2015 Exchange Block top pieced

I finished piecing my quilt top using my 2015 exchange blocks this weekend. I'm calling this quilt Guatemalan Geese, because I used guatemalan woven fabrics to set the geese. I really love how it turned out.

How are the rest of you progressing? Please post your photos on the blog!

March Exchange blocks

And here are a couple more Exchange Block photos from March.

Two of the blocks I made for Terry in March.

The blocks that people have made for me so far. This quilt is going to be fantastic!

I also sewed a block for Daisy, but I don't seem to have a photo of it. It is brown (of course) with a bright orange and yellow center.

BE 2015 Ruth D.'s Block

Ruth has requested hot flying geese! Each goose unit is 2X4 inches.

It's possible that Ruth is trying to warm up in Minnesota … we'll take it in Michigan too, though!

Make eight flying geese, sew them into two strips of four units each.

Size: 4.5 X 8.5 inches

See you in Michigan soon!!!

Hi Block Exchangers

In anticipation of my trip to Michigan, I finished the rest of the exchange blocks and will bring them to Cindy's to distribute.

Terry's block.  My favorite blues - I loved piecing this block.

Carol's block.  I kept thinking I was done and then found I still had to cut about a dozen more rectangles!  It is a great block once it is done, though.

Dorothy's Log Cabin - this is going to be a lovely quilt with the yellow diagonals and the bright colors.

Two pieces for Georgia's heartwarmers baby quilt.

A blue block for Bonnie's"man quilt" for chemo patients.

Eileen's incredibly subtle quilt block.

 See you soon!

two more BE completed

These will go in the mail today to Jan and Beth.  Enjoy!

Playing with block sets

Hi Block Exchangers!

I've been playing with the blocks I've received so far.  Here are three different sets.  I love this block!

 Can't wait to see your photos from Monday night!

Beginning to sew BE blocks

I've started sewing my Block Exchange blocks for this year.  Here are some photos:

 I spy with my little eye - a tiger and a bear and a fox and a dalmation and a penguin and Sally in her car!  My contributions to Louise's I Spy quilt (they're in-the-mail to you, Louise).

 This block is actually for the Charm group's charity quilt, not Block Exchange, but I thought I'd post a photo of it anyway.  Carol Schon designed the pattern. I didn't have many plaids in my collection, but I tried to use "manly" fabrics for the pieces to go with the man-quilt theme. [Beth - this block is in-the-mail to you.]

  Daisy's floor tile block - I managed to sneak in a dog print in honor of Gracie. [Daisy - this one is in-the-mail to you.]

Cindy's block - pieced and uncut and in-the-mail to Cindy.  You may have noticed that I started with the easy blocks first!

I was also happy to receive my first BE block in the mail, too.  Thanks, Cindy!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's quilts progress.

2011 BE blocks

Here's the quilt top of my 2011 block exchange blocks.  This is a wedding quilt for my cousin Brian and his wife Josey.  Lucky for me they got engaged last year on Christmas Day!

 Josey and I went fabric shopping at Glad Creations, and she picked out a beautiful poinsettia backing fabric that is perfect.  I'm hoping to get it basted and mostly quilted over the Christmas holidays.

Thanks, all, for your blocks in this quilt.  It is lovely!

2012 Block Exchange quilt finished

I'm happy to announce that I have finally finished quilting my 2012 Block Exchange quilt - Bird's Nest! I'm so happy with how it turned out.

Isn't it lovely?!  Thank you all for your blocks in this quilt.  I have it hanging in my living room for awhile until I put up my Christmas quilt some time next month.

If any of you have finished block exchange quilts from the past couple years, please post pics on the blog.  I would love to see them.

Star-Crossed Cats quilted and bound

Here are some photos of the completed Star-Crossed Cats quilts.  Thanks for your blocks!  I really like how this pattern turned out.  I'm mailing it to Shannon today as her retirement gift.

The next project on my list is to finish machine-quilting my Bird's Nest quilt from Block Exchange 2012. I'm planning to hang it in my living room on the "rotating display" wall.

Star-Crossed Cats quilt top done

Thanks for my BE blocks!  Here's the finished top.  I hope to get it basted this weekend.

Exchange block quilt tops

Hi all!  I've been busy this Memorial Day Weekend piecing my exchange block quilts.

