WIP Wednesday

I decided it was finally time to bust out some scrap jar star blocks that I received in a Flickr swap last year.  I asked for a rainbow of colors because, who doesn't love a rainbow?  Playing around with blocks on the design wall led me to put them on point and see what happened.  I like it! 

 

I'm making a few more purple blocks to put in the corners so the overall design is a cool toned X with warm toned fillers.  I'm debating between making this borderless and chopping off part of the scrap jar stars or adding white setting triangles so keep the integrity of the blocks.  I'll probably end up adding the white, just because I can't bear to cut them down! 

In other news, I'm sewing my extra purple blocks on my new 1941 Singer 221 Featherweight, Ethel.  Isn't she darling?  If you haven't sewn with one, they make the cutest little click clack noise while you're sewing away!

Winter Blocks for Winter Weather

Hey there!

Have you been having fun with the weather?  It's been crazy here in Texas!  Yesterday was about 30 degrees and today it's 65, and tomorrow...well back on the roller coaster again.  

I've been stitching up a few charity blocks for the Austin MQG.  Jessica chose a block by Pat Fryer called Good Neighbors for this month's block.  She picked contrasting blues and aquas for this lovely pattern, along with a silver or white background.  I used some of the leftover fabric from my Riley Blake Challenge to piece these.  Won't they all look so crisp and clean like fresh fallen snow when all put together?  

Munki in the Middle September Block

September was sadly the last month of my Flickr swap group called Munki in the Middle.  We used Munki Munki or Heather Ross fabric as the focus feature of various quilt blocks.  This was a great way for many of us to have a quilt block with Heather Ross fabric we didn't have in our stash.  I've been incredibly lucky with great Heather Ross fabric swaps, but don't let me fool you - I spent a pretty penny on some of my stash too!

Here's one of my September blocks.  Kristy requested a churn dash using a low volume background and a bright churn? dash?  I'm not sure what that part is called :)  I used Katy Jones' churn dash tutorial.  The center fabric here is Calypso and was only available in pj's I believe.  The churn dash is Lizzy House jewels and the background is a Moda Sweetwater text but I can't remember which line.  

What have you been sewing this week?

 

WIP Wednesday: Bee Block Edition

This month I'm running way ahead of schedule with the Flickr Ima Bee!  Wendy asked for 12.5" Japanese x + blocks in bright colors with dark cross ends and a low volume/white background.  I'm in love with navy and orange-yellow combos lately, so the first one is no surprise to me.  The second is so girly fun!  I finally cut into my Alexander Henry Farmdale fabrics, but just a teeny bit.  Wendy's been great sending me extra Munki Munki or Heather Ross prints, so I'm sending her a little surprise too!  These will be off in the mail today, bound for Alaska.

Charity Blocks

I'm also busy sewing some charity blocks for the Austin Modern Quilt Guild.  As the VP of Communications, I'm in charge of the charity/outreach projects for the year and I've decided it would be fun to have a little challenge!  

I pick a block each month to post a tutorial about and pick colors, and the guild members make as many (hopefully not as few) blocks as they want and bring them to the meetings.  Each block they bring is an entry to win some of the blocks from the pot.  The rest will be used to make charity quilts.  

I'm having so much fun making these blocks in fresh colors and I love seeing them pop up here and there on members' blogs or Instagram!  Here are a couple I've made so far.  They measure 12.5" square.  The block is called Texas Puzzle.

August Bee Blocks

This month was relatively quiet on the bee front - I only had two blocks to make for my Munki in the Middle Flickr bee.  Joni asked for any size wonky star with a solid background.  I think mine are so cheerful!  It was especially hard to let the cat block go!  The wonky star was really fun to make and I think it may be a good block to intersperse with my Greek cross blocks.  I may have to sit down and make a few more for myself.  They measure 12.5" square.

June Ima Bee Block

June's Ima Bee block from my Flickr group is going all the way to Singapore!  Exciting - I'm an international quilter ;)  Queen Bee asked for a simple black cross on a crisp, white background.  This block is huge finishing at 21".  

I wanted to be a little fancy this time and I've been crushing on Jacquie Gering's improv piecing.  I also had a pile of scraps left over from paper piecing these Circle of Geese blocks, so I decided to just start sewing and see what I come up with.  I think the result is lovely!  Since the fabrics are all black and white, you have to look closely to see that it's pieced, but I think the effect is good and I'm excited to try this again in the future. 

Have you ever tried improv piecing before?  How do you like it?  Any tips or suggestions for newbies?

Close up so you can see the crazy piecing - and the teeny kitty cat :)

Here's the whole block

More Ima Bee July Blocks

Here are two more Circle of Geese paper pieced blocks for my Flickr Bee.   The first one here was a totally scrappy, messed up version that I tried first before realizing it wasn't supposed to be scrappy.  Brilliant me said, self, make two at the same time to make it easier on yourself.  Hence the mostly warm colors with one quadrant of cool colors.  I'm sending it because why not?  Maybe she'll hide use it on the back :P  The next one is my favorite.  I really gravitate towards cool colors personally, and I love the black background fabric!

This hurts my eyes!

Much more soothing :)

July Ima Bee Block #1

For this month's Ima Bee, the Queen Bee wanted a paper pieced Circle of Geese block using black for the outer background and light grey or white for the center, and bright colors for the geese.  Here's my first version, 12 1/2" square.  The black is a Robert Kaufman print, the center is Cloud9 for JoAnn, and the geese are Valorie Wells Nest (orange), Moda Oliver and S (pink), and Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet (yellow).  For my next version, I'm going to use a lighter center background to really make the geese pop!

