November's Bee Vintage Block Details

I'm getting ready for November. That's my month in "Bee Vintage", my online vintage sheet bee. I'm going to ask each member to make a 15" wonky log cabin block made from 2 different vintage sheets. One that reads white & one that reads a color. What do you think so far of the sample blocks I've made?  This IPhone pic doesn't do them justice, FYI...






*** Edited to provide more details for my bee members****

15 Inch Wonky Log Cabin Blocks

This quilt is the inspiration for my request:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12260277@N07/4265049746/in/faves-25806308@N00/

Imagine how lovely it will be in vintage sheets!  Merry Christmas to ME!  I think this type of block will be fun and quick to make.

Details:  I'd like to request one block that is bigger than 15 inches unfinished (I will trim them to 15 inches) made out of just two different floral prints of vintage sheets in the wonky log cabin style.  I would like for one print to be predominately white (like a floral with a white background) and the other print to read solidly one color (like a floral with a pink background-not white, for example).  You can pick whatever color you'd like to go with the white print.  Hopefully, when I get all of my blocks, I'll have a nice assortment of colors.  There aren't any colors I'd like for you to avoid.  Even browns are fine.  I will trim all of the blocks myself to 15 inches when I get them from you.  If the spirit moves you to make more than one block, I'll dance a happy dance, but one block is all that is required.

See above for examples I've made of this type of block.

If making wonky log cabins is new to you, please take a minute to read this great blog entry I found on how to go about making them. 

http://blempgorf.blogspot.com/2009/08/advice-on-making-wonky-improvisational.html

Thank you so much!  I cannot wait to see what you all come up with!

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An extra mug rug for Paula

An extra mug rug for Paula, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Playing around with wonky stars. Made a mug rug for Paula. :)

Closeup of My mug rug swap item

Surprise!, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Here's a closeup of my mug rug.

Mug Rug Back

The Back, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

It's reversible. My partner has a black and white kitchen... :)

Scrappy mug rug swap

Scrappy mug rug swap, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Here's the front of the mug rug I made for my partner. She likes polka dots and color.

Labor Day

This weekend was very busy with family events and I'm happy to say that the hubs is gone (probably to a movie or the bookstore), the kids are asleep and I can go upstairs guilt-free to work on quilts.

I have to work on organizing my paperwork for Quilts of Valor, though.  We're gearing up to award 38 QOVs to the WWII, POWs and a Holocaust survivor at a local retirement village in about 2 months.  I also have my regular list of people who need QOVs, too.  Time to get a friend to embroider some labels so that these quilts can be awarded.

I also have a couple of QOVs that are going to be in an exhibit at the Eisenhower Library in Abilene, KS.  They're a two of my favorites.  After the exhibit, they'll be awarded to Kansas soldiers.  This is a yearly thing that the Eisenhower will be doing every year on Veterans' Day.  This year is the first time they've done it.  If you're interested, let me know.  I have some brochures and info on deadlines (October something) along with size requirements and other details.

So my sewing time will be spent doing paperwork today, but I might sneak in a minute or two to work on my scrappy mug rug.  Got one side finished, but I would like to make it reversible, so I need to get cracking on the back.

Leave a comment and let me know what you've been up to!

Kate's Baby Quilt

*** Edited to tell you that these pictures don't do these colors or the optical illusion of depth justice. ***

Kate's baby quilt, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Here are the two blocks I've completed. I have a bunch more in progress, but ran out of fabric. I bought a bunch of fat quarters but need more of the outer colors: green, blue, gray and off-white.

Trying to decide how to set these. Sashing or touching each other? If I sash them, I think I need to pick a different color. Maybe a snow white? Or a white linen???

What are your thoughts, people?

And while you're thinking, tell me how I should quilt this. I am thinking swirling outward from the darkest fabric (center of the block) might be cool. Not sure if I can pull it off with my darning foot, but I think with some practice, it's possible. What color thread? Hmm... Decisions!


*** Edited again to let you know that I went shopping today to get more fabric.  It's a good thing, too because they were almost out of the green!  Got a yard of everything except the green and I could only get two fat quarters of that.  Should be enough to finish the top and I'll have some to use on piecing the back.  Can hardly wait to get busy on it, but my weekend is a busy one. :(  ***

New Quilt for Potential Nephew

Did I mention to you that my littlest sister, Katie is pregnant?  She's 24 (almost) and this will be her first baby.  I think it's a boy.  He/she's not due until April or May so I have some time...  But I'm planning to make 3 quilts.  Initially, I'll make a girl one (haven't started it yet) and a boy one (so excited about this one) and one that would be fine for either (Batik quilt-Christmas gift)... and then she can have two of the three

She likes subdued colors... So I'm thinking solids... I started the most FUN quilt for her today.  Very out of the box for me... but I'm finding that I'm stepping more and more into a new style these days.  I am not going to post a picture of this quilt until I have a few blocks completed.  Should take me about 30 more minutes of sewing to get that far, but alas, I ran out of sewing time today and tomorrow morning is pretty packed.  Having friends/kids over to play and have lunch... might need a nap afterwards...  Obviously, I'm not going to get a very good night's sleep tonight, since it's 11:14 now...

