Even More August Bee Blocks

I finished up my [3x6] bee blocks!

This one is for Desiree.

lovin' the black and red.

This one is for Angela. 

I hesitated on the green zebra stripe, but she likes it!

And last but not least is my favorite, for Tracey. 

I got this print in a grab bag from Fabric.com and love it.  I've been picking it up or ages, and trying to fit it into a project, but it didn't seem to work.  I'm so glad it works here!

Here's a shot of them all together.

I'm thinking about a new cathedral windows project, and I'm debating posting my process, step-by-step, these blocks really aren't as hard as they look.

just a rough sketch to help me figure out how many squares I need.

More August Bee Blocks

In Scrap Happy, August was Rick's month.  He requested mosiac blocks following his instructions.  I have a hard time with true randomness, but I think this is what he wanted.

In Christmas in July, it was Kelly's month.  She's making a PS i quilt pinwheel sampler.

My assigned block was #7.

for our second block we were told pick make any pinwheel.  I opted not to go super crazy.

simple and fun.

Finished Coins!

Done and gifted! 

We went camping this week with friends, one who happened to be Kim, the new owner of this quilt.  She loves it!  Whew!  I have horrible self-esteem when it comes to making things for other people.  (what if they don't like it?) and as a trade, I wanted it to be perfect, since I adore my redone furniture. (which I just realize I hadn't blogged about yet)

Any-who, she adores it, so all's well.  This was the quickest turn around I've ever done.  one evening to piece the coins, one evening to piece the top, and a day to quilt, bind and wash it.

I'm still a newbie at the whole actual quilting process.  I outlined the coins and did loopy vines in the white.  It finished at about 50"x60."

Cathedral Windows

I've finished three of the six for my [3x6] bee.  I like this bee because you make six of the same blocks in the requested colors.  It runs quarterly!  Cathedral Windows really aren't that hard, just completely different from "normal piecing"

for Solidia

for Becca

for Lynda

Only 3 more to go!

Trades

My most amazing friend Kim redid my old sewing table and my girls' dresser in trade for a quilt.  (I love trades!!!)  The dresser and sewing table look wonderful.  You can see before and after pics here.

She requested a red, white and black quilt with an asian/ modern feel.

Here's my final plan.  I had to redo it about a billion times until I was happy with it. Then, before I started to cut the fabric I decided to double check my plan and found I had goofed on the math. I redid the whole idea. I'm short about 1/2 yard of red for the inner border. (Oh darn, I'll have to go buy fabric.)

Here's the fabric I chose.

Now I'm ready to get started.  I hope it's modern/asian enough!

Fairy Tale Blocks

Two different bees this month asked for fairy tale blocks.  I love making girlish blocks, so I had fun with these.

For August's Fussy Cut Love, we were sent a snow white print and some strips, asked to make log cabineque blocks with the scenes as the centers.  Fun!

This one was my favorite, I love the blue and yellow.



This tall block didn't turn out as I had hoped, I ran out of colored strips and had to add another fussy cut bit to the top.



 In Sew Buzzy, We were sent pink and yellow fabrics and a princess print.  Guidelines were "right angles" and we had to use the princess fabric somewhere.  I really like how this one turned out.

A detail shot of the center.  I didn't intend for it to be wonky, but it is slightly wonky.

Beach Clarity

We made it home safely from our week at the coast.  It's amazing how things can fall into place when you're away from home.  I sat on the beach and thought about all those curve balls and finally felt like I had a direction and a plan.  Mr. Chaos also had plenty of time to think while he was working.  It was a lot of hurry up and waiting for him.

First we decided not to put Muffin in preschool this year. She was born 12 days too late to be able to enter kindergarden in the fall and we felt that having her repeat the same preschool program wouldn't help her grow, not to mention saving on the tuition each month.  So she'll be home with my everyday this year.  She's my last little one, so I think I'll enjoy it.

Second, we've decided to move.  The five of us currently share 1000 square feet with only one bathroom on a very busy street.  We're bursting at the seams.  We're looking outside of town, our goal is two bathrooms, at least .5 acres of land and no more than 45 minute commute for Mr. Chaos.  Finances being as they are, I think it will be awhile before we find something we like and can afford.  In the meantime, we'll be sifting through ten years of accumulated stuff.  Blech.

Living outside of town will be a completely different lifestyle for me, but I think I'm going to enjoy it.  I'll have room for my roses, my sewing machines, and hopefully some chickens.  :)

Curve Balls Be Dammed.

Monday we packed up and headed to the coast for the week.  Mr. Chaos is working the Tillamook County Fair and we tagged along, playing on the beach and having fun.  We're staying about 30 min north of Tillamook.  Spending a lot of time not worrying about anything and enjoying my kids.

A Funny

Miss Mae: Hey Mom, know what this is?

Me: No, what?

Miss Mae: A sandbox. Get it? A sand box.

Coburg Quilt Show

Last Saturday was the Coburg Quilt Show.  Mr. Chaos and I went out and wandered around a bit.  Oh my.  A very old fashioned quilt show.  Lots of floral prints and wheelchairs.  There were a few quilts I liked though.  Mr. Chaos snapped pics for me.

I love the paper pieced stars in this quilt!

I'm a sucker for scrap quilts.  I loved the bright simplicity of the half-square triangles.

Since I am personally terrified of sewing curves, I love this quilt.  The brights and whites.  yumm.

Here's another version of the same star sampler.  I think these colors are very striking!

There were no improv style quilts.  I'm thinking perhaps I should make one to enter next year.  :)

Curve Balls

Life has been pitching curve balls at me one after another.  Nothing I can share right now, just trying to thwack each one as they come.  Not a lot of sewing going on this week.  Hopefully more soon.  This morning I'm going to enjoy my coffee.