Save The Bees Update

Jacquelynne Steeves is hosting a Grand Prize Giveaway as a Grand Finale of the Save the Bees BOM. As if it isn't generous enough of her to share this pattern freely with all of us, now you can win more prizes! Hop over to the giveaway post here, and enter your name to win.

I was hoping to have my finished quilt to show you today, but it's not even close to being finished. That's what happens when you have a creative brain with more ideas than the schedule has time for. 

I pin basted the quilt using my favourite tool called the "Kwik Klip" which makes it so easy to put in and close hundreds of basting pins in a short amount of time. 
I was planning to do easy straight line quilting which would have been finished in a jiffy, but I kept getting ideas for custom quilting each block in a different way. 

I quilted in all the seam lines ("stitch-in-the-ditch) around each block and each border. 
Then I outline stitched in some of the blocks around the shapes, like around these hexagon shapes. Next I want to hand quilt about 1/4" inside each hexagon in a brown thread. On the right side of the photo you can see the gold backing fabric. 




Here I am free motion stitching the bee's trail, and then stitched around each leaf and flower petal.

This is how my quilt looks at the moment. 
There are still lots of basting pins in and I want to stitch around the letters to make sure they are permanently fastened to the quilt. 
Then I will fix up the face on the pieced bee block, and plan to add a few more embellishments by hand. I haven't figured out how to quilt the borders yet. Do you have any ideas to share with me?!?  As you can see, I have several more hours of work to do before I get to the binding stage (which is my favourite)!

Save the Bees!

Today is the day for the reveal of Save the Bees! You can read all about it and find out how to get your copy of the free pattern over at Jacquelynne Steeves' blog.
This has been such a fun project to work on. I have enjoyed every step from collecting the fabrics, sewing the blocks using various techniques, and putting the whole top together.




This gold honeycomb fabric is one of my favourites in this quilt. It's called "Bee Creative" by Deb Strain.  It is the fabric that I bought for the large border.




I took this picture while attaching the side honeycomb border because I noticed that during my sewing time I had somehow managed to nick my thumb and two fingers by the knuckles. 
Can you see that?!?
Quilting is a dangerous sport!!
LOL




The hardest part of sewing the inside of the quilt together  was picking which fabrics to use for the HST blocks. I put a dark bumblebee square in the centre instead of a QST block. And I put the QSTs in the centre of the borders (instead of the corners) because I only had a small piece of the white fabric left and due to the vertical lines on the fabric, it would have been challenging to piece together long border pieces. So I used smaller border strips with the HSTs in the middle.
I loved how it was coming together.

This next step involved working with fusible applique, which I haven't done for quite a while so it was a bit of a challenge for me. I felt happy tracing and cutting the letters as the activity felt similar to playing with paper dolls when I was a child.

Here are the steps:
trace the letters onto fusible web, peel off one side of the paper, stick letter to wrong side of fabric, cut out shape following your traced lines, peel off other side of paper (this step was not included on the fusible directions so took me a while to remember!) and lay on the border. Then iron letter to border using a hot iron for 10 seconds. 
Here is my ironing board work surface. I use a mylar non stick pressing sheet so that my iron doesn't get sticky from the fusible. You only get one chance to get each letter attached correctly, and if you screw it up, you have to start the border all over again! So I recommend working slowly and carefully in order to get each letter fused just right. 

And here is my finished quilt top which measures 40.5" x 56.5". I didn't add the last pieced border as the pattern shows, and went with a narrow yellow one instead. I can't wait to get quilting and finish the quilt for the wrap up post in January. I'll be adding some hand and machine quilting, stitching around the letters to make sure they stay put, and adding the antenna to the pieced bee block. Also, I may add another appliqued bee in the borders too. SO FUN!

This month the draw prize giveaway is generously donated by Sarah J. Maxwell. You can win either a fat quarter bundle of Studio 37 fabrics for a US winner or a pattern collection for an International winner (one prize per person per month).  You can enter the draw by leaving a comment below. The draw will made next Sunday Dec. 9th.
The draw is now closed and the winner has been notified.

And be sure to visit all the featured bloggers and enter their draws too!

• The Crafty Quilter
• Podunk Pretties
• The Quilting Nook
• The Sewing Loft
• Flamingo Toes
• Kathy's Quilts (that's me!)
• Freemotion by the River
• A Quilting Life

Hop over Jacquelynne's facebook group Sew Quilty Friends to see other Save the Bees projects being made.
Linking up to Small Quilts and Let's Bee Social.

Save the Bees

Block #4 - Pieced Bee

Are you sewing along with the Save the Bees quiltmakers?!?


