Bee Blocks

STLMQG hasn't been meeting these last couple of months, but the girls in Sew Bee It are still on schedule with bee blocks via email. When we do get together, I'll have blocks for several of the members. This month Krista asked for Granny Square blocks and sent a link to the tutorial she wants us to use.

I actually had never made Granny Squares blocks before, but these were fun to make.

She asked for two blocks, and making a pair like this enabled me to chain piece them so they went together quickly. The tutorial gives instructions for trimming the blocks, but I have found with bee blocks it's better to let the owner do her own trimming so she consistently gets the size she wants.

She asked for scrappy, no particular color scheme, so I raided my scraps and put together a warm combo and a cool combo.

I enjoyed pulling the fabrics and making these blocks. Maybe I'll have to make a scrappy Granny Squares quilt myself someday.

When the Sew Bee Its worked out the schedule for handing out this year, I told them I'd continue to make blocks and be part of the bee for as long as I was still in St. Louis, but I didn't sign up for a month to hand out. At that time, we thought we would go to AZ in April to find a house in the area we want to move to.  Since our moving plans are on hold, probably until next year, I'll continue to be part of the bee and sign up for a turn to hand out later in the year. I miss getting together with the girls and I'll be glad when this is all over and it's safe to get together again.


Linking up with Quilt Fabrication

On My Design Wall: That Squirrel

Remember last week I succumbed to the lure of a new project? This one:

This is where chasing that squirrel has taken me.

No, it's nothing like the inspiration photo, which was selvage strips in concentric squares separated by a dark charcoal background. I wish I knew where the image came from so I could give credit.

According to EQ, I'll need 2-1/2 yards of background fabric to fill in between and around those striped blocks. I have very few large cuts of fabric in my stash, but let's look at what I have that might work:

Grey Polka Dot:

Beige Texture:

The grey polka dot is too busy. The beige texture is boring; also, some of the warm colors were never prewashed and may bleed onto such a light background later.

I want a dark background like the inspiration photo, to really make those warm bright colors pop.  But not black, which would be too harsh. I went shopping on line and took screen shots of the likely candidates, and plugged them into EQ. Here's the one I selected, which is sort of a grunge-like crosshatch texture:

I like the darkness of it to set off the bright colors, and the texture. I ordered 3 yards, but it may not get here until mid May. No problem, this is a squirrel project with no purpose and no deadline, so it can wait on my design wall until the background fabric gets here.

From the inspiration to the EQ design to the layout on the wall, this project morphed from concentric squares to a square spiral to an oblong spiral with a finished size of 64 x 80".

I kind of like the square spiral better, so I may revise the layout on the wall. It would finish at 64" square. We'll see. I have plenty of time to play with it. What do you think - square or oblong? Why?


Link ups:
Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Love Laugh Quilt

Hands 2 Help 2020 Check In

Today is check in day for those of us participating in Hands 2 Help at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. I have two quilts in work this year:

This is Have Faith, a block pattern from L'Fair Quilts. The blocks were made by my friends in Sew Bee It last year. I added pieced sashing and I got them assembled into a top.

Now it's basted and ready for quilting.

And this is a Chunky Churn Dash using bright squares sent to me by Wanda at Exuberant Color. Pardon the gloomy indoor photo; I need to take a better one outdoors.

The CCD will go to Little Lambs. I need to check the size of Have Faith and the requirements of the other organizations to determine where Have Faith will go.

Thanks, Sarah, for hosting and organizing Hands 2 Help!

A Small Flimsy

Even though I've been bouncing around between projects, I was able to get this little flimsy sewn together.

At 36 x 42" it's baby quilt size, so it will go to Operation Shower when it's quilted and finished. The prints may not be traditional baby quilt prints, but I'm sure they'll appeal to someone, with that sweet little floral and those girly colors.

I have a soft purple flannel for the backing that was given to me by my friend Cherie for donation quilts, and it harmonizes well with the fabrics on the front. I plan to quilt it with an allover meander and bind it with either the coral or the neutral.


Link ups:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Alycia Quilts

Smile

My Brother-in-law says he's gotten lots of chuckles about his mask. I'm just glad to be able to put a smile on people's faces during this trying time.

Chasing a Squirrel

I saw something on Pinterest the other day. It caught my attention, as squirrel projects do, and I had to drop everything and pursue it.

It was made with selvages. I don't collect selvages, but I have some 1-1/2" strips and I can easily cut more.

I sewed strips into pairs, then cut them into 4-1/2" lengths, and sewed two pairs together for a block. Here are the starter blocks on my design wall.

Meh, it's okay, kind of juvenile.

What if I limit the palette to just warm colors?

Much better. I really like where this is going.

The original inspiration photo was nothing like this, but that doesn't matter anymore. This project has grabbed my attention in a way that nothing has lately and it feels good to focus on something. I cut more warm-colored strips and I'm making more blocks, so we'll see where this goes.


Link ups:
Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Love Laugh Quilt

Finished Flimsy: Keep Positive

Although I've been distracted and it took much longer than it should have to get this top finished, it is finally finished. I'm calling it Keep Positive.

The palette was inspired by these prints, and I pulled lots of greys and a few yellows from my stash. Then I threw in the red and the blue for more variety.

When I showed it here when it was laid out on the design wall, I mentioned that I added a little surprise. Look who made an appearance! The colors in the Paddington Bear print worked perfectly, and a whimsical touch wouldn't be out of place here.

This will eventually become a donation quilt, but everyone can use a little positivity and optimism now. At 56 x 67" this will make a nice throw for someone. It's not too feminine or masculine, not too elderly or juvenile.

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Alycia Quilts, and Wendy's Quilts and More