for Calli and Sherri.

Hi Girls!  Today I am showing my two finishes.  Calli's pickle dish block (melon) and one of Sherri's scrappy trip around the world block (I made two but thought it would  be fun to save the other as a surprise - wink!)

I have to admit, I was afraid of the pickle dish pattern.  I was so worried that I might mess it up, since I have never sewn an arch before.  I read the instructions super carefully (more than once) and when it came time to sew, I used plenty of pins, then sewed at the speed of a turtle.  I loved every bit of it!  So much so, I nearly did a happy dance when I finished.  (wink)
Thank you so much Calli for stretching my skills and allowing me to sew something new!  I am so thankful for the lessons learned.

Sherri's Scrappy Trips

My package just arrived in the mail

and I was excited to make 

Sherri's Scrappy Trips Around The World blocks.

This quilt will be so darling 

made up in fun Christmas fabrics.

And I like how Sherri had us 

place the white strip down the middle.

I added a few of my fabrics

to make a second block.

I'm really looking forward to seeing

how this quilt looks once

all of our blocks are put together.

Thanks for organizing us this year Sherri

and for hosting the first month.

You are a great 

Queen Bee

                                                                Nedra/ Cactus Needle

June Bee Blocks

Hi Everyone!!! I'm running a little behind this month...but the Bee block fabrics for June went out today! I'm hoping this will be a fun and easy block for everyone. I was in the mood for a Christmas quilt...a scrappy Christmas trip around the world quilt, to be exact! (Excuse the i-phone photo with bad lighting, above, but it's the only picture I took before dividing up my strips into piles and sealing them in envelopes to send to you)! 

I'm hoping to achieve the same look that I have with my regular scrappy trip along quilt. So there is a strip of white fabric with everyone's bundle of fabrics. Please use the excellent tutorial by Bonnie Hunter here to create your block, and please make sure the white fabric goes diagonally one direction across the whole block. (It won't matter what order you sew the strips together, you'll be able to determine placement of the white fabrics when you undo the seam on each of your tubes).

Everyone has enough fabric to make one block, and some of you have enough to almost make two blocks. One block is all I'm requesting, but hey, if you want to make another, I won't refuse it...this is going to be a 36 block quilt. You may need one or two strips 2 1/2" x 16" in order to make a second block. Or...if you don't have time to make a second block and might have a strip or two of 2 1/2" x 16" bright Christmas fabric to spare, I would love that...I'm trying not to have too many repeats in the quilt!

The rest of the details...

What size quilt block do you want your bee partners to make? (Give finished and unfinished measurements, just to be sure.)

The blocks will be 12 1/2" unfinished and 12" finished

 

Can your partners use any of their own stash fabric to use in your quilt block? If so, are there any limitations?

 Yes, as I mentioned above, I would love some extra fabrics in the mix...as long as they "fit in" with what I sent.

Is there a specific color of thread (white/off white) you want your partners to sew with?

 White or off-white would be great!

Do your partners have to use at least a little bit of every fabric you send or can your partners decide?

 I think you'll want to use some of every piece

Do you have a general theme or is it up to your partners to decide? Are there any specific themes that you do NOT want in your quilt block? Likes/dislikes?

 My block is pretty specific...

Will you allow any embellishments on the quilt block (i.e. embroidery, raised items such as yo-yos or fabric origami)?

 No embellishments.

Can you link us to any flickr or Pinterest photos that you would like us to use as inspiration for your quilt block?

 See the photos in the post for inspiration.

If your partners are super motivated and are able to make two blocks out of the fabric you send, would you accept more than one block from your partners?

 Of course...see above...

Do you want your partners to return any leftover larger size scraps to you when they return the completed blocks or can they keep them for their own scrap stash?

I would love to have you keep any of the left-overs...I have more of everything I sent, so if you'll use it, keep it. If you don't think you'll use it...I'll add it back to my Christmas 2 1/2" strip bin...but wouldn't it be fun if we all did scrappy trip along Christmas quilts this year?!

 Thanks so much everyone!

Sherri

Sinta's Dresdens

Sinta, I am so sorry to be this late with your blocks!  

What a fun quilt this is going to be!  

I really loved strip piecing, and getting two Dresdens from one sewn strip.  

 

 

A question for Sinta: I haven't made centers, since I wasn't exactly sure of what you wanted.  Did you want us to choose something from our own stash? 

I did have a bit of trouble with my blocks laying flat, they were a little cone shaped.  I think it's a sign that I need to work on accuracy- either with my scant 1/4" or cutting.  After pressing they flattened out better.

