Bee Inspired 2018 :: Continues

I'm not the only one who got way behind on my bee blocks!  Everyone in our group is playing catch up and for me...I have one more prompt to complete and 2018 will be only then be a complete success!

It has been a challenge interpreting the prompts!  Our group has come up some amazing prompts that have pushed me, inspired me and nearly kicked my butt!

 

Shelby @godshomemovies picked Substrate/Lichen.  I was at a loss until I threw myself into it and immersed myself in the process.

The color palette threw me for a loop to be sure!  Shelby did include several Lichen pictures which was very helpful.  The background for each block needed to be a textured fabric such as a cross weave or linen.  To be honest I don't have much of this type of fabric in my stash, but I had just enough to make these blocks.  



I did what I could with these 8" blocks!  Like I said...it was so hard!



I wanted each block to have a different color for the main Lichen and I pretty much did that.  This one is an 18" block and has what I'm going to refer to as layers of rock with bits of lichen.  

When I saw the prompt from Shelby, it said now raw edge applique.  I took that as no applique should be used, when in reality I think I could have and it might have made for a better representation of the prompt.  My goal for this year is to pay attention!

I moved on to the next prompt from Shelagh @stuartmooretextiles Migrating Birds - A Birds Eye View.  This one I knew I could handle, or so my mind told me so!

I don't fly often, but when I do I'm always mesmerized by the view from above.  I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking it would make for an interesting quilt!

The color palette is full of green and brown and I was sure I wouldn't have a problem finding the right colors for this one! 

We were asked make one block with rectangle shapes and the other with at least one circle.  The other requirement was each block needed an odd number of geese flying south. And so I did! 

I loved making the circle block!  I enjoy a good circle or Drunkard Path!  One more prompt!  The next one is going to be full of color and I can't wait!

It's not too late to start thinking about my next idea...I gotta get creative this time!

You can check out my previous Bee Inspired posts here:

How Light Gets In

To Thine Own Self Be True

Chutes & Ladders

Spring Terrarium

Top Secret - Morse Code

You can check out all the blocks on Instagram here:  #beeinspired2018

My Bee Mates are amazing! 

Shelby @godshomemovies 
Jayne @twiggyandopal 
Audrey @artandstole 
Kathryn @kupitis
Heather @quiltachusetts 
Christine @ccpquilt 
Jenny @pappersaxsten 
Shelagh @stuartmoorestextiles

Bee Inspired 2018 :: Spring Terrarium

Here we are again!  I was finally able to sit myself down and get my Bee Inspired blocks finished.  The prompt came out several months ago, but I wasn't able to get going on them until this past weekend.  

Heather @quiltachusetts  requested mini vignettes of neutral greens and hints of spring colors using improv.  The finished blocks would be 10"-14" circles surrounded with cream to off-white.  We could use any circle method such as the 6-minute circle, half circles or drunkards paths.  As long as it made a circle it was all good!



This is the the neutral green and Spring color palette we were shown.  Whats not to love about that?!

I decided to use the 6-minute circle method for my blocks.  It's pretty simple and I've had success with it before.  




I made two different sized circles for variety sake, and tried to make each on different enough from each other. 



This one I made first and as you can see, it has a lot of very small piecing!  I used various shades of purple for the 'hint' of color that emerges with Spring.  

 

This block reminded me of the Forget-Me-Not flowers I planted from seeds this year.  It's a tiny purple flower that peeks out from the green leaves.  

 

The second block I tried to keep the improv pieces larger and use a different Spring color.  Yellow seemed logical!  



When I say tried to use larger pieces...I did just that, but it always surprises and amazes me when a teeny tiny piece happens to find it's way in the mix!



I did get the feeling of yellow Lilly's while making this block.  However I think it could be tulips or daffodils or just about any yellow flower!  

Next up on the Bee Inspired train...ME!  Yikes!  It's funny how you can have ideas, but you have no clue what to do!  Stay tuned, wish me luck and let's hope I can live up to my Bee Mates example!

You can check out my previous Bee Inspired posts here:

How Light Gets In

To Thine Own Self Be True

Chutes & Ladders

You can check out all the blocks on Instagram here:  #beeinspired2018

My Bee Mates are amazing! 

Shelby @godshomemovies 
Jayne @twiggyandopal 
Audry @artandstole 
Kathryn @kupitis
Heather @quiltachusetts 
Christine @ccpquilt 
Jenny @pappersaxsten 
Shelagh @stuartmoorestextiles

LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING ●  LINKY TUESDAY 
LETS BEE SOCIAL  

MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD  ● TGIFF ● CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP 

Bee Inspired 2018 :: Chutes & Ladders

Wheeeeeee!  Play time!  This month our Bee Inspired prompt was from Audrey @artandstole, and it was a fun one!  

