Electronica's Quilt Top

She's a bit vibrant; a bit in-your-face with its color and randomness.  She might not be to everyone's taste.  Still, I really dig her.  Let me show you Electronica's finished quilt top!  

This quilt top has been slow coming together, starting with fabric being shipped off to my Sew Bee Blissful ladies and a few test blocks in Feb 2012.  Unfortunately, the blocks were coming back to me just as I was trying to get the shop organized for opening.  I just could not pay attention to them and get them into a top.

But finally here they are, thanks to the Finish Along.  Each block is 14x14 inches square, making this a relatively large top.  It's going to be a great couch quilt.  

I have a bunch of siggy blocks and a few other full sized 14x14 inch blocks to go onto the back.  I just have to get that pieced and start quilting!  

Sew Bee Blissful: September Blocks

Looking for the Oh Deer! giveaway?  Click here.

This month Lyanna is our bee mama in Sew Bee Blissful.  She sent to each of us a little package with a variety of fabrics in two colorways asking us to make any two (different) stars that took our fancy.  What a great bee challenge!

I made an Iowa star using this tutorial in greys. This was a fantastic tutorial as it taught you how to draw your own paper piecing templates.  You are not always near a photocopier or printer and this just let me get right into stitching.  I like that.

And then I made an Missouri star using this tutorial in blues.  I wish I thought this one through a bit more as I hate flying geese, but once I was started it was too late to back out.  Anyway, it turned out semi-reasonably.

I see that crazy little pucker there in the middle left.  I never saw it until the photo was taken.  Funny how that happens.  It's fixed now!

Lyanna, I hope you like them.  You're going to have one amazing quilt!

July Bee Blocks - Round 2

And the bee blocks for July continue on!  A few weeks ago I finished off blocks for three of my bees, but there were still blocks waiting to be made this month!  Yes, 4 bees for July.  I could not let the last day of July come before having finished them all off.

A friend within my CARE circle of Do.Good Stitches is having a difficult time at home, so I volunteered to do her bee blocks to take a bit off her to-do list.  I am not able to cook or take care of her children when she needs it, but stitching I can do.  Hopefully this allows her to focus her time/energy on her family and home instead of being worried about that bee block that's lingering for the month.  This month our circle is using this tutorial to make two blocks.  I just love this tute and was more than happy to make a few more!

For my Sew Bee Blissful bee, Kris wanted pin wheels using this tutorial by Sew Happy Geek.  This is a well written tute, so do give it a try if you have not already.  There are lots of ways you could play with your fabric choices to give different effects, so have a little think before you start cutting.  So, with Kris' fabrics, I made two of these for her:

And finally, I cut up my charm squares for Jennifer's (of Knotted Thread) I Spy swap.  They're already in the post flying off to sunny Hawaii where they'll be re-packed and distributed.  I can't get over the fact that my charm squares will have more of a summer than I will!  Humpf.

I'm nearly done quilting Granny Mania!  Fingers crossed I can show you a photo this week!

May Bee Blocks

Fluffy Sheep Headquarters is a-buzz with bee blocks today.  I am stitching like mad to get them finished before the June blocks arrive!  What's on the menu this month, you ask?

In Sew Bee Blissful, Melissa (AKA Crafty MamaD) has asked for two firefly blocks using this tutorial.  The tutorial is incredibly well written and clear with great photos.  If you're at all interested in making firefly blocks, do give it a look.

In Sew & Bee Happy, Allie has asked for four mini blocks that each measure 6.5 inches square.   Two are to be sunny 9 patches in yellows, oranges, reds, etc.  I see that most folks are taking the pastel route here.  Of course I only have the bold, true colors in my stash.  Hope they are not too overpowering! 

The other two are to be imrpov blocks of neutral colors.  I absolutely loved making these as they're a great way to use up those little bits and bobs of neutrals that I don't have enough to make a block, but I can't throw them out.  Perfect.  Her idea is inspired by the work of Piece and Press.  I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like!

