Quilting Bees 101

I'm in a bee again this year and realized that I didn't make any recent posts on my blocks.  Shame on me!  So let me show you guys real quick what I've done so far this year. 

January was my month to host, so I asked everyone to make me some Crazy Blocks.  Last year, I made this block for a different bee and I really liked the scrapy-ness!  I couldn't really decide on a color, so I listed 12 colors and I let everyone choose one.  I took whatever was left - brown.  (I love brown!)  :)

Here's what I got back from these talented ladies...  Awesome, right?!?! 

I call this quilt my "Crazy Crayon Box"

These are February blocks I made for Maria. 

She showed us a great Half Rectangle Triangles tutorial from the MQG blog. 

Colors requested were orange and aqua.  Who doesn't love this color combo?!?!

Here are March blocks for Linda.  She wrote a great tutorial for these Wonky Diamond Log Cabins.  She requested jewel tones so I knew a saturated look would do the trick. 

Plus, she loves Kaffe Fasset.

I just finished April Blocks last night.  These are for Karen.  She also wrote a great tutorial on her blog for these Tassels blocks.  She wanted one block in light blue / aqua & Gold.

The other to be a darker / medium blue & yellow. 

Aren't they cool?!?!

I've had the pleasure of participating in quite a few bees. In fact, I'm a bee mama again this year. A few of you have asked me about quilting bees and how to join, etc...

So here's the 411....

There are different types of bees. The run if the mill one involves 12 or 11 members, 1 host (or queen bee) per months. (2) - 12.5" blocks per month. The host will send out / provide fabric to the remaining 11 members and also provide instructions on their block.

There are other bees where members use their own stash to make others blocks. I tend to prefer this type of bee only because I love getting blocks with fabric I don't have.

There are also Charity Bees.  Here, 12 members make quilts that are donated to various organizations.  There are so many generous quilters that participate in these.

For those of you that are new to quilting and are dying to try one....  please keep in mind that there is normally a 12 month commitment.  I highly recommend doing a block swap to get your 'feet wet'. This might be another option if you do not want to commit to 12 months.

DO NOT JOIN A BEE if....
You don't have time to sew....
you are not good with deadlines
you are often tardy or flakey - it's really not fair to the other members

So here if you are interested in doing a block swap, check these out.

NuBees {A Block Swap} -  A monthly block swap
[3 x 6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee -    A Quarterly block swap
4x5 Modern Quilt Bee - A Quarter Block Swap (more for the modern quilter)

If you are interested in joining a bee, the quilting bee blocks group has a thread for upcoming bees or you can post that you are looking for join.

If you are interested in joining a charity bee and using those sewing skills to benefit others, please let me know.  Leave a comment or send me an email.  I'm getting a bee together that will make quilts for a local shelter for women with children in Los Angeles.  Giving feels so good and you will make a big difference to someone.  You will be so glad you joined.

So, I hope you all join a bee if you haven't done so already.  If you are still a little confused and would like to maybe purchase a book for more info, here's a great one... 

Happy Sewing!

oxox,

Sunny

Happy Easter

Taylor hopes your Easter was awesome!

Oxox,

Sunny

So Flattered!

A few weeks ago, Erica nominated my blog for a  Liebster Blog Award.  I did thank Erica via email, but didn't have time to do a post until today.  Erica, please forgive me for my delay.  Then on Friday, Karen nominated me too! 

So, thanks so much for the blog love, Erica & Karen.  I'm following and loving your blogs too.  :) 

So here's the scoop!

The Liebster award (German for favorite) is for bloggers with 200 followers or less. As a recipient of the award, you have the chance to thank and link back to the blogger who gave it to you as well as pass it along to five other deserving blogs.

So here's are my choices (in no particular order.)

Charise at Charise Creates just blows my mind.  She is such an amazing paper piecer.  She creates her own paper piecing patterns that leave me speechless.  Check out her ski chalet.  It make you want to take up skiing even if you live in Hawaii.

Sheila at Zoom Baby is an amazing art quilter.  She's a guild mate and a fellow 'valley girl'.  I ran into her a couple months ago at a LQS.  Everytime she brings a quilt for show and tell, everyone in the room just gasps.  She's make my jaw drop too...  To top it off, she dies her own fabric too.  Oh, and she's won a few awards and was featured in Paducah.  Enough said....

