Pick Five Monday: Heather's Nautical edition

Happy Monday! This week's Pick Five Monday was written by the adorable Heather from June {Vintage}. She's got some wonderful picks in a great theme. Thanks, Heather!

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Hello! I am Heather from over at June {Vintage} and am excited to share five favorites for this week's Pick Five Monday. I {occasionally} run a vintage store on Etsy when I am not busy being a full-time mom to a 3.5 year old ball of energy and a foster mom to some amazing kids. I used to be a police detective but you can now find me hiding out in thrift stores and behind the lens of my camera. I have been head over heels in love with a sailor for more than a decade-which is why this week's favorites are hitting the high seas!

Pick 1: So many things to love about this: the colors of the water + sun...the fussy cut fabric..the patchwork sailboat... so cute!

(credit: PatchworkDuck)


Pick 2: The charcoal with the rich colors of Plume fabric line by Tula Pink provide a perfect color palette to the simple "sails" on this square quilt. There is a lot of nautical themed items out there, particularly for little boys. If we ever have a girl, this option would be a great nursery addition!



(credit: teaginny)


Pick 3: I love the more traditional repetition of the sailboat pattern on this quilt (it is very similar to a vintage sailboat quilt that I have that was my husband's grandfather's-who was also in the Navy!) However, with the modern fabrics (polka dots!) and the very popular use of a rainbow color arrangement, this quilt is what makes quilting so amazing: a perfect balance of traditional and modern.



(credit: BlueElephantStitches)


Pick 4: Applique, tiny scraps, free motion quilting and one of my new favorite fabric lines (Urban Chik's Dream On): perfection! This isn't a traditional quilt block, but the quilter {Aneela Hoey} made it into a mini-quilt and it is a great combination of some of the most popular modern quilting aspects happening right now...


(credit: Aneela Hoey)


Pick 5: All good sailors use the stars to navigate the vast ocean! Amanda (MrsMcPorkChop) put together this amazing paper-pieced star pattern with fussy cut mermaids...I love, love, love the pop of color on the "horizon" in the corners!



(credit: mrsmcporkchop)

Thank you Erin for letting me share some of my favorites this week...it sure had me dreaming of salty summer air on this cold, winter day!

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Pick Five Monday is a weekly column on the Quilting Bee Blocks blog featuring five of my favorite bee blocks from our Flickr pool. I am currently scheduling guest posters for 2011 to pick five of their favorite blocks and write a post telling us why. Email me for more information on how you can write one!

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Pick Five Monday: Alexandras Desaturated edition

Note: Sorry for the delay in this week's PFM post! Technical issues have been plaguing me all week! ;]

This week's Pick Five Monday is pretty much the opposite of last week. Alexandra picked some beautiful blocks, but they're far from the bright beauties we had last week! But isn't that the great thing about quilts and quilting bee blocks - you can pretty much find any type to suit your mood at any given time? These desaturated blocks are gorgeous in their own right! Thanks to my friend Alexandra for taking the time to write a guest post for us this week. You can visit her at her Flickr page: asquared(w) or blog: a2(w).

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My theme is "desaturated". I normally LOVE really bright pops of color, but I'm feeling a change toward something less vibrant and more warm and muddied. Perhaps it could be because I am tired of all the sun out here in the desert and long for some gloomy days!

1: I love how that background of each block is made of different taupey fabric and that the stars colors are toned down.

(credit: Patchwork Pottery)

2: I love the mix of different creamy neutrals. There is a pop of color, but it is not a vibrant turquoise.


(credit: The Quilt Engineer)

3: I totally missed the boat on Arcadia! I'll have to scour Etsy to get some! This block has a nice balance of browns/neutrals and colors that blend and pop at the same time.


(credit: Love Old Houses)

4. This block uses a gray instead of brown, but it's a creamy gray rather than a bright gray. The pops of dull pinks and greens really add interest to the block without needing to be blindingly bright.


(credit: maripenquiltmom)

5: This last block is stunning and brilliant. The light blues used give the impression of sun washing through the bottles and fading the color. There's a vintage, tea-stained look to the background fabrics, dulling down the colors as well.


(credit: lucyellen06)


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Pick Five Monday is a weekly column on the Quilting Bee Blocks blog featuring five of my favorite bee blocks from our Flickr pool. I am currently scheduling guest posters for 2011 to pick five of their favorite blocks and write a post telling us why. Email me for more information on how you can write one!

