Friday, November 30, 2018

Tu-Na Quilts: A Paper Crane for Hive 4

Here's a beautiful pink paper crane for Katy in Hive 4.

This block is 11.5" unfinished. Katy asked for a pink crane and a white or white on white background. Isn't it cute?

You can find Katy's post tutorial here and the paper crane templates here. This block was easy to sew and came together quickly. It took me a couple of hours to complete it. However, it took me all month to pick out the fabric! The print looks like a maze or puzzle. Life is kind of like that at times.

This block will be on it's way to Katy tomorrow along with lots of good wishes and prayers for her mom and for Katy, too.

What I Learned Today:
  1. Teaching a paper piecing class is exhausting. I'm hoping my class members get their homework assignment done in time for class next week.
  2. I love to paper piece!!!
  3. I want to make more origami crane blocks.
  4. I took this block to my paper piecing class today and the class members recognized it as an origami crane. I was impressed!
Question: Have you ever done origami? Years ago, I taught a second grade class how to fold a paper crane that looked very much like the one in the block. It was fun but was definitely a very difficult concept for some of those second graders to grasp; I must have had the patience of a saint!

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

If you'd like to read more about me or read about my adventures and misadventures in quilting, traveling, and cooking, please visit my blog, Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats. You're welcome to join my reading family by subscribing to follow me using one of the three ways: Wordpress, Bloglovin, or email found on my sidebar on my blog (if viewing on a mobile phone, just keep on scrolling down).


Crane for Katy

And one more crane block for Katy...I popped it in the mail at the beginning of last week, so hopefully it arrives soon!


Meredith

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Hive 1 Block for Jo


Hi Jo,

Applique is not one of my better techniques.  However after 2 failed attempts I decided that since you said that you would be fine with doing the stitching I would just "get 'er done".

Here is a Christmas stag to add to your quilt.

It will be in the mail for you this evening and I hope that it reaches you without delay (unlike a lot of the mail deliveries that I have been waiting for).  LOL



I have really enjoyed working on all the different blocks and look forward to having some more free time after the holidays to work on my own projects.

Thank you,

Sherry V.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Hive 1 Blocck for Jo

Jo, here is your block which you need to finish.  Sorry it took so long.  I need to make a New Year’s resolution to quit procrastinating!  Hope your quilt turns out as good as I think it will.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Final post of 2018 for me in Hive 4

We did it!

This has been a great year in Stash Bee, and I am so lucky to have been able to participate.  It's wonderful to connect with people all over the world through quilting.



What a wonderful way to celebrate and support your mom, Katy!  I look forward to seeing the completed quilt.

All my best to everyone in this holiday season.

Holiday appliqué for Jo


This little guy is unstitched, but on his way!  I rounded all the corners in an effort to make it easy to blanket stitch around.

Merry Christmas!

Friday, November 23, 2018

Angel Block for Katy

Since our hive completed our year, we were asked if any of us could make blocks for Katy.   It's my pleasure to add blocks for her mom's healing quilt.

These are paper pieced and go together quite easily.



I sent these a while ago so I'm sure they have been received.

If I didn't have so many projects going on, I would most certainly make more for myself - someday....

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Hive 4 crane for Katy

I really love the crane, and hope that all the well wishing and love that us encompassed in our blocks will give your mom strength and hope.
And although I enjoy paper piecing, I had to reconfigure several of my fabric pieces. The night I did this , my mojo was off.
But I live how it turned out.

Monday, November 19, 2018

November Hive for Jo


I finally got the pieces together for this month. No, since you offered, I’m gonna let you do the overstitchng. I’ve only done raw edge and I like a “messier” look than I’ve been seeing, so I’ll let you do what you want =)

I’ve had a great returning year. Thanks to everyone in hive one!  You’re all amazing quilters and I’ve loved learning from each of you!  Merry Christmas!!

Friday, November 16, 2018

A Fun Time

From dithering over the pattern and searching for fabric to curling up with the appliqué work during a recent cold spell, I enjoyed every minute of making this block for you, Jo. I will put it in the mail by Monday.


Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Paper Crane Block - Hive 4, November

I love this block - I love paper piecing and I love the story of the paper cranes. I had fun making it. :) I'm sure your mom will love the quilt. This is on the way to you tomorrow morning. I apologize in advance if it takes a long time to get to you, Canada Post is still experiencing strikes.