Chutes and Ladders is a game most of us are very familiar with.  Audrey requested something to climb and something to slide down using a blue background and as much color as our hearts desired!  My heart desired it, at least for part of it.

I was excited when I finally had the time to start this prompt.  It was sure to be a fun one.  The blocks needed to be at least 12" and the ladder/slide needed to reach from one side to the other.  

'Chute/Slide'
14 1/2" x 17 1/2"

First up was the 'chute'!  I had no idea where this was going to go or even if it would work out.  Improv can be a challenge!  I love when improv takes me on a journey.  Having a basic idea to start, figuring it out as I go and then seeing where it takes me.  

I wondered, if I had my very own slide what exactly would that look like?  Certain it would be a beautiful bright one.  Something with a little kick to it, but nothing that would cause bodily harm!

I started with bright pink, because...I like pink.  I also like pink and orange together.  The 'sit your butt and slide part' did not come to me right away, so I let it sit until the next day.  I just couldn't find a color that would give this slide the punch I wanted.

The next day it an idea did come to me!  What could be brighter than a rainbow?  I pulled my colors and viola! It happened!  

 

I pieced together the rainbow and promptly sliced out my slide.  I wanted my slide to flip me into the air at the end where I could fly out of it and land on my feet!  Well, if I were much younger...I wouldn't want to break a bone!

Next up I had to tackle the ladder.  My first thought of a ladder was a crooked one.  I was firmly embedded in my brain and I couldn't shake it loose!

Ladder
14 1/2" x 14 1/2"

The picture in my head was of a funky old ladder.  You know how wood gets old and lichen (moss) starts growing on it after being left outside?  That's what I was after.

I used two green shades for the rungs and added the blue background in between.  

My ladder was also going to need perspective.  So, I made my top sections start small and gradually grow wider at the bottom.  And with that, I sliced in the sides and added the background.  

A super fun challenge and I'm excited to see how Audrey puts these blocks together!  It's sure to be a fun and amazing 'game board'!

You can check out my previous Bee Inspired posts here:

How Light Gets In

To Thine Own Self Be True

Next up is another inspiring prompt, this time from Heather @quiltachusetts !  Terrarium Blocks!

You can check out all the blocks on Instagram here:  #beeinspired2018

My Bee Mates are amazing! 

Shelby @godshomemovies 
Jayne @twiggyandopal 
Audry @artandstole 
Kathryn @kupitis
Heather @quiltachusetts 
Christine @ccpquilt 
Jenny @pappersaxsten 
Shelagh @stuartmoorestextiles

Block Two :: Bee Inspired 2018

Ready for another installment of Bee Inspired 2018?!  We got our prompt, we got our direction and the only thing left is our creativity!

If you check out this previous post: Inspired By The Original, you'll get a sense of what this Bee is about.  Let's just say it's Improv + queen prompts + imagination = inspiration!

This month Christine @ccpquilt on Instagram gave us a very interesting and thought provoking prompt:  To Thine Own Self Be True.  Yikes!  What does that mean?!  Thankfully she gave us a little insight to what she was getting at.  In an effort to get to know each other better, we were tasked with creating a block that represents our public and private self.  A shape to represent out public self (the dark outside shape) and a shape to represent out true self (the inner shape and color).  And that was just one block!  

The second block we were tasked with a block to represent an assigned Bee member.  All secret and not to be disclosed who we were assigned.  



This is only our second round and already I'm shaking in my boots!  I like to think I'm creative and up for challenges...but, day-um!  This stuff is hard!  Gotta love challenges!



I have to say I am very uncomfortable describing or talking about myself.  When it came time to translate that into fabric, I struggled.  What am I?  Who am I?  How do I come across to others?  Baring my soul isn't normal!  

This is me: 
I'm guarded and don't like to put myself out there.  Adventurous, but only when it comes to my quilting.  Give me an idea and I'll twist and turn it to suit me.  I like to think outside of the box and explore.  I also like to stay in my comfort zone and don't venture out too often.  I'm really not as confident as I might appear!  

  

I probably come across as sarcastic, but it's a defense mechanism.  I get really nervous when I talk to people and speaking to a group is out of the question.  Scares me to death!


I was assigned a person I've never met before, so I did a little stalking to make this block!  