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Pick Five Monday: Melinda's So Pretty They Hurt edition

This is a going to be a quick intro to Pick Five Monday but it doesn't mean that the picks are any less amazing (just means I'm really busy this week lining up sponsors & teachers for The Sewing Summit)! Melinda really picked the cream of the crop with these blocks, they're all lovely, and she has great things to say about them! Thanks for guest posting, Melinda!

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Hi, I'm Melinda, otherwise known as quirkygranolagirl on flickr and my blog: quirky granola girl.

I currently participate in the 3x6 Sampler Mini Bee where I am also a beehive caretaker.
I'm the admin for the May 2009 Moms Bee and I am in the Sew Buzzy Bee and It's Sew Easy Bee-ing Green Bee.

It took me a l-o-n-g time to sort through my flickr favorites to pick only 5 blocks. In the end, I decided to go with the blocks are so pretty, they hurt. I think you know the feeling. You click on the next image and suddenly your breath catches in your throat and looking at it makes your chest ache a little. Then you continue to stare at it with your jaw open, listening to your heartbeat in your ears. After a minute, you finally shake your head and then look closer as the gears turn in your head to figure out how she or he did it.

(credit: cce181)

I love the rows of peas in the garden and the bushes next to the house and the sidewalk with the bunnies, but mostly, I love how the bright siding of the house jumps out at you from the muted colors of the yard. That, and the adorable chimney. So stinking cute.


(credit: badskirt)

I think everyone can agree that the piecing is absolutely stunning on this block. The points, the curves, the white border, the print colors.....and the cherry on top is that yellow stripe fabric. That is just too perfect.


(credit: Lilys Quilts)

I want to come up with clever words to describe this block, but quoting the comments for this block seems more effective: "pure genius"...."superterrifically talented"...."mind-bendingly incredible."


(credit: sewtakeahike)

I *love* Penny's ice cream blocks. she made 6 for the 3x6 bee and my breath caught with each one of them. But this block....this was the one that convinced me that maybe someday I'd use purple fabric and not just tolerate it. I could *love* purple fabric in a block like this.


(credit: ayumills)

I've tried to put together a sentence about this block for 30 minutes and words can't convey how drop dead amazing it is. Quilting is a visual art and you just have to see this block to believe it.

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Pick Five Monday is a weekly column on the Quilting Bee Blocks blog featuring five of my favorite bee blocks from our Flickr pool. I am currently scheduling guest posters for 2011 to pick five of their favorite blocks and write a post telling us why. Email me for more information on how you can write one!

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Pick Five Monday: Corey's Perfectly Pieced edition

I've been wanting Corey to do a Pick Five Monday for awhile now because she's got a sharp eye for detail and a great style - so I knew she'd put together an amazing collection of blocks. Plus, she's pretty much a superstar of quilting bees - check out all the different bees and swaps she's involved in! Thanks, Corey, for your picks!

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About me:

Blog: Little Miss Shabby

Bees that I am currently or was in: A Quilting Journey Round Robin Bee, Quilting Divas-An 8 Week-Modern Sampler Bee, Red and Aqua Bee, Three by Six Sampler Quilt Mini Bee, Sew New to Me Virtual Quilting Bee, Scraptastic Quilting Bee, Hip To Bee Square, Ringo Pie, do. Good Stitches

Bees that I admin: Bee Hexed In

I also participate in several swaps: {Handsome} Hexies-The Swap, Scrappy Pincushion Swap, Pillow Talk {Swap}

Beautifully Pieced Blocks

I love looking at new blocks as they pop up on the Quilting Bee Blocks photostream. I am most often drawn to the blocks with saturated color as well as blocks that are pieced beautifully--with all of the corners lining up and all of the points meeting where they should. I learned traditional piecing long before I learned (or even heard of) anything wonky. I find, for myself, the patience and attention to detail involved in traditional piecing to be very rewarding. I love opening up a block just after sewing a seam and seeing everything match up perfectly.

(credit: Rachel-B)

This block made by Rachel-B for the Modern Tradition Quilt Bee really combines my favorites--beautiful piecing & bright colors. There are even some fussy cut martians in there. This block is definitely on my list of to-dos!




(credit: burntfingers)

This block by burntfingers for Bee Addicted is another one that immediately caught my eye. Check out all of those perfect pinwheel centers. And I love that bright pop of pink in the center.