I am hoping it'll come out in the quilting.  I had to laugh at the advice from a good friend of mine... "She said as long as it's smaller that a "C" cup you'll be OK." 

I'm guessing a block that turns out bigger than a "C" cup it could be made into a bra.  Unfortunately not for me. 

Thank you Sinta!  Despite the little bit of trouble I had, I really enjoyed your blocks!  I can't wait to see the finished quilt. 

Calli's Pickledish Arcs

 Has it really been a year 

since we first started 

Bee's Knees?

My how time has flown!

This is our last block scheduled together.

I just finished Calli's arcs

for her Pickledish block.

 They were easy to do and a lot of fun to make.

The paper piecing helped to keep the arc together

at an even size, so the curves went together perfectly.

There wasn't enough fabric in my envelope to make

two arcs, 

so I added in a little bit of my own Gracie scraps.

I hope my fabric additions are okay, Calli :)

It's been a delight to work with you ladies!

Thank you Sherri and Amy for

inviting me along!
--Nedra

Double the Bee Fun

Hi everyone,  I am SO late this month.  I hope you all forgive me.  This is our final month of the Bees Knees and I'm sad to see it end.  I've loved getting your bundles each month in the mail and piecing all your lovely blocks.

For my quilt I've chosen Aneela Hoey's free Pickledish pattern.  I call it a double wedding ring, since it doesn't have the triangles... but whatever you want to call it... it's classic quilt that I love and am so excite to make.

Now before you panic seeing the block above, don't worry!  You won't be making a whole block.  I've sent enough fabric for two of the melons.  ***(Update: Apparently I can't count, or I shouldn't multi-task quite so much, but I sent only enough for one melon.)  I would be happy if you'd only like to make just one, two if you are really motivated.  (A few of you have still wanted to make two, and you are welcome to use your stash if you have 30's scraps in the same color palette.)

If you're familiar with Aneela's templates, you'll notice the templates I've sent you have been altered a bit.  I found it much easier, and more accurate, to add lines to the arcs rather than following her tutorial exactly. 

I've sent a solid in each of your envelopes, either a purple or a minty green, for the squares at the end of each arc.  The unbleached muslin is for the center of the melon.  Please don't substitute these fabrics.

I personally made a freezer paper template for cutting the center of the melon.  I love freezer paper templates!  They just behave.

A template is included for the solid squares, but to make it easy for you, they are cut 3-1/8" square. 

The scrappy fabrics for the arcs are mostly "sherbet" colored 30's.  Aneela recommends cutting the strips for the arcs 4" high x 1-1/2" at the bottom and 2" at the top.  I cut mine 4" x 2" since it was much faster, and since I had the lines drawn on the template, there is no need to cut them differently.   I trimmed the excess fabric after piecing the arcs.

Aneela's tutorial for assembling the melons is found here.

Here are the answers to the questionnaire:

What size quilt block do you want your bee partners to make? (Give finished and unfinished measurements, just to be sure.)    I've sent enough fabric and templates to make two  one melon, but you only need to make one.  If you enjoy it and have the time, you can make two.  A melon measures 15" from point to point and 8" at the widest.  

Can your partners use any of his/her own stash fabric to use in your quilt block? If so, are there any limitations?   You are welcome to add a little of your own fabric if you wish, as long as they work with 30’s and are in the “sherbet” colors of my pallet, which are lavender purple, minty green, aqua, yellow, orange, and a little pink.

I’ve included a solid (either purple or green) for the squares at the end of each arc.  The unbleached muslin is for the center of the melon.  Please do not substitute these fabrics. 

Is there a specific color of thread (white/off white) you want your partners to sew with? Any light colored thread is fine.

Does your partners have to use at least a little bit of every fabric you send or can your partners decide?  You decide.  If there is something you don't like, no need to use it. 

Can you link us to any flickr or Pinterest photos that you would like us to use as inspiration for your quilt block?  Here's what the finished quilt will look like:

Photo from Aneela Hoey's Comfort Stitching Blog

If your partners are super motivated and are able to make two blocks out of the fabric you send, would you accept more than one block from your partners? Yes you can make two melons. 

Do you want your partners to return any leftover larger size scraps to you when they return the completed blocks or can they keep them for their own scrap stash?  If you only make one melon, I would love it if you sent back the remaining fabric so I can use it to finish the quilt.  (There shouldn't be much left over, so keep or send it as you wish.)

Thank you all!  I can't wait to see this quilt come together!  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to drop me a line at callimakesdo at gmail dot com.

Sa-we-eet!

I made my Bee blocks for the Shari a week or so ago and forgot to make a

post about them here.

 I just
love the two blocks... it
is going to be so cute. I might need to copy this idea and
make one for myself!