To me, this person seems very down to earth and natural.  Not just in her quilting, but her life.  She is amazingly adaptable.  She likes to push the boundaries with her style. She is on a new life adventure  which is sure to enrich her life and take her on new paths.

The leaf is for nature and an unconventional shape for pushing boundaries!





There you have it.  You have learned a little more about me for better or worse!  I am horrible at describing myself, and even worse and describing how I come across to others!  

I feel like I had a mini therapy session!  Thankfully the block is done and I can crawl back out of the microscope and into my sanctuary!!

Our next round will explore Chutes & Ladders!  Playtime!

Our Bee Inspired Group on Instagram:

Shelby @godshomemovies 
Jayne @twiggyandopal 
Audry @artandstole 
Kathryn @kupitis
Heather @quiltachusetts 
Christine @ccpquilt 
Jenny @pappersaxsten 
Shelagh @stuartmoorestextiles

Inspired By The Original

It's been a couple months (where has the time gone?) since I started a new venture for the year!  I have a feeling I will be pushing my limits in creativity for this one!

I was contacted and asked if I'd be interesting in join an improv bee group inspired by the original Bee Sewcial group.  If you are on instagram, check out these ladies!!  

@shecanquilt @marci_girl @capitolaquilter @quiltsforthemaking @entropyalwayswins 
@astrangerview @aquilterstable @quiltmatters @felicityquilts @spontaneousthreads

I've followed the Bee Sewcial group for years and there is never a lack of inspiration and amazement with each of their prompts or creations.  The simple explanation of the group is this:  The queen bee chooses a theme or inspiration and a color palette using solids.  Each member interprets the prompt and makes a block to send to the queen!  And it's all about Improv!  They are pretty darn amazing I must say!  I hope they know the impact they have on so many of us.  We're inspired by them and hope to push our skills, creativity and imagination.  

These hashtags are worth a look on instagram:  #beesewcial #inspiredbybeesewcial

Very much inspired by Bee Sewcial, we will be using creative prompts to inspire the others in the group to create original modern improv blocks for the Queen.

Introducing our group!  Each of these ladies are amazing...I'm so excited!!

BEE INSPIRED 2018 (Instagram)

Shelby @godshomemovies 
Jayne @twiggyandopal 
Audry @artandstole 
Kathryn @kupitis
Heather @quiltachusetts 
Christine @ccpquilt 
Jenny @pappersaxsten 
Shelagh @stuartmoorestextiles

This is the January prompt by Kathryn:  

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN

“There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. “

– Leonard Cohen

This month I want you to play with this theme exploring the ways we see light and how it radiates through cracks, behind doors, around clouds, back lighting effects. Keeping in mind the underlying meaning of Cohen’s quote. The beauty in imperfection.

Color Palette:

Dark “stormy” blue that is then transformed into a spectrum of light blues, turquoise, silver grays, white. Corals, yellows, pinks and hints of purple are all welcome.

I thought and thought and thought...put it off over and over again...and then finally an idea came to me!  I'm like that sometimes!  Eager, yet totally lost!

My first block was actually inspired by how the light gets in through my bedroom curtain.  For years I've looked at the light filtering in as I was getting out of bed and always thought it would be so cool to put it to fabric.  You can see I put that off too!  I feel like Scarlet O'Hara - "I'll think about it tomorrow.  Tomorrow is another day"!

For the first block, I wanted to go mostly blue.  So I started cutting (no rulers!) some strips in all shades of blue and a touch of aqua.  It went well until I for the bottom section, but the top angled section was a bit more touchy!  Eventually it did come together and I was satisfied.   The block is about 12" square.  

For the second block I wanted to use different colors and add some improv curves.  The vision that came to me was the sun setting between the mountains reflecting off the water.  

Of the two blocks, this was the one I was most worried about.  I wasn't sure my vision came through and I was sure it was just too weird and out there!

Instagram said differently!  I was shocked and thrilled with the responses I received when I posted this block!  Just goes to show you...one never knows!  After looking at it the next day I found that it had grown on me and it wasn't as bad as I initially thought!

Both blocks are headed to their queen!  I cannot wait to see what Kathryn does with them!

One prompt down...one more on the horizon!  I haven't really quilted using prompts and I found it so difficult!  Talk about pushing the limits!  

I'm sure I'll struggle on the next one and the next one, but I am fully committed to pushing through and conquering!  Stay tuned!

LINKING:

Oh Scrap

Main Crush Monday

Let's Bee Social
Mid Week Makers

Needle & Thread

TGIFF

Finished or Not Friday

Crazy Mom Quilts