Heather Ross Greek Cross Quilt Block #2

I just posted my finished Greek Cross quilt block using my favorite Heather Ross print - those funky pink gnomes - as the center.  My Flickr friend Wendy and I swapped some Heather Ross and Munki Munki prints a couple weeks ago and she sent me way too many goodies!  I was lucky enough to receive a little piece of the purple matroyska dolls.  Last night I decided they'd make a perfect center for my next Greek Cross block.  I pulled a few fabrics to cut into tonight.  The swirly grey will be the background. The purples will be the arms of the cross and the blue will be the corners.  Which fabrics do you think I should use?  

Greek Cross in a Square Quilt Block

July is my month to be Queen Bee for my Munki in the Middle Flickr Bee.  We're using Heather Ross prints, especially those from her pajama line Munki Munki, to make each other lovely quilt blocks.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I bought new pajamas to cut them up to make a quilt :)  Sometimes the pajamas are the only way to find certain Heather Ross prints.  

After pouring over tons of quilt blocks on Flickr, Pinterest and lots of books, I settled on the Greek Cross in a Square block from 1000 Any Size Quilt Blocks by Linda Causee and Rita Weiss.  I was so excited, I thought I'd write up a tutorial for it.  I took photos every step of the way, edited them, and lastly did a Google search to see if anyone else had written a tutorial for this block.  Doh!  Don't wait until that step for last.  Save yourself some work and do it first.  Faith from Fresh Lemons Quilts has this great tutorial posted as part of the Summer Sampler Series.  Don't worry, I'll find other blocks to write tutorials for since I'm planning on doing a series of them here on Sew E.T.

Munki Monday: June Bee Block #2 for Munki in the Middle

Sarah requested wonky log cabins made with Munki Munki fabric or other Heather Ross treasures.  My first block used tadpoles from West Hill collection; go check it out here!  I had to make a pink version using the adorable cats (Frederick gets the spotlight here) and also a little pink gnome off to the side.  I really love how cheerful this one is!  

June Munki in the Middle Bee Block #1

I finished my first of two improv log cabin blocks for June's Munki in the Middle Bee on Flickr.  The queen bee requested log cabins with the Munki in the middle of course, and sticking to the colorway of the center print with a little black and white mixed in.  

I picked a square of tadpoles for the center, grabbed my yellow scrap bin, and pulled what little black and white prints I have in my stash.  Here's what I came up with finally.  Queen bee specified some of the colors she wanted us to use, and unfortunately pink wasn't one of them.  Hopefully she'll say pink is ok because I have some great scraps to go with my Munki cats!

May Ima Bee Blocks Part 2

For the second set of May Ima Bee blocks, Coincidentallyquilting wanted us to make Lee's Supernova block using jewel tones with a grey background.  I think I hit the nail on the head!  These blocks finished very large - 15" I think.  Secretly I was really sad to send these away, especially the blue one!

WIP List:

Finished!

  - Contemporary Cubes (more on this one later!) 

Being quilted

  - Urban Cabin in Modern Meadow

Finished quilt tops

  - Aqua/Yellow Patchwork Chevron

  - Over and Under in Sew Cherry

  - Happy Go Lucky in Vintage Modern

  - Round Robin Medallion

In pieces

  - Hexa Go Go Stars & Stripes

  - On a Whim in Birds & Bees

Linking up:

Ima Bee Catch-Up

I made these lovely Schoenrock Cross blocks for Leila, a member of my Flickr Ima Bee.  They look great, but what a headache!  These were paper pieced, and I found it easiest to make freezer paper templates first.  When you do that, make sure you are consistent with the side of the fabric you're ironing them to, otherwise things won't turn out right :)  

Leila sent us the background fabric, which I think was Bella Aloe, and then we had specific instructions for the rest of the colors.  She already has the quilt top put together and is adding borders.  Meanwhile, my blocks are sitting next to my sewing machine but I have so many other WIPs on hand right now, I won't be getting to them in awhile.  If I'd get off Bloglovin, maybe the quilt in my lap would be bound by now!

I'm posting this on the Paper Piecing Party at Quiet Play, which will be happening every Friday.  Join us!

Linked up to the following:

May Ima Bee Blocks Part 1

Marilyn wanted us to make Alaska Homestead blocks for her this month using orange, gold, yellow, pink, and brown.  I never would have put these colors together myself, but they sure look great together!  These blocks are 9.5" I believe.

It's funny how interconnected we all become through the internet.  I've never met Marilyn in person, but we have a mutual friend in the Austin Modern Quilt Guild!  Maybe someday we'll meet in person :)

May Blocks for Munki in the Middle Bee

I'm doing a small bee swap featuring Heather Ross fabrics, including Munki Munki prints from her pajama and clothing line.  I didn't really have any HR prior to this, so I've been collecting bits and pieces here and there when the price seems right.

Here's what I came up with for my May swap partner.  She wanted a churn dash with the HR in the center.

This block has a pink VW van piece in the center, a V&Co Simply Color teal ikat print for the churn dash, and the background is a white and black polka dot print. 

I may make up a copy of the second block for myself to keep :)  Both the telephones and the number print are from the same Munki Munki nightgown dress that I bought on eBay just to cut up.  I felt the Michael Miller blue and teal polka dot was a great accent for the churn dash!

I'm in another bee that has 2 people on the schedule to receive blocks for May, so I'd better get busy on the others!