Jeanne's Month - December

Hi!

I'm mailing fabrics and instructions today!!!

Below is the insert you will receive in your packet.  I realized I put some links on the instruction sheet that, of course, you won't be able to click on! Duh...

Hi Coast to Coast friends!

Well, I’m finally sending you fabrics for my quilt blocks!  So sorry it’s late and please know that I DO NOT expect you to get these to me in December.  Oh my goodness, no.  If you can get them to me by the end of January that would just be wonderful!

What I’d love:

• 1 or 2 -- 15 ½ inch block(s)  -- I will add sashing later probably

• Block style:  log cabin (regular or slightly wonky) – in the style shown in the inspiration photos below (click on photo to go to original) or go to my post on our blog:  www.coast2coastbee.blogspot.com/2010/11/december-is-my-month.html

• I’d like a little white (I’ve enclosed a little Kona “snow”) in each block, but please not on the outside (I’ll probably be using white for the sashing)

• If you’d like to add any of your own fabrics, please feel free to, but it’s not necessary. 

Final Note:  I think you have enough fabric to do 2 blocks, if you wish to.  That would be awesome!  If you don’t want to do 2 blocks or don’t have enough fabric, would you mind sending bigger scraps back with your completed block?  I bought this fabric about a year ago and am afraid I won’t be able to find everything to finish out the 24 blocks I need. 

Thank you so much. I cannot wait to get your blocks back and see what you’ve come up with.

Sincerely,

Jeanne White
1008 Greenhill Rd.
Bowling Green, KY 42103
(this is a new mailing address)
jeannecwhite@gmail.com

December is my month!

Hello Block Party members!  December is my month...I thought it would never get here and, well, now it just about is and I'm not quite ready.

My husband and I are taking a trip out of the country for a week, so I'm gonna be a little late getting the fabric and instructions to you.  I really meant to try and send it during November (where did this month go???!!!) but that didn't happen.

So...I will return on December 7 and it will take me a couple of days to get everything cut and planned.  I will tell you that this is my inspiration:

So, wonky or not...I love all of these!  

Oh, and...especially since you won't be getting the fabric until the 2nd week of December hopefully, I don't expect you to return them in December.  Anytime in December or January will be great!  

Jeanne White

My month decision

Hey everyone...

After all this year and its problems and how far I (seriously) got behind, I decided it would be unfair to send out block material for me.

I focused all my attention in making sure blocks went out. I realize some of you may be done already, but I thought you might like the blocks to make a pillowcase or something.

Thank you all for your patience. I did enjoy these blocks. It is always fun to learn something new and to see other's choice in fabrics.

Anita

PS...they have all gone out now so please let me know if you don't receive them.

Another block for Bibi

I finished up Bibi's block a couple days ago. Sunday morning, coffee with cream, and quilting - what could be better?

Bibi, I didn't square it up for you for a couple reasons: I didn't have a 9.5" ruler and after the week I had last week, I wasn't sure if I should try to square it up. I was worried I'd take too much off one side. Sorry!

September Houses

Hello Coast to Coast Quilters!

September is my month and I'd like to make a neighborhood quilt with a house block from you. I'm inspired by a house quilt made by my guild. I love how a request for houses turned up mansions, cabins, beach houses and light houses. I can't wait to see what you create!



This is my inspiration quilt.

I'd like the houses to be 10.5" high and any width you care to make it. I've included background fabric and an "inspiration" fabric. This is a fabric I like that you may include in your house in any way you wish. A window, a door, a roof, whatever. Either straight or wonky houses are gratefully accepted. Please use fabric from your stash for the rest of the house. If this is too vague or you need more fabric, just let me know. No need to send any scraps back to me. There are lots of house blocks out there, but here is one and another that only need slight modification to make them 10.5" high. Here is a great collection of wonky houses.



These are some house blocks I've made or already been given for the start of my neighborhood. If you're inspired to make a tree block (also 10.5" tall) or add a tree next to your house for the neighborhood, that would be terrific. However, just a house is terrific as well.

Thanks in advance for your contribution, and I look forward to seeing your creativity! I'll send out the fabric packs this week.

Block for Bibi

I finished up my map of the states for Bibi last night - I love all the little prints she chose for her block. I'll mail it out this week. I look forward to seeing them all together.

By the way, September is my month - I'm getting my thoughts together and I'll mail out and let you know my block wishes soon!

My Map of the States Block

I think it turned out okay.

I am mailing it tomorow!

Bibi’s “Map of the States” block (August)

I couldn’t put it down once I started it!  Here’s your block, Bibi.  I’ll get it in the mail on Wednesday.

July Blocks

I too have sent July's blocks away

I loved making this block (so I made 3!)

and think I will make many more (of many sizes)

to have a pinwheel quilt!

Fantastic!

Susan's July Blocks

August fabric is in the mail! Hope everyone is having a relaxing summer! :)

August Blocks!! Yay!!

