Virtual Quilting Bees
June 2, 2010
I am now in 4 virtual quilting bees! One is wrapping up in the next couple of months and I will probably not rejoin so I can spend more time on the other 3 bees and the many projects I need to get started/work on. I also started a virtual quilting bee with my modern quilt guild. I’ve had the chance to make some fun blocks recently using some different techniques so it’s been fun working on all of them. I still need to finish one bee’s May blocks, I am hoping to get them done today so I can get them in the mail because I am late again! I think I will be late less when I am not in so many bees.
In April’s Block Swap bee, Paloma wanted tiny random scraps on a white background. I added a lot of my own fabric scraps, and pieced the blocks improvisationally – one log cabin style, the other just strips. I like the log cabin one better.

The Block Swap April Block 1

The Block Swap April Block 2
The blocks by themselves don’t really look like much, but you can see how the quilt is coming together here.
For the Bee Pieceful bee, I got to make some old fashioned quilt blocks, one is called shoofly and the other is called churn dash. It was interesting to use these classic patterns. I think that they could look very modern depending on the fabric choices.

Bee Pieceful April Block 1

Bee Pieceful April Block 2
For Bee Pieceful May, Andrea wanted wonky stars, which I love to do!

May Bee Pieceful Block 1

May Bee Pieceful Block 2
That’s all I’ve been working on sewing-wise lately. Next post I will show you the blocks I have received from two of my virtual bees. They are gorgeous. I am lucky to be in groups with such talented and creative sewists!
Virtual Quilting Bees
March 29, 2010
I’ve been mostly working on blocks for my assorted virtual quilting bees lately…I just signed up for another! I’m first in the new bee, so I need to figure out what I’m going to send and what kind of blocks I want so I can get the fabric in the mail by April 15th. It’s fun to get the mail when I’m doing bees. I do have a top-secret project in the works, but it will be a long time before anyone gets to see it. But for now here are some of the blocks I have made for others with their fabric in the bees that I am in.

The Block Swap March Block 1

The Block Swap March Block 2

The Block Swap February

Bee Pieceful February Block 1

Bee Pieceful February Block 2
March was my month to get blocks in my Bee Pieceful group. They are amazing! Check them out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/antijamsect/galleries/72157623728515632/
I haven’t gotten blocks back from everyone yet, but the ones that I have received are beautiful. I love what they did with the fabrics I sent.
Indianapolis Modern Quilt Guild
March 23, 2010
We just had our second meeting on Saturday…1 person came. It was pretty disappointing. We had 7 ladies at the first meeting who all seemed very enthusiastic about getting together to sew – and quilt a few new people sign up on the website, so I’m not really sure what happened. I’ve never organized a group before so I am unsure what I am really doing wrong or if this is to be expected. I don’t know what I need to do to keep people interested and active in the group. I am not an entertainer. I cannot sustain interest in this group on my own. When I started this thing, I figured having the forum would be enough to maintain some sort of connection between the group members and a running dialog going with an active message board…I mean, from what I’ve seen in other cities’ guilds that is what is happening. It’s been frustrating.
I found an awesome space in downtown Indianapolis to hold our meetings at the Harrison Center for the Arts – the Harrison Center was very exciting about having us as a group. They are interested in displaying our work in one of their galleries for a First Friday. I was super pumped about this! But at this point I don’t know if we can keep meeting there. It’s 25/hr to rent the space and I can’t keep paying out of pocket hoping people will show up. I didn’t force dues on anyone since it was a new group – I agreed on a pay as you go type of membership so if you come to the meeting, you pay 5 dollars, and your first meeting is free. So our second meeting – one person showed up besides me! We had a good time talking and sewing together, but its a waste to reserve that space every month when no one shows up.
So for April, I am not sure what I am going to do for the next meeting. I’m not doing the Harrison Center. Anyone who runs a group or knows how to get this project back on track please share your ideas with me. I want this group to succeed!
The modern quilt guild
January 20, 2010
Alissa has been working on growing her LA modern quilt guild into a national movement of modern quilt guilds nationwide. She has started a new site to help others start branches in their own city at The Modern Quilt Guild.
I decided I wanted to start an Indianapolis branch – personally, I’d love the opportunity to meet other modern quilters in the area and meet once or twice a month. You can find more information at http://indymqg.ning.com/. I will be posting information on our first meeting soon, and would love to have anyone interested in the Indianapolis area join us. Beginners are welcome!
What is modern quilting? According to The Modern Quilt Guild:
The concept of modern quilting is not meant to divide or segregate. It is meant to welcome new quilters, of all ages, to the world of quilting in a style that they can relate to. In many ways, modern quilting takes us back to the basics of the early quilters, when women of the day used the colors and styles of their time to express themselves creatively.
There are branches starting all over the country, so even if you are not in Indianapolis, check out the member guild links and find one in your area!
All caught up now
January 13, 2010
I feel so relieved. I am finally all caught up with my virtual quilting bees. I joined a second bee that started this month, so now there is two! I am really happy to be all caught up with my original bee, Bee Pieceful.
Here are December’s blocks:

rail fence

looking through a window
January’s – maverick (wonky) star – she sent some fabrics she got in Australia – I was so nervous about making a mistake. I’m so glad I didn’t. I think it looks kind of aboriginal.
My new bee is called The Block Swap and this month’s bee wanted wonky stars as well. I like making them so it was a fun month.

pink

blue
She just sent the center square and the background fabric, so I had to fill in with my own scraps to make the points. The blue one is my favorite.
My month for Bee Pieceful is March, so I need to decide what fabrics I want to send out. I am thinking some 30s-40s reproductions, because these ladies are so talented and I know they would make some really beautiful blocks with that fabric.
Also, if you do not read Handmade by Alissa, she is helping to organize Modern Quilt Guilds in cities all over the country. I volunteered to start one up in Indianapolis, so if you live around here and are interested, please email me at janmadethis at gmail dot com.
Craft Talk
January 11, 2010
I don’t know if you are familiar with Leslie Hall and her magical gem sweaters, but she’s awesome. This song definitely helps crafter’s block! Enjoy!