Break time over!

Hello there!!
It's been a while - I needed a break from blogging, no real reason and now I feel ready to jump back on board!
Starting off with a new blog header :)
I'm no tech guru but thanks to pic monkey and a bit of playing around I'm happy with what I've come up with.
Since the start of the year I haven't really done much sewing but have been trying to keep up with bee blocks so because I hate to post without photos here they are:

Now I've uploaded all the blocks I've done quite a bit of sewing!!

Bee Blocks galore!

I've finally managed to catch up with all my Bee blocks for Bee Europa! I love this quilting Bee as it allows me to try new techniques, discover new websites and work with gorgeous fabrics :)
Here are the latest blocks:
Starry night 8" block for Nikki, excellent free paper piecing pattern from Wombat Quilts - I loved making this block and see a few more in my future!

Home Circle and Fools Square blocks for Gina, excellent pattern and instructions from The Quilters Cache

And finally Grandma's Choice block, pattern from McCalls Quilting for Ashleigh

Just one little quilt block ....

So August is my month for my quilting Bee "Bee Europa" and I've chosen the Churn Dash quilt block. I quickly made up a sample block to test the tutorial, which is a fab one by Sew Me, and made sure I had enough fabric, snapped a quick photo on my iPhone, uploaded it to Flickr and that was me done.

Bee fabric prep, Happy Go Lucky by Bonnie and Camille ~

My practice Churn Dash quilt block ~

Then the next day I started to get several likes of the photo from people who were not my contacts and seemed to have no link to quilting or sewing!? I was puzzled so logged onto Flickr to check the photo and activity and was amazed with what I saw!!

I was shocked - I know my photos get a few views generally and the same goes for the blog - I know there are a handful of peeps that find me and what I do somewhat interesting, most of the time :) but I was amazed at how many views this little old photo had!
I then found out I had been "explored", sounds kinda weird in so many ways! Shows how much I actually don't know about Flickr. It was a lovely surprise to have my photo added to Explore and that a little old quilt block was so popular!!! Current views 3603!
Bee Europa pretty piles ready to be sent out ~

Finally finished something!

Yay! I've finally finished something from my WIP pile! At the moment I have so many things that I want to sew and make and lots of new ideas spinning around my head that I thought I'd better finish off some things first!

So here it is - one finished Liberty Notebook cover started at the Sewing Directory London meet up :)

On a completely different note I am really pleased to be taking part in another, the fourth, year of Bee Europa. We are a group of European quilters that have been stitching strong and making some wonderful blocks and quilts, and sadly our original Bee Mama had to step down this year but I've been lucky enough to step in as Bee Mama! We have one empty space in our group! So if you've always wanted to join a Bee and fancy this one drop me an email!

Quilt Bee catch up

Yay I'm finally up to date with my quilt Bee "Bee Europa" blocks after Christmas crept up too quickly and I fell behind and felt very guilty but now even January's block is done and in the post!!
For any newbies to quilting I would definitely suggest joining a Quilt Bee! Here are a few of my own personal reasons that will hopefully encourage some of you out there to join in the fun!!

• It's a great way to get know other talented and like minded people, you may even get the chance to meet them in person as I did at the Fat Quarterly retreat which was so much fun!
• It really has helped develop my quilting knowledge and skill by making blocks that I would have otherwise not have tried.
• I have discovered an amazing array of wonderful blogs and tutorial sites that have inspired me greatly.
• I have been able to work with some wonderful fabrics that I never get to see in the shops near me and from actually seeing these in person I felt more comfortable when buying them on line without being to see and feel them first!  
• Finally when it is your month and all your blocks are back you have a wonderful range of blocks ready to be made into a quilt!! (As yet mine are still blocks - a quilt/s is on my to do list for 2013!) For the few years that I have been taking part in quilt bees I usually went with a set block so each finished block is the same but I have loved it when we have been given a bit more free choice and the recipient gets back a range of personal blocks, something I think I might try in the future!

