Bee Blocks

Tree for Jen, a photo by myfullcolorlife - Vickie on Flickr.

This tree is for Jen in the Bee Unique Bee Knotty bee on flickr. She sent out the white background fabric and the bark fabric then asked us to create a tree using favorite fabrics or colors. I am really liking red and pinks together, as well as turquoise and all kinds of greens.



This block is for Kerry in our Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee. This is actually foundation pieced on a square of interfacing. Worked well! I fussy cut the center square and then started adding more of my current favorite colors. She said she liked brights. I am so glad!



Here is my block with Kerry's starter block. I didn't take the time to photograph all of them together {School in May, son graduating, 7 family birthdays}, but it is going to be a wonderful quilt!!!



This block is for Deanna in the Fussy Cut Love Bee. I love that hummingbird. And those colors!! This is going to be a gorgeous quilt!! Working on it reminded me of the summer at the cabin in Colorado that I patiently sat with my finger perched under the hummingbird feeder until the birds got used to me. I still remember how their little feet felt! Such tiny, beautiful birds!

What have you been working on?

A Bird in the Hand (or 15 of them!!!)

I joined a new bee over on flickr. I know. I know. But I couldn't resist!! It was going to be more of a challenge bee and I was excited to see if I could meet that challenge. I have already had a blast and it only promises to get better!! I volunteered to go first and tossed around different ideas for my blocks.

My sister was using this Alexander Henry Larkspur bright bird fabric for a quilt for her MIL, and I love it. Surprise, I know. Me, liking birds in fabric??? Hmmmm....

Don't they just scream spring??? Back in late March, when I was planning this, spring was really lagging. And all the colors in the fabrics are favorites of mine. They are so fun just to look at, so that choice became simple.

My directions?? An asymmetrical block with part fussy cut bird and part traditional block. Here is my take on the challenge. 

I will be sharing the blocks with you as I think about how to put the quilt top together, but if you would like to see the photostream of the bee, click here to check them out. (You will also see some fun trees that were requested for May)

My Fav Quilt

OK. I couldn't miss out on the fun that is going to be happening over at Amy's Creative Side. So...I'm jumping on board and participating!!

Blogger has had the hiccups (in case you haven't noticed!!!), so if you can't get there by clicking on the button above, please click here!!! It looks to be a lot of fun!

I chose this mini quilt as my favorite quilt I have ever made!!

Why is it my favorite? Because I created this for a special little guy that I am simply crazy about, my grandson, Deacon (featured in this post and this one). And it was so, so, so much fun to make it for him!

This little quilt combines so many things I love...raw edge applique, free motion stitching and free motion quilting, as well as the whole creative aspect of coming up with my own "quilty" story.

I was inspired after seeing this darling little girl quilt tutorial and then trying it for myself. I started thinking about little boys, things they would do and ways they play. And what is a boy without a dog... 

And that little boy??? He has to be flying a kite, of course!!!

I love how the dog is chasing the kite tail. Reminds me of our dear chocolate lab Zoey. I can still see her jumping into the air for the frisbee. I am sure she would chase this kite's tail if she could!!!

The pieced background was fun, fun, fun!! I chose greens for the lower part and blues for the sky. Even now it is fun to remember those fabrics and other ways I have used them. 

And did you notice that pebble quilting around the outside edge?? That was a first and so much fun!!! I love my new machine!!! So much so, that I got this quilt back from Deacon's bedroom 

And added in some fun free motion swirls!!!

I can't wait till school is out so that I can do more of this!!!

Thanks for sponsoring this wonderful Bloggers' Quilt Festival, Amy!! I am looking forward to visiting lots of blogs!

Hugs!

Free Piecing Study blocks for me

Free Piecing Study blocks for me, a photo by myfullcolorlife - Vickie on Flickr.

Here are the blocks from the free piecing study that I made for myself, plus the ones my sisters have made for me. We are all going to have to 'catch up' on the latest blocks, once school is out. But I know I am gonna love this quilt more than any other, because my sisters each helped me make it, plus all of the fun memories of sewing them together. :)

Do you get to create with someone you love?? What a wonderful experience!

Am I bird obsessed and should I be worried?

We came to visit my dear Mom-in-law today and I brought my three most current projects with me. I realized, they all feature birds. I know I thoroughly enjoy watching them. I love the migratory geese and hummingbirds and when the robins return in the spring. I love hearing the cardinals sing, the jays fight and the pair of morning doves that live in our backyard.

I will just show you one of those projects, today. I have spent some time working out of this basket of Tula Pink's fabric...



....and using the fussy cut birds and eggs in nests to add pieced frames.



This is a very fun technique I learned from LuluBloom.



As a matter of fact, I flickr mailed her to see if she minded me posting about this, since I sort-of, totally, completely copied her idea.



It has been awhile since I worked on them....



But at the time, I was on a roll.



I love the warm/cool color combinations.



The colors are rich and vibrant.



Just what I love!



So, what is your current obsession?



(I will show you my 'other' birds later!)