Hi, guys! August is my month, and I'm so excited! I'm planning on using the blocks you make for a quilt for my son Jake. I'd love for everyone to do 9.5" Map of the States block. There's a tutorial here. The fabric packages will be going out on Monday. Can't wait to see the finished blocks! Thanks so much!

More blocks for Susan!

I finished these up on Saturday and they are going in today's mail :-)

Meg's Blocks

Late, late late.

And I am sorry! Late is not my style.

If you look at my blog, you can see what I have been up to

(other then moving and starting a new job!).

This is one of my blocks...channeling my encyclopedia set.

And here is my shelf of older books,

special hand-me-downs

from my grandma!

And the fabrics up close!

It is in the mail today Meg!

Susan's July blocks

Here are the blocks I made for Susan this month. I hope you son loves his quilt. Can't wait to see it all put together.

Meg's Childrens Book Section

One day late! I finished one block last night and the other tonight. The color in the blue/green one is off because I photographed it at night, sans flash.

The story on the tilted book (which I wish wasn't floating so much): this is the last bit of fabric left from my niece Alex's quilt - which was the very first quilt I ever made. I used the other leftovers of this fabric in the doll quilt I made her last spring for her 4th birthday, which happened to be about 2 weeks after her sister was born so I wanted her to have something special.

And a bonus shot from my husband of both with my "assistant" napping on the job. He's taken up photography as his hobby and is learning how to use a camera we bought from my brother (a photojounalist by trade).

Meg's June block

Mailed it out June 30, Meg.

July Fabric in the Mail

Hi !
I went to the post office today and mailed everyone their July packages. Enjoy!

Susan

I'm not dead.

Even though it feels like I have been. It's been an insane couple of months. We moved; my grandmother and a close friend passed away, and I had surgery...so yeah..like I said...it's been insane. I'm here, though, and am FINALLY caught up. YAY!! So here's a pic of all the blocks that have now gone postal. So sorry for the delay guys. Please forgive me. :(






Oh! Is everyone's addy the same? 'Cause I thought I had gotten an email awhile back about someone's new address....maybe..maybe not. :P

July

Hi Ladies,

I have July and since it's my son's birth month I let him choose which block we'll be doing. He picked Pinwheels, more specifically Block 2 from ps i quilts quilt a long. Please follow Rachel's instructions, since this is the size block I'm going to go with. I'll be sending 3 different fabrics...2 with a quitar theme and a white Kona. There's will be enough fabric to make 2 blocks and I would love it you would, if you can't do but one that's okay, too. I'll be sending out the envelopes by next wednesday. And if you have any questions please email me:)

Thanks!

Susan

Tracy's April Blocks

Hi girls, it's been quiet on the CtoC Block party. How are you doing with those crazy April blocks? If anyone is having serious "quilters block" regarding these Story People characters, please don't feel bad about it. You can make me a block of postage stamps, or wonky star or anything your little heart desires. Any shape or size is just fine. I have several blocks that are exactly what I was hoping for and I think that improv blocks using the solids would be a perfect compliment the blocks that I have received.


Thanks!!
Tracy

I also started this as a post on flickr.

A message from Meg

Hi ladies! Anita and I have switched months! So I'll be doing June and she will be doing November. I just posted my inspiration mosaic to our flickr pool. Carissa, over at the Common Threads Bee, had a great idea for her month this spring, and I was so green with envy, I'm pulling a page from her book--literally! I'm a librarian, and a bookshelf quilt is a natural choice.

So, here's what we'll do.

I'm going to send everyone a FQ or so of the same background fabric, an ivory solid. What I'm asking you to do is make 12.5" (unfinished) tall bookshelves full of books made with your scraps for the books! Tall, short, fat, thin--use the mosaic for some inspiration. Look at your bookshelves at home, go to the library and the bookstore--all great places to get inspired for this one. You can make several narrow blocks, one big long block--go nuts. These should come together fairly quickly.

If you have no scraps, shame on you! Kidding! Seriously, if you're feeling that your scrap bin is too skimpy for this project, let me know and I will send along some of my own. My hope for this is to wind up with an array of books from all different fabrics, which I will then sash and border in dark brown "shelves".

Packages will be going out in the next day or so, so everyone should have their fabric by the beginning of next week.

Let me know if you have any questions--thanks, ladies!

Input needed!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend!

June is scheduled to be Anita's month but since she's had a hectic year and is still catching up on life, we need to take a vote for June.

Let me know which you prefer:
1. Meg is willing to switch with Anita and we stay on track
2. Everyone gets a catch-up month, we extend the bee an extra month (into January 2011) and Anita now has January as her month.

I am heading out to run some errands but I'll also send an email so please respond to either this post or the email.

Jennifer

Quilting to find a cure for cancer

Hi ladies! This isn't really related to the bee but I thought you might be interested in this...

