The End Of A Bee

It is a little sad/happy day when you finish the last blocks for a year long Bee.  I have met some talented sweet ladies in the Aqua & Orange Bee.  The final month of April is for the creative and talented Shanna, go visit her blog, but not right now, finish here first, THEN go visit Shanna at Fiber of All Sorts.  Shanna asked for half square triangles for the Festival of HST and added a touch of gray to her colors.  I only have a photo of this block finished, because making it gave me a mental melt down.  Quilters Math.  

I had one more block to finish up, and I'm up today at 1:30 a.m., O'dark 30 my Dad used to call this.  I had finally decided on a block yesterday.  There were 3.5" HST.  Good thing I took this photo, in the viewer I saw that bottom gray triangle wasn't placed correct.

Correct version.  You are familiar with quilters math, are you not?  Well, I loathe it.  I can never get it right!  So it was at every cut and placement I'm trying to make sure this block is going to come out 12.5" unfinished.  

Ok, so sometimes I get the math right.

And here it is, my final block for the Aqua and Orange Bee.  This photo isn't gorgeous as the block is, because it was 2:00 a.m.  

Here are most of the blocks I made for this Bee, I think there is at least one month I didn't get a photo, I didn't see it in the group pool.  If your photo isn't here, it isn't because I didn't love your block, it's because I was too lazy to photo it!  Great variety in these blocks, everyone has different ideas and tastes, and that is what these bees are about.  Being exposed to other quilters from around the world and trying something new.  Mine is the bottom right, I am making myself not join any new bees for a few months so I can get some of my bee creations together.  I am still in 6 Bees right now, (I know, my plan isn't perfect!),  I know I'll be seeing some of these ladies around the Flickr/Blogger wonderful world.

A little Tut for NuBees

Ohh, I love this block! I love it so much I have made it several times for many others in Swaps and Bees and NOT once for myself!  

Sew strips together until you have 2 blocks which are 10.5", the strips can be various sizes or the same width, your choice.  I go with different widths.  

This block is for NuBees Swap, I have participated in this group before and I have made the same block before, but it is all new quilt peeps in this group, so they don't care!  I like this block swap, you can pick which months you want to participate and you chose your colors.  I was a fill in for someone, so I'm a little late getting to the blocks, but they will still be on time.  I digress....THIS STEP is lay the 10.5" blocks right sides together with strips um, opposite, opposing?  not really sure what you would call it, but look at the photo, lay them like that.  And pin.  

Next, sew a 1/4" seam ALL the way around the block.

Cut the sewn together blocks in half on the diagonal, and try to keep the pieces together, then cut again on the other diagonal.

You'll have 4 pieces like this.  Press them open.

Lay them out like this and sew quarters together.  

Viola!  Competed block.  

And another.  These were all for ladies in my NuBees hive, I have just one more to complete for this month.

And another.  I first made this block in a bee for someone else, and I have loved it since.  One day I'll chose it for my block in a bee and I'll finally get some for me.