Friday 28 October 2016

Finish it Friday - some quilt flimsies using up bee blocks!

In the middle of our holiday we had a few days at home while Maggie, our puppy, was having her neutering operation.  It was a good time to do it, as we had to keep the other two away from her for a few days, in case they would go at her stitches and she was able to keep me company, while I caught up on a few things and not get too bored all on her ownio!

While sorting my stuff to tidy up before my cousin came to visit, I found some stash bee blocks made for me, from stash bee 2014!  I had picked the Spring Blossom quilt block by Charise Creates and didn't really have a plan in mind for them.  As always with Bee's you get unexpected things, sometimes blocks are a little too big or a little too small, or an odd colouring to the other blocks like the navy centre one above.


I had recently bought Amy Gibsons Quilt Block Cookbook with 50 block patterns in it.  Having been a big fan of hers since I learned how to piece blocks on her free Craftsy Class Block of the Month 2012, I knew I was going to really enjoy her book.  The blocks are fun but even better are the 7 layouts she gives for using some of the 50 blocks, to make a not so traditional sampler quilt.  The few pages at the end of the book got me thinking and made buying the whole book so worthwhile.  So I took apart a version of my star crossing block above, in navy and lemon, and used the pieces to frame the flowers.


I managed to get a small cot quilt out of both and really like that the navy in the squares now makes the dark flower centre work!  There are 5 blocks left still, so I had a go at putting them into a flower garden of my own and another of Amy's layouts from the books using columns of colour.


I think I am going to go with the layout from the book below but would like to come back to the garden for another go at it as I think there is something there.  I can complicate designs and sometimes I think simple is best!

Not having gotten around to that one yet, I did revisit the blocks I made in 2012, that were still sitting in a box!  I made the mistake of buying the cheapest fabric I could for my first quilt and not really liking it much, I still liked the blocks but didn't overly love it enough to finish the quilt.  I now only buy fabric I love and try not to think too much on the price (unless its Liberty at 24 a metre!)


Using Amy's celestial layout, I picked the blocks that I thought would work well together and added in a lot of Kona Snow, that I had on hand on a bolt. (I bought a whole bolt of Snow and White and it was the best decision ever as you can get right to making when inspiration strikes!)


At our last branch meeting, I showed my two new finished quilt tops - all from my WIP box and no new blocks needed!


And for the stuff I should have been making?  Finished my Snowflake Shimmer quilt (QAL with Quilting Jet Girl) and there is good chance I will have this finished for Christmas!  Made lots of progress on my round on Erin's Round Robin quilt!  200+ paper pieced sub-units later...


This seemed like a great idea when I first started it.  When I realised how long it would take me, I did think twice but it felt like the right thing for the quilt and I didn't want to let Erin down by doing something not as good so I just had to get on with it!


Nearly there now!


So a bunch of finishes and a lot of work in progress!  Happy Friday everybody!

14 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, the border for the round robin quilt is going to be stunning and you are nearly there! I think the addition of navy works so well with the navy center block you received; great solution. And it's so fun to see your Snowflake Shimmer quilt top pieced. You were really productive!

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  2. They all look good Ruth. Love your bold layout!

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  3. Wow, that boarder is so worth all the hard work...looks fab! Well done!

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  4. What great ways to use up UFO blocks. I like both design ideas for the last of the flower blocks.
    The border is great on Erin's. I did the same thing on Jane's round robin border: a whole lot more paper piecing than I might have done if I had thought it through. :) The end results make it worth it, however.

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  5. You really have stepped up to the plate with Erin's Round Robin quilt. Magnificent.

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  6. The round robin border is looking magnificent Ruth, can't wait to see it all :)
    Sounds like that book was a great purchase, I have several Bee blocks haunting my WIP pile that could do with some inspiration. I really like the plans you have for the last of the flower blocks.

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  7. What a very inspiring post and some beautiful and very creative quilts. I love this trend of new layouts for sampler quilts as the serried rank style has been rather over worked. Erin's border is amazing and a labour of love.

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  8. That border! Thank you so much for your amazing effort on my quilt! I'm in love with the border!

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  9. You have been working hard and have some terrific results. That latticed border is terrific, and so worth the effort. Your remaining flowers look wonderful on long stalks. Have you tried them on a dark background? I remember you used a dark blue background in a quilt at a workshop a year ago or so, and the effect was brilliant.

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  10. You're being productive. That border on the round robin...wow...can't wait to see it finished.

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  11. That paper pieced border is awesome! So crisp and the perfect compliment to the inner sections.

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  12. Wow, you have been busy. It sounds like you have found the perfect way to use up old bee blocks/orphan blocks etc, and it has resulted in some terrific quilts. Your border for the round robin is amazing - and you get extra points for dedication!

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  13. You have great projects in progress. I love the way your using up your old blocks and your pieced border for Erin is amazing! :)

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  14. Wow, you're one productive girl! I like how you didn't give up on those old blocks and gave them new life. I'm a fan of Kona Snow, too -- it's time to invest in a bolt of it! : )

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