November block for Jo!

I wasn't expecting an applique block, but it was fun!! I picked a Christmas candle and I hope you like it Jo! Hopefully it'll be in the mail to you by the end of the week.
It was a fun bee this year--thank you all!
Enjoy the holidays everyone!
Liz

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

November block, Hive 4

This was such a fun pink to make the swan from!  I hope that your mom loves the quilt.


Monday, November 12, 2018

Hive 1 November from Kathie for Jo

Jo, I love your Christmas theme.  I have done very little machine embroidery, so I picked a pattern with very few twists, turns and corners.  I hope you enjoy it.
Kathie L in Allentown

A completed top from Hive 1

I'd like to thank my hive mates for the terrific blocks they made for me this year.  The picture shows them all put together.  By next summer it will be on the bed of a camper at Camp Erin, a camp for kids healing from a bereavement.  This will be sure to bring cheer.  Thanks so much.
Kathie L in Allentown, PA

Sunday, November 11, 2018

Jo’s Christmas Fun Block

I confess, I have added appliqué to a couple of quilts, but not using fusing paper, so this was a first for me, but not the last.  I love the art of this process.  This is not perfect, but I am happy with the result just the same.  I hope you are as well.  This is also another great idea for a future quilt.  Thus the danger of being part of a bee with very talented mates.  I enjoyed this year and am sad it’s a wrap so fast.  Enjoy the holidays everyone!

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Hive 4 crane for Katy


Here is a crane toward your project Katy.  Paper foundation piecing is a struggle for me. A couple of my points are not perfect but I hope this still meets with your approval.  It really is a darker pink than it looks. And obviously I don't know how to edit my phone pictures so you don't see so much of my design wall. 😖
This crane will be flying off to you soon.   

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Holiday Bells for Jo

Jo had such a great idea of letting us pick out a holiday design to appliqué for her but I'll admit, trying to decide was a lot harder than I expected. I finally chose some holiday bells that I hope she likes.  Appliqué isn't something I do very often but it always look nice. I've always preferred using the blanket stitch but I'd never used a contrasting thread before so thanks Jo for giving me the idea to try it!


~ Diana @ Red Delicious Life

Nov block for Jo


Here we are the last month in our great stash bee for the year. I love Jo's idea of the applique blocks, but I have never really done applique. I tried to stitch around some extra scrap fabric with very sad results. So Jo, here are my two Christmas balls on a snowflake back ground. I hope you are able to finish this. I am sorry but I did not want to send you the mess that I would surely make.


Have a wonderful holiday season everyone. See you next year. Happy Sewing, Rose

Monday, November 5, 2018

Stash Bee Hive 4 Finish

Here's to all the wonderful bees in Hive 4.

I requested floating stars back in January.  This is what I did with them.  The sashing is a gray batik and I practiced some simple free motion quilting on it. I injured my shoulder a couple of weeks ago and am only slowly getting back to cutting and sewing.  But I had the binding attached to this quilt  so over the last week I have hand sewn the binding to the back and finished today.
Thank you so much bees.  I love all your colourful stars.  It is my treasure.

Because of my injury I could not get it on my design wall to photograph.  I opened my bedroom windows as much as I could to get these shots as it lay on my bed.


Hive 4 block for Katy



Hi all. Here is Katy’s block for November. I love the story of the thousand paper cranes and read the book in college for children’s literature. Hope you like the happy pink I chose, it makes me smile. 
Happy sewing! So glad we had a great group in our hive this year! 






Pink Cranes for Katy

I love paper piecing.  So I was so excited to get this months block tutorial.  Katy chose Pink Cranes so she can make a quilt for her mom who is fighting a battle with Breast Cancer.  

Hope It all comes together in time for Christmas.  Sending good vibes to your mother as well as this Crane to you!

Happy Holidays to EVERYONE!!!!!

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Hive 7 -

I love sewing.  I don't love blogging.  That's why this post has so many pictures.  I don't think I ever posted these finishes anywhere other than Instagram.  These are the blocks I've sent but may not have posted.

February


March


July

August

September



And finally, the last block of Hive 7 2018 - on its way to a new home!

