Bee Splendid in August

Hi All,

Busy little bee over here.  I have been helping to get ready for our big quilt show in October.  Gathering volunteers, making 100's of yoyo, and many other projects, including getting my two quilts ready. 

A little sign doodling.

Last months bee block for Megan Kilb, wonky stars.  Very quick and easy, I may have to make a whole quilt of this block.

I hope you are having a wonderful Labor Day weekend and find some time to sew.

Aunti Nicole

Where to start....

Hello my Dears,

Not too many posts in June as it was a very full month.  Had a couple of business trips with a vacation crammed in between and even 2 funerals.  Quick 2 day business trip to Chandler, AZ then back for a day and 10 hr drive up to Mt Shasta to watch my eldest Nephew Miller graduate from High School.  What a great young man he has turned out to be and I am very proud to be his Aunti.  Here's Dana, Miller and Lou

We had a couple of days to hang with them and my Mom and Dad.  Dana's kids are such a joy and we had a great time.

So then Pete and I made our way to Morro Bay to spend some quiet time.  No that's not Pete and I on the dock, but we didn't do too much more than that for 3 days.  Morro Bay rock was covered in fog for 3 days while we were there...and we loved it.  We sat in the hotel room, which had a fantastic view the fog and read our kindles.  We took walks to eat then came back for more reading and relaxing.  Noice!

The Monday back from vacation I headed up to San Jose for a 3 day trip to work with NASA.  While in San Jose I received news that Pete and my dear friend Ludie passed away.  She was a wonderful lady that Pete and I just adored.

Still in San Jose, I receive the news that my darling Gramma Vi passed away.  I am so thankful to God for taking her from her pain, for giving her such a rich life with family and also for allowing me to have such a great relationship with her.  Oh how she loved her kids 6, grandkids 22 and great grandkids 12.  What a treasure she has been and will always be to me.

Picture of her and my Dad, Leon Jr. aka Buddy.





So needless to say, not a whole lot of sewing this month.  I did get my Bee Splendid blocks in the mail to Tracey before June was over.

Challenge was 2 - 12 1/2" blocks using HSTs.  She provided the fabric.   I like the way they came out and am looking forward to what the rest of the group comes up with.

I have 3 days to sew and no other plans, except to catch up on my blog maybe.  Maybe a couple of movies... but thats it!   Oh and maybe reading a book...but thats all I'm going to do...and a zentangle...  oh drat thats how it all happens.






Hope you all get to spend time with family and quilt this long weekend.

Love to you all,

Aunti Nicole

Bee Splendid in April

April's Bee Splendid challenge was a strip quilt.  We were each given a large piece of Kona Red and Kona Snow and 48x6 finished size requirements.  It is very difficult for me to make something abstract without actually making it at least resemble something.  I call this piece Bee Trail.

Friendship groups are great for pushing you into the deep end of the pool.  Splash! Ok now kick!  I'm kicking I'm kicking!

I can't wait to see what this looks like, when she puts all out pieces together.

Hope you get to sew this week.
Aunti Nicole

Done Been Splendid in March

Wasn't March splendid?  Well ok it didn't suck.    Anyway, a little late to post March, but here is my Bee Splendid entry for March.  This month was for Sarah Reams choice, she sent precut little squares and big piece of kona white.  It went together really quick.  

Here is the link for the tutorial posted by Modify Tradition http://modifytradition.blogspot.com/2010/04/love-in-mist.html 

Blocks were actually in the mail on time.    

Happy April Fools Day to all!

Love Aunti

Bee Splendid in February

 This month's Bee Splendid project is from Jeanette and she chose this fun tutorial from A La Mode Fabric http://alamodefabric.blogspot.com/2010/06/spider-web-quilt-block-tutorial.html

This block was sooper simple or as Heather from A La Mode would say, Easy Peasy!








