In honor of the new year :)

8 1/2 x 8 1/2 squares, one for each month of the year - if there's enough interest, I'd be willing to open a second as well.

Shipping by May 1st.

sign up for a month and if you've got an idea what you're going to do for it, please say so! (I'd like to avoid 3 months of snowmen, for example) We can help brainstorm if need be.

Quilt #1
January - A Furry Thing (snowmen)
February - Miahswife
March - A Furry Thing (chicks)
April - Korwynne (April showers!) :)
May - MamaDulce (may flowers) - RECIEVED
June - copmom - RECIEVED
July - Hastings (fisherboy)
August - Jeanbean (watermelon) - RECIEVED
Sept - Margaret (apples) - RECIEVED
October - Mom25girls - RECIEVED
November - Hastings (leaf)
December - Korwynne (naked tree) :)

Quilt #2
January - Korwynne (not sure yet what I'll do) :)
February - Cassie (hearts) - RECIEVED
March - Amy (Baseball)
April - Amy (Earth Day)
May - Amy (Mothers)
June - Margaret (fish) - RECIEVED
July - Korwynne (ice cream cones) - moved from Aug when I read that July is nat'l ice cream month! :)
August - tisme (boat) - RECIEVED
September - Hastings (Drunkard's path)
October - Korwynne :)
November - Copmom - RECIEVED
December - Korwynne (holly, I think)

Can I have July and November? I'm thinking something beachy or picnicy for July and Autumn leaves for November.

Just verifying that you just want squares of fabric, not pieced squares correct? Because if you want pieced squares I've got a super cute fisher boy applique square I'd use for July. :)

I'm wanting pieced squares :) I loved the tree one we just did!

So whatcha wanna do, babe?

I'm wanting pieced squares :) I loved the tree one we just did!

So whatcha wanna do, babe?

I'll do the fisherboy for July and a pieced leaf for November then. Piecing is my preference, so hurrah!

Count me in.

I'd love to have August... watermelon!

-Jeannine

I'd like May, and I'll do May flowers. Thanks.

Sounds fun! I think I could do September - apples. We're all piecing, then?

Bare/Bear (which is it?) with me, I have never made a quilt, how does one piece? Cut out smaller pieces to make up a square that is the right size?
I might do a month with snowmen, maybe Jan?
I love snowmen!
LMK!

Suggestions for other months:

January - snowflake (possibly in blues and white , and could be similar to some of the snowflakes on this: Stitchin' Heaven: Texas' Premier Quilt Shop featuring Block of the Month, Quilt Kits, Fabrics, Quilting Notions, Patterns and more! (http://store.stitchinheaven.com/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Store_id=203&page_id=23&Item_ID=14427))

February - hearts Heart Quilt Block Pattern - 8 - Quilting (http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art9407.asp)

March - daffodil and/or crocus http://www.geocities.com/pcpiecers/daffodilcrocus.html

June - fish http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/6649/a_fish6.jpg or Free Paper Pieced Fish Pattern for Quilting (http://www.ilovetocraft.com/quilting/paperfish.shtml) for example

December - well, I still like the fir tree or a bare tree. :)

I'm starting with the fabric square the right size, then cutting things and attaching them - like the tree block swap we just finished. Some people cut different fabrics to sew together, but I'm just not that talented at this point in my life - LOL. Margaret posted finished pictures of her quilt - I did the 'naked trees' - cut them, sewed them on a background, and I used snowflake buttons to make it snowy :) SO, I don't think I'm actually piecing, but it's a finished square when I'm done, so I"m happy.

Margaret.. I love the brainstorming :)

if someone wants to do either month I'm doing, I'd be happy to change to something else if need be... I just want two - one to keep plus one for gifting, but I'll pick up another spot if I need to.

more ideas..
Jan.. something with snow.. a snowman, a tree with snow
Feb.. a vase with flowers, a box of candy
March.. a lion and lamb, a tree with blossoms
June.. beach scene, a shovel and pail
December.. gingerbread men or a gingerbread house

Bare/Bear (which is it?) with me, I have never made a quilt, how does one piece? Cut out smaller pieces to make up a square that is the right size?
I might do a month with snowmen, maybe Jan?
I love snowmen!
LMK!
Yes, you sew smaller pieces together to make a bigger square, or you could applique pieces of fabric on top of other fabric ... and remember that 1/4" all the way around is going to be "hidden" in the seams of the finished product.

Ok I'll take Jan and do snowmen or just snowflakes if you guys don't want snowmen.
And in March could I do chicks? Like Spiring Chicks? My Jane loves anything ducks and chickens. Anyway if chicks aren't Eastery I will take March too.

