May's Robot Quilt Block

I mentioned in a past post that I was doing a bonus quilt throughout the bee.  I've completed the first block of that quilt using Nikki's pattern for the Quilt of Valor quilt.  Here's the results.





Once again, perfect points!
Aren't the robots adorable?  Jason is pretty excited to have a quilt of his own. 

I'm now working on the blocks for Nikki's quilt.  I'll post them as soon as I finish them.  :)

Jessica's Quilt of Valor Block

This is the block I will be turning in for the Quilt of Valor quilt at the next KCMQG meeting.  I'm pretty happy with it. 

I like how bold it is.

And I like how perfect the points are. 

Bonus Quilt!

I've decided to take Nikki's suggestion about making a second quilt as we go along.  I also decided that since only one quilt in my entire quilt collection is made by me, we probably need to add another.  My sweet husband's face lit up when I said, "how about you pick out the fabric and I'll make it for you." 

He responded with, "Can it be a robot or mustache quilt?  If you read my other blog, I'm sure you've noticed that we've been in the Pacific Northwest recently.  While we was there, I convinced my husband, Jason, to stop at the Fabric Depot.  And that's where we found this.

It's by Alexander Henry. 

Do I not have the sweetest husband?  He loves robots.  :)

So, this is the second quilt I'll be making as we go along.  I'll make one block for the hostess of the month using her focus fabric & a second block of the same design using the robot as the focus fabric.  I think it shall be fun to see what these little guys end up like.  :)

Nikki's June Blocks Are Trickling In

Some of us got excited and got really busy a little early...  These daisy blocks for June aren't really due until our KCMQG July meeting...

At the KCMQG meeting this week, I got a block from Jaime (top) and TWO blocks from Paula (bottom two)!  Thanks, ladies!

Here's a picture...

Closeups...

Jaime, your fabric choices are so fun! I love the whimsy of this block.  Just what I had in mind!

And Paula, blue is my very favorite color.  I love that you were able to use the extra daisy fabric to make me a bonus block.  That was so generous of you!

You're going to have to teach me how to do circles like this...  I have no idea how you did it!  The outer fabric reminds me of the Scooby Doo show... So much fun!

Again, thank you so much!

QOV Blocks

These are the Quilts of Valor blocks that have been turned in so far... Jaime made the top one and I made the bottom one...  These are due at the June KCMQG meeting.  We will end up with 12 blocks and will set them on point, I think.  I have lots and lots of the red fabric, so we might use it to make a border.  I'm most likely going to use it for a backing.

Thanks so much for helping out with this quilt, my friends!  We will see if some of our Ft. Leavenworth members can help us find a soldier who would be a good recipient for this QOV when it's complete.  Hopefully, we can get it quilted this summer and maybe by the fall we will be able to complete it and award it.  

June's Block for Nikki

I have been busy.  Had some time, so I escaped a couple of days and did some sewing!  Even went to a quilt shop to get a little more fabric to make this block just right.  Here's my version of the block I'm asking you to make for me for June... Remember that it's not really due until our July meeting:

I am very happy with it!  The only requirement I'm giving you all is to use the flowered fabric in the center of the block.  You can do anything with it that you'd like.  I used a square in a square for this one, but I am thinking of making one or two more blocks with some scraps I had left.  Would be nice to have an extra or two.  I will probably make the next one with some 1 inch strips of the flowered fabric in the center somehow...

Thanks, everyone!

Score!

Got a call from a v sweet friend today to give me a heads up about someone who was downsizing and happened to have an online quilt shop...  They were selling fabric for ONE dollar a yard.  Yes.  ONE dollar.  Bought SO frickin much.  $144 worth.  That includes 2 bolts of interfacing.  So very excited!  Some of the bolts I bought still have the plastic wrap on them!  Will post a more proper picture soon... This one was taken in my passenger seat.  I LOVE IT!

Here's a picture of my loot!  Happy Mother's Day to ME, indeed!

Research

So I've been cyber stalking other "virtual bees"...  Found some good ideas...

1.  Above and Beyond:  I  came across a great (optional) idea...

On one blog, a member particularly enjoyed making the block that month and she had fabric left over, so she said she might make another block (a bonus block, if you will) for the hostess that month.

