The February Crown - Honeypot Bee

This month, in the Honeypot Bee, there was an extra, surprise block. A crown. A very fun block, with many variations possible, and so many of the quilters on the Bee showed off some awesome blocks.

I liked that the block used a technique that was previously used, the half square triangle, and then took it a step further, creating a block with three triangles, two smaller than one. I don't know where I got off in my measurements and/or construction, but while the crown called for a total of 4 of these blocks, I managed to create 8, and then need 5 of them to fill the space of the "body" of the crown. I went with it, and didn't fret too much, although I suspect I will try this block again, to see if I can improve on it.

I dub thee...

I thought the celestial fabric was fun for this block, but the big pieces get too cut up. I like the blues, and the movement in the checker fabric, although if I do try this block again, I will probably make different choices. The learning for this project is not just about doing the sewing, but also choosing the fabrics.  I really like seeing what choices others make as well, so I can see what might and might not work for me.

I also worked on some more pantry jars, but had no luck finding more of the fabric I wanted to use for the background... I'll look some more in different stores, but I do have a backup plan. I also finished up my tiny pinwheel blocks. Why does it take a photo to help you find all the flaws?

pinwheels

I also found another block. Don't even remember what I made it for, but I figured it could go into the pot for this bee quilt, anyway.... and it has pinwheels too!

...and around they go...

Soon we are on to March, and new blocks. Looking forward to it!

Star Kisses Block - Honey Pot Bee

This week's challenge was the Star Kisses block. This block features flying geese, which are made similarly to half square triangles. Instead of matching up two squares, the flying geese are made with a rectangle, which one sews two squares to, diagonally, one at each of the long ends. It ends up being a rectangle with a big triangle in the middles, and two smaller right angle triangles, one on each side of the larger one. It is - and isn't - harder than the half square triangles. Making the geese wan't bad, but getting the points to show as points, but not float too far off the seam is a challenge, but a different challenge than getting all the half square triangle points where they should be.

I picked three fabrics that I liked together, and went to cutting, cutting, cutting. I chose where I would like my paisleys to end up. Not exactly a fussy cut, but definitely not random. As I made the flying geese, I sewed a second, smaller half square triangle from what would have been discarded. Some of the quilters in the bee had done so, and they were very cute.

Mini pinwheels

I knew that the small scale would not make me happy, but I tried them anyway. After all, the bee is a learning challenge, and you can't learn if you don't try. Some of these meet up better than others. My plan is to alternate these pinwheels with a solid color and make to narrow "filler" blocks for the quilt. I feel like these small half square triangles fall into the "waste not, want not" category, but they are definitely not my thing.

Once the geese were made, the construction of the block went along pretty well, and while my block is not perfect, it is certainly recognizable as a star kisses block. I have now made flying geese. Yay, me!

check out those paisleys

On the one hand, I have a fondness for a trellis type design, and I think these blocks would make a very nice over-all design. On the other, I can't say I'm fond of making the flying geese, and I'm not sure I would want to make a whole quilt from them. I suppose they would have gone more quickly and easily if I had not been making the secondary smaller half square triangles, though.

Honey Pot Bee - Where "Someday" Meets "Today"

I'm so glad I decided to join in on the Honey Pot Bee. I've enjoyed stretching my boundaries, even here, barely starting the second month. The blocks for this month are Star Kisses from Living Cloth, a block that incorporates the flying geese pattern, and the Quilter's Pantry from On the Windy Side.

I'm mostly going to be focusing on the jar block today. About 10 years ago, a friend and I were trying to egg each other into quilting. Here is one of the patterns I bought, and collected some fabric for, and then put them in a shoebox tub and there they sat. I kept thinking, I'll make that for my daughter, someday. She'll love it. Some day...

Now that she's 14, I don't think it is quite her style any more. But it is so much fun! I think it's just my style, now.

This month, the Quilter's Pantry block took me right back to that fun little quilt that I never got started on. Then, the sewists who are more on-the-ball than I am, started posting their jar blocks. Oh. My. Goodness!! The variety! The versatility! The cuteness!! I just have to make a Dina's Pantry Quilt. Oh, yes I will!  I've no shortage of novelty fabrics, and I will throw in a few that aren't as they will make great jars as well. I'll stack some, too and.. and... and...

Yeah. This thing just took off. The blocks are easy, almost foolproof, and very easy to modify into a wide variety. I could get going on a production line as long as my lid, shelf and background strips lasted. My biggest problem this week was remembering to put right sides together. Yep, that beginner's issue (and I'm no-where near a beginner, but still...). I even had to pull out the seam ripper.

I got some jar blocks started, and have a few almost finished. (I'm going to have to decide on a shelf height before I put the top rows on) You can see what fun I've been having:

jars on the shelf!

This is only part of the fun. It wouldn't be me without...

To boldly go...

There are more in the pipeline, so to speak, as well.

jars in the works

I want to make some shorter ones to stack. I also need to make at least one to lie on the shelf. Also, a few people were making smaller lids for their jars. While the one I'm making is easier, I think I will do some of those as well. My lids won't all be green, and I have several fabrics I want to use for shelves. I am planning to be consistent with the background fabric though. I  really like that light tone on tone not-quite-white background.

What are my plans for this quilt? Well, I have a little trailer, which has twin-sized bunk beds. A twin sized quilt or two are just what the camper ordered, and if they aren't perfect, they will still be warm and snugly... and therefore, perfect anyway. And great practice for me. Now I have a plan for the other blocks I'm making, too. Win/win for me this month.