Feathers on Feathers - a finish Friday

This one has been a long time coming!

I finally finished my Feather Quilt, made from blocks from my Make It Modern Bee (from ages ago).  It was my January challenge for my Lazy Bum UFO group (it was also my November challenge that didn't get finished).  It's nice to start the year off with a finished challenge.

I asked my bee mates to make feather blocks in fall colors with a white, cream or gray background.  I really love how it turned out.

I also tried out a new background filler - all over feathers.  From a distance, my quilting looks pretty good, but up close, my feathers still look like drunken seaweed.  However, as I tell people who ask about other FMQ motifs, sometimes it takes quilting a whole quilt to really let a design sink in.  I could definitely see some improvement in the plume shapes towards the end.

I may need to revisit this feather block again soon too.  I've seen some really lovely mini's made from just one feather.

Also, just a heads up:  I am participating in a Eclectic Elements Blog Hop coming up on Wednesday, February 11th and hosted by Nicola at Sunshine Reflections.   So if you are a fan of the line from Tim Holz, I hope you will stop by and see what I've been making.


Thanks for reading today,

Jen


Linking up with:

Feather blocks - Building Blocks Tuesday

I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to get some sewing time in.  Last week was busy and tough, but my wonderful hubby let me sneak down to my studio for a little quite time on Sunday.  I was able to finish up the last few feathers I needed for this quilt.

WAY back in March of 2013, I asked my Make it Modern bee mates to help me with these blocks.  I asked them to make feathers in fall colors, and they made some gorgeous blocks!  Can I just say, these blocks are not hard, but they aren't easy either.  Each block I made came out a different size, and I can't just blame the printer.  Did my bee mates complain?  Nope!  They did their best and I have some lovely feathers to show for it.  Thanks again and again Ladies!

My Lazy Bum friends chose this quilt as my April challenge.  I didn't finish it, but I did make some progress.

It became a flimsy and magically got backed and basted, all in a Sunday.  Perhaps it will get quilted on another Sunday soon.

I just love the different colored backgrounds, and each feather is so unique.

What blocks have you working on?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading!

Jen

An InLinkz Link-up

Blame it on Summer - Building Blocks Tuesday

Uhhhh, have I showed you this one yet?



I woke up this morning planning to write another post or two about progress on my lists, and thought, "Hey, it's Tuesday!"  It completely slipped my mind.  Doh!  I will blame it on summer.

I made the block above for Licet for June's Make it Modern Bee.  It seemed everyone was working within the same color palate, so I already had a bunch of scraps in these colors - which was so convenient.  This one is called Patchwork Wheel and you can find the tutorial HERE at Don't Call Me Betsy.  Elizabeth's solid colored patchwork wheel looks amazing, and I'm sure Licet's will too.

So what have you been working on this week?  I want to know!

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading!

Jen

Churning Butter - Building Blocks Tuesday

Today's block is an oldie, but a goodie.  The simple churn dash.  I was a bit surprised to see this pop up in my Make it Modern Bee, but I am rather pleased that I got a chance to reacquaint myself with this block.  Jamie asked for churn blocks in butter yellow and black.  We got to choose which one went where.  The tutorial we all used is here at Stash Bee, if you are interested in making your own.  There is a beautiful picture of a rainbow churn dash quilt at Emily's site.  I think Jamie's will turn out fantastic too.

So what have you been working on this week?  I want to know!

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading!

Jen

Mommy brain strikes again, and again, and again - Building Blocks Tuesday

I've got another x plus block to share today.  This one is for Audrey in the Make it Modern Bee.

Hmm, something just isn't right.  I followed the same instructions from last time, but I didn't look at the diagram I drew.  Brilliant.  Although, I suppose if you were making a quilt all by yourself with just 3 fabrics, this wouldn't be a bad layout.  A few unpicked seams later and it looks much better, for Audrey.

Mommy brain struck again (something that has been increasing in frequency lately, I might add)!


So what have you been working on this week?  I want to know!

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading!


Jen

Time Out! - WIP Wednesday

I declared this week to be a paper piecing week.  I have so many projects that needed to be paper pieced, but I get a little worn out sometimes by the process AND the mess.  But I knew I needed to do it.  Only 2 days in and I want to quit.  This is mainly because I manage to mess up 2 different blocks yesterday!

The first one was a bee block for the Make it Modern Bee.  I put together a pretty darn good-looking Lone Starburst block - completely put together - only to realize that it wasn't to size.  My printer settings had been altered somehow and though I checked the little inch line (which appeared to be to size), the block pieces were actually 1/4 inch short.  If it hadn't been for the pattern designer's blog post, telling me the length the sides needed to be, I would probably still be scratching my head.  A second block is now complete (below).  The short one will likely be made into a journal cover one day, or a pillow.  Can't have anything go to waste, right?

