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Another super simple block for this weeks Mad Cat Quilts Block of the Month. My plan right now is to do two blocks per month. Sometimes I need fast and simple blocks to achieve this goal.
This block was inspired by Pat Sloan. I love her free, simple tutorials and approach to quilting. I gain so much inspiration from her.
Linking up around the web today.
How are you BOMs going so far this year?
This is sweet churn dash variation that I found from just searching google for simple blocks. I looked back at the link after I made it and you can find that here. I really like this small squares in this block for MCQBOM² .
This churn dash was sooooo easy to put together and really cute. I didn't get a chance to take a photo of all the blocks together but this one came out way smaller than the rest. I might add a boarder, but who knows!
I'm linking up around the web today.
For this simple, square heavy, Mad Cat Quilts Block Of the Month I took inspirations from Pat Sloan, once again.
I like this block bc it's easy to break into little units and piece together. I think this block would be a great one to bring for travel sewing. Below is the photo I used to create this block. Pat Sloan's sew alongs are great, and I highly suggest looking through them for inspiration.
I'm linking up around the web today, at Monday Making, Move it Forward Monday, and more.
Last week, I couldn't find all my blocks from my new MCQBOM to take a photo. But here they are!
Ever so wrinkly!!!
I clearly have not kept scale and size in mind when making these blocks. Going forward, I hope to be more mindful of that and think about how this quilt might look completed!
Linking up wit BOMs Away!, Monday Making, Move it Forward Monday, and more!
For my new 2017 BOM, I'm using all blocks with squares in them. Simple squares are an essential building block of quilting!
I'm not sure how I found the block I'm using for my 3rd block, but it came from Quilt Fabrication. She had a bunch of different variations, but I went with one that had a interlocked feel.
This could be a super fun block to repeat in a quilt!
I couldn't fine my other blocks when I took the photos, but I can't wait to see what all the blocks look like together!
Linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday, Slow Sunday Stitching, BOMS Away, and more!
Even before 2017 started, I began thinking of what this year's MadCatQuiltsBOM would be. I had had so much fun working on MCQBOM2016! I chose a theme, had lists and references, but alas, by March I had already given up on the new BOM. It just wan't the right fit. I thought, well, there's always 2018... but I missed making monthly blocks.
But then I realized that it was MY BOM, and I could start one any time I liked!!
And so I started again, inspired by the last HoneyPotBee block I completed. I found a bunch of blocks that I wanted to make and they all seemed to have squares. MCQBOM² was born.
I'm calling that Honey Pot Bee block the first block. This second block, I have no idea where I found it! It came together quickly and I added borders, to make the blog bigger but also to make it match with the first block.
As always, I don't follow a pattern, just improve each block. Nothing is measured, everything is cut with scissors, everything is hand sewn. Although I have several blocks on deck, I have no plan for the finished product yet. But if you like either of these blocks, or the direction this BOM is going, feel free to follow along!
Linking up with Making Monday, Move It Forward Monday, BOMs Away, and Needle and Thread Thursday.
It's time to admit defeat for this year's MCQBOM.
In 2016, I really enjoyed trying to make a new (to me) block every month. So naturally I wanted to try it again in 2017. The first Mad Cat Quilts Block Of the Month was all random blocks, it didn't matter what they were as long as I had never made them before. In 2017, I decided that the MCQBOM would be all picture blocks.
I now believe that this was my first fatal flaw. My second was choosing an all grey color theme. I love grey and I thought I would like to try making picture blocks bc I never make them. Turns out, I don't make them bc I don't like to make them. Combining this with a, let's face it, drab color scheme made me just not want to go forward.
I struggled with the impulse to stop a project, not even in the middle but in the relative beginning. I felt bad about not enjoying it. But I realized that it really was not bringing me joy. Each month felt like a chore.
Looking at the blocks now, I do like them and I think this could be an interesting quilt if it ever gets finished. Maybe one day I will resume this BOM but for now, I must admit defeat.
Have you begun any projects in 2017 that you just don't want to finish?
Although I did have a strong a start as I would have liked, I did have two finishes in Q1. Only one of them was on my Q1 list but that's ok.
1. Finish Quilting, Bind, and Label Maybe Lyz Quilt
2. Finish Piecing Top, Make Backing, Baste, Quilt, Bind, Label, and Use, TOM Mat.
3. Finish Top and Backing, Baste, Quilt, Bind, Label and Name MadCatQuilt2016BOM Quilt
Bonus: Gift Mat
Mat for Ollie is Finished!
For Q2, I'm hoping to show more progress. I've chosen 4 projects to finish.
1. Do everything for this Gift Quilt.
I want to have this secret sewing done by the end of this quarter.
2. Finish Quilting, Bind and Lable Maybe Lyz Quilt.
This has been on at least 4 of my finish along quarters along the way and I'd love to see it finished. I lost the thread that I was using (How does that happen?!) but I'm just going to forage ahead.
3. Finish quilting, bind and Label Tom Mat.
Tom needs his mat already!
4. Finish Top, Create Back, Baste, Bind and Label MCQBOM2016 Quilt.
I haven't touched this all year so far. I'd love to have this one done.
