Quilting Bee

Some of you might not know what a quilting bee is...I certainly didn't before I participated in one.

The definition is "where people gather together to make a quilt."
Well, I recently participated in a Virtual Quilting Bee hosted by Amy Smart over at Diary of a Quilter.  So instead of gathering together to learn to make new and different blocks, I just logged onto her blog every two weeks and made a new one from there.  I used a fat quarter set that I already owned for the project, Oh, Deer!  by Moda.


You can still get the fat quarters at a few places, one that I know of is Lily Bella Fabrics.

The Bee just finished the 16th, and final block.  It has been so much fun to participate!!!  Now in a few weeks Amy is gonna come back and tell use how to put the blocks together to make a quilt.  Though I have some idea how it will look because of a previous quilt she made from a different quilt-along.
Here are my blocks:

 Busy, right??  I don't feel like this is what I am drawn to usually, but I kinda love them.  And I think that once I put a solid sashing between the blocks they will calm down a tiny bit.  All of the blocks (unfinished) are 8.5 inches and the quilt will be about 70x70. 

There are three blocks where I used a cream solid (towards the beginning of the bee), but I think I will still use the cream for a sashing - those three may just pop out more.  Then I'm thinking a red and blue for my squares and borders (if we really put it together just like the one Amy made).  Thoughts???


I decided to go back to the same color scheme for my last block that I used in my first block...tie it all in for me:

Block 1

Block 16

 And I had so much fun learning new techniques, like paper piecing (which I talked about in this post):

Block 15 - Paper Piecing

And fussy cutting:

Block 12

Block 6

I just can't believe that its almost over.  It has been so much fun!!

 - Katelyn

Small Blog Meet

After visiting over at Quilter's Hangout, I discovered a really neat link-up called  Small Blog Linkup sponsored by Lily's Quilts.  It is a super spiffy idea where blogs with less than 50 followers can get to know other small bloggers and their blogs!  Check out the link in my right sidebar. 

                                    


 - Katelyn

What is a Mug Rug?

I keep seeing all of these fabulous quilters on Instagram talking about mug rugs...
Turns out a mug rug is like an oversized, quilted coaster.  I have been wanting to make one since...well since I heard of them.  But I hadn't done it.  Till now.  I was tasked to make something with a paper piecing pattern .  Now I had never done that before either, so I needed to practice before pulling out my pricy Oh Deer by moda fabric.

Good thing I did.  I messed up in at least one place and didn't match my seams in a couple others.  but after I cut it down...not so bad.
 

I just pulled from my scraps stash.  I kinda hate the binding, but I couldn't figure out anything else from my stash to use.  The quilting is an echo of the star that extends into the middle.

The back is a vintage sheet I got from a friend. 

The paper piece pattern came from the Virtual Quilting Bee (link on my sidebar) and was created by Lynne Goldsworthy of Lily's Quilts (click to get the pattern).

 I am gonna love using this!

And when I made the block with my moda fabric it turned out fabulously (picture to come)! Practice makes perfect.

I am an Artist

Don’t misunderstand now…I cannot draw.  At all. 

I recently told my mother that I would like to design a fabric line (someday – total pipe dream).  She told me that I would need to learn to draw.  I explained that I have been trying to learn to draw for the past 28 years.  I think its time to move on. 

I am an artist because I create.  I am not sure were it all really started.  My mom tried to teach me to sew when I was little.  It was a no go.  I made a few things, but I just wasn’t interested.  Then when I was 13 years old I began scrapbooking.  I was kinda awful at first, though I thought it was great.  Haha.  I don’t think I’m so bad anymore…though I can always improve.  

I learned to knit my first year in college and then to crochet my first year in graduate school.

Then in the spring of 2011while perusing the (new to me) world of blogs, I discovered quilting.  The quilts were so beautiful and different.  Not your grandma’s quilts.  These were bright and colorful.  I fell in love.  It wasn’t a stretch for me to decide I was gonna learn to do that.  I finished my first quilt in the fall of 2011 and haven’t really stopped since.  Though I am pretty slow at the sewing, ironing, and sewing some more. 

I may create by copying something from someone else:

       

                                                Oh, Fransson!

Or sometimes I try making things myself:

but even though I’m not an artist like most people would consider,  I am learning that, well, that’s what I am.  And I should be proud of that…I might even start to call myself a quilter instead of a beginning quilter (someday). 

Bet you are an artist too!

xxxooo

- Katelyn