Bees Will Buzz

I am ready to get this party started!  It's been WAY too long since I've done any quilting and a bee will help to solve that problem.  :)  I've decided to host another round of the Newbees and invite anyone who is interested to send me a message. 

Here's how it will go down:

• Our first month of the Bee will be July 2014.
• Each month a different Bee member will be in charge of choosing a quilt block pattern, acquiring roughly 3 yards worth of fabric to divide into fat quarters, and mailing out the fabric by the first of their month to all the other Bee members along with instructions on what they would like them to do.
• Each month the Bee members will make one quilt block {or more if they want} using the fabric sent along with any fabric from their own stash that will supplement and complete the block following the instructions given.  Once their blocks are finished each month, the Bee members are responsible for mailing it BACK to whoever sent it out.  
• By the end of the year, everyone will have at least 12 blocks to piece together into their very own quilt! 

Sounds fun, right???  Hahaha.  It sounds fun to me, and I'm excited to get started.  I thought I'd include some visuals to give everyone an idea of what can come from joining a quilting bee.  :)

Round 1 of the Newbees

 For my month I sent out the above swatches of fabric along with a quarter yard of navy fabric for the background.  I wanted to make a quilt for Ethan's baptism and asked everyone to create a block using a "Flying Geese" pattern.  This quilt was my inspiration.

 {Ethan's favorite colors were orange and blue, so I asked that everyone supplement with fabrics that were predominately that color.  This is a sample block I made.}

 The finished, pieced quilt top!  I love the way this one turned out.

Round 2 of the Newbees

 This time around I needed to make Grace's baptism quilt!  For my month, I sent out the background fabric of jade green that Grace REALLY wanted, along with a strip of bright pomegranate and a couple other pieces of fabric from Aneela Hooey's Sherbet Pips line.

 {Here is my sample block -- rather than a specific pattern for her quilt, I just asked everyone to go with a theme of "Flowers," and to use mostly pinks and yellows, per Grace's request.}

 {my lil sis, Emily, made this block}

 {Another block I made.}

 Grace holding the finished product!  I love how this one turned out as well.  :)

A few more Sample Quilt Blocks I made for Other Bee members over the course of the two Rounds:

 "Wonky Star" block -- tutorial found here.

 This block was really fun -- the directions were super open-ended and just requested that we use the hot pink fabric somewhere in the block along with only black and white prints.  I can't remember the specific instructions, but I think we could make any kind of pattern we wanted.  

 Squares in squares.  Super fun and super cute with the Christmas fabric.

 "Mod Mosaic" block -- tutorial found here.

 I can't remember what this block pattern was called, but I thought it looked really awesome, especially as a whole, finished quilt.

 Another one I can't find the exact tutorial we used, but a cool-looking block nonetheless.

And finally a few "Starburst" blocks that my sister, Emily, used to make her baby boy a playmat.  Tutorial found here.

So, there you have it!  Don't you want in???  Hahaha.  If anyone does want to join, let me know ASAP.  I'd like to start organizing things next week so that we'll be on time for a July start date.  There are spaces for 12 participants, although I will be taking up one of those spots, of course.  :)  Let's get quilting!!!