Its a terrific scrap buster!  While she gave me purple scraps, Jeanette actually has all different colors going on even some in grey.  Its going to really cool when she gets it done.

I put it in photoshop to see what it would like like as a whole quilt.  I was a little sloppy but you get the idea.

God Bless you all!

Aunti Nicole

Bee Splendid in November

This is Audrey's month in my Bee Splendid friendship group.  She did most of the work and pre-cut all the squares.  The block is the same for everyone but the arrangement will vary.  I just love the cheery cherry fabrics she chose.

2 Blocks are 15 1/2" square.

Its been rainy and cold all weekend here in "Sunny" Southern California.  Its ok, because I love to watch the rain outside and play with "sunny" fabrics inside.

Oh and isn't this a cute idea for the siggy block?  I probably shouldn't have written my name across the big middle like that, but hey...Willie told me to do it, that's what he would do.

I am looking forward to seeing these all put together.

Have a great week,

Aunti
Nicole

Won't chu take me to... Wonky Town!

This month's Bee Splendid challenge is for Sue and she has chosen Wonky Town!   This is a fun block and you can experiment with non-symetrical, unstraight and just plain silly architecture.

So here is my interpretation of my townhouse that is the end unit on a building.  But since I cut out the other 3 units that normally ajoined, WillieNo! had to investigate.

Here is a close up of  Wonky Cat.

 For my second block I chose my Mom and Dad's A-frame house that is set out in the middle of the countryside, with a beautiful view of Mt.Shasta  and a pasture across a stream.  Of course you can't see all that, but you can just imagine.

To the see the rest of the blocks made for Sue, check out the Bee Splendid badge over on the side.


3 more days to PIQF! or Piqueef as my husband Pete calls it.

Have a great Sunday!

Love
Aunti

Bee Splendid in September

This months Bee Splendid block exchange is for Carrie.  A string quilt and anything goes 2- 12 1/2" blocks.

Carrie sent us Kona Snow, Peacock and Lagoon, assorted Kaffe Fassett prints and a few more to boot.


This was fun but more challenging than it looks.  I had to turn a blind eye to my symmetrical mind.  I was watching Coco Channel trying to get inspired to think outside the box.  Its hard to quilt and read subtitles, my French is not what it used to be, but I managed.


I will be getting them in the mail shortly.   




Love,
Aunti

Friend's Let Friends Piece Drunk!

This month's block for my Bee Splendid group is for Mary.  She chose improv blocks inspired by Denyse Schmitd's Drunk Love.  

This block was really fun to make, but at one point I had to quit drinking because the border's were going to be too small.  It all worked out and I think I may have to make one for myself.

She included some Kona solids and some different patterns to include in each block.  I think I'm in love with this solid pink, ah... yum!

So the stripe is the only fabric of mine that I included, I hope she doesn't mind.  Its like that obnoxious friend that you invite to your parties even though they may lite the bathroom towels on fire.  (True story, that actually happened at my 40th birthday party.)

Whoa looks like drunk love to me! 

Have fun, bee safe.

Love

Aunti  

Bee Spendid in July

This is the first month of the Bee Splendid block bee.  I got a slow start because I had to go on vacation...boo hoo ;]  and we had our mail held up.  So we returned 3 days before having to go back to work, but they then an observed mail holiday on Monday, duh-op!  So finally on Tuesday my squishy packaged arrived.  I was so excited (and exhaust from my first day back from work)...that I had to go to bed, lol.  So ok 2 days later I'm done!

Sarah has sent us some yummy brights and a pattern with a twist on the Jacob's ladder traditional block.  I added some goodies of my own and voila, my first one done!

 

and my second block.  I just love the little gray flowers, so yeah I had to add some gray and RED!!! from my stash. 

These blocks were quick and fun.  Karrie Lyne aka mama Bee has some great ideas for layout of these blocks too.  Can't wait to see the rest of the blocks for Sarah and her final finished top.

Happy Quilting!

Aunti Nicole