Hello all!  Hoping you had a good weekend and excited about starting a new week!  I am, or at least really trying!  I have a few bee blocks to share and will start out with the Always Bee Learning group.

First up are some Hobo Blocks for "hettie k."  These measure 6.5" square and I believe the symbol above is "Poor Man."  These blocks feature 1.5" half square triangles, not my strongest skill for sure, but I don't think these turned out that bad.  Hettie is making a quilt for her youngest sister's graduation present, I can't wait to see it all together.

Above is an "Ogee Quilt" block for "QuiltGenius."  Our bee is based on the concept of "learning" and I have to say that this is a great block for that.  I used Leanne's (She Can Quilt) technique for sewing curves, which worked so well, sewing these curves was a snap. Well I messed up and was supposed to trim those blocks, which I didn't and I just stitched them together, then realized they were too large and decided to trim them at that point.  That was a mistake, because when sewing together the final block you can see that my curves aren't very "curvy" but rather a tad squished and choppy.  Sorry about that, but I really did learn a lot from this block.  I don't remember the finished size, but it is large, I will guess around 16" x 16."

My last set for the Always Bee Learning group are for "flickrdeb50" and technically these are super early, as these are the May blocks.  Debbie requested a very easy block (but another learning one that I have never done before) half rectangle triangles.  The tutorial for these blocks can be found HERE.  It really is quite straight forward and I know that these blocks will become part of an awesome quilt!  These measure 7" x 13" unfinished, and I made 6 of them.  We were only supposed to make 4, but alas I messed up 2 (let's just say my iron didn't like those 2) so I was able to squeeze 2 more out of the fabric she sent and make things all right with the world!

Now let us talk about that PROMISE.  At the beginning of the year I applied for do.Good Stitches, I was at a point that I realized I was now in only one bee and was able to take on a bit more work that was going to go to a great cause.  Fast forward around 1.5 months and Rachel was able to fit me into an existing group, the PROMISE Circle.  I was to start with April's blocks and just continue on with the group.  Well being the overachiever that I am, I also offered to make blocks for the March round as well.

So first up are the two blocks that I made for "carrie bee" for the month of March.  She was the quilter that month and chose to have us all make reverse applique blocks based on the tutorial found HERE.  Her requirements were creme, tan or beige background, with a spring like fabric "applique."  These were the only two solid fabrics in my stash that "kinda" match those requirements, I certainly hope they work.  I also want to defend myself and say that these blocks photographed horribly and really and truly aren't this wrinkly and HORRID looking.  I promise they aren't.  I think the camera just picks up every single wrinkle and flaw, but honestly they were fairly smooth and flat.  These blocks were easy and dare I say FUN.  I didn't think I would like them, but I really did, and made both in less than an hour.  These both measure 12.5" x 12.5."  I have to say that I love my little "hippie dippy" cat down there peeping out.

Last but certainly not least are 4 "plaid" blocks that I made for the month of April for "eschbaugh."  From my understanding she designed this block which measures 10.5" x 10.5" and is made out of 2.5" squares and 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles.  She asked for 2 blocks, but said any more would be appreciated, and since I have a ton of solid blue in my stash, I was happy to oblige and honestly these were really straight forward.  Don't you think this design is so clever.  I certainly do!

In conclusion, I am happy/thrilled/delighted to be part of the PROMISE Circle of do.Good Stitches and look forward to contributing to quilts that will end up doing good and contributing to those in need!

This week is the start of the Jaybird Quilt Sew Along hosted by Sew Sweetness!  I am happy to announce to that I am a participant in this blog hop and you can see my quilt next Friday!  Until then, make sure to go and check out all the guests this week (there are some awesome projects) and then just continue to follow along!

I don't want this to be a "photo free" post, so I'll share a tiny sneak peak of the selvedges that I used in my quilt!

Here is the schedule of guest posts:

April 21 - Lynn @ The Little Red Hen – Science Fair
April 22 – Scott @ Blue Nickel Studios - Seaside
April 23 – Emily @ Mommy’s Naptime – Mini Disco
April 24 – Hadley @ Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle - Jawbreaker
April 25 – Kelly @ Kelby Sews - Giggles

April 28 – Becky @ My Fabric Obsession - Snack Time
April 29 – Sara @ Sew Sweetness - Tasty
April 30 – Michelle @ City House Quilts - Candy Dish
May 1 – Debbie @ A Quilter’s Table - Northern Lights
May 2 – Marci @ Marci Girl Designs - Lotus

May 5 – Kerry @ Verrykerryberry - Rock Candy
May 6 – Andres @ Mad Tesla - Mini Northern Lights
May 7 – Lee @ May Chappell - Day Break   &    Kim @ My Go-Go Life – Candy Dish
May 8 – Leona @ Leona’s Quilting Adventure - Wonton
May 9 – Heather @ House of a la Mode - Disco

May 12 – Jane @ Quilt Jane - Night Sky
May 13 – Lucy @ Charm About You - Tiny Dancer

You can participate in the Sew Along also and win some awesome prizes!  Starting April 21, 2014 - June 13, 2014 all you have to do is create a project from one of Julie's (Jaybird Quilts) great patterns or her book, Skip the Borders.  Link up your finished project over at Sew Sweetness and Julie herself will pick the winners!  For full details of the contest and to see all of the wonderful prizes, click HERE.  Now go pick up a ruler and pattern and get started!  You won't regret it, I promise!

We have reached the point where we sew all the rows together and trim it up.  So here I am with a finished quilt top!  It measures 41" x 48" and will be a wall hanging in my house.  I plan to do some simple straight line quilting, and I just ordered some more basting pins (I ran out and actually they were delivered yesterday) so I plan to baste it up soon and get to quilting. The fabrics in this quilt are Indian Summer by Sarah Watson, the peach is Carolyn Friedlander's Architextures and some solids, both Art Gallery and Kona.

