Book Review - Sew Organised

When I saw Ruth's request for someone to write a book review, for the Modern Quilters Ireland mqi blog, my hand shot straight up! I can do that! Miss! Miss! Me! Me! It just took me my normal two weeks to get around to it. I have been told Procrastination is my middle name. If I didn't procrastinate so much, I could look that up in the dictionary. I love books, novels, craft books, cookery books, I love them all and I buy them all even though I work with books all day. The difficult thing is to decide what book review. In the end I decided on the most recent "Sew Organized for the Busy Girl" by Heidi Staples. Heidi blogs as Fabricmutt.

The first part of the book deals with Heidi's background, how she fell in to quilting and then blogging. Why sewing and quilting is important to her,  from the creative, the nurturing, "the nicer for less" financial aspect and lastly on how it keeps her sanity in a busy life. Perhaps that is the most important. Heidi then moves on to how to make space in our busy lives for sewing, and how to have an organized work space.  I think this follows along the lines of tidy lives, tidy work space and tidy mind. I wouldn't know about that!

And then the fun bit, the bit we are all really waiting for, the projects. Here we see the quirky projects, not the bog standard quilts but the pin cushions, the pouches, the organisers. The things I see on other people's blogs and instagram accounts and think, I would like to make that. Note, I don't add Flickr, I'm not organised enough to keep up with Flickr.

I wish I could show you some of my finished projects, but you know that isn't going to happen. After all, we don't really buy these books to make the scrummy things, we just buy to look and covet. Or at least I do.

Overall I loved this book. I really will make loads of things, and all Heidi's advice makes sense. The advice is at times rather homespun, it even has a quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder. Homespun but cosy, not twee.

Next time if I get to do another review it will be of the Japanese zakka, I think I may actually have completed one of those. And, oh yes, I have read and love quilting fiction, there's a whole life out there in the world of books.

Helen
midgetgemquilts x

Sew Organized for the Busy Girl
Heidi Staples
Stashbooks
£15.99 UK

Modern Irish Bee - October block

Happy October Ladies !

I am thrilled and so excited to be this months Queen Bee.  


I have taken this block from a free tutorial @ Hyacinth Quilt Designs
 
It's a super quick quilt block to make entitled “Garden Fence” and I too think it would be awesome in lots of colour combinations. However, I have chosen to stick with the colour theme seen here of: Greys & Yellow/Golds Autumnal but not too wintery!

I would like you lovely ladies to make two of these blocks please:
· The first with the grey tones in the centre square with the yellow/golds outside.
· The second block will be the opposite effect with yellow/golds in the centre and grey toned fabric outside. I have made one block following these exact measurements and it works out to be 12” square after sashing.
· I would like the yellow fabric in the block to be the same on the four corners and similarly with the grey fabric. This will give the blocks a sense of uniformity rather than simply tones of the colours.
· I will be using Kona white for my blocks so if you have that it would be fantastic as the white borders will be joined directly. If not, something as near as possible please.


Here are the cutting dimensions for the block:
· Center square: 4 ½ " x 4 ½ "
· Outer rectangles in opposite colour fabric: 4 - 2 ½ " x 3" and 4 - 2 ½ " x 5" (all same)
· White: 2 - 1 ½ " x 6 ½ "
2 - 1 ½ " x 4 ½”
4 - 1 ½ " x 2 ½”
· White sashing: 2- 1 ½” x 10 ½”
2- 1 ½” x 13”
 
To piece the block: (pics below)

• Sew the white 4 1/2" and 6 1/2" rectangles to opposite sides of the center square.
• Sew the white 2 1/2" rectangles between 2 outer rectangles; add these to the center pieced square.
• Once the main part of the block is completed, I would like if the 1.5” (unfinished) border could be added to the block please, by piecing the top and bottom followed by the side strips.
• This should make the completed blocks 12” square.

I have absolutely loved seeing all of your choices so far this year and each block chosen has been so different. I was so mixed up trying to decide on my block as there was so much out there. I cannot wait to see what you all produce and I look forward to beautiful happy post from such a talented bunch. How nice to imagine everyone playing such a part in creating our quilts. Happy sewing ladies and if you’ve any questions on my block just contact me on the Facebook group or Instagram. Below is a few snaps as I made my first block to check measurements etc Sorry they are just fired in there but I hope it all makes sense

Best Wishes, Jacinta xx

Bee Blessed update!