And finally!  My blocks for the CARE circle of do good stitches.  This month Kris asked for a scrappy herringbone block using a tutorial by Bijou Lovely.  The tutorial was very easy to use and clearly written.  The photos help a whole lot.  It used large "scraps" that really I had to cut from my stash, and then in turn generated large "scraps" from the cut-off bits.  If you were making a full quilt, I'm sure you could use them on the back or something.

Sew Bee Blissful April Block

I love, love, love the April Sew Bee Blissful block!  This month's queen bee, Caroline, choose the perfect fabrics for us to play with.

We each made two blocks, as scrappily (is that a word?) as possible.

Isn't it yummy?  It took a bit of time getting each HST trimmed to 3.5 inches, but I could imagine a whole quilt top could come together pretty quickly if you just dedicated an evening in front of the TV trimming, then a day or so piecing.  Anyway, I am really looking forward to seeing her finished top!

Beginner's Patchwork Sampler Quilt

As you know, I'm teaching a beginner's patchwork class at Pippablue on Wednesday nights.  Like any normal teacher, I'm barely just ahead of the class making my blocks barely in time to use them in the class as examples.  Well, I have finally finished all 9 of my sampler blocks.  Want to see what they look like on the design board?

We tried to do 3 for each lesson.  Three squares (square in a square, disappearing nine patch and a pogo stick block) to get the main concept of cutting, piecing, squaring.  Then there were three triangle blocks (pinwheels, sawtooth star, starflower) followed by three wonky or improv blocks (LOVE block, wonky star and wonky log cabin).   The point was to give the students the basic skills they need and introduce them to both traditional and modern piecing.  So far so good! 

Next we'll tackle the sashing, layering and backing.  I'm totally excited!  I have to test out a few different sashing color options before Wednesday :)      

What's next to this on the design board, you ask?  Well, blocks have started arriving from Sew Bee Blissful for my Electronica quilt.  They're looking great!  

Tonight I need to add a bit of dark brown and green to the one block on the bottom left, and a bit of pink to another Sew Bee Blissful block.  It's taking shape now, which is very exciting!  I love the individual personality in each block, but the unified colors seem to pull them all together.  Here's hoping at least!

Irish Creativity with Listen To The Birds Sing

Have you been over to Listen To The Birds Sing today?  Karen is hosting a series of guest posts from crafty Irish bloggers highlighting the talent and creativity we share in this country.  I am the lucky one to post just before St Patrick's Day!  (Ironic being an American and all....)

We will be talking about blogs, bees, guilds and swaps....things we all love!  Come on over and chatter with us!

Sew Bee Blissful: Test Blocks

Thank you all so very much for your enthusiasm around my Sew Bee Blissful fabrics and ideas.  It's so nice to share my excitement with you all.

I did a little test run last night making three blocks.  It was incredibly freeing not having a pattern and just piecing what ever fabric seemed right at the time.  I hope my bee mates will have a great time playing with color and creating something they think is beautiful.

So, test block one went generally pretty well.  It took a while to figure out what I was doing, but once I was in the swing I was unstoppable!  It was a bit of a learning experience, though, because I had started with a rectangle which then grew and grew, making it hard to finish at 14.5 inches.  I tacked on the little scraps on the side to just finish it off, but now that they are part of the block I really like them!  It's the dark boarder that gives a bit of definition, I think.

Test block 2 was much along the same lines as test block one.  It came together much faster (being the old pro that I am) than block one.  I wanted to play with color in this block.  How thick do you have to make a strip to make that color dominate the block.  It's interesting to mess a bit with no consequences.

Finally, I thought I was a bit short on the pink and my blocks were getting very rectangular, so I started with a central square.  Although I like the concentric squares, I think I like the rectangles a bit more.  There's more to keep your eye interested.

