In the nick of time...

Caught up - waiting for November's offering...

Liking my fabrics but the thread count in the red drives me crazy...

September's block went smoother...

Thought October's block was a "strange" one - not sure what to call it except done!

Pat in northern Wisconsin

 

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Block 10

As I stitched this one I wondered what these elements represent - candle sticks? simplified fleur-de-lis? Any thoughts? It seems an unusual block but I like the symmetry.

Time to lay out all the blocks so far - two rows done now - yay!

I'm not stitching them together just yet - so back in a pile they go. 

Block 9

Running late with this one - I've only just finished it and the next block is printed ready to start. Am still loving the blocks and this one was great to needleturn. I especially liked the large flowers - gave me a chance to use a larger scale floral. 

How's everyone else going? I don't facebook or even have time for the yahoo group anymore ...I expect that's where I should be to catch all the other BB action. 

Block 8

I think I speak for us all when I say "Wow! Those flower petals were annoying."

Block 8

As soon as I printed this pattern out - in the 12 inch block size - I knew it would be a tricky one to applique. There are lots of tiny 'ins' and 'outs' there ! 

So I tried to select a red fabric with the finest grain to reduce the chance of fraying (this is from Collections Friendship by Marcus) and red thread to match. I have a few different favourites in fine applique threads - in this case the YLI Soft Touch cotton was a great colour match. 

Not perfect but it's all good practice...

Block 7

Sometimes things don't go as planned but still work out OK.  I had intended to use the smaller print fabric that is on the circle and drop shaped leaves.  But I grabbed the larger print fabric that's the same color by mistake.  I realized it as soon as I had basted the first piece on and decided to just go with it.

After using the same fabrics for my corner buds on the first 6 blocks, I began to have concerns that I would run out before all was finished.  I changed to a different pair of fabrics with a similar color and feel for what will be the "inner" 9 blocks of the motif.

It is so nice to be caught up. (And with a couple days to spare!)

Block 6

I spent the weekend catching up.  Finished this block and as others have mentioned, learned my lesson about not getting the corner buds done along with the center motif.  Maybe I should start working the buds ahead of the center.

Blocks Six and Seven

Finally finished blocks six and seven.  I think these are my favorites so far.  The fabrics don’t show well in the photos.  They are a lot brighter in person.

Block 7

Another lovely pattern - so nice to receive a different one each month. Once more I worked this with needle turn applique using back basting technique on a 12 " square. 

Hope you are all still having fun with this quilt - I know I am. 

Happy stitching :)

Block 6 - French General - Broderie Perse

Loved this block.  I did the center circle which I placed on four separate leaf/ stem  parts.  The berries were fun to fussy cut from a lovely piece I had in my stash that was just big enough to give me 12.  Fun, fun.

Block 5 - French General - Broderie Perse

I think I have learned my lesson about putting off the rosebuds.  I had four blocks to do them on.  I certainly don't want to wait until I have 20 blocks to add them on.  And I don't want to not do them.  I am now caught up with blocks 5, 6.  I still haven't decided how many blocks I will do in total.....so I am holding off on the borders.  But I am enjoying this journey.

Block 6

Wow - we are on to the second row  - that feels like progress!
It was nice to do some more berries on this block - and I used the same fussy cut fabric as in the berries in my Block 3.
I'm not quite ready to do the border yet but it was lovely to get the pattern and be able to plan ahead. I wonder if anyone is starting the border yet?

Block 6 finished...

This block was very enjoyable to applique - I did choose to do the center from one piece of my fabric. Thought there was more "control" and using the back basting technique really made for an easier finish. Looking forward to prepping for the borders!

Worked on this relaxing in the RV while my husband was shooting skeet.

Happy stitching everyone!

Pat

 

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Block 5

I couldn't resist tweaking this block.  I re-drew it to be pointier and curvier.  It was totally worth the extra fabric to line up the print pattern.  I'm so happy having a project for the red batiks I've been collecting over the past couple years.

Marjorie

Block 4

Continuing my series with batiks on white-on-white.   Will finish my corner flowers when I catch up on the center motifs.   Block 5 is basted in place and about to be stitched.
Marjorie R

Block 3

I've managed to fall behind, but the next 2 blocks are significantly simpler so I'll be caught up soon.  I love how the red batik looks like light shining on the cherries.
Marjorie R

Block 5

Thought I'd get a bit more poison green in this one to balance out the mixture of fabrics in the other  blocks I've made.

fabrics selection for this block

I'm really enjoying working with these colours but isn't it great to see all the variation of fabric choices in the other posts? I've not done a BOM before but it is such a treat to see all the lovely possibilities of fabrics and colours. 

Month 4 is completed

I finished the block for Month 4 just in time for May's pattern reveal.

Once block 5 is completed - I will begin the corner applique' motifs on my blocks.
They will be different from the original pattern, hopefully they will look just as nice.

