Sunday, January 31, 2016

Hive 9 Plus Banner Block for Yvonne

Well, YIKES! I didn't intend to cut it quite this fine with my very first block and my very first Stash Bee blog post. I guess real life just does that to us sometimes. I did have a very productive month, with two quilt finishes! And my modern quilt guild  had a special exhibit in a national show, and this is my first month as president of said guild! So lots going on...

I'm really looking forward to this year of Stash Bee block making. I have lots of stash to use up! And I want to push myself to do some new things. And it's always fun to make new friends.

Yvonne's block is one she designed herself, and it's based on half square triangles. I just completed a HST quilt for my nephew-to-be, but that was a much simpler affair. The Plus Banner Block is really beautiful, and it stretched me a bit. Precision piecing does not come naturally to me, so I really have to mind my Ps and Qs. I hope Yvonne is happy. I actually cut fabric for two blocks, but this one took me so long I didn't get around to the second. 



And so to my Q&A...

1. Name: Allison Schnackenberg (aka Savage Pink)

2. Where you live: Fort Lauderdale, FL. We moved here 2 years ago from London, England, where I lived for 28 years.

3. Tell us about your family: I have been with my partner (aka Him Indoors) for 10 years. We have a British Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Billie, she’s 8 years old and we rescued her from a wonderful shelter in London when she was one.

4. Tell us about your pets: See above! And see my Instagram feed for plenty of pictures of Billie.

5. How long have you been quilting? I made my first quilt in 2013. 

6. What crafts do you do other than quilting? Hand embroidery was my first true crafting love. Quilting took over for a while but I’m now working on combining the two. I also enjoy lino cutting & block printing on paper and fabric, crochet, and most things that involve making a mess. Is cooking a craft? I love that as well.

7. Fabric line you want to buy next: I’m really starting to find my voice with quilting and as I do so, I am less interested in fabric lines and more interested in value, hue etc - and of course I’m buying more solids. My exception will probably continue to be Carolyn Friedlander - I find her pattern design truly unique and wonderful to work with.

8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.): I enjoy both machine quilting on my Juki 2010Q, and hand quilting. I’ve tried some longarms at quilt shows and would love to explore this more in the future - but I don’t have the space right now!

9. Where we can find you on social media: on my blog, Savage Pink, Instagram, Flickr, Twitter, Pinterest

10. Favorite book: Impossible to answer! There are too many. Probably something by Charles Bukowski, or maybe Stone Junction by Jim Dodge, or very likely anything by Derek Raymond. 


11. Favorite show to binge watch:  I don’t seem to have the time for TV lately. I generally listen to music (pretty much everything except jazz) or listen to podcasts while working and crafting. When I do watch TV, it’s usually dark stuff like True Detective, Luther, or Sherlock. Unsurprisingly, I like a lot of British shows.

Roll on February... in like, an hour. Ha ha ha!

Hive 7 - January block

Here she is Cyndi! 
Just under the gun. The block was fun to pull together. Enjoyed using little bits and pieces of treasures found in my scrap bins. Hope you like :)

My name is Erika Nickens. I live just north east of Indianapolis, Indiana in Fishers. I am a SAHM of three girls aged 15, 11 and 2. I have been quilting almost a year. It has really given me a great outlet for creativity, productivity and ME time. My main gig can get pretty boring ;). Quilting is my main pastime. In the past I have been a scrapbooker. I enjoy making in general and learning new skills. 

I am currently infatuated with Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics and would love to acquire a FQ bundle of Moda Modern Background Paper.  

I find myself drawn to the aesthetic of modern quilts, but there is comfort in a good old scrap quilt! Since starting, I have only done straight line quilting but my one of my goals for 2016 is to learn to FMQ on my DSM ( check out my quilter lingo). Long arming I hope, in the future. 

Not much of a social media force... 

Books... In a neighborhood book club, but not much reading gets done. If I'm reading, it's either to my two year old or about quilting on the web. 

Recent TV binges include: Jane the Virgin, Call the Midwife, Doc Martin, Empire, and currently flying through Nurse Jackie. 

