{Sew} Modern Monday #27

It's that time again!

{Sew} Modern Monday!

June was my month to serve as Quilter for the BLISS circle of do.Good Stitches {a charity bee}.  I asked the talented ladies to make two bow tie blocks using my tutorial using fresh, summery fabrics paired with white. As the blocks came rolling in, I really started to get more and more excited to put this quilt together.  I just love the idea of so many people, living in all parts of the US, coming together to make one special quilt for charity.  It is seriously something special.

Once all the blocks were in, I sewed the top together and waited.  Waited for some quilty inspiration/motivation to FMQ and finish it up.  Surprising that inspiration came this past weekend in a little Google chat with Elizabeth from Don't Call Me Betsy.  On a whim, I asked her how she bastes her quilts and she guided me to this tute from Kristie from OCD: obsessive crafting disorder.  spray basting + dumbbells = brilliant!

Not only did she share the tute, but she also gave me the courage to just do it!  When it comes to quilting and especially basting a quilt, I tend to stress to the max.  The OCD kicks into overdrive and it really makes for a bummer of a sewing experience.  But, taking her words in stride, I just went with it.  And in less than 2 hours I had this quilt basted and quilted!  Spray basting rocks my world!  (thanks Elizabeth!)

I finished it up with a bit of bright blue Kona cotton (sorry, the name is escaping my memory at the moment). I love it!  Now all I have to do is ship it off to our charity, Wrap Them In Love.

Quilt Stats

Size: 50" x 50"

Pieced by: myself, Don't Call Me Betsy, sasikirana, 

My Fabric Obsession, i like orange, too!, linda beth,

Orangebird242, weezie lou, chloeandme,

and WendyLouP.

Quilted by: Me

Now it's your turn.  What have you been sewing on this past week?  psst...rules are over here.

busy as a bee.

Phew, it's hard to believe it's already the middle of July.  Where the heck does the time go?!?!  One minute we are in a snow storm and the next we are trying to stay cool in the summer heat (alright, maybe not that drastic. but you get the picture).  There have been lots of fun and exciting things going on over here--sewing and not sewing related--that my actual "sewing time" seems to be dwindling. Boo!  But, I did manage to squeeze some bee block sewing in this past week...


{Sew} Beautiful [June]
Alright, I was actually behind (it was due in June!) with this block but thankfully Cara granted me a bee extension (thanks Cara!). For Cara's month, she asked us each to make a creative pieced house block using some fun scraps from her stash.  Gah, talk about nerve wrecking! I seriously spent a lot of hours thinking about this block before I actually had enough courage to get down to the sewing part.  I think it was the combination of having free reign and wanting produce a rocking block.  Anyway, it had me a little out of sorts until I finally reached a breaking point, and just went with it.
 

And wouldn't you know when it's all said and done, I seriously loved making this block.  Especially when it all came together in the end. :)  phew.  Talk about pushing outside the comfort zone.


Cara is putting our blocks together and then donating them to a NICU family (see where the "home" theme fits in?).  How awesome is that!


do.Good Stitches [July]

Becky from My Fabric Obsession, this month's quilter from our do.Good Stitches BLISS circle, asked each of use to make 3 blocks using this Jaybird Quilts' tutorial.  She asked for us to use grays and yellows (an emerging trend according to Sew, Mama, Sew!).  Again, way outside my comfort zone!

But in the end--it really was easy peasy!  I think I might be using this technique for a little pouch in the near future.  It's a great way to use up scraps--or any jelly rolls you may have stashed away. :)

And there you have it--a month of bee blocks.  This month definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone and stretched my quilty horizons.  Yay for learning something new!

xo, Megan

WiP Wednesday {12}

It's that time again!

NEW and FINISHED PROJECTS

do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee} blocks 
Completely out of character, I finished my do. Good Stitches blocks for February already.  Wahoo!  Now I just have to wait for the snow drifts to be plowed so I can make my way into town to send them off.

It's a Hoot Quilt
Blogged here. 
 
NEW PROJECTS
{Sew} Beautiful Bee
I received Emily's, from Mommy's Nap Time, fabric in the mail a couple of days ago.  She sure picked out some great fabric!  It is so yummy!
 
MMM Swap
As of last night, I finalized what I will be making my secret partner.  Very excited about this project!
 
IN THE WORKS

Postage Stamp Quilt Along
I am over half way done piecing the quilt top.  I really love it so far, but man is it scary to think that I sewed all those little seams!  Eeek, thankfully it look's more involved than it actually was.  The drawing is tomorrow, so I need to finish this quilt up this afternoon.  Wish me luck!

Sliced Coins Quilt Along
All my coins are cut and ready to go, but I am holding off on this quilt along until I get the postage stamp quilt finished.

SUTK Swap
I have finalized on an apron design.  So excited! 

NO PROGRESS

Dresden Quilt
Freebird Stained Glass

QUILTS BEING QUILTED

Spiderweb Quilt
Brick City Baby Quilt
 
QUILTS AWAITING QUILTING

It's a Hoot Quilt
Red, White, and Blue Quilt
Crazy {9} Baby Quilt
Urban Windows Quilt
Crazy {9} Wall Hanging

WiP Stats
Last week's total: 10
New Projects: 4
Completed Projects: 2
This week's total: 12 (eeek!)

Hop on over to Freshly Pieced to see more great WiPs!

And don't forget about my giveaway!

do.Good Stitches {a charity bee}. Bliss circle.

Remember my Kona White dilemma over the weekend?  Well the situation has been resolved!  Monday morning I took the ten minute drive to my LQS, through heavy snow and not so wonderful roads, to get that darn Kona White. I guess that's the crazy quilter in me.  Some of you suggested a quick run to Joann's since they are open late.  Unfortunately I live in the middle of nowhere and the closest Joann's is a good hour and a half a way.  That was definitely a no go. Oh how I envy those of you who have a short drive to get your Kona fix. :) Anyway I am getting off track, the moral of the story is that I was able to get my hands on some Kona White yesterday.

Which is good because, starting this month I am part of the newest do. Good Stitches {a charity bee} circle called BLISS and am very excited to work with this great group of ladies.  Michelle from I like orange, too! chose the roman shades block and asked us to use limes, teals, blues, lavenders, violets, and greens.  Here's a look at my blocks.

I can't wait see everyone's blocks all together.  If you want to make your own, Michelle has put together this great tutorial. Go check it out!  Oh, and all of her patterns are on sale this week!

xo, Megan