We might want to keep this in mind as we're working on blocks.  Sometimes, it's fun to have an extra or two to help you decide which ones you want to use when making your quilt...  It's also great to have extras to use on the back...  When it's your month, you may want to make some extras for yourself, as well...

Totally optional, but if the spirit moves you to go above and beyond, this is a way we can do a little extra from time to time.

2.  Leftover Focus Fabric- To Keep it or Give it Back?  Other groups have had issues with whether or not to return extra fabric to the hostess with their completed block...  Might not be such an issue with us since we're only giving each other focus fabric...  But how about we handle it this way:  Unless you specify otherwise when passing out materials for your month, we will assume that any extra fabric we have left over from making your block will be fabric that we can keep.  For instance, for our QOV month, I am giving everyone a fat quarter of some red fabric and it's more than you will need to make the block.  You are most welcome to keep the extra.  If you would like the extra fabric, just specify that in the directions and we'll get it back to you.

3.  More Bang For Your Buck:  I've done a block-of-the-month project through a local quilt shop before and was given some great advice right before I started it...  Someone told me that instead of making one block, I should make 2 or 3 because it's not much more trouble to cut out two or three blocks than it is to cut out just one.....  One of the blocks with the fabric/color scheme that the shop recommended and then another block or two from my own stash.  By doing this, I was able to give my dad a blue quilt for Christmas, my sister a 30's quilt for her birthday and myself a quilt for my bed (also 30's...).  So if you follow this logic, you could make a block for QOV with the red fabric... and with the same pattern, you could use your stash of batiks, for instance to make a block for yourself...  And the next month, you can make a block for my June block with the fabric I provide and make yourself a block that same month with your batiks that will match the fabric from the previous month's block for yourself...  In this way, you can end up with TWO quilts for yourself after the year is over without much more effort.

4.  Have Something Tricky in Mind?  How About Doing an Online Tutorial?  This would be a great way to share your tricks on the best way to go about making your block.  Some of us learn best (me) visually, so we might really learn something by watching it being done...

5.  Speak Up!  If you are confused or if you have a problem, please don't be quiet.  We might all be confused, but if nobody says anything, we'll all struggle in silence.  This is going to be a supportive and encouraging group that will inspire creativity and will help us all to learn new things.

6.  Jacquie's Suggestion: Get everyone to make 13 inch blocks so that you can square them up to 12 1/2 inches yourself.

Will be adding more useful ideas gleaned by lurking on other bee sites under the title, "Research" in the near future...

Meet Andrea

Hello. I am Andrea Scott. I am in nursing school – back to school at age 34 – to get my BSN by May 2011. School is hellish and horribly time consuming (can you tell it’s nearing the end of the semester from my enthusiasm?). I work at Saint Luke’s Plaza Hospital 2 shifts per week during school and more during summer and breaks so I keep pretty busy. I have a previous degree from KSU in Journalism. After college I did marketing and journalism for a number of years (oh lord, a decade?) but decided to go back to school to find something that had some heart to it. I have a tiny yarn business called Crafty in a Good Way – my business has been on hold for some time because of school and prerequisites – I do the Creative Hand show each fall with the KC Fiber Guild but otherwise don’t produce much anymore.

1. Do you have a quilting "style"? I love modern a

nd simple. My style has changed a lot in recent months and years.

2. Do you tend to use certain colors more than others? Or prints more than solids?

Here are a couple pictures - my fabric stash and a necklace I made. I am hardcore into turquoise and bright red with white, black, or gray as the neutral. I love grass green and celadon green. I like prints as a mix with solids for “white space.” I like odd numbers and asymmetrical design.

3.Are there any colors you strictly avoid?

Having a hard time with yellow – all shades. Never liked yellow. Tried to like yellow, but it just is difficult for me!

4. Have there been any blocks that you've made in the past that you particularly enjoyed making? Any that you hated and never want to do again?
I am so into squares of all kinds it’s not even funny. I have a difficult time not making quilts totally square. I am working on that. Might need therapy. Anyway, I like bento box design. I like free log cabin design. I like strips of fabric in lines. I don’t do any hand-sewing of any kind.