I didn't mean to discourage you from snowmen - I'd been composing that other post over some time (looking for links and such), and didn't read your post before I posted it. (Can I say "post" any more times in one sentence and still have it make any sense? :)) And I think chicks are not just Easter - they're a harbinger of spring. Like robins or lambs.

I didn't mean to discourage you from snowmen - I'd been composing that other post over some time (looking for links and such), and didn't read your post before I posted it. (Can I say "post" any more times in one sentence and still have it make any sense? :)) And I think chicks are not just Easter - they're a harbinger of spring. Like robins or lambs.

Oh no, I just wasn't sure if everyone liked snowmen as much as I do :lol:

Oh no, I just wasn't sure if everyone liked snowmen as much as I do :lol:

I'm a big fan :)

I love snowmen and chicks :)

thank you all for helping with next years holiday gift list - LOL.

Ok - so I'm terribly curious about doing something like this.
Am I right that once the 12 months are covered, you're done with sign-ups, and that then each person is obligated to piece 12 squares for their month of choice?

While looking on ebay for some fabric I saw some cute ideas for Dec.
Snowglobes or maybe do mittens.

I would love to do Feb if it is still available!

Ok - so I'm terribly curious about doing something like this.
Am I right that once the 12 months are covered, you're done with sign-ups, and that then each person is obligated to piece 12 squares for their month of choice?

yep.. and you'll get the whole year that you can make into a wall hanging or small quilt :)

Mindi, I'm trying to envision how to do a snowglobe.. I switched from October to Dec, but I'm not quite sure what exactly I'm going to do.. either a naked tree like I did for the other swap (if my other tree swap buddies don't have an issue with that), or something gingerbread.. but now I'm intrigued by the snowglobe idea. I also picked up June, since I realized I could send one to Eric's Dad and step mom and cross them off my gift list :)

so now, Oct. is the only one open.

I'm thinking shipping by March 15th, to give everyone plenty of time.

I'll take October. I'm either thinking pumpkins or leaves. Let me do some looking and see what I can come up with for sure.

yep.. and you'll get the whole year that you can make into a wall hanging or small quilt :)

Mindi, I'm trying to envision how to do a snowglobe.. I switched from October to Dec, but I'm not quite sure what exactly I'm going to do.. either a naked tree like I did for the other swap (if my other tree swap buddies don't have an issue with that), or something gingerbread.. but now I'm intrigued by the snowglobe idea. I also picked up June, since I realized I could send one to Eric's Dad and step mom and cross them off my gift list :)

so now, Oct. is the only one open.

I'm thinking shipping by March 15th, to give everyone plenty of time.
I'm not sure how you could piece or applique one, but there were some really cute printed fabrics of snowglobes so that is what made me think that if someone could figure it out, it would be really cute!
I thought gingerbread would be neat too!
I am so excited, this will be my first quilt! I was thinking of giving them to Clara and Jane for their room when we move.

I'll take October. I'm either thinking pumpkins or leaves. Let me do some looking and see what I can come up with for sure.

got you! Hastings is doing something leaf related for November, just so you know :)

We're full! I'm terribly excited about all of this :)

I love the idea for having them for a sisters room.. very unique!

Dang I missed it!

I missed it too!
Amy - want to start a second quilt??

I'll start a second one. What months do y'all want? :)

I want March, April and May please!

March - Baseball - Opening Day!
April - Earth Day - something cool
May - Mothers - not sure what it'll look like yet ;)

Here's a site that has various monthy auspicious dates if anyone is having trouble thinking of something...

Monthly Holidays and Celebrations (http://www.suelebeau.com/months.htm)

I want March, April and May please!

March - Baseball - Opening Day!
April - Earth Day - something cool
May - Mothers - not sure what it'll look like yet ;)

Here's a site that has various monthy auspicious dates if anyone is having trouble thinking of something...

Monthly Holidays and Celebrations (http://www.suelebeau.com/months.htm)

Ok, I'm inspired. May I have September in the second quilt? I'll do a drunkard's path block. Its one of my favorite blocks ever anyway but I can't resist this reasoning. Amy's link has Sept 28th as the day Harriet Tubman led her parents to freedom and then I ran across this Quilts of the Underground Railroad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilts_of_the_Underground_Railroad)

Hastings, that sounds very, very cool. Got it to here :)

Since Amy's doing Mothers, someone needs to do Fathers! Maybe a shirt with a tie or something..

found this site, you can search by month Earth Calendar (http://www.earthcalendar.net/_php/DateSearch.php)

I would love Feb for the second quilt. i'm going to do appliqued hearts

Could I do fish for June in the 2nd quilt?

got it :)

I'll take November - no idea what I'll create, but I'd better claim a month before they are all gone! :)

bumping for people who read new posts :heart:

Can I have August? I'm thinking a boat of some kind, maybe a sailboat.