The second block I screwed messed up was my house block for my Star of Africa bee.  This block is ridiculously overdue.  I chose a difficult paper piecing block - not my own design (maybe that is breaking the rules for the bee??) - and tried to fussy cut some things for the windows of the house.  All was going well until I accidentally sliced through an entire section of a house.  Needless to say, I had to put THAT block away for a little while and go sit in the time out chair to cool down.  I'm really starting to wonder why I even choose to paper piece this block when I could have appliqued it more easily.  Plus, the block wouldn't have really represented me or my country very well.  I think I may go back to the drawing board on this one.

There is a 3rd paper piecing project that I have all printed out and ready to go, but now I am doubting whether I should even start it.  I am not sure I have the patience.  But then again, perhaps 3rd time is a charm?

I also put together the backing for my Hands 2 Help quilt.  Now everything is ready to be basted.

This Wednesday...

Completed Projects:

• Bee Blocks - We Bee Learning (4 blocks), Simply Solids (1 block), Make it Modern (2 blocks)
• It's for the Birds Blog Hop items - you can see them here

On-going Projects:

AKA - "stuff I plan to touch this week or next".

• Bee Blocks & BOM blocks - Lucky Star May (1 block), Guild BOM for charity (2 blocks)
• Star of Africa Bee - I have really slipped behind.  Need February, March, April, and one more done.
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - Piecing the backing is in progress
• Quilt for Hands 2 Help Charity Drive - basting in progress
• Items for the "Say it with Flowers" Blog Hop starting at the end of May (my day is June 4th) - I have a plan, but haven't put in into action yet.

Back, Back, Back Burner:

These will likely be touched sometime in the future - I should really rename this category to "I want to remember that I have these projects, but realistically they won't be touched till 2015 because I'm too busy doing other stuff"

• Handstitched Medallion Quilt - quilting in progress.  This is the project is going to take FOREVER!!
• Discontinuity 2 - crib sized top is complete, but now I am thinking it really needs to be twin sized as all the girls are about to be in big girl beds.  On hold for now.
• Curves Class goodies - catch up in progress, but on hold for now.   
• Skill Builder BOM blocks (now 3 months worth) - I am saddened by putting these down here, as there are some wonderful blocks to make, but I just don't have time right now.

This week's stats:

Completed projects - 1 plus a handful of blocks
New projects - 0
Currently in Progress - 6 ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to the Building Blocks Tuesday post!

And as always, thanks for reading,

Jen



Linking up with
 

Bento of Googly Eyes - Building Blocks Tuesday

This is a bento box starter block I made for the Make it Modern Bee.  Starter - meaning that the recipient will chop it up into 4 pieces and mix it up with other blocks she receives.  The tutorial is found here.  I liked making this block and really like the look of the bento boxes (similar to Discontinuity).  I might have to try it out again soon, but with less orange.

Orange has grown on me a bit since making a bunch of bee blocks with orange as a requirement, BUT it is still not a favorite.  I even had to ask my bee mate if the block above was too busy, since anything with that much orange just shouts at me, I am not the best judge.  She claims it is OK, so it will be on its way.  I just love those herons, and I thought the googly eye fabric added some interest.  There is also some Simply Color and Sketch in there.

So what have you been working on this week?

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading!

Jen

Comma cuts the mustard - Building Blocks Tuesday

I can see how these x - plus blocks can be addicting.  Especially when they turn out so fun.

This one is for Karen as part of the Make it Modern Bee.  She asked for aqua, gray and mustard yellow.  I was completely unhappy with the mustards I had in my stash, so I ordered a little Comma, and it came in time.  I really made the look I was going for.

If all goes according to plan, next week's Building Blocks Tuesday might be a day early to accommodate for my month of the Make it Modern bee.  Of course the linky will be open until the following Tuesday as usual.

So what have you been working on this week?

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading,

Jen

Now spinning the right way - WIP Wednesday

Thanks to a couple of sick kids and a disaster of a house, I have nothing new to show you this week and made little progress from last week's list.  HOWEVER, I have made progress on some of my general quilty goals for the year!

I finally made it to a meeting of the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild earlier in the month.  I had pretty high expectations, and I wasn't disappointed.  First, there must have been at least 65 people there that night - standing room only!  It was fun to see so many diverse people in the room, and learning that there quilt styles were just as diverse was wonderful.  I also got to see them wrap up / show the final projects from the Madrona Road Challenge.  People made all sorts of beautiful stuff.  From mug rugs, to full size bed-quilts, bags, pillows, even a laminated mat to go under the kid's car seat to protect your upholstery.  So many creative patterns and uses for that line of fabric.  It was very inspirational.  I also heard from several members that attended QuiltCon and their take on the experience.  It made me really want to go to the next QuiltCon!  I hope I can make it back to another meeting soon to see what else is new.