Hive 7- January block


Here is Cyndi's block for January.  It was a great project to take to our guild sew day!  It was sent awhile ago but it took me a bit to get organized to write my blog 


Name:  Kristen

Where you live:  Rochester NY

Tell us about your family:  3 kids - a son who is a college freshman at PItt, daughter in 10th grade and son in 8th grade 

I am divorced after 23 years of marriage and enjoying my new found freedoms!

Tell us about your pets:  90lb Labradoodle who thinks he is a lapdog

How long have you been quilting?:  Dabbling for about 5 years - have made one for my grandmother and one for each of my kids - I love making minis and have done a few online swaps for those 

What crafts do you do other than quilting?: a bit of knitting, garmet sewing, painting, redoing furniture with paint, various home dec type crafts

Fabric line you want to buy next:  I used to have a children's clothing business so I have a substantial stash to work through - am on a fabric diet until I make a dent in that!  Although a good text or low volume print can always turn my head!

Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.):  i am a bit impatient so I like to rent a long arm at my LQS when I get a top done.  For smaller projects I use my home machine

Where we can find you on social media: Khallagan on Instagram
Kristen Gocker Hallagan on FB
gocksfrocks.blogspot.com was my blog when I had my kids clothing business
I'm on Flickr too - gocksfrocks I think?

Favourite book:  too many to list here - I've led a book group at Barnes and noble for 17 years!  A couple of standouts- anything by Geraldine brooks, city of light, The particular sadness of lemon cake...

Favourite show to binge watch:  I have a few I switch between - I love shows like top chef or master chef, project runway, period dramas like Indian Summers (PBS) or downtown abbey

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Hive 9 January Block



1. Name:  Martina Croom

2. Where you live:  Lille, France

3. Tell us about your family:  3 kids and a husband ;) 

4. Tell us about your pets:  We're about to get a Miniature Schnauzer that we named Ned of the Night's Watch - he's all black :)

5. How long have you been quilting?  I made my first quilt in 2013, so about 3 years. I was garment sewing before   .

6. What crafts do you do other than quilting?  Photography, sewing, fabric dyeing

7. Fabric line you want to buy next:  I am on a no-fabric-buying plan right now. My stash is huge and I need to cut back especially since we will be moving soon. I dye my own fabric so I love buying pfd fabric :p Kaffe Fassett is my all-time favorite though

8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.):  straight line, long arm but no hand sewing. Ever. 

9. Where we can find you on social media: sewliab 

10. Favorite book:  Game of Thrones series, Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter

11. Favorite show to binge watch:  I don't really watch TV


Friday, January 29, 2016

Hive 2 January Block

Talk about leaving this to the last minute. I started the block the day after we got the tutorial and here I am, finishing it off right before the deadline. I've learned something, though....I am not a scrap quilter. I've never ocllected any random scraps- all the leftovers from quilts and cutting down FQs have always been trimmed into ready-to-use precuts, the smallest 1.5" square. I ended up trimming all sorts of cuts down to make these and my hat is off to anyone who can do this kind of block on the regular. You have far more patience than I do. Forgive the photo, I had to take it before I lost the light and will properly press before it goes in the mail.


1. Name:  Miranda

2. Where you live: Taos, New Mexico

3. Tell us about your family: I live on a family property. My father and 4 of his 5 siblings as well as his parents are spread out over 40-50 acres of land sandwiched between one of the largest local rivers and a massive tract of reservation land. Several of my grandfather’s siblings (he has 6) live across or down the river, most of them on large pieces of farmland, and we’re related to roughly 70% of the locals in our area. I live with my parents for the time being, as it’s far too expensive to rent as a single here. I’m a military brat, but we settled when my Dad retired in 2000. 

4. Tell us about your pets: Personally I have 2 budgies name Angelbuns and Zephyr. Angel has never tried quilting with me but I nearly sewed Zephyr into a plush a couple years ago. We have a very large rabbit in the garage- her name is Spackle- and her job is to keep the cat in line. Jet is a bit on the dim side for a cat but she’s a sweetheart. We have a spoiled pickpocket horse whose name is Last Poco Lynx on paper but who we call Lizzie, and the family flock of sheep sometimes appears in our yard. There’s also a heron named Karen who can usually be found on a large rock in the rover below our kitchen.