You'll notice in my last post that I had a dark green and brown fabric included in the bundle.  These are not at all my favorite colors, but they were part of the inspirational bracelet.  I had to include them.  Anyway, to "punish" them I bought much MUCH less yardage of these colors than I did the bright pretty colors.  Can't have left over brown, can I?  Well, of course, I really punished myself.  I split up what little I bought into the bee packages leaving very little for me.  That's why in test blocks 1 and 2 it is very central....using very little fabric.  But in block 3, I really miss the dark colors.  It's too light or flat or something.  I think the darks add a bit of depth.  So, I stopped at about 12 inches square so that I can get more of the dark colors and add them in along the edge.  I can't believe I'm paying special postage for stinky brown and decaying leaf green.  It seems they're really important after all.

Next I'd like to try something WAY off center.  This quilt will be 25 blocks finished.  20 will be from the bee, so I will make 5.  Two more to go!  I can't wait :)

Sew Bee Blissful: Miss March

It's my turn!  It's my turn!

As you well know by now (and are most likely tired of me still talking about it) I am a part of Sew Bee Blissful.  March is my month to choose our blocks and fabrics, so I am spending some time this week getting myself organized.

AGES ago I decided on the fabric colors I wanted based on a music festival bracelet that you can see here.  So, I pulled out the old Kona card and made a few purchases.  This is what arrived....

Yes, this quilt will be done entirely in solids.  I am over the moon at the idea.

The last bit arrived yesterday, so I now have my fabric all cut and ready to ship.   Lots of little packages to get into the post!

What blocks will we make?  I have been interested in log cabin or square in a square quilts.  I think I became fascinated with the huge variability of such simple traditional designs; how you can play with them by making them slightly wonky or altering your fabric colors. That will be our bee's theme this month.

Here is my inspirational mosaic that might better explain what I mean

1. Lots of polka dots QAYG baby quilt, 2. log on, 3. improv, 4. Leftovers=table-runner!, 5. Finished Little Apples quilt, 6. So much you can do with solids!, 7. wonkysolidlogcabins2.jpg, 8. IMG_0449, 9. Stage 3 - finished, 10. Pint Size - 6.5" x 10.5", 11. New fish baby log cabin, 12. Martinas Puzzle Box Quilt Along, 13. Too {Jazz Hands} for Jerry, finished, 14. TATB Bee Block January, 15. DSC_0051, 16. boy quilt

Aren't they gorgeous?  So I am asking folks to make a block in any way they choose that somewhat mirrors this quilt by Gee's Bend.  I think this is simply spectacular.  Here's hoping my bee mates are as enthusiastic.

That's the news, ladies.  I am off to try to make my first "test" block.  Here's hoping it turns out as well as it appears in my imagination! 

February Bee Blocks (Part 1)

This weekend was just fantastic!  I spent a good bit of it focusing on my bee blocks for this month.  Want to see what folks are asking for?

In my Sew & Bee Happy bee, folks request a block that each hive member makes from their stash alone.  Kat had requested a monochromatic block with a little white wonky star for her picnic quilt.  She gave us a list of colors to choose from so we're not all making similar blocks.  I chose dark/royal blue for my block:

Over in Sew Bee Blissful, Sarah had requested a scrappy rainbow starflower design using a fantastic tutorial by Ellison Lane Quilts.  The great thing about this tutorial is for very little additional effort you get two blocks instead of just one.  So, Sarah will get a pair of these:

And finally (for the Part 1 of this post) I made two blocks for the Care circle of Do.Good Stitches.  Dolores was looking for a pair of complementary blocks in a green (olive, lime, teal, avocado) that were made with matching fabric.  For this, we used a sawtooth star tutorial by Purl Bee.

Stars are big right now apparently :)  I loved making each and every one of these.  In Part 2 of the bee catch up there will be....wait for it....more stars!  Eeekk!  This is so exciting :)

Do you know a good tutorial?

I am going to blow my cover a bit early, here, but I could use your help.

I am Miss March in my Sew Bee Blissful bee.  For several (six!?!?) months I have known that I will ask my bee - mates for a Square in a Square "sampler" quilt.  I am open to both traditional square in a square blocks as well as log cabin - type blocks....be them straight and aligned or wonky.  Either makes me happy.  It is going to be made in all solids.   