I'm happily linking up with our global hosts this year and can't wait to see everyones finishes for Q2 - 2017!!
Also linking up with Move it Forward Monday, Monday Making, MCM and more!
My goodness, you guys! It's the end of march already!!
For the third month of the Mad Cat Quilts Block Of the Month 2017, I chose a house block. I have made a hose block before but not a simple straight on one like this. It was very easy to make. But I made it more difficult by cutting a long strip of the bird background that I didn't want to waste. So I ended up piecing it all together a little wonkily. I'm not sure what I used as reference/inspiration for this block but this is a pretty version.
If your following along at home, here is the MCQBOM so far:
Dec - 0) Improve Tree Block
Jan - 1) Pineapple Block
Feb - 2) Spool Block
Mar - 4) House Block
April - 5) Four Tree Block - Coming soon!
May - 6) ?
June - 7) ?
July - 8) ?
Aug - 9) ?
Sept - 10) ?
Oct - 11) ?
Nov - 12) ?
Dec - 13) ?
Although not all the months have been revealed there is a vague theme to this year's BOM. Hopefully it's coming together slowly but surely.
Originally, my husband was joining me with this BOM but he hasn't had much time to sew lately. If anyone else wants to follow along and share, please do!
Linking up with Building Block Tuesday, Main Crush Monday and more!
For the second month of the Mad Cat Quilts Block of the Month, I chose a Spool Block.
All the blocks in 2017 will be picture blocks and this struck me as a common block that I have never tried to make.
I procrastinated on this block a long time for some reason. It's only February! I should still be stoked for the MCQBOM2017!! But for some reason, I put this one off almost all month.
Now that it's done, I'm quite happy with it. It's got some very rough edges but I will fix them up later.
If your following along at home, here is the MCQBOM so far:
Dec - 0) Improve Tree Block
Jan - 1) Pineapple Block
Feb - 2) Spool Block
Mar - 4) House Block - Coming soon!
April - 5) ?
May - 6) ?
June - 7) ?
July - 8) ?
Aug - 9) ?
Sept - 10) ?
Oct - 11) ?
Nov - 12) ?
Dec - 13) ?
Although I have a pretty good plan of what other blocks I'll include, I'm keeping future blocks a mystery for now! I also have some plans for layout and what I will want the finished quilt to look like also under wraps.
Anyone else out there working on creating their own BOMs? It's a fun exercise!
Linking up with MCM over at Cooking Up Quilts and Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for the first time today! Also linking up with Monday Making, Move it Forward Monday and more!
Last year, I started a BOM of blocks I had never made before. I have decided to continue this tradition so here is the very first post for MCQBOM2017!!
In 2016, I didn't choose any blocks before the month I would create them, but in 2017 I have a much clearer idea of what I want to sew. For MCQBOM2017, I will still be sewing blocks I have never made before, but they will all be picture blocks; Blocks that clearly represent an image.
I don't use picture blocks in my quilting very much, if ever, but I often like the look of these blocks in finished quilts. I have compiled a list of blocks I want to complete this year, with a vague idea of how the finished quilt will come together. I have more than 12 blocks that I might want to sew, so as usual, there is a lot of room to move around or change in this project.
With the 2016 MCQBOM, I tried to get out of my comfort zone color and fabric wise. I'm doing that again this year with several projects. For MCQBOM2017, I have decided on an all grey and black fabric pull. I'm not sure why. But I think this might turnout very interesting!
And now, without further ado, the January block for MCQBOM2017 is the Pineapple Block!
I chose the Pineapple for the first block bc it is a symbol of welcome and prosperity and I thought that was a good way to start off the new year. I found a few tutorials for this block on pinterest, but didn't use one in particular. My husband is joining me this year, but he didn't want his block shown this time.
We also did a warm up block back in December that came from Molli Sparkles' Honey Pot Bee, an improve tree.
Feel free to follow along throughout the year, or sew along! Linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching, Making Monday, Move It Along Monday and more link ups!
For me, this year might be the year of the BOM. There are just so many great ones out there! A BOM that's really interesting is Molli Sparkles' Honey Pot Bee. This project is a cross between a BOM and a block bee. Molli says there will be 2 blocks each month, with maybe some surprises added in.
This block was actually one of those surprises! Molli announced this block in Dec as sort of a warm up for 2017.
I made mine hand sewn and scrappy, using vintage wool and some fabric from old jeans.
Mine is pretty wonky, of course. My husband is a beginner machine sewist and his came out quite neat!
It turns out that the MadCatQuiltsBOM2017 (more on that soon) is all about picture blocks so I thought that this would also be a great as a warm up for that BOM as well!
My husband is joining the MCQBOM for 2017, so he created the improv tree block, too.
My color palate for the MCQBOM2017 is all grey so I made this block in that color way. But that means I still haven't figured out a fabric pull for The Honey Pot Bee. I Hope I will have by the time I get to the January block.
Please continue to share the BOMs and FALs your working on this year! Who else is joining the Honey Pot Bee?
I've linked up this block on instagram at #honeypotbee and am sharing it with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching as well as other linky parties this week!