November Charity Bee Block

It’s November, and the leaves are falling as the temperatures keep rising into the 70’s.  Crazy weather but – HEY, welcome to Michigan!  During this month of saying “Thanks!” please make a few charity blocks to bring a smile and comfort to a sick child and his or her family.

This month Rebekah has selected the Strings of Hope block designed by our friend Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts.  Our colors are dark gray, light gray, yellow, and olive green .. be sure to view the MudPunch link for the exact shades.

You can see a sample block here at Crazy Mom Quilts

Color Palette: Mudpunch – Omelet: dark gray, light gray, yellow, and olive green

Unfinished Block Size: 12.5″

Block Instructions:  Sew a variety of 12.5″ tall strings together until the block measures 12.5″ x 12.5″.  Trim block to 12.5″.

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Sewing!

October Charity Bee Block

When my son was a little boy he loved going to the fabric store to look at the new novelty fabrics.  His favorites were superheroes, sports and anything with animals.  I still have an unfinished Pokemon quilt I started for him 15 years ago! He would have loved our October charity bee block, using a simple square novelty print surrounded by a border of blue or green.  Super fast and easy .. make a bunch!

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As always – the instructions are below.  Bring your block to our November guild meeting or mail it to a friend who is going.

Color Palette: solids or blender prints in shades of blue to green inspired by this Jaybird Quilts Kona bundle:

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Unfinished Block Size: 12.5″ x 12.5”

Block Instructions:

  1. Cut an 8.5” square of novelty fabric.
  2. Select a coordinating border fabric in a solid or blender print in the blue to green color scheme. Cut 2 strips that are 2.5” x 8.5” and sew to opposite sides of the center square. Cut 2 strips that are 2.5” x 12.5” and sew to the opposite sides of the center square.

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Sewing!

September Charity Bee Block

Our DAM Charity Bee has now made 8 beautiful quilts to donate to the acute care children’s unit of our local hospital.  The quilts are put on children’s beds when they enter the hospital for a long term stay, and of course they get to take them home.  Thanks to everyone for continuing to make blocks each month and for the volunteers who assemble the quilt top, quilt it (Barb D!) and finish the binding!

We have another beautiful block for September, inspired by the Intersection block from Film in the Fridge.  Instructions are below.  Bring your block to our October guild meeting or drop it at Guildcrafters.

Inspired by: Film in the Fridge – Intersection Block.  Note: Do not follow the measures in the tutorial on this site.  Rebekah has enlarged our block below.

Color Palette: Mudpunch Trailer: light blue, gold, dark blue, pink

Unfinished Block Size: 12″ x 12”

Block Instructions:

  1. Cut center block 8” x 8”
  2. Cut first ring strips 2” wide. Sew around center.

  3. Cut second ring strips 2” wide. Sew around first ring.

  4. Cut block in half so that the center square is 3.75” on each side. Cut halves into quarters. Trim the quarters along the outside edges to 6.25” square.
    September block Step 2

  5. Sew together in a plus pattern with outside edges in the center of the block.
    September Block Step 1

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Sewing!

August Charity Bee Block

Yikes!  This month has flown by while I have forgotten to post our August charity block.  I’m so sorry, but better late than not at all.  This month we’ll make a scrappy string block inspired by the talented Lynn Harris, who taught a workshop for us in July.  Bring your block to our September guild meeting or drop it at Guildcrafters.

Color Palette: Mudpunch Blogging: Green, purple, dark gray, light gray

Unfinished Block Size: 12.5″ x 12.5”

Block Instructions:

  1. Take out a 12.5″ square ruler, or eyeball it with your cutting mat.
  2. Stretch one string from corner to opposite corner being sure to overlap at the edges.
    August Block Step 1
  3. Working from the center to the outside, sew strings that are shorter in length to either side. Be sure to starch liberally as you add each string.
    August Block Step 2
  4. When you have reached the outer edge of your block, press and trim to 12.5″.
    August Block Step 3

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Summer and Happy Sewing!

July Charity Bee Block

Our July block is another fast and easy pattern designed by our very talented Rebekah!  This quilt will be for a young man, so please keep the prints masculine.

Color Palette: Mudpunch Athletics: Orange, blue, grey/low volume, and green.  Use solids and/or prints, no florals.

Unfinished Block Size: 12″ x 12”

Block Instructions: Sew together four strips in the following order:

  • Main Color = 5″ x 12.5″
  • Stripe A = 3.25″ x 12.5″
  • Stripe B = 2″ x 12.5″
  • Main Color = 3.75 x 12.5

Square up to 12″ x 12″

Example Block using Green as main color:

July Block

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Summer and Happy Sewing!

