the bee's knees 2012-2013 quilting bee quilt.

I am so happy to finally be able to share a very special quilt with you today.  You can see previous posts here and here.  I have shown snippets and even a post when my dear quilt was sent home after being beautifully quilted by Kathy.  (Big hugs Kathy - I love it!!) 

But I was really looking forward to having the time to bind and come back to show you the completed completed quilt.  Wink.  

Each block is so precious to me.  I hope you are not sick of me saying so.  I really really loved being a part of such a talented and sweet group of ladies.  I sure miss it, but lo and behold, it just isn't the time.  
Clearing my plate for the needs of my home and family was necessary.  
If you would like to see little snippets of my crafty and homemaking daily life, you can follow me on instagram.  xo

bee's knees quilt 2012-2013 quilt.

Last night, I received some of the most special mail!  Three quilts beautifully quilted by Kathy at Stitch by Stitch.  Thank you so much Kathy!  As always I adore your quilting and hug each quilt you send back my way.  Love ya friend!

My bee's knees quilt 2012-2013 is especially dear to my heart.  I had the privilege of sewing along with some very sweet and talented ladies in the bee's knees quilt group.  Eleven of these blocks were individually sewn by each one.  Then I added a few of my own blocks plus sashing and borders, to make it a larger quilt.

Thank you so much sweet girls, for the time you took to sew my fabrics together into such special blocks that are now a dear quilt.  I will think of you every time I see them.  And cherish my quilt always!

I have binding just waiting for a free moment to be sewn on.  I can hardly wait!  xoxo

quilty fun on instagram - lots of pictures.

Lori Holt shared a super fun and easy tutorial on her instagram, that I am following along with.  It is never too late to play along and you can find lots of inspiration under #scrappycrossroads.

I am getting caught up on bee blocks.  With a couple more to go.  It has been so much fun participating in the bees knees quilting bee.  I hate that I need to step away, but it is all in finding balance.

Did you happen to see Me and My Sister Designs blog hop for their latest pattern makin' it cute??  Oh mercy, these flowers are so cute!  I ordered the pattern and stalked my poor mailman until it arrived.  Then made it immediately.  Mine is a magnet on the fridge and I smile every time I see it.

Kathy did the cutest quilting on my dottie table topper!!  I was able to get the binding sewn on the other day!  Happy happy happy!  wink.

With all the cutting of fabrics, I am building a nice little stash of 2 1/2" strips and squares, plus 1 1/2" strips and squares, for my next leaders and enders quilt. 

The first one I made is heading to be quilted and then to a new home.  I sure hope you are having a fabulous summer!  The days seem to go by so fast!  Thank you for dropping by my little space here in blogland.  xo

a tiny tute.

 

Here is a wee little tutorial for a simple 4 1/2" block.  I used this block plus 8 others of the same to make a 12 1/2" bee block for Amy.

I would love to make a huge quilt using lots of these tiny blocks.  How amazing would that be?!  wink.

here's what you need :

1 - 2 1/2" square

1 - 5" square

trim 5" square into three parts

2 - 1 1/2" x 5" strips

2 - 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips

sew 2 - 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips to either side of the 2 1/2" square, press

sew 2 - 1 1/2" x 5" strips to 

the top and bottom, 

press and square to 4 1/2"

all 9 sewn up together equals 

a 12 1/2" unfinished quilt block

thanks so much for dropping by

I hope my little tutorial was helpful!

xoxo

bee block measurements.

for an 8 1/2" unfinished block

center square : 

2 1/2" square

inner square : 

2 - 2" x 2 1/2" strips

2 - 2" x 5 1/2" strips

outer square :

2 - 2" x 5 1/2" strips

2 - 2" x 8 1/2" strips

After posting Amy Smart's bee block on instagram, I had a question about what this block was.  Easy peasy!  It is sewn together like courthouse steps and so fun to make.  xo

spinning a few plates.

My sewing machine has been all abuzz lately and I love it!  I am so thankful to be able to do what I love.  

There is a fun quilt along taking place on Instagram.  #dwellalong.  I love seeing all the adorable little houses and quilts that are being made using Camille Roskelley's, Dwell pattern from her latest book Simply Retro.  I have made just the one block and added sashing.  I am still on the fence as to whether it will be a pillow or a mini quilt for my sewing room wall.

 

Another little bit of sewing has been on January's bee blocks for Carrie.  I am such a sucker for half square triangles and I loved making these blocks!

And last but not least, a nursing infinity scarf for my daughter Valerie.  Super easy.  Takes one yard of jersey knit fabric!

tutorial found here

happy mail.

Going to the mailbox and discovering I have another bee block package is such a treat.  Thank you ladies for sewing my special fabric into such adorable swoon blocks!!

thursday.

This has been a fantastic week of sewing!  First up is my little Christmas table topper.  Just out of the drier.  I will tuck it away until December, then add it to the other homemade Christmas touches in our home.

Kathy's swoon quilt is another fun project that I have worked on this week.  I just love these blocks!  I have enjoyed every step in the process!!  You can see block one here.

Next up are Jodi's bee blocks.  I *love* Jodi's scrappy quilts and was super thrilled to receive her cute fabrics in the mail.  Each year, Jodi creates a scrappy quilt using fabric scraps in her stash, from projects she had made during that year.  She has totally inspired me to get on board and do the same.  Stay tuned.  wink.

Bee's Knees.

We are off to a new year over 

at the bees knees.

I'm so excited to participate with such an amazing group of girls!  July is my month to mail out fabric and a pattern for everyone to piece.  I choose Camille's Swoon blocks and have mailed out fat quarters from Fly A Kite.

 

I have been saving this fat quarter bundle for a year.  Woody purchased it for me as a "retirement gift".  After over 13 years of homeschooling our children, our youngest entered the local high school.  

 

There are a couple more reasons why this fabric is so dear to me ... the little boy and little girl remind me of our children and I have a very sentimental momma's heart!  wink.

Also, I have been  known to walk around our home (on many occasions) singing, "let's go fly a kite" from Mary Poppins.  Like "you are my sunshine", this is an endearing family tune I would sing to our young children.  So you can probably see just why I am so excited to have such a special quilt made using my special fabric, by such dear ladies!  Thank you!

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!

xoxo

a little weekend sewing.

Friday was spent indoors sewing Suburb blocks.  This is such a fun pattern!!  I am using a Happy Go Lucky layer cake for the houses, Lecien blue with tiny white dots as the sky and my favorite go to white Bella Solids Bleach White for the rest.

Here is a little snippet of Sherri's bee block.  Sherri asked that we make Christmas scrappy trip around the world blocks.  This is going to be such a cute quilt!!  I can hardly wait to see it all together.  I am actually making two but wanted to leave the second as a surprise, since it will have some of my own fabric added.  wink.

And here is another snippet of a bee block I am finishing up.  It is for Calli.  I just adore this pickledish pattern!  It is going to be such a beautiful quilt.  Calli sent 30's style fabrics and the templates necessary to create a "melon" for the blocks.

This is what happens when I turn my back.  My little Miss Lizzy fancied my large granny square quilt a cozy place for her afternoon nap.  Little stinker!  

The binding has since been sewn on and almost finished hand stitching it to the back.  I will be updating the no waste large granny square quilt tutorial link.   It took much longer than I had planned, but believe me ... I have enjoyed every single step of the process, so was worth it!  Kathy did a beautiful job quilting it!!  Thank you so much Kathy!  I love it!!