5. How long have you been quilting? I’ve been quilting for 2.5 years. I was in a car accident in 2013 that cost me my job (sprained wrist = no scooping ice cream for a living) and was stuck at home with no job and no car for several months. Bored, I took to the craft room and Mom’s sewing machine in the hopes that a project larger than a teddy bear would occupy me. It did. And it still does.

6. What crafts do you do other than quilting? Waaaaaayyyy too many. I make stuffed toys, I crochet, I bead and make jewelry, I EPP, I make candy and enrobed truffles, I bake and decorate cakes, and I have an army of houseplants that’s over 50 strong.

7. Fabric line you want to buy next: I’m not big on buying fabric by designers specifically, but I recently got my hands on some of Robert Kaufman’s Effervescence and I need every color it comes in now. 

8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.): Hard to say. I’ve FMQed a couple of baby quilts, but nothing pretty or fancy. I tie a lot of mine, as I like the fluffy quality that lends. I’m going to have several tops long-armed this year by a guild-mate and can’t wait to compare the feel. 

9. Where we can find you on social media: Tumblr (Not always SFW, fandom related) Instagram

10. Favorite book: It’s not really possible to pick JUST one. The Hobbit is always near the top of the list. I’m also incredibly fond of Blood Bones and Butter, How NOT to Travel the World, Cloud Atlas and the entire Naruto series. I read a ton of comics, manga and food/travel writing. 


11. Favorite show to binge watch: Supernatural, Bleach and Dr. Who. Dad and I also like to rematch Star Trek Voyager every couple of years.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Hive 1, Pineapple Block for Alison

1. Name: Cheri

2. Where you live: Spring Hill, TN -- about 30 miles south of Nashville. I'm a southern girl thru & thru :)  The words "y'all", "sweet tea" & "Bless your heart" were rolling off my tongue before I could walk!

3. Tell us about your family: My husband and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this fall. We have 2 boys, ages 15 & 10. We're also blessed to have all of our family (my side & my husband's) within a 30mile radius of our home.

4. Tell us about your pets: One dog, part Bichon Frise part Shih Tzu...so, basically a fur ball :)

5. How long have you been quilting: Almost 6 years.

6. What crafts do you do other than quilting: Mostly I'm in my sewing room- occasionally a little hand embroidary.

7. Fabric line you want to buy next: I'm a sucker for novelty prints!

8. Preferred quilting method: LAQ, I will free motion/straight line if I'm in a time crunch, or it's a small project.

9. Where can we find you on social media: IG @ cheriquilts / Facebook

10. Favorite book: If I were stranded on an island with only one book, I would choose my bible. If we're talking fiction, Harry Potter..

11. Favorite show to binge watch: Bones


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Hive 7 - January Block

Here is Cyndi's block for January.  It was a great block to make, but I had to dig deep for the the right colours.




Name:  Anja

Where you live:  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

Tell us about your family:  I have a sister and a brother and a nephew.

Tell us about your pets:  None

How long have you been quilting?:  I've been quilting since 2003 when I took a class to make a quilt for my nephew's birthday.

What crafts do you do other than quilting?:  A little bit of knitting and crocheting.

Fabric line you want to buy next:  There are a lot of great fabrics out there, most of which my LQS does not carry, so it's hard to choose.  I have a goal to use all 303 Kona colours, so I have been picking up different colours to achieve that goal.

Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.):  I prefer piecing.  I purchased a second-hand long arm last year, so am having fun learning how to use it.

Where we can find you on social media:  @AnjaChats on Twitter; @AnjaQuilts on Instagram; and my blog: anjaquilts.blogspot.ca

Favourite book:  James Patterson:  Alex Cross series and Women's Murder Club series

Favourite show to binge watch:  The Big Bang Theory and Downton Abbey


January Block For Audrey

1. Name: 
Hannah 
2. Where you live: 
Manchester, England
3. Tell us about your family: 
I feel far too young for children. I am 23, and not a real adult yet...
4. Tell us about your pets: 
My old housemates had rats, a mother daughter duo called Peggy and Luanne. Named after characters from King of the Hill. I miss them so much!
5. How long have you been quilting? 
Three years. Just about.
6. What crafts do you do other than quilting? 
I love knitting, and sometimes I sew clothes or tote bags. I am a printmaker, and I love to draw! 
7. Fabric line you want to buy next: 
Cotton+Steel Remix. The Lazy Day Sloth fabric!
8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.): 
I like the quickness of stippling, but I like the look of matchstick quilting, or linear quilting.
9. Where we can find you on social media:  
10. Favorite book: 
Hmm. I really loved The Secret History by Donna Tart. But, I am really loving Harry Potter too, my current read!
11. Favorite show to binge watch: 
This is embarrassing maybe, but my recent guilty pleasure is Dance Mom's. It's fabulous. 