You see, I like the idea of each person putting their personality into the bee blocks instead of being my "stitchers" and making exactly what I tell them to.  I will send them fabric and links to tutorials (this is where I am stuck) and let them create the block(s) that best reflect their "likes".  To get them started, I made this inspirational mosaic:

1. Lots of polka dots QAYG baby quilt, 2. log on, 3. improv, 4. Leftovers=table-runner!, 5. Finished Little Apples quilt, 6. So much you can do with solids!, 7. wonkysolidlogcabins2.jpg, 8. IMG_0449, 9. Stage 3 - finished, 10. Pint Size - 6.5" x 10.5", 11. New fish baby log cabin, 12. Martinas Puzzle Box Quilt Along, 13. Too {Jazz Hands} for Jerry, finished, 14. TATB Bee Block January, 15. DSC_0051, 16. boy quilt

Now here's where I am hoping you can help.  Do any of you know a good tutorial for a square in a square or for a log cabin?  I found the few I listed below, but I would love to have a greater variety.  Any suggestions guys?  I'd be entirely grateful!

Tilted Squares
Scrappy Squares
Square in a Square
Square in a Square
Six Types of Square in a Square

Sew Bee Blissful: January

Won't these make a spectacular quilt?  I love the colors.  I love the prints.  I love the block design.  You can't go wrong with this combination!

These are my Sew Bee Blissful blocks for January and I think they're just great.  I hope our Queen Bee for the month likes them too!  Now, these were fun to make because there really are not corners to match.  I didn't think, though, that that makes it difficult to center each piece appropriately.  So, I really hope the blocks I made match with the blocks my hive mates made.

Still, they make me happy.  I hope they brighten your day too.  Can not wait to use this block in a quilt I keep for myself :)

Bee Blessed November & a Christmas Goodie

If given the choice, what Christmas goodie would you make?  I thought long and hard about it.  There's so much inspiration out there!  I love the little embroidered pieces in a hoop hung by a ribbon. I am really liking the tree ornaments that I am seeing on several blogs.  Still, for my partner in the Modern Christmas Table Runner Swap, I wanted to make something that reflected my family's Christmas.  

I used this adorable (or at least I think so) Riley Blake Christmas fabric to make a little re-usable gift bag.  My family has stared making/buying fabric bags to wrap presents in as an alternative to the boxes and wrapping paper that gets tossed or recycled by noon on Christmas day.  So, for those folks that we continually exchange gifts with (parents, brother, sister-in-law) we're trying to move more to re-usable wrapping that then returns the next year and is swapped again.

So, in the spirit of a green Christmas, I made a Pink Penguin gift bag (visit her awesome tutorial).  I hope my partner likes it and puts it to good (repeated) use!

I also made a few blocks for Judith's Bee Blessed.  This month she's making quilts for elderly women, so she asked for soft, vintage log cabins.  I don't really have soft fabric, but this is at least a vintage-type print.  I am always stunned by the beautiful quilts that come from this bee. 

That's the news here at Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  No more stitching for today.  We're busy packing to move in the next two weeks, so tonight I'll be sorting through books and clothes.  What to keep?  What to give away?  What to toss.  It's really therapeutic!

Sew Bee Blissful: November

Finished my two Sew Bee Blissful blocks for November.  I just loved making these.  We were to use a Wonky Star pattern, but create anything we wanted. Some folks went super scrappy, others with creative center piecing that's a little abstract.  I went for fussy cutting and a classic pinwheel.  I hope Ella likes them!  

I had several arguments with that pinwheel center. There are a few points that are out of control, but it's the best I could do and we're all going to just have to be happy with that...

Sew Bee Blissful: October Blocks Finished

I had such high hopes.  I finished off these little blocks last night (yes, it's still October...I'm just a little late...) and thought I would wait for the sun to come out today before taking a photo.  Want to see what they look like today on the line?

Right.  Galway isn't known for its California-like weather.