October


Saturday, November 3, 2018

Stash Bee finish from 2017

Last year was my first time doing any kind of online swap.  I was nervous, so each month, I made a practice block (or two or three) to make sure I got it just right.  I have a LOT of purple scraps, so that's what I used.  As the year wound up and my turn as Queen came around, I hadn't settled on what block I wanted.  I kept staring at my hivemates' blocks on my design wall.


That's when it hit me -- what if everyone made their block for me?  So, here it is.  My 2017 Stash Bee (almost) finish!  Thanks again, everyone from 2017 Hive 2!

flimsy-only on a queen sized bed

quilted, but not yet scalloped & bound



Friday, November 2, 2018

Hive 6-November 2018 Tutorial for Becky-Kaleidoscope

Hello Hive 6.  My Name is Becky and I live in Florida.  This is the first year being in the stash bee and I have never Blogged before! I have been quilting since 1990.  As you all know I had a very busy and difficult year.  I hope you all liked your blocks I sent and again I am sorry they were late.

I have always loved scrappy quilts so I decided on a kaleidoscope quilt.  It is amazing how different fabrics and the way they are laid out can change the entire look of 1 quilt block.

Here of some examples:




I found a pieced pattern on Allpeoplequilt.  Please print triangle pattern from here.

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/quilt-blocks/kaleidoscope-quilt-block


I really like how the circles appear on the quilt by using white and off white for corners.  This is my goal!  Please use each fabric once except on the white or off white corners. I am not picky on the fabrics, please do not use a lot of plain fabrics.

Example of :

Dark Fabrics:
cut 8 triangles

Example of :

Light/Med Fabrics:
cut 8 triangles


Corner Blocks:

 Block 1 :  white on white
Cut 2-  3" Squares-----Cut diagonally for a total of 4 Corner Triangles
 same fabric

Corner Block:

 Block 2 :  off white/light tan
Cut 2 -   3" Squares -----Cut diagonally for a total of 4 Corner Triangles
same fabric




NOTE:  there are 2 different block layouts!


Block 1:  4 Dark Triangles
                4 Light Triangles
                4 Corner Triangles- white on white

When joining the triangles start with Light triangle, and sew 1 dark triangle.
          Press towards the dark triangle. Repeat to make a total of 4 parts.


lay both parts on top of each other butting up seams and sew 1/4" seam



.
Sew together the half block units to make a center unit and press the seam allowances open

Add on white corner squares on top of light fabric.  Triangle is larger.  When 4 corners are added on
trim block to 6.5"    
                                                                                                                  
Block 2:  4 Dark Triangles
                4 Light Triangles
                4 Corner Triangles- off white/ light tan

NOTE: Opposite from block 1-
When joining the triangles start with Dark triangle, and sew 1 light triangle.
          Press towards the dark triangle. Repeat to make a total of 4 parts.

Sew together the half block units to make a center unit and press the seam allowances open.

Add on off white/ light tan corner squares on top of dark triangle.  Triangle is larger.  When 4 corners are added on trim block to 6.5" 






You don't have to sew block 1 and 2 together.  I will be adding 4 together to form a
12" finished block.


Thanks ladies so much!  I can't wait to see all the blocks. 

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Hive 3 November Tutorial - Modern Christmas Tree


Welcome to November!

Hi Stash Bee hive mates! We are we are at the end of our experience together. First of all, I want to say thank you for your grace as I have gone through this past year. We moved this past July and I did not anticipate how much work it would entail, so THANK YOU and I am grateful for you and your patience!

My six year old daughter, Ella Bea and my three year old son, Patrick are ready to celebrate the winter season. Therefore, to get us in the mood, I selected the modern Christmas tree block quilt from the blog, The Diary of a Quilter. The free tutorial is great and easy to follow and I had a great time with this block. I hope it provides some festive fun in your fall quilting. The block took about 30 minutes from cutting to finish, so I also think it will be a quick one to do during this busy season.

Fabric pull- think festive, think Starbucks holiday cups, think anything bright and fun. No pattern is too crazy. I am up for anything you want to throw together! The more (pattern) the merrier in this quilt.  For inspiration- check out #holidaypatchworkforest on Instagram.



