running behind

One blue and white bear paw block...check! I loved piecing this traditional block. Popped it in the mail yesterday. Hope you get it soon, Mary! Can't wait to see your quilt!

More Paws for Mary B

I have to say, this was an incredibly satisfying block to make.  Was it the paws?  (I do like a bear paw block!)  Was it the blue and white?  Was it getting to use my snake skin blue fabric?  Don't know, but I think this was one of my favorites so far.  While LeeAnn had to exercise discipline to not put a red center, it took a significant measure of self control on my part to not chop up the rest of Mary's background fabric and make a second block for me just like it!  But fear not Mary, I resisted the temptation!  Block and remaining background fabric are in the mail.    

Mary's Paws

I've had Mary's Bear Paw block finished for quite some time, but just never took the time to get over here and post it. So I'm sure Mary has seen it by now, and now you can see it, too.


This block was very easy and more fun than I thought it would be. I thought I'd get bored with those triangles, but they went fast and I didn't. Talk about First World Problems! Haha . . .

I also thought I'd give you a glimpse of what my Laurel Leaves quilt is looking like so far.


These are all the blocks I have so far. Note that I have not even pressed or trimmed them yet.

I'm adding an applique border, but my design quandary at the moment is whether or not to add some sort of red solid or red & white pieced border in between the blocks and the outer border, or not. What do you all think?

Paws for Mary B

Hard to believe this is my first Bear's Paw. I know it won't be my last! Thanks for getting me started.

I finished Mary B's block today. This Bear's Paw block was a lot of fun to make. I have never made one before, but I have always wanted to. Thanks, Mary B., for giving us this one!


I decided to use a solid blue, given that it was a fairly traditional block, and it was all I had that looked good with this background fabric. (Much of what I had was too busy.) But I did like how this navy blue fabric had an interesting texture. I thought that added a little interest for you. I hope you like it, Mary B.!

Hope everyone is enjoying as wonderful weather as we are here in Michigan! It sure has been beautiful!

Stephanie (AKA Mama Pea)

Geese!!

Here's Mary's block, which was mailed last month but never posted here.

I am SO grateful for Stephanie's heads-up about cutting carefully and Amanda Jean's mini-tutorial on cutting the pieces using a template.  I am quite sure I would have botched it TERRIBLY without your help.  I also realized part way through that it would work better if two sides of each square were extended so Mary could trim it down.  Hope that helped!

Here are Jackie's geese.

Loved having her tutorial.  Certainly am learning more about paper piecing than I ever anticipated!  Can't wait to start those blue Bear Claws!!!

Mary B.'s March Bear Paws

I was on a roll with finishing the February block (late) for Jackie in the Two's Company Bee

so I decided to keep going and finish Mary B.'s block for March EARLY!

I have to say that Mary B. came up with a brilliant block and color scheme for this two color bee!  I love it and wish I had a quilt out of these same blocks.  AND it was so fun to make too!

 

 

I really can't wait to see Mary B's finished quilt.  This block will go in the mail tomorrow.

Jackie's February Geese

The first thing I did after I returned home from our eight week eight thousand mile trip was to start and finish Jackie's blocks for February.

I needed more red fabric than I brought on the road with me. Thanks for your patience Jackie. They are in the mail today.

Here they are:

Jackie's paper piecing tutorial is wonderful and I followed it step by step.

Now on to Mary's Bear Claws.

 

Bear's Paw for Mary B in March

A little switch from the reds for March! For my block, I'm looking for blues.

I think the bear's paw is one of my favorite patterns--something about a big, mean bear translated into a soft, comfy quilt, which, when it's done, you can say is a "bear hug" when it's wrapped around you.

I've sent the dotty fabric to each of you for the background, and I'm hoping you'll make the paws out of blues in your stash. Scraptastic or a single fabric, I'll love whatever you choose to do. I made a few practice blocks, shown above, to experiment with just some of the ways you can do these, but the possibilities are wide open.

The block is a pattern from the terrific 501 Rotary Cut Blocks by Judy Hopkins. If you like playing around with traditional blocks, with a variety of sizes, this book is a must-have.

Speaking of sizes, this block is a little unusual. Please note that it will end up being 12 3/4" unfinished, 12 1/4" finished.

Any questions, let me know!