Modern Block Monday - BeeSewcial - Let's Get Comfortable

While January's Linear theme for BeeSewcial was a good challenge, February's theme was a stretch to say the least. Actually, that was the theme -- Stretch! Karen (@capitolaquilter on Instragram) had us design and make blocks in 'denim' colours with neutrals using the Stretch theme. So interesting and so challenging. After the initial relief of realizing that we weren't working in actual denim, I will admit thinking, "What did I get myself into?!" No, I can do this! I think.

Her inspirational photos and instructions were very helpful. I took the organic roots photo as inspiration for my blocks. I started building out one block of organic curving lines. Once it got to about 14" square, I cut it into 2 to make the foundation of both blocks. I added an inset 'jean hole' to break up the negative space on one of the blocks. The blocks didn't turn out like the inspirational photo I started with, but I'm happy with where they went.

One beemate thought they looked like ligaments. Huh. Hadn't even thought of that, but it's true!

To see more of what this bee is up to, check out #beesewcial on Instagram and if you'd like to play along, you can post your blocks to #inspiredbybeesewcial. Come play!

Modern Block Monday - BeeSewcial - Let's Get Linear

Hi all, this is my first bee block for a new bee I joined this year. I'm pretty psyched to be joining the talented women of BeeSewcial. Solid, improv designs according to a theme. Just the creative challenge I am up for! And a six week window for completion is the cherry on top!

Stephanie (@SpontaneousThreads on Instragram) was our Queen Bee for January. She requested deep yellows and neutrals with a pop of hot colour using Let's Get Linear (Line) as the inspiration. Check out her blog post for more information about the direction. Very cool!

We could do two blocks of around 12.5" by 12.5" or one block of 12.5" by 24.5". I thought I'd try the one larger block.

To see more of what this bee is up to, check out #beesewcial on Instagram and if you'd like to play along, you can post your blocks to #inspiredbybeesewcial. Come play!

Purplelicious - A Work In Progress

I promised you more purple and today you are going to get it! Remember the purple improv blocks from a few weeks ago?

I found some more purple scraps from Hard Core and added those into the soup. Some of the purples from Hard Core are warmer and I think that helps. Maybe? I think I have the blocks about where I'd like them and in a layout that I'm liking.

Now, I'm thinking about the border and considering these options:

1) Kona Purple:

2) Kona Eggplant:

3) Kona Tulip:

4) Kona Berry:

5) Kona Dark Violet:

6) Heritage Solids Magenta:

7) Mix of medium value purples:

Decisions, decisions! Which purple do you prefer?

I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network and to W.i.P. Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. Thanks Monika and Lee for hosting such great linkies!

What are you working on this week?

Time For Some Improv

Happy Monday, all! The hubster and I are still recovering from my son's Harry Potter birthday party on Saturday. It went great and we all had a blast, but boy, it was a lot of work. I was amazed at all the great ideas for throwing Harry Potter parties that were available on the Internet -- thank you wonderful, creative Harry Potter birthday party people! To pay my thanks forward, I'll be doing a post in the next day or so on our party to share my templates for other parents.

But first...we posted the winners of the two gift certificates to Mad About Patchwork for OctoberQuest over at TGIFF! Congrats to the winners and thanks to Mad About Patchwork, our hosts and Em @ Sewing by Moonlight for making OctoberQuest happen!

Now...

November is my month for my Don't Worry {Bee} Happy gang. I thought I'd share the instructions here in case anyone else would also like to give this a try.

Test block - 13" ish by 16" ish

Improv block:

1. From the coloured scraps, piece a block improvisationally that is a minimum of 5" on each side and a maximum of 10" on each side. Wonky is good so this section or any of its pieces do not have to be square or rectangular. You can go as simple with the piecing as mine or go more complex with smaller pieces; it's up to you.

2. Once your coloured section is finished, build around the block with the neutrals. Again, wonky is great and you can do whatever you like piecing-wise.

Easy-peasy, right?

Notes for my Beemates: I'd love for you to get to a 16" square, with a minimum of 2" of neutral on each side of the coloured section. That said, I'm not sure that will work with all the packages I sent out and how large you piece the coloured section. For example, for my block above, the coloured section measures approx. 5" by 6.5" and even though I used all of the neutrals I cut for this block, it came to approx. 13" on one side and 16.5" on another. All this to say, please don't worry if you can't get to the 16" square size. Just get as big as you can and I'll add to it when the block comes back. Oh, and you can keep any of the scraps. :)

Many thanks Beemates! I hope you have fun with this block and can't wait to see what you all come up with!