What's a Girl to do?

So much eye candy coming in on flickr and blogland from Quilt Market!  I have spent some serious time living vicariously through anyone who posted photos from the weekend.

Sample Spree sounds like madness.  I love fabric just as much as the next gal, but I don't know that I want to go into the fray for it.  But to those who braved it, kudos to you!  I guess if you're lucky enough to go to Market, you should experience Sample Spree at least once.

Seeing previews of upcoming collections has me in a bit of a quandary.  I've been wanting to buy a few OOP collections I've found on Etsy and a couple of online fabric shops.  But the photos from market have me drooling.  My quandary is this: do I spend my small fabric allowance on the sexy new stuff, or do I buy the FQ bundles of older collections not widely available anymore?

In sewing news, which I have to keep short because of an adorable 2-year old demanding attention, here are a few bee blocks I've finished:

For the Love Circle of do. Good Stitches, Deb pointed us to this tutorial and asked for Patchwork Wheels in bright prints.  I love scrappy blocks, and these were really fun to make.

 
Robin sent pre-cut squares and asked for Granny Squares for her Aqua and Red Bee blocks.  I had a little bit of a discrepancy after squaring up the blocks, which I'm sure is obvious in the picture.  I used a scant 1/4", so I'm not sure why they didn't square up correctly.  Anyway, I love the fabrics she sent- very pretty!

So many blocks, so little time

Nine blocks down, five blocks and two potholders to go.  I coasted too long on that sense of accomplishment after finishing up my 3x6 blocks and now find myself in a pretty pickle.  I was hoping to mail everything off tomorrow, but that clearly isn't going to happen.  It will be down to the wire with the potholders and other blocks.

 Last week was spent piecing bee blocks in earnest.  Two were improv style blocks, and these blocks took longer than they should have because of my need for structure and order.  (Structure and order in my sewing and quilting life, that is.  The housekeeping these days is laughable.  But I digress.)   I also helped a friend with a donation quilt to benefit her son's little league.

Two blocks were made for the Aqua and Red Bee.  Shanna sent fabric and requested Converging Corners blocks based on this tutorial at Film in the Fridge.  This block required a bit of un-sewing because I miscalculated the width of the strips for the outer logs more than a couple of times.  But I love this block, and I may choose it for my next bee block.

Lynne sent fabric and asked for non-wonky star blocks of our choosing.  I didn't realize just how many variations of star blocks exist!  After much agonizing, I finally chose the Amish Star, which I love.  

A word about flying geese.  I am unable to make pretty flying geese using the variety of quick and easy methods.  My flying geese come out much more crisp and precise if I do them using a traditional method (plus I like that there's no waste).

Suzy sent us fabric for April's Design Camp block and asked for Improv Chevrons using this tutorial from Six White Horses.  This is a wonderful tutorial, and the block should have been quick work since I made two for do. Good Stitches in March.  I think I spent the same amount of time making this one block as I did making the two last month.  To be fair, last month's blocks had two chevron panels, whereas this one has three.  A lot of effort went into lining up the chevrons just so.

I love that Suzy chose three prints and sent coordinating solids for her block.  I added a few solids from my own stash in complimentary colors because I was worried I'd run out of fabric (I didn't). 

Next up on the docket is my Piece Bee With You block.  Kelly's theme for April is "Cold and Flu."  I've got an idea that I've sketched out, but it needs a little refining.  I'm fearful that while I'm piecing my block, someone will post a pic in the group's photo pool with the same idea.  My hope is to finish the block by tomorrow evening (!), then get to work on the Polaroid blocks for do. Good Stitches.

March Recap

For some reason, I was feeling like I did a lot of sewing in March.  After creating a mosaic of my sewing accomplishments,  I'm feeling like that is not the case.  Maybe that bump to the head I had earlier in the month affected me more than I previously thought!

FTLOS Swap, Aqua and Red Bee, do. Good Stitches, Piece Bee With You

Since March was my month for a couple of bees, I didn't sew as many blocks as I normally do.  I did, however, design and sew a mini-quilt and potholder. 

This week will definitely be down to the wire, sewing-wise.  Four blocks for the BAMQG  A-Z Quilt-along and Echo Challenge, a charity quilt top, and four more 3x6 Q2 blocks.  I'm already tired just thinking about it!

Next month's recap will be block-heavy.  Sixteen to be exact.  Plus a couple of potholders.  And an apron.  Over-commit much?

Slow but steady

It was so nice to knock out a few projects and blocks last week.  As I've noted before, nothing like knowing I should be resting to get me in front of my machine!  Despite a slow-healing elbow, slight lingering headaches and back pain resulting from my fall, I was able to start (and even finish) a few things.

For the do. Good Stitches Love Circle block, March hostess Natalie chose improv chevrons in turquoise and robin’s egg blues paired with oranges, yellows, and greys.  Luckily, with these hues my stash overfloweth.  These blocks, as all other improv blocks I've done so far, came out looking very planned and more precisely cut and pieced than I would have wished.  But I still love the end result.  A great block design with a beautiful color palette.

Leona, one of the Aqua and Red queen bees for March (I'm the other), sent lovely aqua and red 4" charm squares and pointed us to this tutorial to make a Reverse Starburst block.  This was my first attempt at a wonky star, and I'm wondering why I haven't tried one before now.  It was great fun and I love the result. 

 

And, as blogged in the previous post,  FTLOS mini-quilt and potholder were finished and sent off to Camille of Hermit Goodness.  Check out her blog to see them in their new home.

Lastly, I've started the block for Piece Bee With You.  Jacqueline requested cat blocks for March, and after working in fits and starts, I've settled on a design and have started the cutting.  Here's a little peek at what I'm up to:

Lots of cutting left to do, so off I go!

Flowers and bees

Remember the Retro Flowers block for the Love Circle at do. Good Stitches?  It has been unsewn, has had seams pressed open (they were side-pressed) and has been sewn back up again.  It has also been  joined by a sister block:

 

I pieced those lovelies last night while watching old episodes of The Office (US) and Saturday Night Live with the hubby.  We usually watch old episodes of Being Human (UK) or Walking Dead (we got our fix earlier this week now that new episodes are being aired), but last night I was in the mood to be amused.

Today's agenda involves whittling down my other bee/swap commitments.  This includes, but is not limited to, making a test block, then cutting into this lovely Rendezvous fabric for the Aqua and Red Bee (I may save the gray and black dots for the binding, but the jury's still out on that decision):

and cutting up these old work shirts my husband was going to recycle (due to various stains and tears) for the Design Camp [think outside the block] Swap:

All will be packaged tonight and will go in the post tomorrow.  Some of the packages are going overseas, so there may be tardy arrivals due to the short month.