Blockheadz Block Stories

For me, the most fun thing about running the BlockheadZ quilt block swap was seeing all of the creativity of the members.  Some girl's blocks were traditional and some were modern.  There were a couple of interesting notes:

Carrie said she felt lazy with her project so she sent out various squares from a layer cake and asked the girls to make "quilter's choice blocks" (whatever two blocks they chose.)  Again, the variety was fun:

(the colors really match, 

they just look different due to various cameras)

Jennifer has us make star blocks for a quilt for her first child who is on the way.  What fun to be part of a baby's first quilt!

Jennifer made these star blocks for our examples

(she has added the border in these)

What fun prints!

Jenny G. sent fabric and simply said to make wonky stars, adding however many we chose to our 12" blocks

Here is a mosaic sample of the everyone's various blocks. FYI, the first pic on the top row is Lara's blocks where she almost has her top finished!

Blockheadz Wrap Up

All the BlockheadZ girls have had their turn and made their blocks in our block swap at Flickr.  We were small, but it was a fun swap (I also learned a lot about being a swap mom!)

I promised drawing for a quilt kit, given to one of the gals who completed the swap.  Here are the numbered names:

1. Heather
2. Lara
3. Anita
4. Jenny
5. Carrie
6. Patricia
7. Jennifer

And the winner is... (drum roll, please!)

#5 Carrie G! Congrats, Carrie, your kit goes in the mail today!

Quilt Show and BlockheadZ

Tomorrow is the 3rd day of the Quilt Symposium in Raleigh.  I am meeting up with a couple of gals, Anita and Diana, that I have met online through StitchTalk.  I am EXCITED!  

Among the throngs of quilters, how will we find each other??  I thought if was wearing a nametag, I might be easier to locate.  I stitched one up last night.  I'll let you know how the meet up/show goes!


Those goofy lil hexies are about .5 inch across... too small for me!

It's my turn at Blockheadz quilt block swap!  I mailed out my fabric packets last week.  I am having my fellow quilters make "E" blocks, from a free quilt pattern by Brandon Mably. The quilt pattern instructions are not very clear, but the block is easy-breezy to make. I sat down to sew up a demo or two and before I knew it, I had whipped up seven blocks.

This is a 10 inch block (10.5 unfinished) and there are no tricky triangles or "Y" seams.  Of course, I like it because "E" is my last name initial (I don't know why Brandon likes it, LOL!)

I am using Westminster's Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably prints. The circle fabric called "Targets" is my inspiration and border fabric.  The others three pictured are colors for I have yet to make.

Moda "Grunge" in black.  It has gray and teal highlights.

For the dark/black spaces, I am using a Moda fabric called "Grunge."  It comes in several shades and I am smitten with its textural loveliness.

To make an E blocks, you need 2 fabrics:  1-prints or colors and 2-dark for the spaces between.

To construct an E block:
• From the colored print fabric, cut:
3 - 2.5” x 8.5” strips
1 - 2.5” x 10.5” strip

• From the dark fabric, cut:
2 - 2.5” x 8.5” strips

• Alternately sew the three print 2.5” x 8.5” strips to the two dark 2.5” x 8.5” strips.
• The strip 2 1/2” x 10 1/2” is sewn to the left side of the strip section to form the letter “E”

I guess you could figure out how to make other big boxie letters as well.  In the quilt the E's are turned in all different directions.  If I added dark/black sashing, the blocks would appear to be floating.  That might be fun.  It's going to be a lively, colorful project, for sure.

Carrie tells me she already had my blocks finished and has put them in the mail.  She is so speedy.  I can't wait to my "E'" blocks back and see what others have come up with!

Of Bees and Meregirls

Our Blockheadz Bee quilt block swap is in full swing!  This is the first time I have ever organized anything like this.  Of late, I've been occasionally consumed with the details of running an online block swap.  I am pretty good at organizing things, so running a bee never intimidated me (maybe it should have a bit more, LOL!)

Just when I think there is going to be an issue, OUT comes a good solution.  I confess, for one second, I panicked.  "What if we have to mail stuff again?? What was I thinking??" 

Our first gal sent out her fabric.  As it turns out, we are just shy of having enough of one color fabric.  In creative endeavors, that's just an opportunity for imagination and creativity to kick in, right? 



Another gal came up with the simple solution of adding another fabric.  DUH!  This *is* patchwork.  You don't get any closer to the original meaning of the craft than that!  Thanks, Heather for inadvertantly stretching our possibilities and thanks Carrie for giving us a good and practical solution. 

Clay's Choice quilt squares for Heather (I never cease to be amazed at the possibilities in one block pattern!)

This week, Byron is out of town with his job.  I've spent most of my words in the one-sided conversation with canines since we are 'home alone' together.  When they let me, I have been working on embroidery.  I finished another piece for Meredith.  Her name means "from the sea" as in meregirls, so I stitched these up for her. 

Actually, it wasn't like I was looking for something to make for Meredith.  I first found the meregirl pattern.  Then had the idea of putting the two of them together in a sort of mermaid yin and yang. 

I love how they came out.  Maybe Meredith will too.  Next is OCTOBUNNY! This is the wildest looking embroidery I have done so far... and in an artsy fartsy way, that makes it really fun.

Sew Here We Go Again

As you may notice, this blog has a whole new look!  I have been sewing and creating a lot lately.  I decided to blog about those projects, maybe some healthy recipes and perhaps a little about my family and dogs.

BlockheadZ



Recently, I started a quilt block swap at Flickr called "Blockheadz".  Since I am new to Flickr groups and the process, there are only six people responded, subscribed and are participating at Flickr.  I decided to create another group at StitchTalk to supplement the number of people playing.  There ended up being eight players.




Clay's Choice

 The fun begins April 15... or maybe before.  Around April 15, we will each receive a packet in the mail from Heather.  Heather will supply us with instructions and most of the materials to make two quilt blocks.  One color will be missing from the block (the dark blue star part, I believe) and we are to add that color from our fabric stash. 

Every few weeks for a six-month period, another person will send out supplies.  Each participant will get a turn.  We have a month to construct our blocks.  When we are finished sewing, we send them back to their original sender. 

Heather should receive fourteen 12" quilt blocks.  If she makes two blocks herself, she will have sixteen.  That's enough to make a quilt!