Gotta Love 15 Minutes Of Play

So, this just happened.  I sent an email to Victoria Findlay Wolfe, author of "15 Minutes of Play" to let her know I finally finished my Bee Block Quilt.  I started it in 2011, because of her blog, when I joined one of her Bee Block groups.   I posted about it the other day in this post. 

She posted details about it today on her blog -- http://www.15minutesplay.com/2017/08/a-bee-block-finish.html

I really appreciate her doing that!  Check out her blog -- http://www.15minutesplay.com .....

..... and her books -- https://vfwquilts.com/collections/quilt-books

She's pretty awesome!

A "Made Fabric" UFO Update

There's a fun place out in Blogland called 15 Minutes Play where quilters are encouraged to make their own fabric by sewing together small scraps and then using that "made fabric" in their quilts.   I participated in a block swap in 2011 in which each player, when it was their turn,  could request blocks of their own design, and the other participants made and sent that block.  I blogged about it HERE.  I requested two blocks -- one neutral block of made fabric and one color block of made fabric.

I asked that they be slashed, switched around and re-sewn.  Like this --

I made the purple blocks and received 12 more sets from the swappers.  

They stayed on my design wall for a while and then were hidden away with the rest of the UFO's.  Since this is my "Year of the UFO" they are once again seeing the light of day, and this is my current project.

I didn't think I would like the look if I had just sewn them together into rows.  I needed to play.   So I slashed .....

..... shuffled .....

..... then added 1" strips of a complementary color.

I still wasn't happy, so I slashed some more and added another strip.

Now, THAT is looking interesting!  I played all day yesterday and was able to finish the blocks and get them sewn together. 

I'm really starting to like this idea.  I need to give the borders some thought, but I have several ideas in mind.  I have a feeling this one won't be a UFO much longer!

More "Made Fabric"

Back in May I told you in this post about making fabric out of scraps and using it in blocks for a block swap with the the 15 Minutes Play group to which I belong.  I showed you the January through May blocks, and thought you would like to see the the rest of the blocks I made for the year-long swap.  In June I made these leaf blocks for Glenda.    

In August Barbara sent each of us some pink fabric and asked for hearts.

San-Dee asked us to make fabric and then cut it into simple shapes so she could appliqué them onto wheelchair lap quilts for dementia patients in September.

Cindy posted directions for these cute blocks that she wanted us to make for her in October.

Then in November Melinda asked us to make any kind of star blocks using "made" fabric for the stars and black and white background fabrics.

I think the December star blocks Alexis asked for were my favorite of the entire swap.  Bright "made" fabrics for the center of the star with yellow points and a red background.  She said to "wonk it up" and I tried.  

You will notice that I skipped July.  That was my month to receive blocks.  I'll tell you about that later.

One thing I learned is that even though I enjoyed the swap, I do not like making fabric.  For one thing it makes me feel like I have to save smaller and smaller scraps of fabric.  For another thing, whenever I make fabric my sewing room looks like this.........

I think this coming year, I will stick to making quilts from "bought" fabric!

Look at me! I'm "making" fabric!

I have been participating in a Block Swap this year with an online group hosted by Victoria at 15 Minutes Play.  The goal of this group is to "make" your own fabric from scraps and then use that "made fabric" in new projects.  Well, I certainly have plenty of scraps.........

in baskets....




















in containers....

and......well, you get the idea!

Each participant is assigned a month for which they decide what kind of block they want and they post directions on the 15 Minutes Play blog. 


Here are some of the blocks I have made for the swap so far this year:  "Red Crosses" for Victoria in January,

"Five Piece" blocks for LeeAnn in February, 

"White" blocks for Jess in March,

and "Slashed Red" blocks for Mary-Frances in April.

For her May blocks, Sara sent each of us some "Lake" fabric and we were to make green fabric for "Islands."  




So, these are my "Lake and Island" blocks for Sara.

 I'm having fun with this group of quilters, and I'm learning a lot, too.  I have some ideas about what kind of blocks I want made for me when it's my turn in July, so I'm looking forward to that.

In the mean time, I need to start "making" more fabric because, as you can see, I have an awful lot of scraps!