swaps

My June blocks for the Tethered Threads 2 Block Swap have been done for a bit but I've not shared them....

Fabulous fabric!!
I wasn't so sure about my wonkiness...
"wonk" I've noticed, does not come easily to me...

but I think Kathy likes them, so I'm safe :)

I have also joined another swap called the GREAT WHITE NORTH BEE

I'm excited as this is a group of ladies that are all Canadian (like myself) but love designer fabrics and the look of a more modern quilt design.

These are my June blocks for Kristy, our bee mama....

Wonky again!

It was fun and using so many different fabrics and bright prints was a thrill!

her quilt is going to be delicious!

I joined the swap late so the July block will not be coming to me as she doesn't have enough fabric for me to do a block for her.

that's okay--i'm going to be busy with a baby anyway.

My month isn't until February so I have time to decide what I would like.

I'm so enjoying the swap process.
It has opened up opportunity for me to really stretch and learn.

I'm excited for more fabric to show up on my doorstep so i can play with it!

a thousand apologies

here they are.

My May blocks for Kathleen.

For the Tethered Threads 2 swap.

Done and dusted.
In the mail.
LATE...

So sorry....

so what happened to me this month??
why the late blocks from a girl who's turnaround record has been pretty good?

ummm...
well when I received the fabrics and directions, I froze.

I found it confusing.

ummm...yeah.
let's remember I'm 34 weeks pregnant.
I have baby brain, people!

so then I didn't have the right fabric in my stash.
so I had to go to the store.
the fabric store 25 minutes away.

this is not normally an issue.
It's normally a joy...

hmmmmm...this month? not so much.

"surely I must have something here..."
nope.

....

so then I equated purchasing the fabric for the block
to finishing the block.

ummm...
note to self:

purchased fabric=UN finished

so this morning
I decided to let it lag no longer.
45 minutes
2 freezies
and a broken seam ripper later

(don't ask-- I didn't even need it for the block!)

ta da!
two blocks finished.

April already?

So how do I know it's April?

I got Marty's fabric in the mail for the Tethered Threads 2 Block Swap, that's how!

She sent out 4 base fabrics to everyone and then one complimentary fabric specific to each person in the swap.

I was a lucky girl and received this beautiful orange-yellow fabric!

which I happened to have some stash to match!

Marty requested simple and off centred.

In my first block I added the lovely centre square from my Make Life stash

--the surrounding fabrics are the ones Marty sent.

finished off by my "signature colour" also from Marty.

This block, I fear,

is not the "simple block" that Marty requested.

I simply went overboard-- I couldn't help it!

It was the first time I was ever able to just pull stuff from my stash that worked!

and the block just carried me away!

The stripes are from my Amy Butler stash

and the polka dots and flowers were again from Make Life by Sweetwater

I mean look at all those seams!!!

aren't they pretty!

Sorry Marty!

Your fabric was just too good and I was just too weak!

Simple went to the wayside.

Hope you can still use them :)

Crazy Nine Patch

March was Crazy Nine Patch month for our Tethered Threads 2 Block Swap

These were so fun! I've always wanted to try them!

I'm hoping to make a quilt in this way soon.

--I've had the fabric since last year!

My seams aren't perfect but I think the more you do the better you get!

Not that I'm one to look for perfection but I tried my darndest considering these weren't for me.

I didn't add any fabric as she sent the perfect amount and I think this is a quilt that she is going to be gifting for Christmas...

Where do I start?

Well I've been working on some "stuff"...

Like this quilt top finally finished!

I don't know why it took me so long...

the kids were so excited to hold it so I could take a pic :)

Now to start the back...

I've been inspired by this...

I've been working on other things too
Like some blocks for the month of February for my Tethered Threads 2 swap

yes. these blocks for Kim were fun.
the fabric was beautiful.

She had us use this tutorial from Oh! Fransson and we modified it a bit...

block #2 came together even quicker.
and then I thought I'd try another...

and then I realized I really don't like to make these blocks anymore :)

I was up until midnight because I couldn't stop
and then....

