My Creative Space

I have a few projects on the go at the moment, but I thought that today I should catch up on my Bee blocks. I have been procrastinating about this one because it is an improvisational number and I was a bit worried about running out of fabric. However after picking up some more supplies last weekend, I poured a Margarita this afternoon and set to work. What I like about this block is the complete freedom to do whatever you like, with the only rule being to make the block a minimum size of 8.5 inches. So my contribution was to add a kennel with a Dalmatian inside and put a fanlight above the door. The end result is not particularly wonky except for me forgetting to make the 'lawn' extend between the two structures. I hope it will do!

My Creative Space

It's back to Bee Bold, Bee Brave, Bee Helpful this week and I have made this for Bronwyn,  a '+ and
X' block . I love the simple, yet effective style and working with aqua makes the job even more enjoyable. The only thing I was disappointed with is the points, which could have been more precisely matched, but Bron did say that the quilt police aren't on duty this month, so hopefully this will fit the bill.

My Creative Space

After working on a bigger project (update next week), it's nice to be working on individual blocks again - back to the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild 'Bee Bold, Bee Brave, Bee Helpful' bee.  Lorraine is one of the issuers of fabric goodies this month and she has given us something nice and easy to work with - Kitchen Windows from Elizabeth Hartman's lovely book 'Modern Patchwork'.  Lorraine is working with colours that she normally would not choose and this is what I really enjoy about these Bees, in addition the fun of doing something different each month, you often get to work with colours outside your comfort zone.  I can't imagine that I would ever have picked this combination (although I do like the diamond fabric) but they have come together beautifully.  I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished quilt.

Our Creative Spaces

This week was all about getting out of my comfort zone.  For Lisa's Bee Bold Bee Brave Bee Helpful quilting bee block, she chose an eight pointed star, which filled me with dread as it requires precise matching of points to give maximum effect.  This isn't really my thing and I have been procrastinating about attempting this since receiving the fabric in early November.  However, I was determined that I was going to finish this and give it to Lisa at the last Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild sewing day for 2012.  As I spent most of the day talking and eating, this didn't happen, but the last seam was sewn last night and I posted it off today.

I did need to get the seam ripper out a few times but this was mainly due to using the wrong side of the background fabric (it was quite hard to tell the right side at times) and joining the composite pieces into triangles instead of squares.  But in the end, I got through it and while not perfect, I'm pretty happy with the result and hope Lisa is too.

The lesson here is to be confident in your own abilities.  I will promise myself that next time I am set a challenge, I will jump right in fearlessly.  And carry this through in other areas besides sewing.