I am raffling off two quilts as part of my efforts to raise $3500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am trying to help find a cure for blood cancers, and hopefully all cancers. We are *this close* to finding a cure for lymphoma and that cure could lead to a cure for all cancers.

More about this raffle and other details can be found here: http://craftyjennifer.blogspot.com/2010/05/chance-to-win-quilt-and-donate-to-great.html.

Both are lap quilt-sized, with the Land & Sea (blue & green) measuring approx 46" x 52" and the Raspberry Limeade (pink & green) measuring approx 42" x 60". Every $10 donated to this cause gets you 1 raffle entry, and each $50 gets you an additional entry. Example: donate $30, get 3 entries; donate $50, get 6 entries; and donate $100, get 12 entries. Winners for each quilt will be drawn at random August 1st.

Ellen’s blocks

I loved, loved this fabric, Ellen.  Hope you like them.  The one with the white border measures 12.5 x 12.5.  The other is 10 x 10.

Blocks for Ellen

I had fun working with these great fabrics, Ellen! Might have to pick up a few from that collection for myself. Hope these blocks are what you had in mind. I didn't have enough white to border both, hope you don't mind finishing that task. I'll drop them in the mail tomorrow. Enjoy!

FABRIC's here

Woot!

I can't wait to get started!

Fun, fun, fun! Ellen this is gonna be fun!

My Storypeople Inspiration

I went on my guild's annual quilting retreat this week and finished lots of projects, including my Story People block for Tracy. It was way outside my usual box, but fun to stretch. I also made a block with some of the extra bits of color which I'll send along. Hope you can find a home for it!

May Fabric

Hello All (am I doing this right?)
I just wanted to let you know that I am still waiting for some more of my fabric to come in the mail- Chez Moi Boutique by Moda. I had a little and panicked in the middle of the night while I was up with my teething toddler and had to order more! I went with layer cakes and charm packs for ease. April and May are my crazy months with tons of family birthdays and graduations plus gearing up for Farmers Market.
Hope you are all enjoying better weather than us in VT the last couple days. Yesterday we had 6" of snow and there is still some left on the ground now. Yuck!

Tracy's Block

Well, this was certainly something different for me...kinda out of my comfort zone, as I tend to be more structured. So, that just means that it took me several hours to come up with this. I hope you like it. I actually enjoyed creating it. It's not like your tutorial, but I hope it's okay.

Blessings,
Jeanne

March blocks?

Hey Ladies,

I know I haven't received a couple people's blocks yet. And I haven't made my own either!

I was hoping to get the quilt put together over the next month or so. It would be great if I could have all the March blocks back by the end of April. If you can't make it by the end of April, let me know.

Shari, I've seen yours posted here and on the Flickr but they never made it to my mailbox!

Here are some smaller groupings of the blocks I've received (please ignore how dirty my carpet is! I have no idea who thought cream colored carpet was a good idea):

Thanks ladies! They all look great. I think I'm going to need to put some sashing between the blocks. What color do you think? Light pink? Ivory?

Jennifer (a.k.a. the slave driver)

Another attempt

I am trying hard Tracy, I really am. But I don't think I am able to do this!

Here is my second attempt:

It is suposed to be a person wtih their pet...

Sigh. I tried. Your blocks will be back in the mail tomorrow am!

Story People Block Tutorial for April

I have an image in my head of a strangely out of proportion soul with either a
funky sun in the sky or balloons or something.
I started randomly with the yellow and blue and sewed them together
thinking this would be part of the body somehow.

Then I added white. I know I want a lot of white space
around the colors.

Next, orange and purple.
Legs, perhaps?

But they need to be curvy, so I placed a larger white piece on top and made sure it extended past the orange by several inches so it would give me the "white space" that I was after.
Then I just cut a curve with my rotary cutter.
I discarded the small piece and took the large curved piece, put the right sides together.
Notice I folded and marked the centers first so the the curve would line up nicely.

Next, pinned the heck out of it, stitched and pressed the seam away from center.

Repeated for the other side and here we have a leg.
(Ignore the red block. I was going somewhere with it, and decided not to.)

Pink and celery.
Repeat for the second leg.

I attached the legs and the "belt" type mid-section

Decided on a turquoise body again, attaching the white.
I will square this all up later.

This is staring to look like what I had in my head.

The red block is back!

And becomes a hat - a triangle hat!
I used the half-square-triangle method here.
Next, added more white and attached it to his body/head.

This bottom could use a little attention.

I cut it, added more white and squared it up.

Next time I have a few minutes I am going to be primarily using my machine to stitch
some wavy arms, a face, and applique a sun or something.
Maybe add a bead or something to the tip of his hat.

I'll post more pics as I get them.

If you are completely not enjoying this and way out of your comfort zone, let me know.
I have some other ideas for the colors that will incorporate nicely with this idea.
This is supposed to be fun so if it is not, make sure you let me know!!!
=)
Tracy