I included the photo below because of the little guy in red all the way to the right.  He cracks me up back there, down the trail.  Anyways, quite a few have linked up their finished quilt tops, so hop on over and have a look at the diverse selection of quilts, because I promise, they are all really different!

Excited about my first quarter finishes, I am eager to make my second quarter list and start crossing them off!  I thought I was going to have a longer list, but honestly I have six projects this time, just like last quarter, the main difference is less small projects and more quilts.  I think I can do it!  So here we go!

1.  Small Project - Autumn Sampler, pattern by the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  I only have black and white floss left to add in and then I will be done.  Well of course I want to mat and frame it as well.  I am so close to done I can taste it!

2.  Small Project - Two large handbags for a friend that I promised like 2.5 years ago.  Yep they have just been sitting there, cut out and waiting for me to stitch them up.  This is the quarter that I will finish this project!

1.  Quilt (Large Project) -  Triangle Quilt Along, the rows are sewn, just need to finish the top, trim it, baste and quilt.  It is small, so it should go rather quickly.

2.  Quilt (Large Project) - City Sampler, it is basted and just awaiting quilting.  I have already wound 10 bobbins, so I just have to sit down and start!  I know how I will quilt the blocks, but NO idea of how to quilt the stripes....

3.  Quilt (Large Project) - Radiant Orchid, I ordered the backing yesterday.  So I need to construct the back, baste and quilt.  I'm not sure how this one will be quilted, any suggestions?

4.  Quilt (Large Project) - Bloom Bloom Pow, I have the backing done and the white batting.  Just need to baste and quilt it.  Also not sure how to quilt this one, seriously leave me some suggestions!

A total of six project, two small and four large.  I can do it!  Interested in joining along?  You still have time, click on the 2014 Finish Along picture below for all the details and more information!

I'm actually keeping up with my Triangle Quilt as part of the Triangle Quilt Along hosted by The Sassy Quilter.  Cutting was last week, (and designing my quilt) and this week is sewing together the rows!  Excuse my back hallway photos, but I don't have a design wall, so I layout everything on the floor and hope my kids don't stomp all over it too much.  Since I designed a non-traditional triangle layout, I really had to lay things out to get it all figured out properly, so I started with my triangle "arrows" I will call them.  Then filled in the outside border, which is the light peach fabric from the line Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander.  I can't really sew in direct lines for this quilt plan, so if you look above you can see how this thing was constructed.  The first row is sewed completely straight across (the only one I can actually do this for.)  Then starting with the second row, I sewed together 3 triangles (the middle of the arrow)  Then with the third row, I sewed together five of the triangles (the bottom of the arrow plus the top of the next arrow.)  I sewed like this all the way down the quilt until the last row, three times for a total of 15 arrows.

Now that my arrows are sewn in short rows, I laid them out and added in the large 10" triangles and played with the layout for a while until I had them exactly how I wanted.  I then pieced the arrows into almost complete arrows, by sewing the row of 3 triangles to the row of 5 triangles directly below it, sewing 2 rows together, making them the right size to sew onto the 10" triangles. The photo above is everything just laying on the floor, the top row, semi-complete arrows, edges and 10" triangles.

The last step for this week was to sew the semi-complete arrows to the large 10" triangles.  Once that was done, I now have the top row, which is a single row of triangles measuring roughly 5" and then five rows (2 - 5" rows sewn together) that measure roughly 10."  So in total I have 6 rows that are ready to sew together, thus giving me a completed quilt top next week!

On a completely different side note, this week is Kids Clothes Week, I haven't participated in quite a while, thus my kids have very little handmade clothes.  Insert sad face here.  So I wanted to give this a go this week and sew for one hour a day all this week, hoping to make at least a pair of pajamas for my oldest, be it that he is at the age that cute boys pajamas are nearly impossible to find.  I have the fabric washed, pattern picked out and plan to use my hour today to get it cut out.  Wish me luck, I'll need it this week!

I don't think I've done a Finish Along wrap up post, and be it that this is the first year that I really feel like I am truly trying to cross things off my list, I feel a wrap up is a good thing to keep me motivated and excited to move on to the second quarter! I finished 4 of my 6 goals and am really excited about that.

The four projects above are my finished projects from my First Quarter list.  Click on the names below to take you to the finished reveal blog post on each.  The projects above are:  Open Wide Pouches, Rebecca Bag, Riley Blake Challenge and lastly my Latticework Quilt.  Three small and one large.  Below are the two projects that I didn't finish and their current status.

My king sized City Sampler Quilt.  At the beginning of the quarter, I had the 100 blocks sewn.  Since then I have put the quilt top together and basted the quilt.  It sits now awaiting quilting, I just didn't get a chance to tackle this one, but it will be on my next quarter list as it is a May birthday present for someone special and I want to have it done.

Last but not least is my Autumn Sampler cross stitch.  I am so close to finishing this one, SO CLOSE!  I literally only have the black and white floss left to add in.  I am estimating about 2 more hours and I will be done.  About mid month I was ready to pack it away until Fall, but I kept working on it and when I took this photo Friday evening I realized how close to finished I really am.  So I am going to stick with it, finish it, frame it, and get it ready to hang on the wall once Autumn comes around this year.  So yes, this one will continue over to the Second Quarter as well.

I am really pleased with my progress and my list next time will be a tad bit longer, because I really want to work on getting some WIP's finished!  So how was your First Quarter?

Linking up to Sewjo Saturday hosted by My Go-Go Life.  The Autumn Sampler above is pretty much the only thing I really worked on this week.  Mostly in the car rider line and a little bit at night.  I sure hope my next week is more productive!