I did.
and I was done!

2 things I learned about myself:

1- I like straight lines. I love the wonky look but it's not my forte.

2- I like to use every bit of fabric. Every bit went into these blocks.

I even got a fourth one done but it was an inch shy of the 12" Kim was looking for.
I sent it back to her so she can play with it or add to it.

I also received these awesome blocks from Beth!

They came quite a bit ago and I just let them sit there looking pretty and forgot to blog about them!
thanks Beth!

these two blocks arrived this morning!

and I have to say they are AWESOME!

thanks Jen!

As the final blocks trickle in I'm really starting to sweat about what to do next.

I thought I knew how I wanted my quilt to look and now I'm not sure....

Once I get all the blocks I guess I'll have to decide :)

I think I've yet to receive blocks from 2 ladies and then it's down to the sewing machine!

January Block Swap

My mailbox has been overflowing with goodies for my month of the

Tethered Threads 2 block swap!

I couldn't be more delighted!

Here they are so far in no particular order...

So far I have received blocks from 6 of the 11 ladies in the swap...

I can't wait to see what treasures the other ladies come up with!

this final block is the one I made myself.

I wasn't happy with the positioning of the trees but I have seen and heard that many other ladies were also have a tricky time of it...

here's what Knittin Brit in WI had to say about it...

"Kelly, the secret to getting the trees on the triangular pieces the right way is to draw a template of the piece on scrap paper, then place it on your tree fabric so that the trees are in the right position and cut it along the diagonal line. Worked perfectly for me."

and then I had an "of course!" moment!

duh!

I'm going to try it tonight...

December blocks done!

this one gave me a run for my money as I really wanted the mocha corner square to match up with the centre square perfectly.

After a few attempts--I made it!

These blocks are for Audrie and they were fabulous fun!

She wants to pattern her quilt after Denyse Schmidt's

What A Bunch of Squares

I didn't square them up as she plans on bordering them one more time with an even lighter shade of brown...

It's going to look fabulous!

I hope she likes mine...

Here's to next month!

It sounds like it's my turn and I can't wait!

Block Swap

My blocks for the first month of my Block Swap are done.
Betty chose a black and white plaid design.
It was super fun!

She sent the damask fabric and I added the polka dots

She sent the "argyle floral" fabric and I added the geometric "S" fabric.

Can't wait to see what's next!

If you'd like to see what other blocks have been made for Betty

click here

Decided!

I love this!

Seriously!

This one is my favourite!

This is what I'm going to do for my turn in the Tethered Threads 2 Block swap

I know my turn isn't until next October

but wow!

I love this!

Can't you see some of my mirror ball fabric on that tree?

Check this video out!

Easy Peasy!

I can't wait...

I might have to make some before October

*cheesy grin*

Joy in the New Year

I have signed up for the Joy in the New Year Challenge

I am new to quilting/crafting

however as I have said before...

I have Crafter's A.D.D.

It is being run by Jacquie of Tallgrass Prairie Studio fame.

The goal is to finish as many of your UFO's

(un-finished objects--also known as started projects not finished)

as possible before the New Year...

If you're interested, you can still get in on the action

click here

I decided to stick to the projects that I have actually cut into and want to finish off...

so that equals 4

even though I have a loooong list to begin and finish before Christmas as gifts!

1. my mother's birthday gift-

-which I'd like to show you but she reads my blog

Hi mom!

2. a fall quilt for myself using the pumpkins gone wild line-

-more on this later...

as it may include a giveaway

*hint hint*

3. a thrifted wool sweater blanket for Bubby similar to Pumpkin's

4. 2 swap blocks using some of this fabulous damask fabric!

Yes. I've signed up to be part of a swap group.
12 women + 12 months x 2 blocks = 12 quilts

My month isn't until November of next year but in the meantime I'm going to be busy working hard for these special ladies on their special quilt blocks.

This is a big step for me but I'm up to the challenge and ready to dig in!

I can't wait to finish up these blocks and show them to you for finish #1!!

I'd better get started...