Hello there, wow it has been a busy day. But, yes, I have made and posted the quilt block. Phew! 

Here it is in all its glory! I had to do a test piece, which did not go to well, but it was because of my wonky cutting. But it made me be super careful for the real one, and I think it came out pretty good! I used some navy for the crosses, and the some fish fabric for the rest. I like the way the fish fabric creates a sense of movement! Audrey, I hope you like it!


Hive 6 Block for Sylvia

Hi Everbody,
My name is Helen and I blog at http://midgetgemquilts.blogspot.co.uk/. This is my second year in Stash Bee, and I enjoyed it so much I came back for another year. And this is my second time making the Molli Sparkles Union Jack Blocks for Stash Bee. And here they are.


I live in Northern Ireland and the Union Jack is our official flag, or as we call it here "fleg". We do however, have a complicated relationship with the flag. In a nutshell, we have my fleg, your fleg and our fleg. N Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and as such the Union Jack is the national flag. Those who are content with that are happy enough. However those who would prefer N Ireland to leave the UK and be united with the rest of Ireland, prefer the Irish flag, the Tricolour.

So we have an overabundance of flags here, and this can creates problems. Every Saturday afternoon there is a flag protest at the City Hall in Belfast by those who wish to keep the Union Jack. This amazes the tourists, though some days the tourists snap, snap, snapping outnumber the protestors. And one thing for certain, as the protestors dwindle, the Union Jack attached to the gates gets bigger! At least the flag makers are doing well!

When the fleg protestors are finished, the goths are usually hanging around and the gospel singers and preachers are lined up to take their turn. Why would I want to live any where else?

Anyhow, it was fun to revisit these blocks. It finally clicked with my dumb brain how to flip 180 degrees. This time any mistakes were just because I sewed the wrong bits together. The actual process worked like a dream. As Sylvia's husband is British expat I included a little something for him. I hope he enjoys the chocolate.

Now to tell you a little more about me.
I'm Helen, I seem to have simultaneously been married for a blink of an eye, yet also a lifetime. We have three adult children, one in the US, one in England and one who went away, came home and is in the process of moving out again. I'm also lucky that one of my sons' partner is very creative and a great knitter, so lots of common connections there. My first love was knitting and she has prompted me to knit again. I grew up with a family who knitted and sewed and read.  I first took up patchwork and quilting in the early 1990s and enjoyed it at the time. I felt a bit stifled though by traditional quilting and moved onto other things. Mostly scrapbooking. A couple of years ago I started reading blogs and, you know what? The sewing thing started all over again. And in between times I like to read, bake and work in the garden.

So enough about me. Nice to meet you and look forward to getting to know everybody better over the next few months.

Helen x

Monday, January 25, 2016

Hive 9 Block for Yvonne

HI Hive 9!  Here is my block for Yvonne - hope you like it!  What should have been a very easy block ended up testing my seam ripper many, many times!  My dyslexia gets the best of me sometimes!  However, I have a lovely seam ripper and we are quite close and it's all set and ready to send.  Anxious to see this all together - it's a neat block.


Now for the questions!
1. Name:  Debbie Grosskopf

2. Where you live:  I live in Houston, TX

3. Tell us about your family:  My husband and I have been married almost 32 years - yikes!  Where has the time gone?  We have 3 adult kids - my son is 29 and gainfully employed, my daughters are 27 in law school at SMU and 21 in her first Senior year at Texas A&M - there will be another....

