All Caught Up

December block for Elizabeth ready to pop in the mail:

Michelle's house block which I mailed (late) a few days ago:

I believe I am now caught up with posting my blocks to Flickr ;-))

Have I mentioned how much I love this bee?!!!  Looking forward to 2016 and our fourth year!

Dresdens and Bubbles

Thank you dear MCM Bee friends for your block contributions to my two gorgeous quilts I recently finished!

My Dresden quilt from my time as Queen Bee in December, 2014....

and my Bubble Bee quilt from June, 2015....

You can read more details on my blog here including lists of block makers.

Obviously, I could not have made these quilts without you.  I love the thought and time that each of you put into making your blocks for me.  This group is the best and I am so proud to be included.

Hugs,

Rene'

Purple Bubble for Rene'

I finished my purple bubble for Rene' today.  Here she is!

I had fun making this.  I enjoy paper piecing.  There are some really tiny pieces in this baby, and it was no small task to make the block.  Rene' is smart to have us helping her with these, as it would be hard to make these all yourself!  (This was my MO with my challenging blocks a couple months ago.  Thanks, gang, for helping me!)

In the past couple of months, between this project and another one I am working on (the My Small World Quilt Along), it has become very apparent to me that I have an extremely limited stash of low volume fabrics.  I'm going to make it a point to start collecting those a little more.  (Because I do need more stash.  LOL!)

Speaking of stash, I've been trying hard to work from my stash for all my bee blocks so as to use what iI have and to stop hoarding.  I've been doing pretty well with that, so thanks gang!  It was fun to go raid my purple stash for this.  I had more purples, but they were more lavender.  I wanted to stay in the darker purple vein.  I was able to pull from stash and pull from the scrap pile.  Because so many of the pieces were so small, I could really use some small scraps, which was nice.

Sorry I haven't been posting all my blocks when I finish them.  I wasn't thinking!  I'll try to do a catch-up post here soon to summarize my January through June blocks.  Better late than never, right?

Hugs,
Stephanie

P.S.  I love the idea of making a MCM bee quilt (or 12--one for each of us).  I'm in if there's an effort to do it!

Bubble Blocks for June

All the details for June's block are posted on our Flickr group page.  I have selected Aylin's bubble block.  (Her full pattern can be purchased here if you're interested.)  I have emailed each of you a template for one quadrant of one block.  You will need to make four copies to assemble one 12.5" (unfinished) block.

blue bubble block

This is a paper pieced pattern, but I found it goes rather quickly, especially if you chain piece the four quadrants.  This somewhat reduces the number of times you need to get up, press, trim, etc.  I also found that I could stitch a "light" and a "dark" before having to trim...this works until the last few rounds when the lights and darks are side by side.  This should make sense once you are working on your block, but if not, please email me with questions.

A few items to note:

• Make sure your printer is set to actual size.  There isn't a "test" square, but the printed block should measure 6" square.  The paper pieced block is 12.5" unfinished.  Remember to allow a 1/4" seam when trimming.
• I would like a signature block.  I did not mention that on Flickr because I thought that was a given ;-)
• The bubble is easier to recognize when strong colors (within your color selection) are chosen for the darks and that the scrappy lights aren't too dark.  You can use my block as an example of what NOT to do ;-)
• Some of the strips are rather narrow.  I found using a dab from my glue stick helped hold those in place when stitching.

I thank all of you in advance for making this block for me!!!  I know it isn't the fastest one I could have chosen.  Our bee rocks!!!

2015 blocks so far

Before I post about the block I have chosen while Queen Bee, I should share pictures of the MCM Bee blocks I have made so far in 2015.  I must admit to forgetting we have a blog...ooops ;-)

Quilter's choice for Elizabeth

Cake for Carla

Dresden for Cindy

Gorgeous Gertie for Stephanie

Baskets for Carla

Now I'm off to upload my photos to Flickr!  Stay tuned for details on June's block....

Happy 2015!

Happy 2015 to my MCM Bee buddies (and to followers of our blog)!!!  I hope everyone's new year is off to a wonderful start.  My goal this year is to be a more consistent blog publisher and reader.  I must admit I tend to forget we have our own blog and have neglected to post here.

Since our family had a photo shoot over the holidays which included my spiderweb bee quilt, I thought it an appropriate time to post it here.  I did post about my bee quilt over on my blog here in case you missed it.

I can't tell you how much I love my quilt!!!  Well maybe the fact that I took it with me on Christmas vacation gives you an indication ;-)))  I have not been able to get a photograph that shows the true beauty of this quilt.  Even these photos taken by a professional photographer do not do the quilt justice.  Maybe I will bring the quilt with me to QuiltCon to show those of you who are going!

You may see these pictures again next year on my Christmas card!

Three Months Worth

So glad we have this blog....just need to remember I can post here ;-)!!!

For Cindy....

spiderweb block

....just need to put in the mail.

For Carla....

juicy fruit churn dash

....hope this is to your liking.  I really don't mind redoing it.

For Linda....

mid-century modern house block

....fun block to make.

Ready for April!