Buzzing like a bee

The MMQG's Bee Bold Bee:

MJ's super easy, super simple half circle raw edge applique - 'snickerdoodles!!'

Catherine's super easy, super simple block of red and aqua (I think I've seen that combo around here before....;)

AusMod Bee through Flickr

Jane's not so easy and definititely not simple

paper pieced block.

64 pieces per block people!

Well, once the shock for this one time only paper piecer was over, it did come together relatively easily.  There were quite a few seams of unpicking, a little bit of fudging, the lines don't all line up I'm afraid, hundreds of bias edges may be the reason??

I am glad it is over...BUT I am glad I had to do it!

It has actually inspired me to to do more paper piecing!!!

The next in-my-head project is to make this with Twiddletails' Geese in the Forest pattern.

Who is with me??

We can curse and rip together!!

Clothing scares me

I think this photo scares me!  Camera head!

Some stretchy knit jersey stuff? (I have no idea what you call this fabric) that I picked up for 2 bucks at op-shop - for my muchly looking forward to.... 

Pattern Free Top Workshop

with

Ms Mallalieu

Big Big Step for me - I have no clue AT ALL when it comes to fitting some kind of fabric around my body and I am welcoming the thought of  just kindov winging a design

This rings bells for me - you know the kind that makes your heart stop and brain say Yes Please all at the same time.

Some nice person giving me instruction and signs of approval as I look up imploringly from my work  is what I am looking for and I think I will get it there - so I'm told! lol!

 My first pair of 'cowboy' boots!  I call them that, but don't really believe any authentic cowboy/girl would wear these little pretties!

And they are red!!!

Goes so so well with some looovely linen blend fabric called Jeneveve by Valori Wells - thinking of doing an A-line skirty thing from Sew What Skirts aka the Ubiquitous SIT skirt Sew Along

See that little bit with the leaves - 1/2 yard - what should I do with it?  

Yoke? - It may not be seen when I wear a top over it

Band at bottom? - Does this look like your legs are cut off?

Strip along one leg?  - Too weird or 'disruptive' to main pattern of skirt?

My lovely lovely 'roses' from my Australasian Bee girls - my idea was for lots of pink or green or a combo of both crazy-pieced blocks of all different sizes to make a bouquet of sorts of roses.

Haven't really got a clue how I am going to put them together - probably group some and piece some out and about in the quilt - like an arrangement in a vase???  I have loved getting (most) of my blocks back - though I'm not quibbling over some pieces of fabric that may or may not come back to me  - all the very best to them!

The Bee has now finished - Thank you to Jo of SparklyGreenKnickers for being the coordinator - the blocks and people have been varied and interesting (some stay involved and some very rarely) and I hope to keep up with at least a few of you  - may see you again in another Aussie/NZ bee - Hope So!!

Bees and roses

These are February Bee Blocks for Australasian Bee - for Amy of Seven Stitches

Very very cute retro inspired domestic images in reds and yellows and black and grey - squares in a square design, with alternating coloured frames.

Here are the little piles of my fabric cos March is my month:  (Edit: had to remove photo)  I am wanting lots of roses - all pink or all green or a little of both - crazy pieced, scrappy and all different sizes - I raided my pink stash and my green stash - two stashes that are HUMUNGOUS and needed a bit of fresh air.  

I have a bit of AMH, AB, spots, birds, flowers, feathers, vines and more.....

Check here on my flickr page for more info or more ideas

Am I simply mad to ask for any size (I did this too for my Kaffe wonky stars - which I love love love but boy, it took alot of head space to get them all together.

That reminds me - must take more photos of quilt - it is finished!!!

I'm seeing stars!

Is anyone going to Ballarat this Wednesday to see Kaffe Fassett in 'concert'???

I have a 'golden' ticket and I am driving up sometime Wednesday (took the day off work yaHOOOO!), catch up with some old friends, take in the sights of beautiful Balla, and go and listen to some fabric design genius!!

This is my 'Kaffe Stars' Quilt - from Around the Block Block Swap - just the top so far, though I have to get some shots of it quilted and bound now.

More on that later...

(photo taken at Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild  - first meet for 2011 - great fun!)

I would really love to know if you are going - we could car pool or meet up for coffee?