4. Tell us about your pets:  Pets.....I have a 10 year old Yorkie and a 15 year old Sheltie.  My son has a 10 month old rescue AmStaff and my youngest has a 1 year old rescue Shepard, Lab, Dane - whatever mix.  He is a Tri-paw.  I mention them because I OFTEN have my grand-puppies to help out my kids and because, let's be honest, I love them so much.  We go to the dog park all the time when they are here!

5. How long have you been quilting?  Quilting 3 years but I have been sewing since I was about 7.

6. What crafts do you do other than quilting?  I cook, sew, paint, draw, scrapbook, read, hang with my dogs and I am President of the Houston Modern Quilt Guild.  I am also a science tutor.  I am busy.  I don't do housework.

7. Fabric line you want to buy next:  Caraki by Carolyn Freidlander - it is just such great graphic blenders!  I thrown my money freely at Cotton and Steel and Alison Glass, too.  It's a problem.

8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.):  FMQ or long arm - I do not hand sew anything.  Nope.

9. Where we can find you on social media:  Mumziepooh on IG and Flickr and Pinterest.  Debbie Grosskopf on Facebook

10. Favorite book:  Oh I don't know - I read everything.  Anne of Green Gables, Wizard of Oz series, anything by Edward Rutherford, Tracy Chevalier, Jeffrey Archer, Erik Larson....biographies of Presidents and British History.

11. Favorite show to binge watch:  Gilmore Girls, Gray's Anatomy, Once Upon a Time.......more Gilmore Girls.

Hive 8 January Block

For her month, Laura had us make her these great star blocks. They were so easy to make, I decided to make two!

1. Name: Renae

2. Where you live: Northwest Indiana, in a town that borders Lake Michigan. 

3. Tell us about your family: I live with my husband and our daughter(6). Very recently my mom and my nephews
(8 and 3) moved in with us also, so we have a VERY full, often loud, very fun house.

4. Tell us about your pets: A 5 year old Corgi named Roxi and a 7 month old black Pug named Lucy.

5. How long have you been quilting? I started quilting in college and have been quilting for 10 years now.

6. What crafts do you do other than quilting? I like to crochet and knit also, but quilting is my favorite! 

7. Fabric line you want to buy next: I am excited to add Mendocino reprint to my stash! 

8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.): My preferred method is none. I actually hate the quilting part, but if I have to do it myself, I like to straight line quilt

9. Where we can find you on social media: My Instagram is rmicchia. I am really bad about regularly posting to it though.

10. Favorite book:I like lots of different book! My favorite genre is historical romance books.


11. Favorite show to binge watch: I LOVE binge watching! I usually look for something new to watch, I just started watching Z Nation, My favorite is probably Call the Midwife. 



Hive 3 block for Diana

This is my block for Diane . I hope you like it first time I've ever done a wreath .        1. My name is Sandy Nutter.                       2. I live in Boyce Virginia in the blue ridge mountains .                                                 3. I have a husband and on the 28 th we celebrate 30 years of marriage . We have 2 daughters and 3 adorable grand kids        4. I have 2 dogs 3 cats chickens and rabbits we also raise hogs and are very active in FFA and 4 h   My hubby plans on us being self sustainable 😃                          5. I have been sewing since I was a kid but quilting the last 10 years but just started to do swaps and to expand my quilting skills which are a little rusty              6. I also love jewelry making . Making homemade soaps and lotions and scrap booking .                                                    7. My next line of fabric I buy will be Lori holt.                                                         8. I machine quilt I like to do embroidery quilting                                                   9. I have Instagram Pinterest and Facebook.                                              10. I love to read but don't have a favorite.                                                    11. I love to binge watch hallmark murder and  mystery  channel                               