Melissa at We Shall Sew is one of the sweetest people I've met.  I met her very briefly when I first joined the LAMQG.  Now, she runs the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild in Colorado.  Her awesome 'TNT' Hexie Quilt was recently featured in Apartment Thereapy post on 10 Modern Quilting Inspirations post.

Tanya at Free Range Quilting is a friend, guildmate an awesome long armer.  Check out some of her personal quilts.  Here's one she did for Maria (M Press Blog - mentioned next).  I highly covet each one!  If you are looking for a long armer, she's definitely your girl. 

Maria at M Press Blog is one of my BFF's in real life.  I met her at work in 1996.  She's is a Grammy ( not a typo!  Yes, Grammy!!!) nominated graphic designer who loves to do a little letter press too. Her work is top notch and she quilts too.  We lost touch for a bit , but reconnected through facebook.  We've been inseperable ever since we found out that we both quilt and love fabric.

I hope you check out these lovely ladies when you have a moment.  They are great people and great quilters too.

I wish all of you a wonderful Easter.

oxox,

Sunny

Unable to Access!!

Sorry about this!!! 

I recently changed my blog address from www.sunnyincal.blogspot.com to www.sunnyincal.com. Wow! What a pain in the butt that turned out to be. It turns out my purchase never went through... I sat here like an idiot hoping it was just a time thing....  It wasn't.  It's almost fixed now.  I promise.  :)

I'm off to Vegas for a few days!  (YES, again!)  :)

Hoping all of you have a lovely weekend. 

oxox,

Sunny

Swaps Received!

Look at the pillow I got from PTS 7! 

Ack!!!  Isn't it awesome?!?!  Amanda did an awesome job! 

I love this so much because it's so scrappy!  Plus, I adore these colors. 

Thank you so much, Amanda!  It's already part of the family.  :)

So, the pillow I made for Joanna was well received!  She's pretty happy with it.  Phew!  :)

Here's another swap that I received.  These 2 mini's are from Rebecca. 

We did a private mini quilt swap.  Aren't they adorable?!?!

I really love them. They will be hanging in my sewing space very soon. :) 

Thanks again, Rebecca! I can't wait to put these up!

This what I sent her.  Some granny squares....  :)

If you've been wanting to make one, here's a great granny squares tute!

I hope you all are having a great weekend.  :P

oxox,

Sunny

My First Show!

I'm happy to announce that I particapted in my first Quilt Show last weekend.  The Glendale Quilt Guild puts on a big quilt show every year.  This year, they had a small exhibit for our guild.  It was very cool seeing my quilt on display.  It was even cooler to hear what other people had to say.  I felt like a fly on a wall.  :)

So here's my quilt along with some by my friends...

This one is Maria's Seams Perfect Bee Quilt.  I made 4 blocks in this one.  Isn't it Fabulous?!?!

Here's another one of hers. 

This is the one she made for the Robert Kaufman solids challenge last year. 

The red one on the end is Liberty's.  She hand quilted it and it looks beautiful. 

The other 2 were done by Allison. 

The one in middle was the winner of MQG Organic Challenge.

More awesome-ness by Alissa, Tanya and Latifah. 

I attended this show last year and it was my frst show.  It was a big kick going to the show as an exhibitor.  I'm so looking forward to participating in more shows. 

A BIG Thank you to the LAMQG for arranging all of this. 

oxox,

Sunny

What do you think, Partner?

PTS 7 is Pillow Talk Swap 7. I'm currently participating in another round. I really love this swap because there are some seriously talented people. Receiving a pillow from any of these peeps is 'A okay' with me.   

A few weeks ago, I saw Rashida's quilt and was smitten!  There was something similar to this in my partner's favorites, so I went for it.  I drew up a quick block and Voila!

Here you go, partner!

 It's paper pieced.  

 I used Kona Bone and I hand quilted all of it with floss.

I used some Nicey Jane for the back and some Bijoux to bind.

I added a label that came out a little too big.  Sorry about that, Partner!  : /

 I really enjoyed making this for you, Partner.  I looked through your photo's and almost fainted at some of your work....  I hope it's up to par with your high standards.  I hope you find this pillow as lovely as I do. 

I'll be posting the pattern I used soon!.  It needs a bit of fine tuning, so I may need a litle help from a dear friend.

I'll be a little busy the next few weeks.  I need to finish up a quilt that will be in the Glendale Quilt Show.

Oxox,

Sunny