Can You Believe - Queen Bee Twice in One Month

It's true!  It's also my month in the Scrap-Bee-Licious group.  This is the first Bee I ever joined.  I have learned a great deal from all of them whether because of their blocks, blogs or email conversations.  Such a terrific group!

Last month we used lots of little HSTs, and although I looked for something without them, I just couldn't find something that spoke to me.  My choice is My Stars Align from Stitching and Bacon.  I think this will be a great group project!  My bee mates produce such wonderful work and I always love their fabric choices.

On to the block!  Each block uses 3 fabric selections plus white for trim.  I would love to have one color be any grey - solid or print.  As for the other two fabrics - I'd like one to be stronger than it's coordinating "lower" volume companion.  Here's a look at some of my pairings.

It takes 4 (4x4) squares which trim down to 3 1/2" squares.  It also takes 4 (2.5 squares) for the corner pieces.  This should be the same gray as in the star.  I prefer the trim be white - solid or white on white. The block finishes at 13.5" square.  

Here's a sample of blocks showing my color ideas.  

 Happy Sewing!

Global Scrap Bee - April is My Month!

I have been eyeing the Colorado Beauty Block for months.  I saw the most delicious pillow on Material Girl Quilts and ever since, knew that I wanted to make (have) this block.  It's super easy to make.  It's HSTs, my favorite, and goes together quickly.  I would like the block to focus on one color (of your choice) with white as the background color.

This weekend I whipped up a sample.

Cut 8 (4 x4) white squares.  Cut 2 (4 x4) of each print or solid.  Match each print/solid to a white square.  Sew HSTs in pairs, then rows and then stitch the rows together and it's done!

To reduce bulk, I press the HST seam to one side and then press all other seams open.  

Don't fret if the pinwheel spins the other way!  That block is called Lucky Pieces and I love that one just the same.

Links to help you:

Fresh Lemon Quilts

Block Central

Thank you in advance and as always, thank you for taking the time to stop by!

Scant Seam Trouble

Does it ever happen to you?  You try really hard, practice over and over, measure a million times, perfect the scant 1/4" seam and then it backfires?  Two of my queen bees requested blocks with lots of 2" squares and HSTs.  Neither which I thought would be challenging until...I finished the first Star Value block and measured.  Uh oh!  It was supposed to be 12.5" not 13"!  Lucky for me, the queen is kind and good and isn't banishing me to sewing 101.

Scrap-Bee-Licious Blocks for Liz

Jan requested Scrap Jar Star Blocks, also with 2" squares and lots of HSTs.  Although I had made the centers prior to my discovery that scant seams were not needed for this type of block, the center measurements weren't too far off.  I was extra careful to be precise for the outside HSTs and corner pieces.  These were a smidge over the 12.5" mark - phew!  She was hoping for a vintage look which I scrambled to achieve from my brightly colored scraps.  

Global Scrap Bee Blocks for Jan

As usual, I am an overachiever and nervous that I will totally mess up for someone else, so I make lots of blocks before I choose the best for the queen.  I'm saving all the extras for either pillows, totes or even a quilt.

Back to the crazy quilt blocks I am working on for yet another queen.  

February Bee Blocks

Somehow I managed to get the blocks finished in mid-February and finally mailed them this week. I do apologize to my bee-mates, none of them are in the U.S., so my fingers are crossed that the packages arrive quickly.

Global Scrap Bee

London Road Block for Aylin

Aylin requested the center fabrics be teal or lime.  No lime in my stash!  She did want the low volume fabrics to have some variety.  The white on whites don't show well in the photo although I did use different ones.  I hope these work well in her master plan.

Stash Bee - Hive #4

New York Beauty for Celine

Celine requested the New York Beauty block - the link had 10 patterns.  I chose these two because they weren't too complicated.  Although I am more comfortable with paper piecing, I am still a novice and get a bit overwhelmed.  She chose blender fabrics, I emailed her about strictly solids, she agreed.  To be honest, these are the first blocks that I have made in solids only.  I love the simplicity and plan to do it for myself someday.    As I am always nervous about the final size, I don't trim the blocks.

Remake for Global Scrap Bee

Kaleidoscopes for Anna

If you have read any of my previous posts, you have probably learned two things about me, I am not big on reading the details in directions and I recently started paper piecing.  Due to this,  the blocks I sent to Anna were not my best - so I decided to try again.  Here are the best of the twenty I made this past month.  I hope she can still use these.  I am practicing a few other paper pieced patterns and hope to get those replacements mailed next month.

Off to start the March blocks!

Thank you for stopping by.

Pinwheels Coming Right Up!

I bounce from project to project.  Do you?  I have several projects, in different stages, from thinking and dreaming to cutting, sewing and basting, all going on at once.

This project is in the works.  A Pinwheel Quilt for a sweet little girl, and of course, there was a pattern to inspire me but.........

If you've read any of my posts, you know I'm a terrible one for sticking with a pattern - this time I didn't even bother to read the measurements so my HSTs were oversized.

I have no idea how many I made - I just kept cutting and sewing and trimming.

Next step, count the pieces and match them up.  Sew, sew and sew some more.  Add side and bottom sashing and then iron!  

Coming up:  Tape the batting to the wall, (my current method for a design wall) and arrange the blocks.  With any luck and lots of sewing time, this little quilt will be completed very soon.

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Linking up:

 Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

 Show and Tell Tuesday @ ihavetosay