The blog is super easy to follow! Please see my pictures below to help you as well. Follow her guidelines as she discusses how to cut the trees. As you can see from the last picture, I did not follow the guidelines so well in terms of seam of allowance. However, the blocks are still beautiful!

https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2015/12/modern-christmas-tree-quilt-block.html

Cutting:


Piecing:




Final:
The pattern completes two blocks, and now you can start your own #holidaypatchworkforest tree quilt! 
Have fun! 
With gratitude, 
Meghan (@megsverde)

2019 Stash Bee Sign Up!



CLICK HERE to access the sign-up form. Hives will be announced at the end of November or early December via email. Anyone not assigned to a hive will be placed on the waiting list in the order that they signed up.

Please review our Rules and Participant Roles & Expectations before signing up. If you have additional questions you can email me (Alanna) here.


Who Can Join?

The bee is open to new and returning members. We will have up to 7 Hives for 2019, which means we can only take 70 people - so sign up early. Returning members still need to sign up each year.

Please note - returning members, you MUST be in good standing with the bee. That means that all of your 2018 blocks must be mailed and received AND you cannot have been late more than twice throughout the year.

Things to Remember

This is a modern bee. That means your hive members can ask for modern blocks, modern techniques, and/or modern fabrics within the scope of the block restrictions. If you prefer more traditional blocks and more traditional fabrics (like reproduction fabrics, civil war prints, etc) then this bee is NOT for you.

This year Stash Bee is being organized by one Canadian (Alanna) and one American (Laura).  Stash Bee is international friendly. ALL HIVES can expect to have a mix of countries, with up to 3-4 hive members from countries other than the U.S.A. 

During the sign-up process, you will be asked if you would like to be assigned to a social media hive. You will have the choice to join a hive that will communicate primarily through Instagram or Facebook.  Don't like or use those platforms? That's okay! You'll be assigned a hive that will stay right here on the blog. 




Hive 4 November Tutorial for Katy- Paper Crane block




Happy November all!  I am so excited to have gotten a place in Stash Bee this year (this is my first year, obviously).  I started quilting about 4 years ago right before I had my first daughter and I had so much fun I made another, and another, and another.  Before I knew it, quilting had become "my thing," and my fabric stash seemed to grow exponentially.  I usually sew during nap time; I purposefully try to run my kids around in the mornings so I can "get a good nap time" where I can quilt without interruption.  My oldest daughter (3) loves to sew with me; she sits on my lap and puts her hands on mine and we sew together.  I love getting to share something that brings me so much joy with her!  This photo below of her peeking through the sewing machine is probably my all time favorite photo of her ever. 




Another thing that makes me happy about quilting is that I am using my grandmother's sewing machine.  She gave it to me about 20 years ago and it sat pretty much unused for years and years.  She passed away a few years ago and I love thinking of her every time I use it.  She was too old to be able to teach me how to use it, so I watched a ton of Youtube videos, read a lot of books from the library, and bombarded anyone I could find who knew how to quilt with questions. So I guess I'm pretty much a self-taught quilter, but I love seeing how each quilt I make gets better and better, and that I can keep learning new techniques so I can challenge myself.  I spend so much of my free time reading quilting blogs and watching quilting videos and looking at pictures of blocks on instagram and drawing free motion quilting designs and oogling gorgeous fabrics online... my husband thinks I have gone insane... but what does he know, anyway?  Haha please tell me I'm not the only insane one here :)

Anyway...
On to my block for this month.   It is a paper-pieced Paper Crane block.  This is actually the block that led me to stash bee in the first place.  The block is one that was used by another member about four years ago and I came across it on Pinterest as I learned about paper piecing.  I wanted it on point, so I added just a little bit to it, after the paper piecing part is all done.  Read on and you will see what I mean.  This is my first tutorial ever, so please have grace, ask questions if something seems unclear, and forgive if I go into way too much detail or have too many pictures or something.  

I am hoping to complete a quilt made from these cranes by Christmas to make a quilt for my mother.  Last November, my mother with diagnosed with breast cancer.  She has had a very long road this year with radiation, surgeries, and chemotherapy.  Now she is about a year out from her diagnosis, and even though the cancer is gone, she has still been dealing with some of the side effects of the medications and radiation.  I have been wanting to make her a quilt all year but with two small kids to run around after my quilting time has been short.  This block seems so appropriate for her-- the legend of the paper cranes is that a person who folds 1,000 paper cranes will have a wish granted.  In recent years the paper crane has come to symbolize healing and hope.  If you want to know more about the legend of paper cranes, there is a great article by National Geographic here: 
https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2015/08/28/how-paper-cranes-became-a-symbol-of-healing-in-japan/

So, as you make this block, please say a prayer for healing and hope for my mother!

