Minimalism with Meaning -BeeSewcial September

Read all about the BeeSewcial September block assignment on Hillarys post,  here,  "Some things are better left Unsaid".  If you are not already following entropyalwayswinsblog.com you should - she's amazing.

Rear View 10"x10.75"

It may not surprise you that the idea came to me while I was driving to work and contemplating what symbolism I wanted to use for my block.   My car choice is full of irony since I don't like to drive.  I will admit (as would anyone who knows me) I do however prefer the drivers seat as a symbolic role.  Not that I can't also be an effective worker bee too but taking lead is more my comfort zone.

The meaning behind the design is all about the balance of keeping focus - looking ahead in life instead of behind- but also being aware of your surroundings in a broader sense.   It's important to acknowledge how occasionally glancing back is a good and necessary thing.  

original sketch 

This one I sketched out (shocker) but because I didn't also do the quilt math, the scale ended as a closer view in order to keep within the requested block size.  I am still pleased with the result and feel that the imagery is captured.

Perceive 10.5"x10.5"

For my second block I wanted it to be about how situations are not black and white.  Time, outside influence and other factors cause a change and progression of the way we see the same thing and how it does not always remain the same.  What starts out simple can become complicated given more thought.  In turn, something that initially feels overwhelming can end up being very basic once broken down.  

Another interpretation has to do with how differently the same experience can vary between two people.  You know, when you think to yourself - "what just happened" and you wonder if it's you or if it's them. 

Here is what I said on IG: This represents the way in which we perceive and how it can distort from clean crisp well defined to jagged uncertainty or vise versa depending. This was also to emphasize the palette of black and white as a concept.

Less minimal and more abstract than the first, it is also kind of a heavy message - which led me to block #3

Be a Duck 9"x10"

It takes me a bit to warm up when I'm working on my BeeSewcials since they aren't a typical "make this pattern for me" swap block.  They are very challenging and rewarding.  Getting ideas from my head to the fabric doesn't always happen with just two (rarely in fact).    

The final one is called "Be a Duck".   It's about letting life's annoyances roll off your back - it's my newest favorite saying and I've been trying to see challenging moments this way ever since I heard it.  Like #2, it's all about how you choose to look at things.  The secondary pattern of an eye (pun intended) is a little added whimsy.   

An early version - too literal 

Here are a couple of pictures to show the evolution.  The version above was way too much like a logo and did not seem very "me". 

Minimal - not enough message

I think if I had stopped here I would have been happy with the minimalism and modern aesthetic of the block.  The whole story wasn't represented - the actual meaning - so I kept going. 

Some people are naturally a duck - I am very much not a duck and am striving to be one.   How about you?

Cat masks 

Given the BeeSewcial September palette, this post seems like the perfect place to also share pictures of the cat masks made last week for my granddaughter's 2nd birthday party.  There had been a dry spell with my quilting mojo and although they were cut and glued rather than sewn, crafting these little guys helped break the spell.

3 in 1 Betsy Bag - zipped up!

zippered front

Do you ever start a project and hit pause for no good reason?   My 3 in 1 Betsy Bag sat in the same state as shown on my "travel handmade to be" blog post until now.  Thanks to #fridaynightsewalong for boosting me to finish.

recessed zipper top

At our August guild meeting I purchased the zipper with the intention of bringing it for show and tell last Tuesday.  Oh well, it's done in time for stuffing it full of supplies for our SBAMQG Quilt Retreat in October so that counts. 

hardware detail

The recessed zipper (my first) was a modification from the drawstring in the pattern because I knew I  couldn't stand the thought of squishing my bugs.  

back

Kraftex, was easy to use (also a first) and will be great for the base of more bag projects.   Because this one is so deep I used a shoe box wrapped in fabric as a support to iron out the wrinkles created when flipping the bag inside out after attaching the lining.  I also sprayed with Best Press.

folded option

The bag design cleverly folds inside itself to convert to a briefcase size with an outside zipper becoming an inside zipper.  The interior also features one entire side of divided pockets.

pretty in pink deatils

For a pop of color I used a solid pink for the lining and also added another pink pocket inside with a key clip.  Now that it's all sewn together it's near impossible to photograph so here's a shot I shared on IG when I was auditioning topstitch thread colors. 

recessed zipper parts

I was wanting to make sure change I made wasn't going to be hindered by the opening while unzipped and overestimated the space. I can trim and redo the end tabs easily.

stitching down the rings

Reinforcing the straps strength by leaving a wide turndown and lots - lots - of stitching should make it hold up.  The fussy cut on the straps was worth the effort but these are covered up.  

Excited to have it done and to add a travel handmade to my collection.  Linking to the party at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday

Started: July 6, finished Sept 6, 2015

Pattern: 3 in 1 Besty Bag by Betsy La Honta for Stash Books/C&T Publishing

Fabrics: Tokyo Trainride by Sarah Watts,  Flora& Fauna by Patty Young,  Kona solid and Kraftex in Stone. Thread: Aurifil #2325 50wt and #5014 40wt.  Interfacing: Pellon 808 and Shape-flex Hardware (need to look this up)

An Emotional (QDAD) Week

Emotions

On occasion,  QDAD (Quilt Design A Day) will have a challenge week.   Today wraps up Emotions. 

