Hello 2014!

I am starting the new year with a focus on our Bees Knees blocks!

It is time to do some catching up!

I am nearly done on Lori's bee blocks!

I am a huge fan of Dresden's, so making little

chubby ones out of Bake Sale was just too much fun.

I sent these out to Amy today!

What a fun block to make... even though it made me very

nervous to do "improv" and paper piecing all at the same time!!!

Yesterday I even got a couple of my blocks back in the mail!

One from Trish and here are a couple others that have been mailed to 

me recently...

It's so fun to be getting these back!

 I just need to make the alternate block for them and

it should be ready to put together soon.

Woohoo!

Now, I am ready to start Miss January's 

bee block.

Miss January...

Happy 2014!

Let me  start by wishing everyone a wonderful year - a "best ever" for you and your families.  Good health!  Good fortune!  And more blessings, adventures and joys than a girl could hope for.

January packages are going to be in the hands of the USPS today - Saturday - so you should have them some time later this week.  This is what you'll be receiving...

A charm pack of Moda Bella Solids in No. 98 White.  It was the easiest way to go given what you'll  be making - mostly because I had them on hand.  You'll also receive 22 squares - 5" x 5" - of Flea Market Fancy.  It's more squares than you'll need - and yes, they're bigger than you'll need - but I wanted you to have options and choices.  

Have you seen the video by Miss Thimbleblossoms ~ Camille ~ for the 25 Half-Square-Triangle Blocks?  (Of course you have... I know, it was a silly question.)  It's on YouTube and I'd embed the video here but Blogger is being stubborn.  

25 Half Square Triangle Blocks

There are 25 different blocks and I've randomly assigned each of you two blocks - pictures of your two blocks are included with the fabric kits.  If you can make both blocks, I will love you forever and ever.  But one block is fine.  Really.    

Using your preferred method - draw the line, Triangles on a Roll, Easy Angle, etc. - make at least 16 HTSs that measure 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" to finish at 3" x 3".    

Each block is made with 16 HTSs - how many of each fabric you use is entirely up to you.  Sixteen different prints?  Two each of eight different prints?  Half and half?  So long as each HTS is half-white and half-print, it'll work.

This is Block No. 25.  It was supposed to have 16 different prints but I goofed.  I fixed that before I finished my block.  (Okay, I fixed it after.  I didn't notice it until then.)

What size quilt block do you want your bee partners to make? (Give finished and unfinished measurements, just to be sure.)

The blocks will measure 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" after piecing - to finish at 12" x 12".

Pressing!  Please feel free to press the blocks in the manner you prefer.  Open seams or to one side, both will work for me.  The blocks aren't being joined to each other so I don't have to worry about abutting seams or anything like that.  If you like clipping seams to make them lie flat, that works for me too. 

Can your partners use any of their own stash fabric to use in your quilt block? If so, are there any limitations?

Absolutely!  You're welcome to mix in any other fabrics that you think go with the Flea Market Fancy.  It can be by any designer or fabric company - and yes, the DS Quilts fabrics from JoAnn's would be fine.  

As for limitations, there are a few.  

• Please add only prints.  No solids, please.
• Do not add any "more" of the fabrics already in the kits.
• For each block, please do not add more than 6 HTSs of other fabrics so that the blocks stay "mostly" Flea Market Fancy.

Is there a specific color of thread (white/off white) you want your partners to sew with?

White is preferred - that's what I used.  But cream, light tan or light gray will work just fine.  

Do your partners have to use at least a little bit of every fabric you send or can your partners decide?

I'm not sure how this applies... so let me go with this - no, you do not need to use each fabric at least once.  I simply provided "extra" so you'd have some options.  

Do you have a general theme or is it up to your partners to decide? Are there any specific themes that you do NOT want in your quilt block? Likes/dislikes?

Scrappy?  Is that a theme?  I would ask that you not include any novelty prints... unless it's seriously cute and it goes with the rest of the fabric.  

Will you allow any embellishments on the quilt block (i.e. embroidery, raised items such as yo-yos or fabric origami)?

Nope.  Not this time.  

Can you link us to any flickr or Pinterest photos that you would like us to use as inspiration for your quilt block?

Camille's video.  

If your partners are super motivated and are able to make two blocks out of the fabric you send, would you accept more than one block from your partners?

Absolutely!  You'd be my new best friend.  BFFs!

Do you want your partners to return any leftover larger size scraps to you when they return the completed blocks or can they keep them for their own scrap stash? 

You're welcome to keep what's left.  If you know you'd never use it, then yes, please, send it back.  I'd appreciate it as I'll be making some alternating blocks of some kind of another to finish this.  

What have I forgotten?  I'm sure there's something.  

I remembered... thank you!  

It's that simple - Thank you.  I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this, life had been a little crazy.  But this has been so much fun and even though I got really, really behind there, I have enjoyed making each month's blocks and I look forward to the rest.