Wednesday, 30 January 2013

10 second attention span, me?

First month of first quarter is almost done, and I'm awffy chuffed I got a couple of finishes under my belt - thank you very much for the lovely comments I got last post!  The other side of why I'm so chuffed is that I feel like I've spent most of this month starting things!  That wasn't meant to happen.  I just wasn't in the mood to carry on stitching strips of jeely roll after all.  Top of my priorities should have been a good tidy up too, but funnily enough I didn't feel like that either...  With the end of the first month of 2013 coming up, I realised I had a bit of bee block catching up to do and that was much more fun.
I got caught up on January's blocks for the Modern Stitching Bee, Jennie asked us for the Quatrefoil block from 99 Modern Blocks.



Its a great block, in fact, its one I had been toying with using as I did a mock up of how it would look in a quilt and I really loved it!


One to save for the future methinks.
Next up it was about time I did some Bee Blessed blocks, and Jude's request for bright, and for kids prints to be used that was ideal for me.   I look forward to seeing what next months block is now!



What's taken up most of my time though is technically a bit of back pedalling....  A skypey flasher I chat to from time to time showed me that every time she makes bee blocks, she makes an additional one for herself.  Well duh.... is that not just the most obvious, and genius idea you ever hearda?!  Why on earth did that never occur to me?  Over 18 months of making bee blocks for people, I've made some nice blocks.  Actually, bugger that, I've attempted some pretty awesome blocks!  And yes, I love that they are in bee quilts.  I love sending them on.  Buuuuut... Well....  There's quite a few of those blocks that I just know I am not too likely to be brave enough to attempt again, never mind replicating in multiples for quilt tops!  And it would have been so nice to have an actual fabric record of some of the blocks I've done.

So, as I am still in Bee's I figured starting now was much better than moping about not having thought of it before!  Last year I was lucky enough to win a lovely collection of retro 30's reprints from Kim @ Crafternoon delight.  Hmmm, possible collection of random blocks....  lovely retro prints.....  Ooooh I'm going to get me a 30's prints sampler quilt!



So, I got stuck in and started making more blocks from past months of the Modern Stitching Bee, and here I am, all caught up now!  



I did have one disaster block though...  To begin with I must have cut the squares too small.  Every pressed HST was 3 1/4" at best....  But, I'd started so I pigheadedly continued, doing 1/8th in seams.
It really didn't come out very nice.  If I square it up properly there's no way it will be 12 1/2".  And, and I just noticed it was meant to have hst's in the four corners too!  Oops.  




Ach well, I'll keep it anyway! Next up though, if I can maintain block-making momentum, I've got a few foundation paper piecing blocks waiting for me... (lets just pretend that the tidying isn't...)



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24 comments:

  1. Leanne30 January 2013 at 01:48

    You are doing great. Just frame that last one in white sashing to bring it up to size and it will look great in your quilt.

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  2. Amy30 January 2013 at 02:21

    Great idea to use your 30s prints for a sampler! I really like them in the granny square block - might have to file that idea away for when I'm ready to cut into my own 30s stash. :)

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  3. CitricSugar30 January 2013 at 03:22

    I agree with Leanne! But we've all been there - I hate it when I miscut something. Drives me crazy!

    You're doing beautiful work, though. I love those quatrefoils...

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  4. Dianne Neale30 January 2013 at 05:35

    Great idea for a sampler quilt. Purdy fabrics too.

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  5. Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts30 January 2013 at 06:37

    That is a brilliant idea! Yours will be über pretty :o)

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  6. Di30 January 2013 at 08:50

    I never thought of that idea either - it is brilliant! Your 1930s prints show off the blocks well. Nice work S. Di x

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  7. heart of charnwood30 January 2013 at 09:39

    Looking lovely these blocks, and like Leanne says, a bit of sashing will make the block a little bigger : )

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  8. Annabella30 January 2013 at 10:16

    Well done on doing so well in your first month of the first quarter (I am also feeling slightly smug :-D) and the bee dusplicate block idea is totally genius! Ditto Leanne's suggestion about the sashing. Who will ever know?

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  9. Katy Cameron30 January 2013 at 12:37

    Och, it's not like anyone's likely to be seeing the lack of cleaning any time soon, right? ;o) Great idea on duplicating, never would have thunk of that, gonna look fab!

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  10. Archie The Wonder Dog30 January 2013 at 12:38

    Such a great idea! I love Leanne's suggestions about the sashing or you could add print sashing, if you fancied.
    P.S. Love the mock-up of the Quatrefoil quilt!

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  11. Mrs Flying Blind...30 January 2013 at 12:40

    Great idea, and you are going to have a beautiful sampler quilt there my friend xxx

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  12. Judith, Belfast30 January 2013 at 13:12

    Brilliant idea to make an extra block each time! And quatrefoil is one of my favs! jxo

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  13. Emily's Mum30 January 2013 at 13:29

    crikey, you will have an amazing finished item.Loving the 30's fabrics btw.

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  14. knottygnome30 January 2013 at 14:34

    wow that is a really great idea! the finished quilt will be a record of all your other contributions.

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  15. Julie30 January 2013 at 14:46

    Such a good idea and will work really well in those repro fabrics. they'll pull all the different blocks together. I'm well practised at pretending the tidying doesn't need doing. Juliex

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  16. moira30 January 2013 at 20:06

    it's a genius idea. this wil be a erally pretty quilt AND you already had the fabric - win-win!

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  17. Cindy30 January 2013 at 20:19

    Your bee blocks are just beautiful! I really like what you're creating :)

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  18. Canadian Abroad30 January 2013 at 21:26

    Well look at you just knocking out bee blocks left, right and centre. Loving you copying Rhonda's idea in retro prints. Another quilt on the horizon then.

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  19. Catherine30 January 2013 at 22:32

    What a fantastic idea! Love the blocks you have started with

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  20. Yon Quilting Wife30 January 2013 at 23:26

    My goodness you have been a busy bee.
    You're putting the rest of us to shame you know.

    I love the colours you are using.
    So pretty.

    Polly
    xx

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  21. Benta AtSLIKstitches31 January 2013 at 07:32

    Brilliant idea, and great fabric choice, The disaster square looks fine, a border o make it up to size?

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  22. Alison in Germany31 January 2013 at 07:42

    Ah... Now I understand the bee block theory! They look great. I'm sure you'll find a use for the mini one.

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  23. Rhonda the Rambler31 January 2013 at 11:38

    Rightly I impressive my lovely friend!

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  24. Charlotte3 February 2013 at 10:33

    Oooh it's going to be super pretty. If I take part in a round of 3x6 or 4x5 on Flickr then I make myself one but it's a great idea for the monthly bee too!

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