(credit: Mle BB)

Another block that had me hitting the "Add to Favorites" button right away was this block by Mle BB for Bee Crazy. In my opinion you can never go wrong with lots of perfectly pieced tiny pieces. I love all of the bright colors and the movement throughout the block is just divine.




(credit: fissiett)

Fissiett made this block for the Eurovision Quilters. I really like the composition of the 1/2 square triangles--she has created such a striking block. This is another block with bright fabrics set against a solid background with wonderful piecing--no triangle points missing here! =)




(credit: flossyblossy)

And lastly, this little beauty made by flossyblossy for the Quilt Around the World Bee. This block combines great piecing with another one of my favorites, applique. The dresden plate is certainly a more traditional block but Brioni has updated it with fun bright colors. I just love this fun block!

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Pick Five Monday: Jennifer's Tree edition

We've had a lot of new visitors here over the past few days thanks to a shout out on the Stash Manicure blog (thanks Vicki!!). If you're new here -- welcome! Pick Five Monday is an article we do once a week where I or a guest poster picks five quilting bee blocks from our Flickr pool to feature! It's a great way to highlight some of the blocks you might have missed since there's literally thousands in our Flickr group. You can see all the previous Pick Five Monday articles here. This week's guest poster is Jennifer - I'll let her do her thing!!

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Hi everyone! I'm Jennifer and I blog at CraftyJennifer. I am currently participating in my first bee, the Coast 2 Coast Block Party (we also have a blog here). When I signed up to do a Pick 5 Monday, I figured I'd pick a theme and then find some fantastic blocks to feature. What I didn't count on was that it would be so hard to pick just five! You are all making such fantastic blocks!

My theme is TREES!

(credit: jrcraft for the Common Threads Bee)
I love this little tree house, especially the "No Boys Allowed" sign. This would be a really fun addition to someone's neighborhood quilt.




(credit: kelp! for the One Shiny Bee)
I love how simple and yet complex this block is. She used different blues and greens and the same triangle over and over to make a block that features trees in different sizes and different fun patterns. Such a fun little forest.




(credit: by threekitchenfairies for the Quilt Around the World Christmas bee)
I just love that little bird on top of the Christmas tree. It's like the little partridge in a pear tree. I love the little touches like this, a little embroidery to go with a quilting bee block adds just a little something extra.




(credit: by Little Miss Shabby for Hip to Bee Square)
I love, love, love those little owls! What's a tree without a bird, owl or some sort of creature. I love the shape of the tree trunk as well but I love how the colors of the leaves coordinate with the owls. OK, I have a thing for owls so I couldn't NOT include a tree with owls.




(credit: by Tweedledee Designs for the Bee Modern Too bee)
My name is Jennifer and I am obsessed with gnomes. I need to join Gnome-aholics Annonymous. When I saw this gnome with its overgrown wonky mushrooms (yes, technically not trees but it still works with my theme) I nearly died. And check out the fabric on the gnome's hat. Tiny little trucks!

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Thanks so much, Jennifer! I'm with you - I LOVE that little gnome! I'm currently scheduling Pick Five Monday's through the end of the year and need more guest posters - so if you're interested, email me!

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Pick Five Monday: Jeni's Colorful edition

This weeks Pick Five Monday was done by the always darling JeniB. Jeni's blog, In Color Order, is one of the most cheerful on the internet, and if you don't read it, you must start immediately! (Check out her cute bunny, George!) Here's the blocks that Jeni picked for us and what she had to say about each one of them:

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Flickr Name: jenib320

Blog: In Color Order

I currently participate in the [3 x 6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee where I am also a beehive caretaker. I am in the {Modern 12} Bee and just got involved in do. Good Stitches {a Charity Bee}.

Here are my five current favorite quilting bee blocks! :)

(credit: Zonnah's Addictions)

I love the beautiful circle of geese blocks that everyone has been making and this take on that concept really blows me away! A circle of wonky stars? Love it!

(credit: ktelschow)

I love everything about this block, the colors, the style, the fabrics! I am a sucker for warm colors, so this block is right up my alley. Add in that cute selvedge, and I'm sold!




(credit: sewgirly!)

When I'm not sewing with quilting cottons, I'm sewing with vintage sheets, so I really love this block! The sheets in this piece are amazing, and the wonky style suits them perfectly!




(credit: Tweedledee Designs)

This is a simple block in comparison to my other choices, but I'm constantly coming back to it. The colors are fantastic and I really love the mini log cabin inside the star, a very cool twist!