So go on what are you waiting for!? Best place to start is Flickr, that is where I found my Bee.
Here are my recent blocks:

October block, paper piecing letters, great video tutorial here:

November block, mini bow tie, great tutorial here:

December block, Wonky Star, really easy to follow tutorial here:

January block, Mod Mosaic, great tutorial with really helpful photos here:

That's it for the Quilt Bee catch up, also linking up with:

 

Bee blocks

I am now finally up to date with my Bee Europa blocks! Yay!

First up Floh asked for a block that reminded her of tea time, so I went with my favourite tea - chai! This was a fun block to make and I am really looking forward to seeing how all the blocks will look together!

Next was a lovely block - converging corners for Muriel, this was a great block to make and when they are all put together it makes a really striking effect

Quilting bee's are so much fun!!

Bee Europa July

Managed to get my Bee Europa July blocks in the post just before the end of the month. Not quite sure where July has gone!!
Amy asked for a Wonky Log Cabin block which was great as we had both taken part in the Wonky Log cabin class at the Fat Quarterly retreat!
These are so much fun to do the struggle is trying to get them to be wonky! Here is my block and a half that I made ~

Saturday sewing

Last weekends sewing did not go to plan this weekend has been much more productive!
Bee Europa June block completed for Miriam. This was another new design to me - Box Quilt block and lovely fabrics to use!

 

Followed by preparing for my first ever frame purse in practise for taking part in "In The Frame Purse" swap!! Fabric all cut and prepared ~

Main part of the purse made!

 

Waiting for the glue to dry whilst writing this post so hopefully will have a fairly successful purse to show tomorrow!!

Bee Europa Time!!

Tomorrow is the 1st of May! Can you believe it? Where is the year going!
Tomorrow also kicks off the new year Bee Europa 2012/13 Quilting Bee and May is my month so I'm up first! Not panicking much!
I've decided to ask my fellow Bees to make a Rocky Road to Kansas block. I fell in love with this block when I made it for the 4x5 Modern Quilt Bee, using the fab tutorial at Fresh Lemon Quilts and was very sad to give these blocks away. As soon as I had laid them all out I knew that I wanted to make a quilt with this block design so I can't wait to see what all my Bee's come up with! (as soon as I get the parcels out!)

Sorry this is not the best photo it must have been dull and rainy - seen a lot of that weather lately!
The best thing about this photo is the cute photo corners - pop back tomorrow to find out more about them!

More blocks

I'm in shock with myself but for the first time I am up to date with my Quilting Bee's having already completed and posted the January blocks before the 31st! That is a first!
Here are my latest blocks .......
Bento box quarters (we were asked not to stitch them together as the layout has not been decided) and a forest/tree inspired block - this was made fairly large as there was a possibility it might be made into a pillow.
My goal now is to focus on making some blocks for me so I can start my own quilt!

Sewing mojo

Well it hasn't taken me too long this year to get in the mood to get the sewing machine out and get creative (plus there was a necessity to get my Quilting Bee blocks in the mail!) so yesterday afternoon I sewed my heart out and made a total of 5 blocks to get in the post - this is a record for me!
So for today I'll show you my HST fun:

My Bee month

My month as part of Bee Europa 2011 was June.
I had hoped to plan out a really thoughtful, creative block for everyone to make and get myself organised plenty of time in advance but that never happened!
It doesn't matter though as a jelly roll plus a braid strip tutorial on Moda = outstanding results!!
Here are some of the strips that have been made - shared photos taken from Flickr.

From Berlinquilter:

From lieblingsdecke:

From amelieswhirlygiggles:

From mighty_crumble:

From espritpatch:

From Elisa Bernarda handmade:

Busy Bee

Today has been a productive day catching up on blocks for one of my bee's - Bee Europa.
I love being part of these bee's as the blocks really challenge me to try new techniques and ideas that otherwise I would not even think about!
Here is May 2011:

Here is July 2011:

 

I was June so more of that to come later!

Sewing!

Still been trying to keep up to date with my sewing bee "Bee Europa 2011".
Here are the blocks from the last couple of months that I have sent out:

March 2011

March 2011

April 2011

A couple from Bee Europa 2010 January that I never got around to posting!!