5. Is there something in your life that you collect or are fond of? (Are you a KSU fan who loves purple??? Do you have lots of cats??? Do you collect owls or antique china or stamps??? Are you addicted to sushi??? Help us get to know some details about you and your taste...)
I like birds a lot. Especially bird outlines like they are backlight by the sunrise. I love the whole bird resting on a tree limb image. Love cherry blossoms.

6. Are you into art quilts? or do you mostly make quilts with the intention of them being used regularly?
I like art quilts, but don’t see making them myself. Everything I make I go into with the assumption that it will either have poo or vomit on it nearly the moment I take it out of the washer first wash. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and plan to have kids some day so I try not to freak out if stuff gets dirty, even if I *just* made it.

7. Do you usually do small projects, such as wall hangings or baby blankets or do you usually make quilts?
Both – about half and half as demands arise. My quilts aren’t huge, though. Small projects are somewhat satisfying since I can get them done quickly. I like making pillows and table runners, for example.

8. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
In Colorado at the foot of Sleeping Ute.

9. What's your favorite place that you've traveled to before?
I loved Mesa Verde and Hovenweep. I plan to move there some day – after school, actually - to live on the Great Sage Plain.

10. If we looked in your closet, what are the two colors we'd see the most?

Black, gray, turquoise, sage green. I am very much a creature of habit when it comes to color. I adore bright red, but wear it as an accent since I am super pale and it can wash me out. I like dark purple too.

11. In your fabric collection, what groupings of fabric do you have (30's? Batiks? Modern stuff? Certain designers? Solids? Asian fabric???, Etc.)
Modern. Some 30s. Some Kona solids. Some batik. I love Amy Butler and Kaffee but am craving more modern fabric design.

12. Which is more important to you? The look of the fabric or the feel of it?
Tough one. I evaluate fabrics one by one. For example, I saw a print of Kaffe that I loved, but that particular bolt had a looser weave, which irritated me, so I didn’t buy it. I am very picky about what I buy, but that’s because I’m thrifty. I don’t look at other people’s work and think they are losers if they don’t shop where I do.

13. Are there any charities in your life that you're passionate about?
I love charities, but have not had time for them in a long time. The one charity I do have time for is Kiva.org, which is a way for people to loan money to entrepreneurs at zero interest in (mostly) the developing world. I think I’ve made like 30 loans on that site since I started in 2007, most to craftswomen or farmers who raise sheep.

14. Besides quilting, are you crafty in other ways? If so, tell us more...

It’s an illness. I dye, spin, tapestry weave, knit (small projects). I had my business as mentioned above, which I enjoyed but did not have time for after school started. So now if I do fiber art involving spinning, weaving, etc., it’s mainly for my family and friends. In spinning, I love to make small runs of crazy yarn, then make little kid hats and mittens.

15. Do you have in mind what you'd like your quilting project to be? Any ideas on blocks or color schemes? Will you be making your quilt for someone else? or for yourself?

I am still deciding what I’d like, but I am pretty sure it might be a free for all kind of deal. I’m percolating on it, so we’ll see what I come up with!

A Sneak Peek for June's Block...

Since nobody wanted to go first... or second... I decided to give myself the month of June.

This is the fun fabric I've picked out for us to use.  Everyone gets a rectangle of it (I cut a fat quarter into 12 pieces)...  The only stipulation is that you have to use this fabric in the center of the block.  I don't care if you cut the focus fabric or if you make it a square or circle or triangle...  You just have to use it in the center of the block and other than that, I'm excited to see how creative everyone can be.

Please make your blocks 13 inches and I will trim them down to 12 1/2 inches myself.

I started on mine today, but didn't quite have enough fabric to finish it.  I guess I'll have to go shopping (darn!)...

Thanks in advance!  

May is QOV Month

At the May meeting, we'll be getting block patterns along with a fat quarter of red fabric to make this fun block called, "Goose Tracks"...

I paired my red with this blue fabric that has little gold spots on it that look like confetti.  I like the way it turned out.

You can use your red in any way you'd like.  We will turn these 12 blocks into a sampler and give it to a wounded service member through the Quilts of Valor program.

Thanks so much for being willing to have our "practice" month by working on a charity quilt.