Strip Bees

Following my first post about the siblings together bee I had a couple of comments from ladies who said that they'd not been brave enough to join a bee. The idea then formed in my mind that it would be fun to start up a small quilting bee.

The idea is that each member makes a patchwork strip measuring 40 inches long in any design they fancy, they then sends their strip to the next member who adds another strip to the first one, again the design is entirely up to the maker. Eventually each quilt top will go to each member before making it's way back to the originator who then has their very own completed quilt top.

We are showing photos of the first strip but after that it's all a big secret. Teeny sneak peeks will be allowed but I think it will be fun for the completed tops to be a surprise. From the strips I've seen so far they're all so different, it's going to be fascinating to see how they turn out.

The other ladies taking part are:

Fran at patchyrose

Jen at Glinda Quilts
Amy at Cloud Cou Cou Crafts

Sarah at Quilt Candy
Julie at Mack and Mabel

So, what are we called?
The Strip Bees.
 I even managed to make a logo.

 The next step was to decide what to make for my strip. For a while I've been thinking it would be fun to make some wonky house blocks similar to those made by Sarah Fielke in her quilt The Blurbs from the first Material Obsession book. I'm not sure my patience would stretch to a whole quilt so this seemed liked the perfect project for a row of houses.This is how far I've got so far.

 

I'm slightly concerned that the small one looks a bit odd but I wanted it to look like it was set back slightly, hence it's smaller size. Yes, I know I said wonky houses but I find wonky quite difficult to do. As they would say here in Suffolk they're "sloightly on th' huh", I say "they" as I'm actually a Norfolk girl!

I've also a completed another Jazz Hands block, another Sarah Fielke pattern, this time from Material Obsession 2.

Bye for now, Maria
Linking up to
Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story
Plum and June's Let's get aquainted hosted this week by Heart Of Charnwood

Siblings Together Quilting Bee. Post two.

The Siblings together Quilting Bee now have a sponser for the wadding as well as for the fabric for the tops and backs of the quilts. The sponsor who is donating the wadding are Lady Sew and Sew. Do pay them a visit as they have some fantastic prices on a selection of their fabrics. Huge thanks go to them as well as all the other sponsors.

       

            

      

The first month, June, is Lynnes's month and she sent us all a package of  PB&J by Basic Grey for Moda with which to make this star block.This is the one I made. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished quilt which she will put together. It's going to look fabulous.

Back soon with news of a fun bee I've put together.

Maria.

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There hasn't been much sewing going on around here lately. Last week we spent a wonderful week on the North Yorkshire coast and what with packing, and then unpacking and all the awful washing and ironing that follows a holiday, sewing has taken a back seat. I have however been organising a small sewing bee which is quite exciting. I'll talk about it in another post.

The only new sewing to show is another completed Jazz Hands block.

I'll leave you with a few pictures of Yorkshire from our holiday.

Robin Hood Bay.

 

 

 

He may be 11 but he'll still hold his Mum's hand when he thinks no one's looking!

 

Blue Bell wood

 

How could I forget? I found fabric whilst on holiday. I found these at a variety of places from a gift shop selling a few fat quarters of Tilda fabric, to a couple of small craft shops and a lovely Feltmaking and Creative Textiles shop called Grace and Jacob in York who sold a small but gorgeous selection of quilting fabrics. The owner was a lovely lady, they do mail order so I may shop with them again.

Bye for now, Maria.

Siblings Together 2013. Post one.

I've recently joined a wonderful Quilting Bee on flickr arranged by Lynne of Lily's Quilts. Each of the 12 members are assigned a month, during our month we send fabric to the other members who each make a block and send it back to the sender who then makes a quilt from the blocks. In the end we will have 12 quilts to donate to the wonderful Siblings Together charity. Lynne explains more about the charity here

The fabric for the quilt tops is all being donated by Moda. Isn't that just fabulous?

Not only are Moda donating fabric but the following retailers are so kindly donating fabric for the backings. Huge thanks go to Lynne for all her hard work in putting the bee together and securing the fabric donations and to all the companies who are donating.

       

            

      

Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry "Sunnyside Up"

I decided it would be fun to enter a quilt into Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival.

 

 There was only really one choice of quilt to enter as it is the only one I've completed in about a year.

I made this medallion quilt for my parents for Christmas from the Flora range by Lauren and Jessi Jung and  a variety of other fabrics. The central panel is a "storm at sea" and I decided on the rest of the borders as I went along. I haven't measured it but it fits their double bed so is quite big.

I'm entering the quilt in the Home Machine Quilted Quilt category. You can see why I'm not entering it the quilt photographer category!

The quilt is fairly densely quilted in a variety of free motion designs in an aurifil 50weight light grey thread. As you can imagine, it was, at times, quite a struggle to wrestle it through my domestic machine but it proves that it is possible to quilt a large quilt on your home machine. Personally I quilt my own quilts as although I love how professionally long armed quilts look, I like the satisfaction of knowing a quilt is all my own work.

The reverse

I'm pleased to say that my parents love the quilt, or so they say!
 I don't normally name my quilts but as this is being entered in the festival I thought it should be given an identity! When I was making the quilt it I would often lay it on my bed and when I walked into the room the colours would glow giving the illusion that the light was on or the sun was shining into the room, I've therefore decided to call it "Sunnyside Up".

Thanks for visiting.
Maria

Summer top sewing.

Over the last few weeks, inspired by the BBC television programme "The Great British Sewing Bee", I've been slightly distracted from quilting by dress making. I've made three and a bit summer tops. My favourite is made from a gorgeous Rayon Challis fabric from the Field Study range by Anna Maria Horner. It has a beautiful drape and is really easy to work with. The top is made from Simplicity pattern 2892.

The Front

The Back.

I may be brave a get a photo taken of me wearing it and show that too!

I have done some more of my Jazz Hands blocks but have also had a little break from these too recently.

I'm back onto these now and have nearly finished another. Hoping to start basting a quilt today so sore knees and back expected later!
Linking up with Plum and Junes's Monday Link up, hosted this week by Blossom Heart Quilts
Bye for now, Maria.

Butterfly cushion two completed.

Today, after a lot of fiddling and faffing trying to sew in the invisible zip, I finished the second of my new sofa cushions. I'm leaning on one as I write. It's a shame I didn't have four of the large butterfly prints.

The back is an Amy Butler print.

 

Here they are together.

So that's the first of my Finish-a-long items done. I have quite a few small scraps of this fabric left. I have a plan for something to make with them which involves a patchwork style I've always disliked! I'll reveal more next time.

Now to finish my son's quilt. ( I just had to add this: my son just asked if I made the new cushion, when I replied that I did he said "I thought so as it's awesome". It's nice to be appreciated!)
Linking to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.
 
Maria.