A (slightly) broken but still pretty spiderweb

Do you see an 'oopsy' or maybe a 'whoopsy'?  Kelly's spiderweb block has 2" strips of modern fabric (I got bright spots) to be sewn as second last piece in corner of each 1/4 piece.......I did the 2nd sew bit right, but not the 2" bit, soooooo they don't even touch!!!!

Kelly was not miffed though and "loves a bit of quirk"

Okay pal - here it is!!

This was so much fun and super duper easy to make - foundation papers were not consulted at all, not that I would know what to say to them if we were to have a conversation. Maybe others do. 

Christmas is Coming and I'm Trying To Not Panic.....is the title of my next post.

Holidays must come to an end....

School Holidays are so good sometimes, that I wonder why we need to go back to work/school/job/life at all.........we have been away at the beach and we have had such a good time - just plain old good family time together!

But you are not interested in that!! No - show me some fabric!!!

These two shots are for the Colorbrick Quiltalong - hosted by Stitched in Color - this will be my last School Auction Quilt - maybe be my favourite yet!!

I had so much fun playing with my stash to find bright, interesting fabrics - loving my echidnas and chickens and apples ohyeah!

My Red & Aqua Block Swap was held last night at my place - it was a good turnout - with friends coming along for the first time and lots and lots of loud discussion about what to do with our next swap starting 2011.
My family chuckled about how noisy a bunch of women could be discussing sewing!!

But - what to do with my little blocks?
This was an idea....

and this was an idea.....

But, I like this!!

and then maybe this?? (dont ask me about the white sheet (actually) my design wall..huh?)

Some much wanted blocks for Australasian Bee member - Jen of Cheeky Child - she requested a 16 inch block made with her Michael Miller Fairy range of fabric and for us to embellish any way we like.

I found some lovely lace, stamped ribbon and made a lace flower:

Some extra blocks made for a friend's daughter: pink was requested for the borders and I love my Laurel Birch fabrics - I have had them for a very long time now and they should be used and enjoyed!

Here are the fam at Sorrento back beach or surf beach (if you dare!)

Some pink and white heath - our state floral emblem:

Love this picture of hubbie:

This one is for the Auntie - your wacky nieces!!

Back in the saddle

Thank you everyone who gave me such encouraging words - I really appreciate the support and just knowing that others kindov understand and even if they don't, it doesn't matter, they have given me a 'cyber' hug anyway - besides......there is always fabric and chocolate (thanks Clair!)

So...down to business....

Australasian Bee

Monika's Boxy Stars -from Miss Monny Quilts -  great block to make (when you get it right!) and loved using the blues and greens (two of my fave Neptunes in the pack too!)

Monika asked for a signature block - gee, that mucked up piece that I did has come in rather handy....

Some circles for Annie of Flowergarden via Around the Block

This was a challenge for me!!  hand appliqued this piece with a backing to make it easier

Annie's fabric cried out to be used on its own - some raw edge applique - some good, some wonky....

I liked the end result though. Hope Annie does.

Australasian Bee Block again - this time for Nova - some lovely wonky stars of delightful pinks and greens with a white background - this is going to look so pretty!!

A quick baby quilt for my neighbour's new little girl: Amy Claire

using Alexander Henry's Bunnies

This is my second quilt from this range - the colours are so fun and the bunnies and carrots cute as!

I did have a bit of a mental blank, after starting with lots of hourglass pieces of carrots and white - I couldn't get past the 'what next' phase?

Something Kaffe Fassett has said about his own quilts is that he likes to include as many different fabrics as possible; that this seek and find of many patterns and colours is what he enjoys in a quilt, prompted me to pull out many different pinks and greens and just 'go wild'.  

I did enjoy the eclectiveness of this quilt, using stash fabrics I had even forgotten about!

And these are my babies, enjoying a cuddle with little Amy.

A plethora of limes from a neighbour's tree has produced a delicious, finger-licking, eating out of the jar, fight for the last drop Lime Butter

recipe from Julie Goodwin's 'Family Table'

Julie's Lemon Diva Cupcakes are going to have to be next! 

Can you imagine? Lemon Delicious cake with Lime Delicious Butter - heaven!