Oh dear

I have learned that some of my packages for June didn't get sent out (SIGH...long story). They are going out today, so if you haven't gotten my fabric yet, it will arrive this week. Sorry for the delay!

Last but Not Least... I Hope!

A couple of things occurred to me yesterday. One, it's almost July. Two, July is my month for the Quilting Bee, (and my birthday.) And three, I had no idea what I wanted to have you guys make. This happened to me last year, too, for my own Bee. I got so caught up in the fun of making everyone else's blocks, I completely forgot to think about what I wanted for my own.

So, I sequestered myself in my office and buried myself in my Flickr favorites and all the bits of inspiration that I have saved on my computer. Two hours later, I still wasn't sure what I wanted, but I kept coming back to this image.

This was made by The Mayfly for the Virtual Quilting Bee. I love it hard. The simplicity of the neutral tones, the fabulous texture, the pleats. (Oh! The pleats!) And so I decided to check out the rest of the blocks that were made for this particular quilt. And boy howdy! I loved them all!

So I thought I would just procure myself some neutral solids and ask you guys to make me texture-filled blocks. I figured it would be something you could all have fun with and use your own creativity and I would end up with something sophisticated and lovely. But then I saw this:

This was in the same Virtual Quilting Bee pool, but made for a different quilt and stitched by Uncommon Grace. And it struck me that this block was just as textural as the other blocks, even though it seemed so different at first. And I loved LOVED the little pop of color. And that's when it hit me. I knew exactly what I wanted you guys to make for me! Textural blocks with little bursts of color!

So, I went to look at Kona cotton to find a couple of similar tones to use for the background of the blocks. The problem was, I couldn't find a couple of similar tones that I liked... I found 10.

So, I bought them all. I mean, look at them! It's pretty much impossible to narrow it down any further, right?! So here's what I'm gonna do. When these get here in the mail, I'll parcel them out so each participant gets a portion of a couple of neutrals. With this, I'd like you to make me 12.5"x12.5" blocks featuring texture (pleats, pintucks, rouching, stitching, embroidery, etc.) and a small burst of color. I'd love for you to use fabric from your own stash for the pops of color, so that I can have a little of each of you in your block. The color sections can be prints or solids or both.

I don't really want to get any more specific, because I'm really looking forward to seeing how each of you interprets this! But please, let me know if you have any questions or if you need more fabric or would like me to send you some color along with your neutrals. Thank you!

*PS: Sorry about the weird way the photos got cropped, but I need to leave to pick up my CSA and don't have time to resize them all. Click on the images to see the full thing.

Forgetful

I posted these on my blog a while back, even uploaded them to flickr, but forgot to post them here -- where they belong. I got carried away with Nadia's and made three blocks.

For Amanda -- clearly I need a better iron.

And for Wendy. I was trying to make this reflective of my personality -- jeans, t-shirt, blend into the background, barefoot. However, I ended up with footless bald girl. And that's just ridiculous, because I have an overabundance of hair. Inconsistencies aside, I enjoyed putting this together. I love the people blocks. I had long ago (when I was in college LONG ago) seen one with men/women/children in different bright colors. I put it in my file and never did it. Wendy's block is making me want to pull it out again. So fun.

Citrus stars

These were fun and such great colors - especially for summer!

I made a smaller 6.5" one...

and a 12.5" one too -

They are going in the mail tomorrow!

It's my turn!

It's my month! I've been waiting so patiently. :) You'll be getting your packages from me soon, which will contain a few different blues, creamy whites, & tiny pops of color.

I have had this photo in my inspiration file for a long time, & I've lost the source. If any of you know where the original is, please tell me so I can take this one down & link to the original! I am asking you to make blocks in the style of the blocks in this quilt, but with the negative space reversed (blue backgrounds & white strips, with blue around the edges). I would love for you to add pieces of your own blue if you have some, but please keep the hue & shade of the blue as close to my fabrics as possible. I would also love to have some tiny pops of other saturated colors as well!

I am asking for 12.5" blocks. I hope I have sent enough fabric! Please send back any extra blue, but it's not necessary to send back any other scraps. Thank you guys so much!

really wonky

dear jess,

you said, "the wonkier, the better" right? here is a very wonky star for you. somehow the finished size is only 12" (not 12.5)--perhaps my 1/4" seams weren't scant enough? perhaps i have baby brain? i thought about cutting it down to the 9.5" size, but then i'd lose the tip of at least one of the triangles, and that would look weird, so i hope you can find a way to use this shrimpy block.

i'd originally planned to make two stars for you, but i'd like to get this sent to you (so it doesn't sit on my to-do list for the next three months), so for now i hope it's okay if i send you just one maverick star. plus, i just don't trust myself to be able to do the math to make one that will actually end up the correct size.

love the colors, love the plan, can't wait to see what you do with all your stars!

:)
carissa