It's all over - the Little Bloggers Quilting Bee

Last April eleven other UK blog writers and I decided to make one another patchwork blocks.  I have already shared the first seven here, and today I want to share with you the final 4 blocks as well as the ones that I received in October when I was the Queen Bee.


In November we made a pair of feathers for Rosanne using this free tutorial by Anna Maria Horner.

In December we made a block called "trip around the world" using blues and purples for Gina.

In January we made a scrappy 5x5 block for Sheila who is planning on making a few Irish Chain quilts for charity.

And our final block was for the ever-patient Alison, who asked us to sign up to a newsletter that sent out free block instructions for a country style choice of blocks.  This is the one I chose to make for her:

Conclusion

I have enjoyed making these patchwork blocks in colours and styles that I may never have tried if left to my own choices and preferences.  I have had to purchase new fabrics and colours that I may never have been drawn towards previously and I have learnt about contrasting fabrics that will sit next to each other.  I've even mastered a new skill - foundation paper piecing!  And committing to only one block per month has been fairly easy to manage too.  But best of all, I was the recipient of eleven lovely parcels full of beautiful blocks all for me during the month of October!  Here are the lovely blocks I received:

I am planning to combine these 12 blocks with another block-swap that I am participating in, and will sew them altogether to make one big garden quilt.
So that's the end of the quilting bee swap!  If you ever get a chance to join one I would highly recommend it!

It's October and I am the Queen Bee!

I joined a quilting bee with eleven other bloggers from around the UK.  We are taking it in turns to be the Queen Bee, this is the one who decides what block they would like the rest of us to make for them.  The goal is to end up with 12 blocks made especially for us that we can then use to make a quilt (without having to make 12 of the exact same blocks ourselves)

So far I have tried my hand at making 7 different and varying blocks over the year.  Below are pictures of the blocks that I have made, along with some pictures of what those ladies have done with them so far.

So far I have made a wonky star block in March for Lou

 

A wonky log cabin in April for Jenny

A wonky churn dash in May for Joanna

 

A friendship star wheel in June for Heidee

      

A single wedding ring in July for Claire

    

Two red chevrons in August for Natalie

A pineapple block in September for Celine

 

We are sharing photos on instagram using the hashtag #lbqb which stands for Little Blogs Quilt Bee.  There are still four more to be made over the next four months.

October's Queen Bee is Me!

Now it is October and it is my turn to write the instructions for a block that I would like the lovely ladies of LBQB to make for me!  I have sent each lady this link and some green background fabric and have asked them to make this block for me in any colours that they think would look nice:

Posies block

Really looking forward to seeing what they all come up with!

Little Blog Quilt Bee for March

I am participating in a Quilt bee with 11 other ladies who are dotted around the United Kingdom.  This month we are all making a 12" patchwork block for Lou who blogs at I'm Studio Lou.  She requested a block called a wonky star block and gave us this link to a tutorial by Nancy at Owen's Olivia blog.  She wasn't bothered about the colours we used at all and is going to make a quilt out of the blocks she receives.

So here is my first attempt:

Once I saw this through the camera lens I noticed the top right corner of the star blends in with the background more than I'd like.  So I unpicked it and replaced that star point with a creamier print and am much happier with it now:

 

But of course, even though I like it, after looking around on Lou's blog I don't think it really goes with her own aesthetic/fabric choices.  She seems to prefer working with bright colours.  (That is one of the great things about making a patchwork block for somebody who has a large amount of their own creative work available to view on the internet - I can stalk for preferences!)  So I am going to quilt and bind this and keep it as a mini wall hanging beside my sewing table....eventually.  

I say "eventually" because at the moment we are doing some room renovations and my sewing/study/guest room no longer looks like the picture in my blog-header photograph, but currently looks like this:

The desk on the far right is usually my sewing table,
currently covered in books, so won't be getting much done over the next few weeks

Now back to Lou's wonky star... here is the one I went on to make and have now sent it off to Lou:

TA - DAA!

Much brighter and cheerier!  She said she really liked it too, which is always satisfying and gives a sense of relief.  I used fabrics I had received in a free fat quarter bundle from Avery Homestore as well as a few pieces that I had bought in a selection pack of greens and blues from her shop too.

If you'd like to have a look at the other wonky stars we're all making, please feel free to visit our flickr page.  IG tag is #LBQB and our linky button is in my sidebar.

I Have Joined a Quilting Bee

I have often read about quilting bees and am quite enamoured with the whole idea of women working together, chatting over a beverage of choice and creating something beautiful with fabric and thread.  I have read the entire set of quilting novels by Jennifer Chiaverini and have dreamed of using Lottery winnings or the inheritance from a long-lost relative to start up my own Jennifer-style sewing retreat mansion in the Highlands.... aah, if only life could be like the Elm Creek Quilters retreat.

But it isn't of course.  My life is full of work, deadlines, and all sorts of other commitments, but thankfully it is also full of technology!  Our quilting bee is going to be run completely using the internet.  Twelve women who have never met (well, actually I happen to have met three of them at The Edinburgh Stitch Gathering last year) are going to collaborate together to create a quilt for each other!

click here to visit the flickr group

If you are one of the 12 ladies who have signed up for this quilting bee, then "Hello there, and thanks so much for following my blog!" I've added the flickr group into my side bar, as well as to the picture above.  And here is the full title for those in the group who may want to copy and paste it onto their own blog:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/littleblogquiltbee/

Each of us get to decide what kind of quilt we'd like and share our ideas with the other ladies during our designated month.  My month is October, so I have a while yet til I need to decide on my own quilt.  This month belongs to Lou, and she'd like a quilt made up of wonky stars, so we are all going to make her one and post it to her!  How lovely does that sound?

Feel free to click on the link button in my side panel every now and then to see how we're getting on over the year.  And please, any tips from anyone who's been involved in a Quilting Bee, do share!