Today we are sharing block #4, which is ... a pieced BEE! Hop over to designer Jacquelynne's site to learn how to get your free copy of the instructions - click here.
My bee doesn't have her antennae yet, which will be made from black floss and 2 black buttons.
Of course the BEE block is the star of this quilt and it was sooo fun to sew. It looks like it would be paper pieced, but it's not. The bee is constructed in rows, and while I would describe it as a "challenging" pattern in terms of difficulty, the instructions are excellent and if you follow each step as written, your bee will come out perfectly!

The hardest part is the HST blocks, which stands for "Half Rectangle Triangle". These are tricky for me and although we have made them in previous blocks, I have to read the instructions, complete each step, and then compare my sewn pieces to the diagrams to make sure it looks right. 


Seriously, I put the sewn pieces beside the instructions and look at it several times. It goes against my old quilter's brain to not match up the edges of the pieces before sewing or cutting.
It never looks right to me, but it IS right!!

You can see many more bee blocks on social media (#SaveTheBeesQuilt) and on Jacquelynne's facebook page, where I recently saw this posting. 
Save the Bees!

Save the Bees - Blocks 1 - 4

Here are my 4 blocks on the design wall. It's coming together even better than I had hoped!!
Next month step #5 will show us how to get these blocks sewn together into a quilt top.
I invite you to visit all the featured blogs to see their wonderful bee blocks and to enter the draws on each blog:

• The Crafty Quilter
• Podunk Pretties
• The Quilting Nook
• The Sewing Loft
• Flamingo Toes
• Kathy's Quilts (that's me!)
• Freemotion by the River
• A Quilting Life

The very exciting prize for this month is an assortment of OLFA products! Believe me, you want to win this prize!


The draw is open to international entries and a huge thanks to OLFA for including all quilters in this draw because as we know, international postage is very expensive. The draw will be held at the end of the day on Nov. 11 (one prize per person per month).

To get your name in the draw, scroll to the end of this post, click on the word 'comments' and tell me your favourite OLFA product. I do love their rotary cutters and mats and use them exclusively, but my current favourite is the folding cutting mat. 

OLFA also sent this gift package to the featured bloggers earlier this year and this is how I learned about the folding mat.
Have you tried it? It folds up to be portable and is perfect to take to retreats and classes. When you lay it out flat, you can't see or feel the wavy fold and you have a large cutting mat to use. (No affiliation to OLFA, just a very loyal customer)

***Addendum...
Comment #2 (from a possible 141 comments) was drawn for the OLFA prize which is Cathy of Big Lake Quilter fame. 

I don't think I posted last month's winner for the Aurifil prize. That winner was comment #155 which was Val from Val's Quilting Studio.

Save The Bees Block #3

Save the Bees - block #3

It's time for the reveal of the next block for the Save the Bees quilt.... drum roll please... 
it's bee hive hexies! 
Click here to see Jacquelynne's block and get the instructions. 



There are many ways to sew hexagon blocks, and for this block I used the hand piecing method. I enjoy all types of hand stitching and host a weekly linkup for hand stitchers called "Slow Sunday Stitching".  Because I enjoy it so much, I am always looking for opportunities to incorporate hand work.

Hand piecing the hexagons

These blocks were a delight to piece together! I chose a few golden honey fabrics for my hexies, cut freezer paper templates and ironed them to the back of the fabrics. Then I traced around the freezer paper with an air erasable pen to get my stitching line. 

Then I removed the templates, and with right sides of the hexagons together, I stitched on the drawn lines using a running stitch. It's such a relaxing way to sew the seams together without sewing any Y seams. This photo shows the first 4 hexagons joined together. I finger press the seams as I go along and don't use the iron until they are all sewn together. There are so many bias/stretchy edges that I don't want to risk wonkiness developing at the ironing board!

Appliqueing the hexagons to the base

When all the pieces were connected, I folded under a  1/4" edge all the way around, and thread basted with large stitches. This gives a nice crisp edge to stitch, although you could also use needleturn or other applique methods.
Then I appliqued the whole section of 8 hexagons to the base fabric.

Cutting away fabric from the back of the block

The last step was to remove the excess fabric behind the hexagons. This makes it easier to quilt with one less layer of fabric. But safety is crucial here. My advice is to go slowly and make small cuts, being very careful you only cut the background fabric and not your hexagons! I make a tiny snip and place my finger as a barrier between the backing and the hexagons. When the cut is larger I put my whole hand in there to prevent any accidental cuts.