Hive 9 Block for Yvonne



Hi I am super excited to be a part of the stash bee, as it is my first time doing anything like this at all. Here is my January block. 
So here is a little about myself: my name is Kristi Russell.
I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Edmonds, Washington (about 10 miles outside of Seattle). 
I am single, but am close with my family that includes two married sisters, 3 nieces and 1 nephew.  I am even teaching my 5 1/2 year old  and 10 year old nieces how to quilt, they love to free motion.
I do not have any pets.
I have been quilting for seven years.  In the first four years I mainly sewed by hand.  But I have since gotten a wonderful Viking (which I have named Greta). I have been machine piecing and quilting my own quilts.  I am also a member of the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild. 
I don't really do any other crafts.  I did teach myself how to crochet in college for a part I had in a play so I only know how to do two stiches. 
I work at the coolest fabric store, Circa 15 Fabric Studio.  Because of that fact I am surrounded by gorgeous fabric and new fabric all the time.  I am looking forward to Birch's Charlie Harpers Maritime.  I am also in love with Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis which I know is available, but it is my new favorite.
I would still consider myself a newbie at FMQ but I love it. 
You can find my on Instagram @kristiquilts206
My favorite books right now are by Brene Brown, really powerful stuff. 
My favorite show to binge watch is a tough one, I like watching ESPN and then Eureka, Parks and Rec and Leverage.  I also like to just listen to music. 
 
Hope that helps you get to know me a little better.  I have really been enjoying everyone's posts. 
Have a great day and I am excited about February. 

Hive 7 Block for Cyndi

I'm one day late publishing this post... But the block is in the mail!

I love me some half square triangles! So this block was a lot of fun for me.




1.  Name: Andrea

2.  Where you live:  Boca Raton, Florida

3.  Family: My amazing husband of 5 years and our little one-year-old Joel Jr! We have a lot of extended family too that we live close to. It's basically Everybody Loves Raymond here lol.

4.  Pets:  We have 2 dogs- a miniature Dachshund (10) and a Corgi mix (6)

5.  How long have you been quilting:  I learned how to quilt my first year in college when I was introduced to my mother-in-law's friend. I made several visits out to see her and she taught me the wonderful world of rotary cutting and meandering FMQ. That was 10 years ago! 

6.  Other crafts:  Sewing is my favorite but I'll try anything I like on Pinterest.

7.  Fabric line I am drooling over:  Anything by Cotton + Steel

8.  Preferred Quilting Method: Always FMQ. But this year's goal is to learn Big Stitch! 

9.  Social Media:  I'm trying to get away from social media and spend more time with my baby. But, I am on IG @abetkie 

10.  Favorite Book: I'm a sucker for epic novels. My favorite is The Century Trilogy by Ken Follet

11.  Favorite show to binge watch:  Right now the hubby and I are addicted to The Wire. I highly recommend Parenthood, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, The Goldbergs and recently Making a Murdered.

Hive 3 January 2016

Hi Everyone,
 
I am already late with my posting.  I actually completed the blocks more than a week ago, and put them in the mail last week.  Hopefully they will arrive soon.  I enjoyed making the block, and I think a Christmas quilt is an awesome idea!
 
 
 
 
 
Now to answer the questions:
 
1. Name: Bonnie Randell
 
2. Where you live: I live in Newfoundland, an island province on the east coast of Canada.
 
3. Tell us about your family:  I have been married to my wonderful husband for 24 years, we will celebrate our 25th this summer.  We have one fabulous 22 year old daughter.  This past summer she graduated university and is currently working!  Today is her birthday!
 
4. Tell us about your pets: We have one mixed breed dog, Lacey, who has been a great addition to our family!
 
5. How long have you been quilting?  I have been quilting for more than 25 years.  There were many years that I did not do any quilting, but I started again I about 10 years ago. 
 
6. What crafts do you do other than quilting? I have tried most types of crafting over the years, I have always been doing some sore of creating.  At this time, I still cross stitch, embroider, knit, but by far quilting is my passion!
 
7. Fabric line you want to buy next: I am not really into fabric lines, I tend to purchase what I like, and what catches my eye. 
 
8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.): I have been trying to do my own quilting, it is mostly variations of straight line quilting on my machine.  It is my goal this year, to practice more FMQ on my machine.
 
9. Where we can find you on social media:  I am on Facebook as Bonnie Randell and on Instagram as bonnierandell
 
10. Favorite book: This is a hard question..... I am an avid reader, and there are lots of authors that I follow.  I just finished the new book in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series.  I like Sue Grafton, Mary Higgins Clarks, Dean Koontz, Janet Evanovich.... just to name a few.  But I do think that the Harry Potter series was one of my favourite (my daughter and I read them together).
 
