Friday, May 31, 2013

The Queen Bee Says

June is my month to be Queen Bee in our Mid-Century Modern Bee. I have to say that I struggled to find just the right block to ask my 12 bee mates to make for me. Thus far in our hive, five of them have had us sewing wonderful, bright, modern blocks that I love! Each of them is going to have a beautiful finished quilt.

For my turn, my frugal German heritage has been fighting for control, demanding that I be prudent and reduce the number of projects on my UFO list! So, instead of asking for a dozen new blocks that I could make into yet another new quilt, I'm asking them to help me finish a UFO.

The UFO I selected is from the Blogger's BOM Quilt Along that ran from September 2011 to September 2012. I blogged about these finished blocks (two made each month) and there they've been waiting ever since.

I'm setting each 8" block into a square or an on-point diamond that's made from Kona White or Kona Ash. "Strawberry Fizz and Lime Pop," the name I've given this quilt, should tell you a lot about the other colors. I'm asking my bee mates to sew blocks with the same two solids and color prints too.

Here's the block they'll make. Unfinished, it measures 9-1/2" wide by 12-1/2" long.

I found the original design here, called Stacked Bricks, but I've modified it for my needs since I want a rectangle-shaped block with Kona White on one side of a print, and Kona Ash on the other.

After cutting a bunch of 1-1/2"-wide strips of the two solids, and 12 different lime and strawberry-colored prints, I sat down at my sewing machine to sew various lengths together. I used the handy tape measurer on my Gidget II sewing table, to cut all the sewn strips between 10-1/2" and 11" long.

I pressed open the seam allowances and then arranged the prints, making sure solid white was on one side and solid ash was on the other.

After sewing them together (by the way, in between sewing strips together, I pieced leaders and enders and put together three 16-patch blocks!) I pressed seam allowances all one direction.

Allowing at least 1/2" of a solid on each end of a print, I trimmed it from this...

...to this - 9-1/2".

Here's a picture of the Stacked Bricks block as a border alongside a Blogger's BOM block I've sewn onto a setting of Kona White. I'm not yet sure if I'll place the border blocks with the gray to the outside...  

...or the white to the outside. Some of the setting blocks will have Kona Ash backgrounds too.

In any case, I'm just as pleased as can be that my Mid-Century Modern Bee-ers are helping me toward a finish! Thank you! Linda

20 comments:

  1. I can't wait to see how you are going to put all these blocks together. In any case, it'll be a lovely quilt.

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  2. I knew you would figure it out! What a perfect idea for a 'border' but with an added flare. I just started cutting some strips for a stacked coins type quilt, and I may just have to steal the two tone idea for the outside LOVE IT!

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  3. Oh, this is going to be fun! I love the stacked bricks with the white and ash sides! Now...lime? Key-lime pie perhaps?

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  4. Very cool to have white on one side & ash on the other!

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  5. Now that's a clever idea! And the colours are so fresh and summery too. Looking forward to seeing this one finished.

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  6. I still love those colors together! Looking forward to seeing the finished quilt.

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  7. Great idea to have some help and finish up a project rather than start a new one. Can't wait to see it finished.

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  8. I have admired this block for a long time. Looking forward to making it. I might have to ask for your background fabrics if I can't find any. Fun colours!

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  9. What a fun quilt. Great idea to let them help push you toward a finish. Win,win!

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  10. Fun idea Linda! Can't wait to get started.

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  11. What a cool idea - white and ash bordering the same bright color strips. This is going to be a cool looking quilt. Can't wait to see it all put together. I too have used my piecing group to help me finish UFOs and it works! They are not sitting in a box hidden in the corner any more.

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  12. Wow i love the colors and the name of your quilt Linda and I think the block you chose for the border will be the finishing touch.

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  13. good idea and your colors are just gorgeous!!!

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  14. Hahaha you made me laugh with your summing up of German heritage with words like frugal and prudent. My husband is Lutheran of German heritage and my family tease him about such things. He wasn't aware of the stereotypes before he met us! I love that you're getting a project finished though. It's going to look so good when it's finished and the bright colours suit your Florida lifestyle.

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  15. What a fun block and a great idea to finish up your UFO! My German heritage must be what makes me use every last scrap of my fabrics!

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  16. I can't wait to see your blocks put together. This BOM is one I am binding.

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  17. You are so smart! I love your colors, your block and your idea especially! My club is trying to finish up UFO's this year and I am thinking I just might have to have a Queen Bee project where we help each other finish up a UFO.

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  18. THis will be a fun adventure--just ordered my ash and will get to it when that arrives. Thanks for the great instructions!

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  19. I'm finally back with grandkids in tow, but we will make a visit to the local quilt shop to find the Kona White. I think what I have is Kona Snow. What a pretty quilt this will make!

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