(credit: give.it.a.go)

I really admire this block! It's a really great take on the spiderweb block. Love the colors and mix of fabrics, it's busy but really fun!

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Thanks so much, Jeni!

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Pick Five Monday: Meghan's Orange and Aqua edition

This weeks Pick Five Monday was done by the awesome Meghan, the Thrifty Quilter.  Meghan is one of my favorite Flickr friends and I was excited she wanted to do a guest post.  I love her quilting style and I knew she'd have awesome picks -- which she did.  Here's what she had to say:


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My Flickr name is ThriftyQuilter, and I am the bee mama of the Bee in my Bonnett, which is actually my first VQB. I couldn't do it without all the helpful tips from the Quilting Bee Blocks blog, and of course all the wonderful ladies in the bee! I also blog at thriftyquilter.blogspot.com.


When I picked orange and aqua as my theme, I had no idea how many orange and aqua blocks would have Heather Ross print mixed in! Those little goldfish are just too cute to leave out, though...

(by LynetteRusselDesigns for the Fussy Cut Bee)

I love, love, love how much is going on in this block! I'm sure it was frustrating dealing with so many seams, but the final effect is very much worth it in my opinion. And the teeny fussy-cut in the center is just icing on the cake.

(by LilysQuilts for Busy Bees)

There are a lot of things I love about this block, the fussy-cut center, the thin black and white mini-borders around the nine small rectangles, the beautiful, bold colors... The longer I looked at it, though, the more I started to see the kind of off-kilter symmetry. The left and right rectangles on the middle row are the same print, only turned different directions; and the corners match diagonally.

(by BlueElephantStitches for the Three by Six Sampler Quilt Mini Bee)

I am having a love affair with flying geese, so I had to include this block. My favorite "goose" is the creatively cropped dog — his head is cut off, but his tail is still wagging!

(by JulieFrick for One Shiny Bee)

Talk about a scrapbuster! In the description on the photo page, Julie wrote that she was playing with the pieces she had left over and "this image came to mind of this one girl I had remaining, swimming in the ocean at sunset." I love how beautifully her inspiration came together with teeny scraps, and also her choice to cut it into a circle and appliqué it to a background square.

(by PatchworkDuck for Hip to Bee Square)

Orange and aqua just scream summertime — and little orange fishies swimming in clear blue water. I love the big, stirp-pieced fish with the teeny goldfish print background in the block on the left, and the octopus, mermaid and dolphins swimming under the sailboat in the block on the right — more Heather Ross!


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Thanks, Meghan!  Loved your picks!

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Pick Five Monday: Shayla's Strip Tease edition

Today we have a Pick Five Monday brought to you by Shayla (flickr: sharpshayla | blog: Raggie Girls).  Just as a reminder Pick Five Monday is a feature here on Quilting Bee Blocks where I have a member of our Virtual Quilting Bee community "pick five" blocks from the group Flickr pool that they're loving.  It can be five blocks in a theme or just five random blocks they're loving this week.  If you want to do a Pick Five Monday for the blog, email me!  I'm always in need of guest posters.  This week Shayla had a terrific idea for a Pick Five Monday theme so I'll just let her take it away!

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About me: I admin Bee White Black and Sew Buzzy quilting bees. I participate in Moody Blues Bee, Scrap Happy and Bee Scrappy bees. I also participate in some swaps: S.T.U.D. (Swap Til You Drop), Doll Quilt Swap 9, Charming Mini Quilt Swap, Fabric Postcard Swap and Hoop Up! Stitch and Send Swap (embroidery).

Pick 5 Topic: Strip Tease (blocks made primarily with strips (or strings) of fabric)

Strips are such a simple thing but when combined right they give stunning effect.

(block made by tingtongandthings)

1.  The classic string block yields endless variation and is a great way to use up scraps. These have a solid center strip that is uniform in size and color throughout all the blocks which lends organization to the overall quilt and gives the eye a resting point while random sized strips allow the block the randomness of a scrap quilt. Coordinated prints keep the entire quilt from appearing visually busy and overdone but still gives the scrappy look that is so much a part of string quilts.

(block made by flossyblossy)

2. A spiderweb block is another great example of using strips. This block in particular grabs my attention not only with the gorgeous summery colors but also the fussy cut center. While most spiderweb blocks use a solid color center, this one takes it that step further, showing that a little extra planning and work can really set your design apart from the rest!

