Lisa's Block for Liz

Yes, I know I'm late again and I do apologize. It has been a busy summer, and I was happy to have time today to work on projects. This was a lot of fun to sketch out and put together, although I had to improvise a little with the material, since there wasn't enought to do some of the strips the way I had planned. Overall, I think it turned out pretty nice. I hope you like it, Liz!

C'est Fini

Here it is, in all of it's birdie glory! It is so lovely, full of sunshine and happiness. Thank you all for these gorgeous blocks. I love how much individual creativity went into this quilt and its beautiful uniqueness. I hope how I put it together did all of your work justice.

I also want to thank my two local helpers for all of your help too.

Block for Liz!

Hope you like it, Liz! I was planning on doing a nine patch with a log cabin around the outside, but then I made a quilt for my strip club and it seemed to work well for this block. Plus the chestnut fabric is so cute I couldn't help myself!

A Little Help From My Friends

Betty's fabric arrived and I sat and stared at it...as I have with every set of fabric, but this set and the inspiration is freaking me out a bit. I want to do applique for this block, but I'm an applique virgin. So, have you guys appliqued? What technique(s) might work well for this treehouse block? Any hints or tips you think might help me as I attempt this. Any body else in the same boat?

caught up!

Finally, after some summer months that seem to have run me ragged, I'm up to speed. And as I can see it's just in time to receive my next bundle of fabric from Betty. I've also stayed away from this blog a bit as I'm finding that I'm either intimidated by the cool and creative work of the other quilters or I feel something might be too close to what I was imagining. Am I the only one who worries about these things? Once this post is finished, I plan to enjoy an evening of marveling at everyone else's work while I browse through the back entries that I've missed.

This block is for Liz. I had originally wanted to do a log cabin block with the green homespun in the center, but found I was limited with the length of my fabrics. However, I'm finding the fabric sizes I'm given to be the fun part of the challenge. It forces me to use what I have and rethink my first ideas. In the end, I think I've got a nod to a log cabin block. In fact, I'm sure this is some sort of official quilt design, but I've not looked up the name.

I adored the little nuts and wanted to play with those a bit. It seems I can't stop myself from embroidering something, so I added a little accent to the green.

Finally, I have a block to send off to a very patient Melissa.

Let's just say that I really shouldn't have been so freaked out by wavy seams.

Yes, more embroidery. (Seriously, if you don't want any embellishment like this on your block, you're going to have to tell me, because I can't promise anything if left to my own devices.)

I'm headed to the post office tomorrow, ladies.

More Treehouse Inspiration

Hey everyone! Saw this on The Peach Tree. More fabulous inspiration for Betty's treehouse challenge.

Check three

Good news- all my fabrics are off today! All you ladies should be receiving the package shortly. I am super excited to see what will come with this idea.

I've decided that I would like to make a treehouse quilt. A treehouse quilt?!? you ask. What is this? Well, first let me show you my inspirations.

To start with, I loved the treehouse banner Made in a Treehouse blog had.

I also found inspiration from this cute address label on the package I got from Scissors, Paper, Glue (who by the way, has a super cute banner right now too).

So the only rules are that it would be nice to have the finished size of the blocks be 13-14" I can border things to make them look alright on the finished quilt. I am not sure how large the final quilt will be since I may make some treehouse blocks of my own. I am thinking it will be twin size in the end.

I sent everyone a nice selection of fabrics. Included you will find a 14" (two are 13" -oops) blue block. It would be great if you could use mainly this blue for the background on your block. I included a some light yellow, orange, and a zinger color (bright red vintage or bright blue vintage). Use any of these for the house or the windows- or add your own stash. There are also green and browns in the bundle for your trees. Of course, don't feel obligated to use any or all of the colors. Your tree doesn't have to be green.

I tried to send a good amount of fabric since you may be doing some experimenting. For the method- knock yourself out. I am sure applique will be used, but maybe some of you are able to piece together things.

So to sum up:

1. Try to use the blue for most or part of your background
2. Final size around 13"-14"
3. Make some sort of treehouse
4. Use applique, piecing, or what ever works!
5. Feel free to add whatever fabric you like
6. Please sign your name on the block with some sort of permanent ink or marker right on the front some where. I really want to have a record of who made which ones.