11. Favorite show to binge watch:  I was re-watching Grey's Anatomy over Christmas with my daughter, I still love that show.  My hubby and I are binge watching Lost. 
 
This is my 3rd year in stash bee, and I am loving it.  I am currently searching for my March block.  I love to see everyone's work, and am constantly amazed at the talent!
 
Bonnie

January Hive 7 Cyndi's Block

January Block for Cyndi

My main purpose for joining Stash Bee this year is for skill-building, and this block certainly provided the opportunity to do so with matching seams and points! I noticed while making this block that my stash doesn't have a lot of bright colors, at least in the colors that Cyndi chose. Even though this block is scrappy, I wanted it to have a cohesive feel, and for the most part, I think I achieved that, even with using 23 different fabrics!



Name: Mary Ringer

Where I Live: Las Vegas, New Mexico which is the original Las Vegas!

Family: Most of my family lives in either California or Michigan. I have made a surrogate family in New Mexico.

Pets: I have five cats who love to supervise my quilting projects and who will pop up periodically in photos of my work.

How Long Quilting: I've only been quilting a little over a year but long resisted the pull for many years. It was being exposed to modern quilts that made me finally jump into the deep end!

Other Crafts than Quilting: I've been making glass and tile mosaics since 2004. I used to tell people that I quilt in glass when people would ask me if I was a quilter like my mother.

What Fabric Line to Buy Next: I have my eyes on Avantgarde by Katarina Roccella.

Social Media: My blog is http://quiltingisinmyblood.com. On Instagram, I am MRINGER58, and on Pinterest, my screen name is Mary Ringer.

Favorite Book: I love to read and belong to a women's book group. We just finished reading Euphoria by Lily KIng which was a wonderful book, so it is my current favorite.

Favorite Show to Binge Watch: During the spring and summer, I enjoy having Major League Baseball on in the background when I sew. I also like many of the cooking competition shows like Chopped and Top Chef. But since I've become a quilting addict, cooking is a very low priority!

Hive 7 January Block

January Block for Cyndi

What a great block, even though I was a bit intimidated initially -- so many HST to line up !!

1.  Name: Michelle Rees

2.  Where you live:  Kingaroy, Australia , originally from South Africa

3.  Family:  My Hubby and I have been married for a life time, hehehe just kidding, only 16 years and we have three kids, two boys and one girl

4.  Pets:  We have lots of fish, 2 dogs , a 13 year old Jack Russel and a 2 year old Catahoula with epilepsy and one silly cat, an Abbysinian named George. 

5.  How long have you been quilting:  Made my first EPP quilt when I was 13, but lapsed and didnt sew quilts again for about 20 years, I went through a clothing phase, so imagine lots of  flowing skirts. Started quilting again when my oldest was born and made the most awful applique thing, I threaten him with it daily . 

6.  Other crafts:  Pretty much will try everything, except paper crafts. Love cross stitch and crocheting

7.  Fabric line I am drooling over:  I own every single cotton and steel print every printed, I keep buying on destash accounts so I guess that would be it, another favorite is Lizzy House. and did I mention I have tons of hard to find Tula. I have been at this for a while so kinda stocked up.

8.  Preferred Quilting Method: Not really a quilting method, but until recently I loved improv. These days mainly EPP, and will only hand quilt EPP. 

9.  Social Media:  Instagram @mrees2511, pinterest Olebeans

10.  Favorite Book:  I am an avid reader, and have no favorites but I am a big sucker for Young adult literature, and just recently discovered steampunk novels. VERY GEEKY I know

11.  Favorite show to binge watch:  Netflix is a crafters best friend right! I love science fiction, and good old action shows, hate reality TV, omg it sucks ! 

12 Added for FUN. Daytime job I am a vet and stitch something everyday, whether it is furry or fluffy or just fabric, I have wicked sense of humor but a quick temper, so dont be surprised if there are some swwearing when I sew your blocks, my favorite colours are blue and green, love  fussy cutting but really SUCK at it! This is the second year I have done this bee, but one of four this year. I will try to be on time every onth mbut my track record says it might be close. 

So thats me in a nut shell. 
Loved this block ( even though I think there is too much navy, the rest of IG thought it was fine ... go figure!)

