Busy at work, busy at home ... so busy that the deadline for this round of the Strip Bee Quilt jumped out at me and I had a bit of a panic when I read everyone's emails on Friday night saying they were ready to post ... how did that happen?!
Just a reminder, there's six of us involved - from all over the UK - who have never met (hoping that might change one day), each adding a 40.5" strip to each others' quilts as they get passed from one quilter to the other. This was my strip - which I passed on to Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts:
Round 2 - I received Fran's @ Patchy Rose strip - stars from a star:
And tonight, I finished adding my strip (Round 3) to Maria's quilt @ sew love to sew which had been to Fran before coming to me. Aren't Maria's houses the greatest?
So, next week, I think I'll be receiving either Julie's @ Mack and Mabel or Sarah's @ Quilt Candy quilt and will have 6 weeks to add my strip ... it's such fun! I can only say that now I've finished - this time yesterday, I wasn't so calm but I only have myself to blame.
We're not supposed to put pressure on ourselves but when I received Maria's strip from Fran, what she had added was so amazing, I just felt I had to 'step-up' and decided I wanted to paper piece either bird or butterfly blocks. Yes, I know - silly woman!
We're not supposed to put pressure on ourselves but when I received Maria's strip from Fran, what she had added was so amazing, I just felt I had to 'step-up' and decided I wanted to paper piece either bird or butterfly blocks. Yes, I know - silly woman!
It's not like I've paper pieced that much before - a couple of square in squares cushions and Pants a Bags so ... SERIOUSLY ... what was I thinking?? I bought this pattern off Craftsy (very reasonable) by Linleys Designs:
and it worked very well but the first block was wayyyyyy too big for the quilt and some of the pieces were so small, I didn't see how I could reduce it in size - that was yesterday morning! So, back to ye old faithful Google Images and I found a couple but they weren't quite what I was looking for. You know what they say about necessity being the mother of invention? I made my own!
We're only supposed to post sneak previews of the strip before passing it on but I don't think Maria will mind if I share with you the ingredients of just one block - I drew my pattern, cut out some templates for the wings and background, sorted through my scraps, paper pieced the wings, unpicked LOTS and made a heck of a mess:
But, it was worth it - all done before dinner tonight and it will be in the mail tomorrow! I have really enjoyed my sewing this weekend - I pushed myself, I found a solution, I had to take my time but I cracked on with it and am really really pleased with how it all ended up - hope Maria will like it! Just need Glinda to wave her wand again and for my sewing room to be tidied!!
Your strip bee sounds like so much fun. Hopefully someday you can meet your bee mates. I'm so glad you had a good weekend. I, too, need to tidy up...again. I just don't know where to start.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see all these strip quilts.
Those butterfly blocks you made look sweet. And here you were thinking since you were pressed for time, you should buy a pattern. Love your version! Those strips are all very cute. I love the yellow and pink together. Can't wait to see more of the progress! Now wave that wand!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun project! It will be great to see it when it's all finished. =)
ReplyDeleteA person either loves paper piecing or hates it ; ) enjoy
ReplyDeleteOh, so impressed and can't wait to see your strip!
ReplyDeleteThey all look fantastic and wow on sorting the paper piecing! But tell me, how do you get the vacuum up the ladder? :-)
ReplyDeleteYou drew your own paper piecing pattern!! I'm so impressed. I would love to be able to do that!!
ReplyDeleteI too have paper pieced one of my blocks (ready drawn that I found online) in the Bee this month, so you're not mad, but I did stop at one. I think it was only good luck that it went together OK and I wasn't going to risk doing any more. I'm loving this Bee so much, I'll be really sad when it's over.
Wow! I feel honoured that you've gone to so much trouble just for me! It looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteYou have Julie's next.
Very excited (as usual) to receive this, it looks intriguing :) I have never paper pieced anything but I can totally imagine the frustration. It will be with me very soon...yay! However, I'm feeling the pressure sightly!!
ReplyDeletethat should be *slightly* ...sorry the 'l' key on my machine is sticking!!
ReplyDelete