Simply Solids: A Modern {Bee} - Blocks from May and June

Evening Star for Nikkole:

Simply Woven for Amanda:

Catch-Up and Mustard

Slowly I am digging my way out of the black hole that was March. I don't even know what happened, how I got so busy and far behind on everything. Unfortunately, my bee commitments suffered.

I finished my March block for Stash Bee the evening of the 31st. Jan wanted us to make a block following this tutorial.  It's not evident from the picture, but the block finishes at 17 inches!  I can't wait to see Jan's finished quilt when it all comes together.



Yesterday I finished the March block for Simply Solids.  Charisma wanted an asterisk block, and I ended up loving this block.  The instructions were written without diagrams, so it was a bit confusing when I first read it over.  However, everything began to make complete sense once I followed the step-by-step instructions.  It's rather like turn-by-turn directions instead of using a map.



As it turns out (and I'm still not sure how I managed this), I am the queen bee this month for both Stash Bee and Simply Solids.  I had been looking at different block options for a long time, but all of sudden with April looming, I had to make some final choices.  For Stash Bee,I chose Road to Oklahoma, and for Simply Solids, I chose a paper-pieced Star Block.

Finally, these were my February blocks for both bees, which I never got around to posting about.

Duck Creek Puzzle - February block for Simply Solids

Wonky Star - February block for Stash Bee

Wonky Log Cabin - February block for Stash Bee

Projects for 2013

We really hit the ground running for the new year, so I didn't have time to do a retrospective of 2012.  Rather than dwell on that now, I thought I'd organize my thoughts about sewing commitments and projects for 2013.  Making my mental list, I'm going to say the theme for 2013 is "ambition."

This year, I'm involved in two sewing bees, Stash Bee and Simply Solids Modern: A Modern {Bee}.  I've really enjoyed Stash Bee, and Simply Solids looks to be just as fun, based on the first block assignment for February.

In addition to quilting bees, I love the idea of Block of the Month clubs.  It's like getting a little present every month.  Of course, I've bemoaned in the past how far behind I am on Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery Block of the Month, but forget that, I'm still tempted to sign up for 2013.

I also signed up for not one, but two, online BOMs.  Both clubs are pretty ubiquitous, which speaks for the popularity of the designers.  First off is Sugar Block Club from Stitchery Dickory Dock.  I think what really got me was the little button for the club and the blocks on the button -- so cute.  Next, is Don't Call Me Betsy's Lucky Stars club.

So between these two bees and three BOMs, I think I'm well committed for now. The way I thought I would handle it is to devote one weekend per month powering through these blocks. I'll let you know if that works out.

BUT, it doesn't end there.  There are a bunch of very cool free sewing bees going on right now too.  Very tempting.  If you haven't seen them, there is one from Gen-X Quilters called Sister's Ten Modern Block of the Month.   The second one is from Open Gates Quilts called Blogger Girls Block of the Month.  Finally, Riley Blake Designs is introducing a video BOM on January 14th, called "Things we Love."

My 8-year-old recently picked up on my constant lamentation, "I wish there were 30 hours in a day!"