I also started to organize my scraps.  No more overflowing brown paper bags.  I say "started" because even though I now have them organized by color, I was hoping to pull out lower quality fabrics for Ashley, and cut them to useful sizes for her.  I have only gotten as far as sorting them by color - but it is a start!

Also!  A couple of Friday's ago, I took a tour of RJR Fabrics!  My Dear Husband set this up - isn't he the best?  It turns out, their facility is right around the corner from me.  I am still writing up my post about the experience, but I hope you check back on Friday to hear about the best blind date EVER!


This Wednesday...

Completed Projects:

• Bee Blocks - We Bee Learning blocks - done and redone (now spinning the right way), Make it Modern blocks - all done, March Lucky Star block - done!

On-going Projects:

AKA - "stuff I plan to touch this week or next".

• Bee Blocks & BOM blocks - Skill Builder BOM blocks (now 2 months worth), April's Simply Solids stuff came in the mail this week too.  And do I dare start the Forest QAL?  It looks so fun.
• Star of Africa Bee - February's block still needs to be done, and we just found out the March theme
• Curves Class goodies - catch up in progress, but on hold for now
• Les Amis Baby quilt - quilting in progress, was put aside for curves week, but it is time to get going on the quilting.
• Baby quilt in blue - fabrics chosen.  Must decide on a design soon.  I would like to do a interlocking square type pattern, but simple chevrons might be more appreciated by the mom.
• Discontinuity 2 - top is complete using the log cabin method.
• April Showers Mug Rug - Started!
• Easter baskets - I want to make a few of Noodlehead's Divided baskets for the girls' goodies, but I am not sure I will have time.

Back Burner:

These will likely be touched in a couple of weeks - I know I've been saying that for more than a couple of weeks.

• Handstitched Medallion Quilt - quilting in progress.  This is the project I pull out whenever we go up to the mountains for the weekend.  I usually only get a few threads more done, but it is a nice project to do in front of the fireplace while the girls are watching movies.
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - PROGRESS!  I have put the sashing on!  Hey, it is something in the right direction.
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started.   

This week's stats:

Completed projects - just blocks
New projects - 0
Currently in Progress - 8 +

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to the Building Blocks Tuesday post!

And as always, thanks for reading,

Jen



I am not linking up today.

Purple - Building Blocks Tuesday

Mark my words, people!  Purple is coming back, big time.  A couple of years ago (before I learned to quilt), I was looking for bedding for Ashley in PURPLE.  Couldn't find a darn thing!  But now, it is starting to creep back into catalogs and stores.  Will it be color of the year next year?  Who knows?

Becky at My Fabric Obsession wanted these cool Half Square Rectangle blocks to make a quilt for her daughter.  As I once had a daughter that was crazy about purple, I was happy to oblige her.

I think these will be fantastic when they are all put together - a really modern, fun, looking quilt.  I rather like how they turned out, except for those two grays that had to go together.  I was so concerned about having the purples in different places, that I didn't even notice the grays.  I think it still looks pretty darn cool though.

So what have you been working on this week?

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading,

Jen

Doing the math - Building Blocks Tuesday

This is another block for the Make it Modern Bee.  Kelleigh requested bright solids with white background, any block design we like.  It took me a while to decide on the pattern, and I guess I just wasn't done with Emily Cier after all.  This is a block she contributed to the book, "Modern Blocks: 99 Quilt Blocks from Your Favorite Designers". 

This is the second quilt block I've tried from that book, and I really like how diverse all the blocks are.  As for these little strips and pieces, I think I am done for a while.

Next week, I hope to show you blocks for my Star of Africa bee.

So what have you been working on this week?

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading,

Jen

More Improv - Building Blocks Tuesday

I've been making more improv blocks!  This one is for Renae in the Make it Modern Bee.  She asked for improv blocks in aquas, purples, and lime greens, based on Elizabeth Hartman's tutorials.  These really come together quickly and are a great way to use up scraps -- I didn't this time, but I will in the future.

I still need to make another block for the Make it Modern group for February.  This time the pattern is my choice, and as usual, I haven't made up my mind.

So what have you been working on this week?

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading,

Jen

Carried away, by geese - Building Blocks Tuesday

I've been working on blocks for the Make it Modern Bee!  This one is an improvisational log cabin block for  Kelie.  I must admit that I got a little carried away with the improv part of the block and somewhat forgot about the log cabin part.  I hope she likes it.  I had so many scraps in her colors, it was hard not to keep adding them.  I probably could have made a whole quilt for her!

I also made this fun block for Samantha.

It's called a Mama Goose Block!  So fun.  You can find a tutorial here.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what she does with this non-square block.

So what have you been working on this week?

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open for a whole week.  And spread the word!

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!

Thanks for reading today!

Jen