Hive Three block for Diana


This was a fun block to do, and I can't wait to see how it comes together! 
Block is heading to you in the mail tomorrow.

My name is Shari Butler. I live in Layton, UT with my husband Dan! We love to be with each other and spending time with family and friends. We are hoping to be adding to our family soon. We have two dogs, a yorkie named Reeses and Cocker Spaniel named Benji. I have been quilting since we have been married, so it started 13 years ago.

I'm a designer so I love to do anything crafty! Painting, water colors, scrapbooking.. you name it. The next fabric line would have to be Little Red or Vintage. I like to send my quilts to a long arm. I love to piece, but not a fan of quilting by hand or machine.

You can find me on all social media using the username: DoohikeyDesigns. My favorite book.... would have to be Twilight or Hunger Games. Or lately I've been reading self help, business books. My favorite show to binge watch is Friends, Gilmore Girls, or Fixer Upper.

Hope you love your block Diana!

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Gate Crashing - Hive 9

Hello All! It's Diana, from Red Delicious Life. Since this was my month to be queen for Hive 3, I decided to crash hive 9 and make a block for Yvonne.


It took a bit of effort to find fabrics in my stash that were close to the colors she wanted but I think these will work. Hope you like it, Yvonne, and it will be out in the mail this week.

Hive 4 - Carmit's January Block

So super early in the month I got cracking, cut all my pieces, got out my real camera to take some action shots, and got this baby pieced. Loved it.



Then I measured it. 14”. No matter how I massaged those seams, the most I could get out of it was 14 ¼”, which wasn’t really going to cut it, was it? <--did you see what I did there?


So in the middle of the month I got cracking, unpicked the whole thing only to realize most of it wasn’t usable, cut out all my pieces again, didn’t even know where my camera was, and got this baby pieced again, right size and all. Loved it.


Then I started writing my blog post and scrolled through to see what everyone else was saying about it. Someone asked if she had gotten it right because it didn’t seem right, and I was just about to tell her that her small triangles were of the wrong fabric. 

So once more I got cracking, unpicked the whole stupid thing except for the nine-patch, cut some more pieces, took no shots at all, and got this baby pieced again, right size and all, right pattern too. Yeah, it’s pretty. Whatever :).


And here’s a little bit about me.
1. Name: Carmit. I have lived less than half my life in the only country where people can correctly pronounce that so don’t feel bad.
2. Where you live: On the outskirts of Munich, Germany, within walking distance of the airport. I can tell the time by the planes that go by. My favourite time of day is A380 o'clock.
3. Tell us about your family: Just me and a man we’ll fondly refer to as the Germ.
4. Tell us about your pets: Schnitzel and Kiwi, sisters of a race we like to call “Tel Aviv Street,” and Sheleg, a gorgeous Albino, also a survivor of the mean Israeli streets. Schnitzel and Kiwi get along great. Sheleg despises them both.
5. How long have you been quilting? Since 2011. I had moved to England, couldn’t work while I was waiting for a visa, so took a sewing class. I made my first quilt (a whole-cloth baby quilt) a few months later. Then I decided to go a bit bigger for the next one.
6. What crafts do you do other than quilting? I occasionally doodle, and I’ve just recently decided to give garment sewing a try. I also spend a stupid amount of time in the kitchen making things from scratch. Have a look at my instagram feed to see a bit of all of this.
7. Fabric line you want to buy next: I don’t as a rule buy fabric lines, but with a gun to my head it would be anything by Allison Glass.
8. Preferred quilting method (FMQ, long arm, hand, etc.): I was mostly straight-line quilting on my Janome Horizon, but I recently bought a longarm, so we’ll see how that goes. At present I am delightfully terrible at it.
9. Where we can find you on social media: @quiltingrainbow on Twitter, @quiltingrainbows on Instagram. I sporadically blog at www.quiltingrainbows.com.
10. Favorite book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. This book has changed my life in countless ways.
11. Favorite show to binge watch: I don’t watch much television (we don’t have one), but every once in a while I get into a show. I just managed to catch up on six seasons of The Good Wife last year (I have a pair of quilts planned based on the art that was hanging in Alicia's office in the first couple of seasons). At the moment I’m binge-watching Suits. Tell me what to watch next!