If you press the seams carefully where the hexagons are joined it will form another tiny hexagon. Here is my block from the back. Those tiny hexie shapes made me smile :)

I am excited to visit the other featured bloggers to see how they made their block this month. It's so fun to see the variety of techniques and fabrics being used in each of the  projects. Here's the line up of blogs to visit: 

• The Crafty Quilter
• Podunk Pretties
• The Quilting Nook
• The Sewing Loft
• Flamingo Toes
• Kathy's Quilts (that's me!)
• Freemotion by the River
• A Quilting Life

Remember to enter the draws being held at each blog when you visit. The terrific prize this month is the Valori Wells collection of Aurifil thread. Everyone knows I adore Aurifil thread and just look at those vibrant colours! If you enter at each blog, you have 8 chances to win one of the thread boxes (one prize per winner). The draw is open to quilters in any country, so be sure to enter before midnight of October 7.
To win my draw for the thread box scroll down to the end of this post and click on "comments". Draw is now closed
Leave me a comment telling me how you feel about hexies. Do you make and collect them? Are you addicted to hexies? Are you trying to resist their charm? Have you made hexie quilts? Do you dislike hexagons? I do like them, but not as much as my friend Debby does - click here to see some of her collection. 

To see even more photos of Save the Bees blocks being made, hop over to Jacquelynne's Facebook Group. 
⬡⬡⬡ Happy Hexieing! ⬡⬡⬡

Save The Bees - my  first 3 blocks on the design wall

Linking up to Design Wall Monday.

Save The Bees BOM

Save the Bees Blocks #1 and #2

Did you enter the draw on yesterday's blog post? Click here if you forgot. We are having so much fun with this project from Jacquelynne Steeves. If you haven't yet, you really must hop over to her site (click here) and watch the video of over 200 versions of Block #1... so amazing! Quilters are just so creative!
The next block pattern will come out at the beginning of October so you have a month to make your block and you can post your photo on the facebook group here.

Linking up to Design Wall Monday over at Small Quilts.

Save The Bees Block #2

The second block pattern for the Save the Bees BOM is being released today. Are you signed up to receive your free pattern? Hop over to Jacquelynne's blog post for all the details.

Here is my version of block #2. You can see I used more of my carefully gathered bee fabrics in this block. I love the cornerstone squares cut from a piece of fabric my friend Debby found. I pieced the border blocks by machine, but the applique was stitched by hand. 
My leaves are very "organic looking", although I think they are a little more uniform than my leaves in block #1. 
I knew from making block #1 that I like the bee's flight trail stitching, so I hand stitched that with black floss. I stitched it a little too close to the seam, but I'm so glad it didn't get cut off when I added the border blocks!

careful orientation to get the angle just right

When you are making your version of this block, make sure you notice the very important link on page 1 of the pattern to take you to the tutorial to make Half Rectangle Triangle units (or click here to read and learn). 

freezer paper templates to trim the block to the exact size

I have never sewn a block like this before so was very interested in Jacquelynne's technique. I carefully followed the directions and my blocks came out perfectly.

If you want to see more wonderful versions of the bee blocks, visit the Facebook group here. And add a photo of your block when it's finished... we love to see all the creative variations!

Be sure to visit the list of featured bloggers and enter the draws to win this month's prize. What can you win? Each blog has a draw to win a copy of the Carpenter's Apprentice pattern (courtesy of EvaPaige Quilt Designs) and the Clearly Perfect Slotted Trimmers (courtesy of New Leaf Stitches). 

Here's the list of featured bloggers:

• The Crafty Quilter
• Podunk Pretties
• The Quilting Nook
• The Sewing Loft
• Flamingo Toes
• Kathy's Quilts (that's me)
• Freemotion by the River
• A Quilting Life

To enter my draw just scroll to the end of this post, click where it says 'comments' and tell me how often you eat honey? Are you a daily user or an infrequent user? Do you put it in your tea? In your baking? On your yogourt, cereal or oatmeal?

There will be one prize per person per month, and the draw will close on September 9th. Congratulations to my draw winner last month who was Suzanne (commenter #19)! 
Good luck to everyone entering this month's draw!

Draw is now closed... the winner is commenter #98 ...congratulations to Anita!

Save the Bees - Revised Block #1

revised block #1

My first block for the Save The Bees project was posted yesterday. I hope you had a chance to visit all the featured bloggers:

• *The Crafty Quilter
• *Podunk Pretties
• *The Quilting Nook
• *The Sewing Loft
• *Freemotion by the River
• *Kathy’s Quilts (that's me!)
• *Flamingo Toes
• *A Quilting Life

Their blocks are so amazing! Two of the bloggers are doing a mini sized version of the quilt, one is using a floral fabric instead of the applique, and there are several variations on how to do applique. We have machine buttonhole stitch, scribble/outline stitch, and hand applique. There is also a wide range of techniques used including using fusibles, templates, freezer paper, and foundations. And for adding in detail, the quilters have used a combination of hand and machine embroidery, and a pigma pen too! So many ideas to inspire creativity!


