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 would have never chosen to make a tree out of the pink confetti fabric, but it gives the block a very playful feeling. I love the "rose garden" on the side of the house and the two girls peeking out of the window.
What Is Pink?
Pink is the color of a rose.
They come in other colors
But everyone knows
Pink is the mother-color of a rose.
Pink is a new baby,
The inside of a shell.
Pink is a cooked shrimp
And a canterbury bell.
Pink is peachbloom
Gauzy . . . frail
The wind's exquisite
Wedding veil.
Pink is a bonbon,
Pink is a blush,
Some Easter bunnies
Are pink plush.
If you stand in an orchard
In the middle of Spring
And you don't make a sound
You can hear pink sing,
A darling, whispery
Song of a thing.
Pink is the beautiful
Little sister of red
My teacher said,
And a ribbon girls tie
Round their head.
Pink is the sash
With the lovely fold
You'll remember
When you're old.
Pink is the flower
On a lady's hat
That nods and bows
This way and that.
from Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill
You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post: A 1942 Quilts Booklet by The Spool Cotton Company and Jennifer Chiaverini's First Quilt
Well, maybe it is a weeping cherry... I like the little owl up top. Out of all the fabrics you sent out, were there any you did not get back?
ReplyDeleteThere were twelve of us in the bee. I should have made one block for myself but ended up making three. Can you tell which three I made? I asked that of my students at school, and they guessed correctly!
DeleteSo cute!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was fun to be a part of this bee.
DeleteI love the fabrics Susan! The pink tree reminds me of a frosted sugar cookie with sprinkles.
ReplyDeleteCute idea. You are brave to depend on others to send their squares back to you. Did you also make squares for the other quilters? What were their squares like?
ReplyDeleteIf I could see the stitching, I MIGHT be able to pick the ones you made, but it's hard to tell. I suppose the school house would be one?
Love the cute blue sky fabric you chose. Fun quilt!
ReplyDelete