(block made by OhFransson)

3. This block just sums up the idea of a modern block--clean lines, bold graphics, well distinguished coloring. The simplicity of the lines combined with the random widths of the wedges add visual interest where straight even strips with such a simple color scheme would have been a bit of a yawn.

(block made by Miss Monny Quilts)

4. Working with strips doesn't mean you have to end up with a square shape. Who would have seen straight strips of fabric and thought hearts? Careful piecing, clean applique and just a touch of hand embroidery really makes this block memorable. I could see this block all sorts of places--quilts, pillows, wall hangings, placemats, fabric postcards...

(block made by Flaun)

5. This circle block combines the linear lines of the fabric strips with bold graphic patterns for a contemporary block with stunning effect.

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Thanks so much, Shayla!

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Pick Five Monday: Lynne's Fresh Modern Bee edition

Lynne [Blog: Lily's Quilts, Flickr: Lily's Quilts photostream] was one of the first people that emailed me when I put the call out for guest posters for Pick Five Monday, and I love her for that! I was worried no one would want to guest post but she was so enthused about it - it made me so happy. :]  She's an active Virtual Quilting Bee member and is the Bee Mama to two bees: Fresh Modern & Fresh Modern 2. Here's her picks for this week - there's definitely some great blocks being made recently!

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I am constantly looking through the Quilting Bee Blocks flickr page, picking faves and adding them to quilt block galleries for future inspiration. I was going to choose some of my all time favourites from those galleries today but then it occurred to me that my current set of faves have been produced in our bee (Fresh Modern Bee) this month. We were asked by KarrieLyne (Freckled Whimsy) to produce half square triangles using Kona white and Moda Sweetwater Make Life. These are five of this month's blocks (and it was difficult to narrow it down to five):

Shelley (Elsie's Girl) made this block, adapted from Tacha's tutorial on her blog:

Janice (Sewgirly) turned HSTs into geese in this block with a renegade goose at the top:

I love the movement in Amy's (AllieKatMom's) block:

I will shamelessly include a block I designed for the bee which caused me much blood, sweat and seam ripping but I loved in the end. I posted a tutorial for this block on my blog and would love to see some more of these turning up on Flickr:

The piece de resistance for me this month was the block designed by Jessica (Quilthappie) which looks striking in thumbnail but also works well close-up. The maths must have been complicated but the block looks beautifully simple:

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Thanks so much for your Pick Five Monday guest post, Lynne! KarrieLyne is going to have an amazing quilt made with all these blocks!

I'm scheduling the next few months of Pick Five Monday's and need some more guest posters!  Do you want to do one for me?  Email me! :]

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Pick Five Monday: Sarah's fun & fussy cut neighborhood edition

This week's Pick Five Monday is done by Guest Poster Sarah! Sarah blogs at It's Quiet Now. What Do You Say? (how's that for a darling blog name?!) and is on Flickr as ItsQuietNow. She's a super busy Bee member: she belongs to Bee Vintage and is also the Bee Mama of QUILTING newBEEs, a group who's purpose is to learn new things about quilting (most of them are new quilters), encourage each other and have fun! How fun does that sound?!

Sarah made some awesome picks for this weeks blocks. Thanks so much, Sarah!

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I love neighborhood quilts with wonky houses, trees, clotheslines, and extra creative details. I'm in the process of making my own neighborhood quilt and it is fun to look at all the great house blocks that are in the Quilting Bee Blocks photo pool! It was hard to pick just five but here they are:

1. This block has great examples of fussy cut fabric. I love how the family is leaving in the car and the birds have taken over the house! (Made by sparklygreenknickers for Bee Addicted 3)

2. These three little houses look fantastic lined up under the night sky! The use of embroidery on the middle house for the number, "15" adds a special touch. (Made by Katy for The Quilt Around the World)

3. The sun on this block is so bright and cheery! And who wouldn't want a Katie Jump Rope print house?! (Made by mommymae for A Notion or Two)

4. A patchwork tree, owls, gnome, scrappy house, decorative stitching! Aah! What's not to love? There are too many great elements to pick a favorite on this block. (Made by PatchworkDuck for Hip to Bee Square.)

5. It's all in the details with this block: the elongated octagon window, garden gnomes, stitching on the tree trunk and roof, and especially the quilt hanging on the clothes line make this simply shaped house extra special! I love the green floral fabric that was used for the grass, too. (Made by Tina for Cottage Quilting Bee)

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Again, if you'd like to do a Pick Five Monday Guest Post, email me!  :]

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