For my fabric choices, please choose a "happy" pink.  Since this is a breast cancer quilt, think bubble gum, ballerina, pink Cadillac, rosy cheeks, spring flowers, "girly-girl" pink thoughts.  Choose a single light or medium pink that makes you happy (bonus if you have actual breast cancer fabric you are willing to use!).  I would prefer no solids, and don't be afraid of a print as long as the majority of it is pink.  Using a print makes this pattern really fun!  I would like a white solid or white on white background.  Please stay away from dark burgandys, reds, or too-light pinks.  I would like there to be a little contrast with the white.  


Here's a quick fabric pull; as you can see, lots of fun prints, all will have contrast with white background.  Some of the prints have hints of other colors in there, but the majority is pink.  You don't really need that much pink fabric; One of the scraps I used for my crane started at 11 x 6 and I had fabric left over.  For the white, I used scraps from my stash, so I am not sure exactly the amount you will need.  In addition to what you will need for the paper pieced crane, you will need one white 9x9 square to set the crane on point at the end. 

***For the tutorial below, I used just printer paper.  If you know and would prefer the freezer paper method, feel free to do that instead but I will not explain that here.  

***Also, I am not going to go into a complete explanation of paper piecing, but I believe there are tutorials on Stash bee archive section which will help if you need a refresher.  Or you could check out this fun video tutorial on paper piecing a "storm at sea" block (a different block but gets you the jist of paper piecing).  Its a quick, fun refresher of paper piecing set to music (it's seriously worth a watch if you have a few minutes): 
 https://mypatchwork.wordpress.com/2016/08/14/video-tutorial-storm-at-sea-quilt-block-version-1/



First step:  Print out the template found here: 

When you print out the template, make sure you print at 100%.  

There isn't a really good way to check to make sure you have the right size, so this is how we can check:  The bottom side of A1 should be 2 5/8 inches.  (see photo above).  


Step 2:  Color the pieces that will be pink so you don't get confused later (let's just say I have a little experience in that area...)  The pieces that will be pink are:  A4, A2, B2, B3, C2, D2, D3, E2.

Cut out the shapes on the outside line (the 1/4 inch seem allowance line).  After cutting, crease on every line. 


Step 3:  Pin fabric over the 1 spot.  Then right sides together, pin fabric for the 2 spot.  Be sure to remember to leave a seam allowance over the line so that when you sew on the line you have a seam allowance (again... let's just assume I have experience in this area...)  Also, be sure to have enough fabric that it will cover the entire 2 area when you flip it (lol please learn from my mistakes!)


Front and back before sewing.




Sew on the line in between 1 and 2.  Remember to shorten you stitch length to 1.5 or 2 to make getting the papers out easier.

Lastly, remember to stitch paper and line side up (if the lines aren't face up your crane will be backwards, and it will be harder for you to see where to sew).

Flip your piece up into place.
I always trim next; I will fold down the paper line between the next two sections (in this case section 2 and 3) and trim to a quarter inch.  Then I put the paper flat and then pin the next piece on the correctly trimmed line.  (see photo left).  I don't have a photo of this process so I hope that this explanation makes sense.  If you are confused about this step, I will again refer you to the video tutorial posted above, it is seriously a quick and great video and will show this step in more detail.
Then I repeat the process using the numbers to know what piece to attach next.  (Trim, pin, sew, flip).

Step 4: Trim the edges to the quarter inch seem allowance.




Ta-Da!!  One piece finished!! 

Step 5:  Repeat this process for the other sections.  There should be 5 total.  


Step 6:  Sew the sections together as shown in the photos. 

First the right hand sections, then the bottom left and the middle.  Next, the top left to the bottom left.  And last, the left to the right.

Step 7:  Remove all the paper from the back.  Carefully.  


Step 8:  Remember that 9x9 white square?  Cut it twice on the diagonal. 


Step 9:  Sew a white triangle on the top and another on the bottom.  


Then add the last two triangles to the sides.  And...

Voila!  You're done!  Don't forget to add your prayers and well thoughts for my Momma :)


This block took me about an hour to make, and I stopped to take photos along the way, so hopefully it won't take you too long either. 

I love seeing all these happy cranes, and I can't wait to see them all together in a quilt :)

Thank you in advance for all your cranes and prayers!