Hi guys, the Bee Blessed Charity group we love to support is back up and running. 

Bee Blessed meets in Belfast at the Christian Fellowship church on the first Saturday of the month and times and dates are listed on their new blog.  If you are in the area and want to contribute to the bee in person you can find details on their blog or follow on Instagram @beeblessedquilts.

Bee Blessed will be choosing quilt blocks and putting the instructions to make them online.   They will be assembling the blocks made into finished quilts and would love to receive donations so even if you are not local to Belfast you can contribute by making blocks and posting them!
-Ruth   

Summer Swap Show & Tell

Our summer swap was a great success. We've been making tote bags for each other and it's been tons of fun watching the photos appear on Flickr and Instagram and the happy thank you messages showing how generous our group has been with time spent on making and adding in some fun extras too!

Thanks everyone who took part, all bags have been shipped and I am delighted  we had such a great swap!  Remember send in your ideas for our annual Christmas swap which will be announced after Halloween!

In the meantime, hope everyone enjoys their tote bags (I'm using mine already!).  Thank you all who took part and made this an easy going, creative and successful swap!
-Ruth

Book Reviews

Morning all, I'm looking for book reviews!  Would you like to share a favourite quilting book or a new purchase you think is well worth a read?  Let's share some recommendations!

If you could pull a book from your shelf, snap a quick photo of the cover if you can (optional!) and send me a reply to this or leave a comment below on the blog with a line or two of why you like this book and why you think we should click to purchase, that would be great!  We'd love to know what inspires you guys and share the inspiration between us!

A book I keep picking up and leafing through is Quilting with a Modern Slant.  It is a mix of quilters and projects focusing on different aspects of Modern Quilting like improv, color, or scale and is a really fun read. 

Hand Quilted with Love by Sarah Fielke is another book I keep picking up.  I've not made anything from it but it is a really pretty book and I keep reaching for it on the bookshelf! One of these days I'm going to make this giant star but scrappy in all colours and a low volume background!

Whats on your wish list to make?
-Ruth

Modern Irish Bee September Block for Louise

Hello fellow Bees!

My name is Louise and I live in Limerick with my husband and two children. I am originally from Dublin but followed my man to Limerick in 2003 and have stayed ever since.

I met Ruth at my first Mid-West IPS meeting and she introduced me to the MQI. That was the beginning of 2014, where I had only sewn curtains and cushions previously but now I am happily branching out to patchwork and quilting.

I have chosen “the wheel of time” block for September, which I came across on Pinterest in multiple colours (thanks Ruth for putting a name on it for me!!).

I would prefer my blocks to use medium/steel grey as the base colour with one 12.5” block in grey and aquas and the second 12.5” block in grey and oranges. This is the selection that I picked.

The blocks are made up using half square triangles and I used Ruth’s cheat sheet to make 4 HST quickly.

Requirements:
8 no. 5 ¾” Medium/Steel Grey squares
4 different 5 ¾” Aqua squares
4 different 5 ¾” oranges

Method:
Place one grey square and one aqua square right sides facing and sew ¼” all the way around the outside edge

 
· Cut the square on the diagonal to make 4 HST

· Press the seams open
· Repeat for the remaining 3 aqua and grey squares
UPDATE:  Remember to trim the blocks to 3 1/2" square before sewing together for a 12 1/2" finished block
· Place the HSTs in the block layout and sew together

· Repeat the same process for the grey and orange block
· Both blocks should be 12 ½” square.

Reminder!

Morning Modern Quilters!  Just a quick reminder to post your summer swap items and add a photo to our Flickr group and Instagram if you like #mqisummerswap #modernquiltersireland

This is on the way partner!

I can't wait to see your tote bags and do a round up Show and Tell post for everyone! 

For those that missed out we will be having our annual Christmas swap in November, swap suggestions welcome - please tell us what you would like to do this year (mug rugs, place mats, wall hanging etc.) 

If you get the chance keep an eye out for British Patchwork & Quilting.  I picked up the last copy in Easons in Limerick.  Nikki Foley has written about our first National Quilting Week in Ireland and we are in it! 

Our first exhibition in St. Patrick's Hospital in Dublin was a great success and pictured are those that attended the opening.  If you missed the exhibition check out this post and follow the links to our Flickr page and to Cindy's blog where she shared her opening speech.  It was a brilliant day and great to get to put names to real faces!

Our September Bee block will follow shortly!
-Ruth