Let me tell you a bit about this quilt.  It's a wonky log cabin.  I picked Moda solids.  About 9 or 10 fat quarters.  I arranged them from lightest to darkest.  I'm envisioning the darkest color fabric in the center of the block and the colors gradually getting lighter as they go out from the center.  Lots of browns/grays and a little green/blue...

If you know me, you know that using solids is a relatively new thing with me.  I didn't have ANY in my stash when I joined the KC Modern Quilt Guild a few months back.  I've made some progress in remedying that problem since then...  :D

So I'll do what I can to show you guys some progress with this quilt tomorrow.  Katie, if you're reading this, you'll ruin your surprise if you're not careful...

Scrappy Mug Rug Practice

Scrappy Mug Rug Practice, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Ran out of bobbin & time during nap time today. I am making this for my bathroom, while practicing for our Scrappy Mug Rug Swap. I cut into a Moda Botany charm pack. This time I cut 1 1/4 inch strips, but I think next time I may experiment with 1 inch strips... Would be more dainty, I think. These colors will look perfect in my bathroom. This will be the spot where I leave my jewelry when i take it off at night. I'm always misplacing my wedding ring (gasp!)... I think I need a couple jelly rolls of this because I just love the colors.

Scrappy Mug Rug Swap on Flickr

Since I have finished my Urban Home Goods Swap items, I thought I would try the newest swap going on in the Flickr world...  The Scrappy Mug Rug Swap.  Care to join me?

My new machine!

My new machine!, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

Meet Babs. She purrs like a kitten. TRUE LOVE!

You people think I quilted a lot before? Just wait. I'm working on 3 projects at once...

New Baby

I'm picking up my (used) new Bernina tonight.  My friend, Jaime from the KCMQG is a great salesperson!  This is not a purchase I anticipated making right now, but the price was right and I have really been sewing a LOT lately.  My quilting has been a struggle with my current machines (yes, I have two machines already, but this one is NEEDED badly wanted) and I can't wait.  Just can't wait.

I'm naming this new baby of mine, "Babs"...  Since my mom (who's name is Barbara) gave me a bunch of vintage fabric and feed sacks which will be sold to fund the purchase of this machine, I figured it'd be nice to name it after her...

So tonight I'll pick up my new baby and when I get her home, I'll post some pictures of her for you.

My Moda 1/2 square triangles

This quilt top has been assembled for at least 2 years. I even have a beautiful backing. Just need to either save up for a longarmer or quilt it myself, but it is pretty big...


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Harper's & Jo Morton

Have you been to Harper's lately? Jo Morton's mini quilts are on display. Stunning. Tiny piecing. Truly impressive!


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Downy Quilts for Comfort

My computer and I Phone insist that they're getting low on disk space, so I cannot properly sync... Cannot properly upload a photo onto my blog except via Flickr.  Will try to do that in a few minutes...

But this morning, I went to help out a local Girl Scout who is working on her Gold Award.  She organized a big workshop for us to make quilts for local children thru the Downy Quilts for Comfort program.

Caitlin from my KCMQG was there.  So was Lauren from BVQG.  Even 3 ladies from my church SMUUCH were there (Bea, Leslie and Betty).

We had a good time.  Lots of prizes and food.  I won 2 Olfa cutters and a small cutting mat.  I didn't have ANY of those particular ones, so I was delighted.

Will post pictures soon!

So I Didn't

So I didn't upload any pictures from BVQG's last meeting.  Am having trouble with my I Photo program and I haven't taken the time to go get it looked at...

But I have been VERY busy!

Quilting doll quilts for my nieces/nephew, working on 6 somethings for an upcoming Urban Home Goods Swap on Flickr, made a baby quilt for a friend who is expecting, working on Quilts of Valor... and hexagons.  Endless, blissful hexagons.  I can already tell that hexagons will be a lifelong addiction for me.  I promise to post pictures soon... But not tonight.  It's crazy late.  Must get some sleep.  If you're really curious about what I've been doing, jump over to Flickr and look me up.  I'm nkiblueeyes!

Blue Valley Quilters' Guild

Today is our monthly meeting of the Blue Valley Quilters' Guild.  I haven't been to a meeting since this spring!  It's a little tricky for me to make it because we meet during the day.  My mother-in-law and I take turns going.

I'm not so interested in the speaker today, so I'll probably leave early.  I always love the show and tell, though.  And we're in the middle of a BIG push to crank out a bunch of Quilts of Valor...  Will try to take and post some pictures, everybody.

I'm running late!  Gotta get out of bed!

Quilting on back of civil war baby quilt

Quilting on back of civil war baby quilt, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

This gives you a clearer view of how I quilted it. A couple of mistakes, but I'm pretty happy with it overall.

Beverly's baby quilt

Beverly's baby quilt, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

I still need to bind it, but I'm pretty happy with the results of using my walking foot to quilt this.

Closeup of Bev's Baby Quilt

Closeup, originally uploaded by nkiblueeyes.

I quilted this in a sunburst pattern. I like it.