My Bird's Nest exchange blocks from 2012. I probably should have used a robin fabric because of all the robin's egg blues in the "bird's nests," but this chickadee panel fit the quilt colors the best.  This will be a wallhanging for my living room (on the rod where I swap out quilts every few months), so I don't plan to add any more borders.  Thanks everyone for your blocks for this quilt!

My Star-Crossed Cats exchange blocks from 2013 - pieced and ready for the last two blocks.  I love how the corner nine-patches come together.  My friend Shannon will really love this quilt.  Your blocks are so perfect!

I'm looking forward to seeing photos of your exchange blocks too.

Happy Memorial Day!

Star-Crossed Cats blocks

Hi all!  I thought you'd like to see how my BE quilt is coming along.  Thanks for the beautiful blocks I've received so far!

Also, here's another baby quilt I've been working on, "Live Long and Prosper." I've been working on it between basketball games during March Madness.

Exchange blocks

Here are a couple more blocks for Block Exchange.

Dorothy's block looks like a Log Cabin block but is actually pieced like Courthouse Steps. It helped me to look at the photo that Eileen posted on this blog, otherwise I never would have figured it out!  Dorothy's hint to sew the yellow squares to the uneven-numbered strips was good advice. I laid out the pieces in order, but I still had to rip out one seam when I sewed a purple strip on the ecru side by mistake (arrgh). I love how this block turned out - especially the effect of the narrow strips. This quilt will be lovely.

Jan's block is the Gemini pattern.  I have wanted to make a Gemini quilt ever since I saw it done in batiks in the Keepsake catalog. It goes together so easily for a stunning effect.  I'm looking forward to seeing the final quilt.

And speaking of Keepsake Quilting, my recent order from them was missing a fabric.  I have to give them kudos for great customer service, as they mailed me the missing fabric as soon as I contacted them about the problem.  Also, I love the high quality of their fabrics. 

Joyful quilting!

I finished a few more exchange blocks.

Terry asked for four Morning Glory blocks.  I pieced these for her while I was at Debra's retreat last weekend.

Below is Phyllis' block - autumn leaf colors and medium blue sky fabrics. This quilt will be stunning.

Below is Carol Schon's block of many colors (and many pieces).  I cut out most of these from Debra's scrap basket last week and cut out the rest from my stash today.  It was a fun block to put together.

I enjoy being in block exchange because of the connection to my friends I left behind.  I felt pure joy today while I was sewing the blocks and thinking about the recipients.

Ruth's block

This is Ruth's block, which I think she already posted.

She lives in Minnesota now ... we hope she comes for a visit!

Block Exchange 2013!

I'm so happy to participate in BE 2013, although it seems a little odd not to be there on "opening night."

I mailed my patterns and sample block to Louise today, and I'm looking forward to getting your patterns soon!

Here's my sample block for the quilt, Star-Crossed Cats.

Sewing exchange blocks

I started sewing in my new quilt studio today. It feels so great to be able to sew again!

The first photo below shows part of the studio with my block exchange blocks on the design wall.

Cindy's block.

Georgia's blocks.

Fun to think of each quilter friend as I sew her block.  :)  So glad to have this connection. I love and miss you all!

BE at Louise's house, Feb 2012

I am ever grateful to Louise for agreeing to host Block Exchange this year!  And so glad that I got to go to Block Exchange one more time before I leave town.  I was like a zombie at January's BE meeting (having just packed my entire household to move to Minnesota), so I wasn't fully aware of everyone's blocks.  At Louise's last night, it was fun to be able to see and appreciate people's blocks.

Here are Beth and Debra with many of the blocks on the table in front of them.

Erin Person was there, with her Broadway blocks from last year's BE.  Here is a close-up of Linda's wonderful "Into the Woods" block for Erin's quilt - fantastic!

Here are some of the blocks for me.  Terry's is the top center and still had pins in it so that she could finish my block before we left.  I love how this quilt is coming together!

Sad to say goodbye to my quilting friends, but so glad that we will stay connected throughout the year as we make blocks for each other.  I'm looking forward to sewing people's blocks each month and thinking about our friendships. :)

Ruth's block in pieces...

My block in progress - fun to be hand-piecing for a change!