This is a block from my House Block Bee Quilt. I participated in an on-line bee with eleven other quilters. We were each assigned a month by our queen bee. Before the first of my assigned month, I mailed out fabrics to the others to be used to make a house block for me. I purchased the blue fabric for the sky and the green fabric for the grass. I sent each person a couple of owls and a couple of children to be included in their block. Then I looked through my stash and included scraps to be used for houses, trees, etc. Each quilter could also add their own fabric, if they wished.
Now, there are risks to being in an on-line bee. Other quilters may not be as skilled as you are. There is a chance that someone will keep your fabric and not return a finished block to you. But on the flip side, you will undoubtedly receive blocks with details you would never, ever think of yourself. I love the mushroom shape of the house, the polka dot sidewalk, the owls sitting on the fence and the roof, and the girl flying the kite. (Did you notice the button door knobs?) I admire the creativity of my other bee members and am so pleased with each block.
The Wind
I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass -
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all -
O wind, a blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!
from A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
After I received all of the blocks, I sashed each one in a cheerful yellow and quilted with straight lines, using a quilt as you go method. I finished with a blue border and green binding. This quilt now hangs in my classroom and brightens it considerably, making it an inviting place to read and learn.
You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
This is a really cute block! I also love the ice cream cone house and think the schoolhouse is perfect for you. I also love bees and seeing the creativity of each member. Sometimes I feel like the weakest link in the chain when I see what others come up with.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. When I see what others have done, I feel like I'm the least creative member of the group.
DeleteFrom time to time I see some block exchanges and wonder if I would enjoy that kind of activity. I guess the book club is my first experience at anything other than a blog hop. Of course I love to read and there is no risk or pressure.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the best kind of block exchange is where each person uses their own fabric to make blocks for others - less expense and postage that way - and where each month each person makes a block and gets a block.
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