I'm especially fond of these four: 

Surprise/Aqua: "Unexpected", When unplanned things fall into place. 

Fear/Red: "Closed"  The fear for others, the fear of the uncontrollable, the fear that the fear is not real and the fear that it is.

Joy/Blue: "From Within" enough said. 

Disgust/Yellow: "Pushed Too Far" Good things that you are invested in that drift in a bad direction 

I hope that members will continue to add designs because I like seeing them and reading the message behind the design.  

Message and Meaning

For the month of September,   the mission for BeeSewcial is sort of of related.  Check out Hillary's post at Entropy Always Wins and #inspiredbybeesewcial on IG.   There are a few ideas in my head and the black and white palette will be a refreshing change.    

I am anxious to see if I can pull off combining a couple of construction techniques that are newish to me.  QDAD has helped me to edit and lean towards modern minimalism but it does not come naturally.   

a Mid-May finish

I forgot to share.   I'm not very good at keeping secrets but this time I was so good at it that I almost let it slip by without posting.  This little quilt was made to welcome a special baby girl into the world. 

Made with the apple core template and stash using Tokyo Rococo to build off of.  I'm always pleased when my fabric plays well together.  I even busted into a long abandoned UFO for some Chic Blooms to add a scattering of yellow. 

If these process pics seem a bit familiar it's because I did give a sneak peak of the project on the apple  slices tutorial (which may be why in my head I thought I had already shared).

For quilting I kept it simple with some top-stitch and channel.  It was refreshing to not be free-motion quilting for a change.

Had I planned a little better I would have centered "California" on the binding but I did make sure it was somewhere to be found.

Flannel backing for baby - well of course.  

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts.   

Create along with BeeSewcial

I will be taking pictures of the blocks that I've received as Queen Bee this month very soon I promise.  There are 14 so far and they are all uniquely fabulous interpretations of the REFLECTION.   Or you can sneak a peak on Instagram with #BeeSewcial  

You may have already seen the posts about #inspiredbybeesewcial on your IG fee today but I wanted to give a shout out here too: 

About a year ago a unique sewing bee formed that asked each member to choose a monthly theme/inspirational source and color palette. 10 quilters would then go forth and make "blocks", blocks become a quilt, one for each month. In this process we bee members have gained new skills, explored different designs and close friendships have grown. Somewhere in this whole creative endeavor other talented people have observed our journey and have asked to participate.

Unable to keep a good thing to ourselves, we have created a companion community #inspiredbybeesewcial to sew right along with us. We will continue to post our monthly inspiration on IG with dual hashtags. We ask only that you use #inspiredbybeesewcial when you post your makings. This larger group #inspiredbybeeswecial is about being a respectful, supportive, creative, collaborative community and making ourselves better designers and sewists. If you would like to be part of this companion community, you may follow monthly "instructions" on our blogs and tag your pictures on IG with #inspiredbybeesewcial. You will find us commenting on all your creativity over in #inspiredbybeesewical creative space.

So, are you ready? Hillary @entropyalwayswins is point for September. Look for her mission to us all in the last week of August. The other co-conspirators (and people you might want to follow just so you don't miss anything) are: Leanne @shecanquilt, Debbie @aquilterstable, Diane @ylmommyx4, Marci @marci_girl, Felicity @felicityquilts, Karen @capitolaquilter (that's me), Kari @quiltsforthemaking, Melissa @weshallsew and Stephanie @spontaneousthreads.

I joined a the bee a bit after things got rolling but you can read about the block inspiration for January on Stephanie's blog here.

Here are the blocks that I've made for my bee mates: 

February: Poster block for Kari

March: Transparency for Melissa

April: Curves and Circles for Di

May: Little Houses for Marci

June: Mid-Century Modern for Debbie

I'm looking forward to making the blocks for Hillary, Felicity and Leanne and feel very fortunate and honored to be among such an amazing group of quilters in this bee.  I'm looking forward to seeing what shows up in the #inspiredbybeesewcial IG feed aren't you?

Today I will be busy with my local MQG chapter South Bay Area Quilt Guild putting together our 2016 QuiltCon West Charity challenge quilt at a special all day sew day.  Packing up to go always takes longer than I think it will so I'd better sign off and load the car- Happy Stitching, Karen

QDADiversary - 1 year

A few of my favorite Quilt Design A Day designs.  It's funny how emotionally attached I can get to some and how certain concepts are still trying to materialize.  I've added a QDAD page to the blog.

On the topic of Design, have you been following Anne's new series Color Clinic at PlayCrafts?  With so little time to keep track of blogs I've signed up to receive her newsletter by email just like I recently subscribed to Scrap Basket on Debbie's blog A Quilter's Table - check them both out!