Maria of Me and Ma and I are setting up a new Quilting Bee. We were both disappointed to be too late to join in the one organised by Lynne from Lily's Quilts......so we are boldly going ahead with our own.
You may spot some similarities between what we're doing and Lynne's. She has kindly let us plagiarise her hard work........thanks Lynne.
The Bee is to be called Fresh and Funky with an emphasis on modern, fresh quilting using bright fabrics balanced with neutrals and whites. Inspired by the likes of redpepperquilts, jaybirdquilts and of course lilysquilts.
WHAT IS A QUILT BLOCK BEE (and I didn't really know until very recently)? It is a group of people (in this case 15) and each person is assigned a month in which their blocks will be made. That person describes what sort of block(s) they would like made and sends a fabric bundle, to make said blocks, to the fourteen other people in the bee..With me so far ?
When you have completed the block(s) you send them back to the person who's month it is and they make them up into a quilt for themselves.
The next month it all happens again with someone else in the Bee having a turn. At the end of 15 months all members should have enough blocks to complete their quilts.
Easy ! So, if you are interested here are the Rules. There are quite a few, but it just allows you to know what you'd be getting yourself into if you joined up.........
1. Fifteen participants and 15 months. This means that if anyone has to drop out for any reason it would still leave the rest of the group with enough blocks to complete a quilt. If everyone stays in we should all have between 15 and 30 blocks each (depending on how many blocks you ask the bee to make for you).
2. Start by leaving a comment on this post and leave us a link to your blog or flickr page. Let us know your likes and dislikes regarding quilting, e.g. styles, quilts you admire, and the types of blocks that you enjoy making. We will gather more info from each other once we have the final 15. Our preference is for participants with active blogs/flickr accounts. So we can be assured that they will be committed.
3. Once we have the final 15 we will assign a month to each member. This will be done through a Fresh and Funky Flickr group. When it is your month you will post your block requirements/inspirations on the group's page. You will need to send your fabrics to each member of the group so they arrive by this date (make sure you leave time for posting if we end up with international members in the group). Before posting your fabrics post on Flickr mail that you are doing so to make sure everyone is still 'in', saves wasting fabric !
4. You can ask for one block or two and also specify the size of your blocks. Send enough fabric for the blocks you require and state clearly whether members can add fabric from their own stash. Also state whether you would like the leftover scraps sent back or if the member can keep them. Try not to make it too hard work for other members, please do not ask for anything you would not be willing to do yourself. This is something fun for us all and we want to keep it fun.
5. When you are making the blocks you can post 'sneak previews' on the groups flickr page or on your own blog so we can all have a peep. If you are running late or having difficulties completing the blocks in a particular month please let me or Julie, and also the member you are making the blocks for, know.
6. Communication will be key, so keep the group updated via flickr or through blog comments, and post photographs as well. It is nice to see what everyone is doing.
7. You will have until the end of the month to complete and post out finished blocks. Leave a message on flickr when you have posted or if you are running late. Also please leave a comment when you receive the completed blocks and then we all know where we are.
8. If there is anything you don't understand, shout out and we can sort it.
9. Lastly we will miss out December as I'm sure we will all be just too busy. So that means if we start in July (hopefully we will be ready by then)we should be finished by October 2011 !
10.ENJOY !
I hope reading all that has not put you off! If not then go ahead and leave a comment and we'll get back to you.
Once we have the final 15 you can post the Fresh and Funky button on your blog and we will link it to the Flickr group.
Comments please!!
18 comments:
Oh I wish I could join in, but I have SO many bears to do, I can't see and end to them at the moment. Not that I'm complaining! I will watch with interest though, I do love quilts.
Julie Julie Julie, shall I or shan't I?! You know I'm already doing Fresh and Modern Bee 2 but maybe I could do Fresh and Funky too??!! Just a bit worried about the workload so I'll have to have a think. MMmmm.
Ooooh I would LOVE to be involved, but and this is a BIG but, I am extremely new to quilting (as in, my Grandma taught me the basics last year and we prepared a few squares together but have yet to finish it due to our prolonged move and my quilting pieces all being packed up in one of the many boxes waiting to be unpacked when we move) so I have yet to even start, yet alone complete, a quilt. However much I would love to join, I don't want to risk biting off more than I can chew and letting people down. It does sound like an absolutely wonderful group project to do, what a great idea! I hope it goes well for you xx
:) I've signed up under Ma and Me xxx
Hi Cat - good to meet you! I'm really looking forward to getting to know you over the next wee while. Juliex
I've also left a comment at Ma and Me. Hopefully I'm not too late, I'm beginning to really look forward to it.
Hi! I'd be interested in joining the group...just let me know if you have any places left. patchwork_palace@hotmail.co.uk
This sounds like real fun! Please let me know if there are any spaces and when you start as I can't start till end June. My email is on my blog.
I think I left a comment earlier... maybe it didn't get through? my email is on my blog. Thanks !!
I am interested in joining but scared as I have only just started sewing and favour quick results with the aid of a trusty sewing machine. Are the blocks hand sewn and how big are we talking???
Is there still room?
I am really getting into the fresh and funky and would love the opportunity to join this group. Bonnie, http://thescrappybee123.blogspot.com
Hi there!
I am interested in joining your quilting bee. I've thought of starting my own, but if you have room I would love to join. You can find me at makingmorewithless.blogspot.com to see what I'm up to.
Alisa
Thanks for your comment. We actually have all our 15 now. We'll be hanging on to names just in case we have any drop outs. Thanks again. Julie
Just in case you need anotehr one and if you want Germany, too? I'm already waiting for a chance to join a quilting bee, and fresh and funky ist what I like to do. So, if you choose me, I will be very happy about it. Here are my links:
http://sternwerfer.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sternwerfer/
I want to join! I've been wanting to join a bee for sometime, and I would LOVE to join this one, it seems right up my alley! I want to learn new techniques and make something for other people. I enjoy fresh and funky.
My website is: http://www.wambers-whimsies.blogspot.com
My flickr is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wambers-whimsies/
Amber
Thanks so much for asking - but we are completely full. I will keep a note of your name in case we have people dropping out - I don't think that's likely tho'. Very sorry, have just updated the flickr thread so that people will know we are full. juliex
Do you already have 15? I would be interested in joining. I have a blog and a flickr account. I'm thebossyquilter on flickr, and my blog is www dot thebossyquilter dot blogspot dot com. Let me know if you're already full, but it looks great. Thanks!
Jessica
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