Check two

And the second check off my monster of a list. Liz's block.



Love these fabrics.

Check one

One check off my list. Finished Melissa's block even though a fabric stealing postman and broken sewing machine stood in my way.

Another Bird in the Tree...

Here you go, Melissa! I hope you like it! I've put it in the mail today -- I hope it doesn't get too wrinkled by the time it arrives!

June

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who's late!

Get Ready

Okay- you all are probably going- who is this Betty chick and why is she always constantly late with her blocks? I confess- I have been holding on to the two last blocks because it really has been one thing after another for me lately. The main thing being the non-functioning sewing machine.

I really want you'll to know though- it is being fixed! And I am sew ready to play catch up with my Common Thread Blocks. Especially because I can't possibly ask you to sew blocks for me when I haven't finished yours!

Fear not though- my plan is to have all my sewing caught up by the same time I send out fabric for my month's block. Can I do this all by my pending deadline? Keep your fingers crossed ladies...and get inspired by a little hint from my what will be the inspiration behind my month...

Sweet Little Log Cabin

It was definitely Make It Work Time with this block. I had a vision but had to get a little creative to execute it with the amount of fabric I had. For example, I didn't have quite enough of the green polka dots to make a full square so I used what was left of the dark brown for the fourth side. It is now my favorite part of the block.

In the end, I think this little log cabin block looks really good and stays true to the inspirations Liz suggested. I hope you like it!

BYE-BYE, BIRDIE

Well, after weeks of thinking about these birds and how to design this block, I ended up doing four separate blocks and then sewing them together, trying to place them so the entire block was not too "busy," but I'm not sure that was so successful, and I can't decide if I like it - although I do think the photo doesn't do it justice. I do hope it will blend in enough with the rest of the beautiful blocks Melissa has received... I can't wait to see her finished quilt... I only wish I weren't so tardy sending this to her! On to the next block...

Another Cross

Here's your block, Liz. I tried to keep it simple based on the simplicity of the inspiration quilts. I also thought you might want the cross repeated in the blocks so I incorporated one into my block too. I didn't use the solid you sent. Not on purpose really, it got lost under some of my fabric piles and I didn't see it until the block was almost done. Hope that's ok. I enjoyed working with the fabric you sent. Very different for me.

chestnut block

here's my block for this month. I struggled with interpreting the inspiration quilts with patterned fabric, given that most of the examples relied on solids. but I think it turned out okay and it should blend with the other blocks that have already been completed by other bee participants.



I managed to bungle the measurements, so it's 12x12.5. Rather than try to add a skinny slice somewhere with the scraps I had left, I'll leave it up to you Liz what you want to do. I was thinking that if you are using a format like Rebekah's example, it might be fine as is. Or maybe a stripe or two of khaki on the sides? Sorry!

finished quilt top

I've been staring at all of your blocks and plotting this quilt in my head for quite a while now! You all did such a great job with your blocks and I love how they all fit together. This has been such a rewarding project and the major perk is coming up with a quilt top that I really love that features so many different types of blocks that I didn't have to make myself! Every time I look at one of your blocks, I notice a new detail or technique that you used. It was so much fun to see how you all took a few pieces of fabric and transformed it into such creative blocks!

So here's my finished quilt top (excuse the skewed photo...my fisheye lens was the only lens I could use to get the whole thing in the picture).



The quilt size is 80" x 88". After framing the individual blocks with white fabric, I trimmed them to be 14" square (including the seam allowance). For the stripes between the rows of blocks, I used fabric scraps that I strip pieced. I cut the pieces 1.5" wide (1" after sewing) and then sewed them together in random lengths. I used exactly 4.5 yards of white for the front. I plan to use black fabric for the backing.



For the quilting part, I want to do rows of squiggles in red thread in the white portion of the quilt in the style that's seen here. I'm having trouble coming up with what to do for the quilting on each of the blocks. I want the blocks to shine and a few of you used embroidery and special sewing stitches on your blocks so I definitely don't want to sew over these. Do you have any ideas for me?