After visiting all the blogs to see the other versions of block #1, I decided to make 2 changes to my block. 


1) I added the flight trail from the bee using a hand embroidered running stitch. I was hesitant to add that but once I saw the other blocks I decided it was a necessary detail, and I'm happy with how it turned out. 

2) I also widened the black stripes on the bee, making 3 lines of back stitch using black floss, instead of just 1 line.

Ah ... that's better now.
Make sure to leave a comment on yesterday's post to enter the draw.
I sure enjoyed reading all the "bee related" comments. If you didn't receive a reply from me, that's because you are a "no reply blogger". If you want to change that status and be able to receive messages, click here for instructions. 

Save the Bees BOM

Block #1

Block #1 is released today for the new Save The Bees BOM by Jacqueline Steeves. This is such a fun project and I hope you will join us and make your own version of the quilt.
Here is my version of block #1. I have been collecting bee fabrics in anticipation of this project and have used some of my favourites in this block. You can see my fabric collection here.
I pieced the border blocks by machine, but the applique was  stitched by hand, which perhaps explains why the leaves are not very uniform. I'm calling them "organic looking" leaves!

I started the applique by stitching the 4 pieces of the sunflower together. Then I stitched the whole flower to the background fabric. Some swear words may have been said trying to get those curves to be round instead of pointy. The farther away you stand, the better the curves look!

I used all the tips I learned in a class with Becky Goldsmith, such as using tiny applique pins (so the thread doesn't get caught), finger pressing the curves before you stitch, and using a toothpick to turn edges as needed. I did notice that by the time I started stitching the bee, my curves were improving. Maybe my next block will be even better!

The sweet little bee was appliqued and embroidered by hand. I had to give her a little french knot eye. 
Fun fact - do you know that bees have 5 eyes?!? Check it out here. I only gave my bee 1 eye so you have to imagine that there are 4 eyes on the other side of her head! 
I wasn't sure if I wanted to stitch the bee trail because I think it looks great as is, so I'll check out the other blocks (links below) and then decide if I want to add it.

Block #1 in my tomato garden

When you sign up for the BOM, not only will you get the free pattern, but each month you will have a chance to win one of 8 prizes. The prize for August is a copy of the Splendid Sampler book, courtesy of Martingdale! When you visit each of these featured blogs to see their version of block #1, make sure to enter their draw:

• The Crafty Quilter
• Podunk Pretties
• The Quilting Nook
• The Sewing Loft
• Flamingo Toes
• Kathy's Quilts (that's me!)
• Freemotion by the River
• A Quilting Life

Giveaway = Splendid Sampler book, coaster and FQ

To enter my giveaway which includes a copy of the Splendid Sampler book, this bee coaster, and a fat quarter of this cute bee fabric, just scroll down to the bottom of this post, and click on where it says "comments". At the bottom of the list of comments, type your comment in the box and tell me something about bees. Do you know a beekeeper? Have you visited a bee hive? Do you love honey? Do you grow flowers to attract bees in your garden? Are you sewing along with us to make your very own Save the Bees quilt?
The draw closes on August 12 so make you visit all the above blogs before then. Good luck! Draw is now closed - winner is comment #19.

Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the Slow Sunday Stitching party where we celebrate all types of hand stitching including cross stitch, embroidery, hand piecing, knitting, crochet, rug making, english paper piecing, applique, hand quilting, etc. If you are creating something with your hands (not by machine) using needles and threads, we want to see what you're making!

I have been doing lots of hand sewing for the "Save the Bees" BOM which is starting tomorrow. Here are my applique supplies ready to start stitching. I used both the white Bohin chalk pencil and the pink Frixion for marking on different colours of fabric.  

There are several little tiny pieces to applique that are not even as big as my thumb. They were quite fiddly and it was really challenging for me to get the curves to be round and not pointy. 
It was a constant reminder that completion, NOT perfection, is the goal! 

And there was some hand embroidery to do too. You might be able to guess what this is!
I hope you can drop by tomorrow to see how the finished block turned out. I am delighted to be one of the 8 featured bloggers for this BOM - click here to read about who is joining in.

So now it's your turn. What are you hand stitching today?
Link up your blog post below and share your slow progress with us.


   

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