I know, I know.  I need to mow the lawn, but I just put down seed so I am waiting for my new little friends to grow to three inches tall.

Anyway, back inside to take a photo or two.  Celynn sent us fabric to create two 12.5 inch square blocks using this tutorial.  I found this to be a huge challenge.  I had difficulty trying to arrange fabrics as I would not normally mix these blue/green/gray prints with maroon and orange.  But that's the point of a bee, right?  To grow a bit.  I tried the safe method trying to use my stash neutrals and the cool shades and made this:

I wanted the second owl to be fully warmer fabrics, but I started to run out of material.  I had to combine warms and cools to make this little guy.  I like him more than I thought I would :)

And finally Celynn asked for a signature block of our scraps.  Now we're in my comfort zone again...

They will be in the post tomorrow with a little chocolate goodie and a recipe (at Celynn's request).  I hope she likes them!

Pay It Forward Love and Sew Bee Blissful: Block 2

Do you guys know Jennifer from Knotted Thread?  Jennifer is a relatively new blogger.  She makes absolutely beautiful stuff, so do jump over and see what she's up to this week.  She totally took me by surprise and sent this absolute beauty as my PIF hand made gift.  It is the most fantstic mini quilt wallhanging I have ever seen.  Isn't it great!?!?  I am falling over myself in excitement! 



I have been dying to post about this for several days, but the weather has been horrid so I can't get out and get a good photo.  This photo doesn't do justice to the greens.  Jennifer's photos are better on her blog, so you can really see its beauty here. 

Anyway, I happen to be lucky enough to sign up for her PIF a few weeks ago.  She knows I absolutely love the Swoon blocks she has been making...so she gave me one of my own!  Even better, though - it has a little sheep buddy :)  I love it.  It does totally remind me of happy fields just outside of Galway where the happy sheep live.  Its even hand quilted.  Can you see that?  Incredible.  What could be more perfect?  Thank you, Jennifer!

In other news, the fabric to make my second Sew Be Blissful block has arrived!  I have been looking forward to giving this a try!  This month our Mama is Celynn of the Sunflower Patch.  She is looking for a little owl using this tutorial.  I will try my best!


Photo from Buzzing and Bumbling tutorial. See the link above.

Celynn sent several beautiful fabrics to work with, so I am excited to get started.  I need to really spend some time looking at the tutorial and sorting through the fabrics to be sure I create contrast, thereby letting the little owl shine through. 

Fingers crossed I create something she likes!

It's Electric

Are you here for the second installment of Start Your Own? Well, I am too.  Sadly, I did not receive text or photos from my guest blogger so we'll have to resume next week.  Its too bad because the guest blogger has a great online shop, so I would love to learn from her.  Maybe some time in the future.

Let's move on, shall we?

This past weekend I had the glorious opportunity to attend the Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Co Laois. Needless to say I had a fabulous time.   I could go on and tell you how great Arcade Fire and Pulp were as headliners, what a lovely surprise Santigold and White Lies were and how funny Bob Geldof looks dancing, but I'll save that for another post.  (I do wish you could see us dancing around like nutters at the back of the Pulp show. It was brilliant.)

What I really want to tell you about is the Green Craft Village at the center of the picnic.  In this lovely area you could find tents or stands where you could learn a new skill.  They had a wood turner, blacksmith, copper smith, potter...and on and on who were willing to teach you.  In the WAY back corner there was a tee pee where you could make a little flower brooch.  I had to jump in! 

Hosted by Stitch Lilly from Co Kerry, I made this little cutie from 4 circles of cotton fabric, 4 circles of tulle and a button.  Although the colors do not scream me, I am pretty happy with the result.

She also had these beauties on sale.  I would absolutely LOVE to learn how to make one like this.  I'll work on it.

Finally, you know how you find weird quilty inspiration in odd locations?  Well, I found the color scheme to my Sew Bee Blissful month (which is WAY in the future) in the wrist band.  It's so pretty!  Have to pull out that Kona card this weekend, ladies.