June Charity Bee Block

Can it possibly be June already?  It is!  Our Charity Bee Block this month is easy-peasy, so make a BUNCH.  This block was inspired by Easy as 1-2-3 from designers Marny Buck and Jill Guffy of Modern Quilt Relish.

Inspiration quilt and tutorial is here at All People Quilt.

Color Palette: Solids ONLY, NO prints! Stick with red, orange, yellow, green, teal, blue, and black.

Unfinished Block Size: 6.5″ x 9.5”

Block Instructions: Selecting two colors from above, cut three strips of fabric that are 2.5” x 9.5” inches.  (1 strip of color A, 2 strips of color B). Sew these strips together along the 9.5” side in B-A-B order.

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Summer and Happy Sewing!

May Charity Bee Block

B-I-G thanks to everyone who has made a charity bee block this year!  We have 4 quilts ready to brighten the rooms of children at our local hospital, and more on the way.  Keep making those blocks and bring them to our guild meetings, or drop them at the shop if you can’t make it.

Our May block is Scrap Eater.  Sew your scraps into a square .. use small pieces, big pieces, squares, rectangles, triangles. Whatever you have leftover in the rainbow bright color scheme is perfect for this!  Be sure to read the tutorial and use bright-bright colors.

Tutorial is here at My Quilt Infatuation

Sample quilt is here at s.o.t.a.k Handmade

Color Palette: Rainbow Brights! Only use bright red, orange, yellow, green, blue and/or purple.  Both prints and solids are fine.

Unfinished Block Size: 12.5″

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Sewing!

April Guild Meeting Review

We welcomed 17 members and 6 guest at our April DAMQG meeting. Thanks again to Guildcrafters for hosting our meetings each month.

This is a quick summary of the business.  Members have received meeting minutes with details on these items:

  • Amanda O welcomed baby Henry on Easter! We can’t wait to meet him!
  • We have two swaps going: charm pack exchange is due at our next meeting, and the name tag swap is due in June. We will also have a swap with the OKC MGQ later this summer.
  • Our next Sew-In will be Saturday, April 25th from 11:00-4:00 at Guildcrafters.
  • Sit and Stitch group will meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month, starting April 21st, from 6:00 to 8:00. We are meeting at Panera Bread on Telegraph between I-696 and 12 Mile (west side).
  • Bra pillows are due at the next meeting.
  • If you ordered a binding tool demoed by Sue at the retreat, they are still on order.

Donna T shared her favorite old and new quilting books. Her longtime favorite is Denyse Schmidt’s Quilts, and she’s currently enjoying Allison Glass’ Applique.

Donna T Favorite Books

Continue reading “April Guild Meeting Review”

April Charity Bee Block

It’s April, and Spring is finally here!  We have new baby Henry and a new DAM Charity Bee block.  This month Rebekah has selected a 3-ring log cabin block, also known as Bluebell’s Cabin.  Our colors are navy, teal, green and aqua .. be sure to view the MudPunch link for the exact shades.

You can see a sample block here at Leigh Laurel Studios

Rebekah made us a sample block:

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Color Palette: Mudpunch – Zephyr: Navy, Teal, Lime, Aqua

Unfinished Block Size: 12.5″

Block Instructions: Create a 3 ring log cabin block:

  • Center Square: white – Any white is okay as the whites will not be touching other blocks
  • 1st Ring: follow color scheme
  • 2nd Ring: white
  • 3rd Ring: follow color scheme

Trim block to 12.5″

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Sewing!

March Charity Bee Block

Welcome to March!  Our DAM Charity Bee block for this month is the “Sunday Morning” pattern by Cheryl Arkison from the book Sunday Morning Quilts by Cheryl Arkison and Amanda Jean Nyberg.  It’s on page 96 of this wonderful book (highly recommended!)  Our colors will be purple, pink, grey, and black from the Polaroid palette.  Bring your blocks to our April meeting .. who can volunteer to put them together?

A sample Sunday Morning quilt can be found on Rebekah’s blog here Don’t Call Me Becky

Rebekah made us a sample block:

IMG_5515

Color Palette: Mudpunch – Polaroid: purple, pink, grey, black

Unfinished Block Size: 12.5″

Block Instructions: Sew 7 strips (10″ x 2.5″) of fabric together to create a stack of stripes. Cut a 3.5″x13″ strip of fabric and sew it perpendicular to the stack of stripes. Trim block to 12.5″. If you have strips of different widths, feel free to use more/less than 7 strips together to create the stack of stripes.

Please contact Rebekah if you have any questions.  Happy Sewing!