Wishing you all continued success on your Ben Biggs blocks!

Third Block Finished

March block is finished, and it's almost the end of April!  It was a fun block to make, and I love cherries.  It was laying on the couch when I took the picture, and the upper left part must have been a little crooked.  (The small leaves are all the same size, contrary to what the picture shows.)  I shall cut the wages of my photographer in half........let's see - 1/2 of zero is.....

Blocks 3 & 4 - French General - Broderie Perse

Well, they still aren't totally done but are very close.  I still need to add the rosebud flowers (that look like artichokes) on Block 3 and do all of the handwork on the rosebuds on Block 4.  It is amazing how the applique imperfections are magnified in a pix....I should take them as I go and correct them.....but not now.  Maybe after school finishes this semester and I retire for the THIRD TIME.  :)
I decided to embroider the littlest stem in Block 3 at the end of each vine which I haven't done yet either.  It has been so fun going through all of my French General stash and finding flowers for the broderie perse.  Thank heavens block 4

 only had three flowers as that is all that I could find of that one.  However, even as I use up my French General stash.....it keeps growing and I hardly can get it back in the box even after pulling out what I am going to use.  Can anyone explain that to me?   I certainly am enjoying this quilt and can't wait for Block 5.  Hopefully I will have the rosebuds done before it comes out.

Block 4

I'm a little late is month, but I would never forget my Benjamin Blocks!

I've been sidetracked with so many other wonderful quilts ;)

Here it is, I'm I love with the pink and green !

And here they all are, starting to look good together ;)

I haven't cut the blocks to size yet, am going to leave that till I finish them all.  And now I only have to wait to a few more days till the next one is available!

Hope you gals are stitching up a storm.

Kel x

Block # 4

Have fun stitching everyone!

Pat, in snowy northern Wisconsin - still waiting for Spring

 

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Block 4

I used back basted needleturn applique for the whole block and made each lily flower out of one piece of fabric - without the centre seam. I couldn't see that the seam was needed with my fabric choice.

Here are all the blocks so far ...starting to look like a quilt? The plain poison green on block 2 is standing out as 'different' at the moment but I am not too worried...yet. There is plenty of time to add more of this fabric in the other blocks, and I am thinking it might be the fabric for the swag border. 

I made a whole quilt of Carolina Lily blocks last year so it was fun to revisit the block. Interesting too to make it with a different construction. Last time I made the flowers by English Paper Piecing ( 4 diamond shapes stitched together) and then appliqued to the background. The BB method is quicker!

Blocks 3 & 4

I did not get block three posted last month and block four was a fairly quick block to stitch. I am going to do the petal option on the corners instead of the rosebuds.

Happy stitching all,

Cheri

 

 

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Block 3

Hello all,
 I finished my Block 3.  So far I like this block the best, even though it wasn't especially easy to do.  Continuing with my theme of adding indigo blue to my blocks I added four blueberry sprigs inside the wreath.  I also shrunk the inner leaves so that the berries would fit.
  I used skinny 1/8 inch bias strips for the cherries and blue berries, but my stems that attach the cherries to the wreath are thicker.  If I had to do it again, I would have made them 1/8th inch also.  I used freezer paper under the circular wreath rather than bias so that I would not have a join,

All in all, I am happy the way it turned out.

Block Two for me

Things are somewhat back to normal and it shows.  I got block 2 done! I was going to use a different green and red for the middle, but since I think I have enough, I'm going to use the same green and red throughout.  Don't know why it took me so long - this is a fairly simple design with some big pieces.  I used the starch and freezer paper method I learned from Pearl's DVD.  So glad I got it!  Now I can start on 3 before 4 comes out - LOL.

Block Three and Quilts 0f Indiana

This is my block three.  I think this is my favorite block so far.  Since I do most of my appliqué the freezer paper and starch way I decided to make little freezer paper templates to do my tiny stems since they were so short.I was also lucky enough to win the Quilts of Indiana book Gay gave away. 

 It has a great picture and write up about the quilt.
NancyR

Block 3

Here is my finished Block 3. I am doing the blocks at 12 " and decided to embroider those tiny cherry stems. I used 1/4" bias for the circle and 1/8 " bias for the leaf stems but decided a touch of embroidery would be fine. I had forgotten how difficult it is for me, to needleturn Kona solids like those used in the corner leaves and cherries. It seems a bit thicker and looser woven than some of the other fabrics so I had a bit of difficulty there but overall I am happy. I am just thrilled to be able to make this one out of my stash!

 

 

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Block 3

Hello Ladies,

Please excuse my appliqué fingers in the close up pic of the tiny templates. At the 12 " size, block 3 was fiddly and fought me every single step of the way. I won though !!! I'm really loving the blocks still and can't wait till next month.

Keep on stitching,

Kel x