr in the Sew Pieceful group.  This is a month by month group that you can drop in and out of as you like.  In February I received the blocks I needed to finish up my [ Red - Orange - Green ] color palette quilt(s) and will be posting pictures of those soon.

For March I'll be working with a new color palette, inspired by this photo:

Pinks, Greys, and Yellows.  Preferably from the warmer tones of the color spectrum.  This is the mosaic I worked up in this palette that I'll be sharing with my bee mates for inspiration.  Apparently pink is experiencing a resurgence in popularity in my life. Pretty much every quilt I'm working on or planning has pink in it.  I guess we'll have to wait and see what my husband thinks about all this pink.  I also started a pinterest page based on this color palette because I couldn't fit all of my inspiration into just nine images.  Can't wait to see how this quilt will come together!

Bee Blocks

I had such a productive sewing weekend!  My husband just started a new job and was away most of the weekend so it freed up plenty of time for me to sit at my machine and jam to the music on the radio and just sew....  ahhhhhhh.........

I signed up for another round of Sew Pieceful, a monthly block sway on Flickr and got my assignments on Friday so I sewed up a test block and pulled some fabric for my  February swap mates.

I decided to use the Christmas Snowflake Block posted earlier in January by the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild.  They are doing a block of the month for 2014 and this was the modified 12" version they shared.  The original is a scrappy 20" version.  This person requested Red and Grey on Black or Text backgrounds.

I pulled rainbow colors for another swap mate to be put on a black background also:

Another swap mate asked for Purple, Yellow, and Orange on low volume backgrounds and I just happened to have this fabric I just picked up!  Isn't it perfect for the background?

I've got more to share but it will have to wait until tomorrow!  I'm linking up with Stitch by Stich for anything goes mondays.

Happy Quilting!

Sew Pieceful February Block Swap

After a few months off I've decided to join back up with the Sew Pieceful Monthly Block Swap that takes place via Flikr.  Signups are taking place now if you want to join up.

It's pretty simple. 

• It's a month to month swap, meaning you can pick and choose whether or not you want to participate each month and there are no long term commitments.  I participated four times last year but took off time this fall and through the holidays
• Generally there are 5 people in a hive, which means you end up making four blocks for someone else and one block for you each month
• Each one of your bee mates will specify a color scheme and background color and you have to do your best to meet their requests
• You choose the block you want to make

For this round I decided to continue with my Red - Orange - Green color palette to try and finish up a quilt I was working on last year.  I've asked for Modern fabrics in various shades of Red and Orange with a hint of sage green on a Grey Background.

I think this is a really striking color palette and can't wait to add the blocks from this round to my previously received blocks.