This is my first swap :)

got it! Welcome :)

How's everyone doing on these? I must have been too enthusiastic - I finished mine this morning. :drop:

haven't gotten much done yet, due to a child with hives followed by a child vomiting. *sigh* I need to go cut fabric later, so I can do it as needed :)

I'm doing the applique ones now. Just working on them a bit in the evenings so they aren't going fast but they're coming along.

Haven't even started...I need to get my bum in gear!

Haven't even started...I need to get my bum in gear!

I haven't either!! I did make a list of what I need to get.
I am stumped on what to make my snowmen out of. I thought fleece would be neat, but not sure if I want to use it. Maybe just white flannel? Or should I use something shiny/glittery? Not overly shiny but kind of like snow.

How about a crisp white woven, maybe with an underlying white-on-white pattern? Sometimes they have those in the quilt backings fabric.

So does anyone want to post theirs, if you are finished?
I have all my fabrics washed, and tonight I drew up some ideas, I was hoping to see some others before I start.

So does anyone want to post theirs, if you are finished?
I have all my fabrics washed, and tonight I drew up some ideas, I was hoping to see some others before I start.

I've got my fabric washed too, and know what I am doing. But havent started yet...lol. No day off from work this week too...ugh. I think I have Sunday and next week Wednesday off. Planning to work on it lots Wednesday.

I am going to go ahead and start on mine. I'll just say they are very whimsical! So I hope they are ok.

Here's mine:
http://www.kjsl.com/~gibbsm/SewingMamas/q_squares01.jpg

Looking forward to seeing others'!

Very nice... :)

I'm starting mine this week. I don't want to miss the big sale at JoAnn's today. I'll post a pic when they are finished.

-Jeannine

Update and Question...

I have completed the base to my squares, so the next step is to do the applique. Now, here is my question.

The fusable interfacing that I have requires the fabric to be sewn down at the edges. My choosen image is a slice of watermelon. Should I sew down all the edges with a simple stitch or no stitch to let the reciptiant quilt as they wish or do a full blown decorative stitch? The slices are on the small side, so I am going to keep them as simple as possible, but that also leads me to think that too much stitching would be overkill.

What should I do?

Here is the pattern I used... Howstuffworks "Watermelon Quilt Block" (http://www.howstuffworks.com/watermelon-quilt-block.htm)

*edit* I don't think I'm going to applique all those tiny seeds. I was going to either draw them or hand stitch them on. That would be a little crazy trying to cut, steam and sew 120 tiny pieces of black fabric...ya think?!

-Jeannine

Jeannine,
I think a simple stitch would be perfect.

Ok. That sounds do-able.

Thanks

I'm having trouble with my sewing machine, I may have to drop...

would it help if I extended the deadline? Anyone else need it? I could use it too.. got off to a slow start because of the chicken pox.

would it help if I extended the deadline? Anyone else need it? I could use it too.. got off to a slow start because of the chicken pox.


Potentially...I need to see what it will cost to have it checked out, then a repair quote.

More time would help though!

whatcha want? a month? no one has sent to me yet, so I wouldn't think that there would be a problem with pushing it back...

how is everyone else doing? Anyone have a problem with pushing back the deadline?

I have no problem with pushing the deadline. I'm not yet done, could be by due date - as planned...but more time would help :)

I will have mine ready to ship soon, but I can wait :)

I'd so much rather give extra time now and have people have a chance to get them done.. would april 15th work? it'd be easy to remember since it's tax day - LOL

I'd so much rather give extra time now and have people have a chance to get them done.. would april 15th work? it'd be easy to remember since it's tax day - LOL


That definitely helps...

Yes. I would be totally ok with pushing the deadline

I would fall on my face and kiss your feet if you extended the deadline! I'm stuck in "Book Fair HELL" here right now - all work and no one to help me!
I've been trying to figure out how to carve out more hours in the day to get these done too.

LOL - good. It always cracks me up how no one wants to be the one to ask, but when someone does, there are always lots of us in the same boat.

Lets go with April 15th.

Margaret's came today and are absolutely beautiful. I love the swirly fabric with some of the fish..

I'm fine with it, too - I'd MUCH rather get other people's finished squares coming back to me, rather than more than 1 each of my own! It would be a pretty boring quilt without the variety. :)

I'm in no hurry. I'm not completely finished either, so the extra time would be helpful.

I've gotten a couple PMs about spring breaks and the like.. our new official due date will be May 1st. :) I'll put that in the OP too.

Bless you. ;)

LOL - no problem :)

OKay Ladies - I came here to throw in the towel - can't figure out a darn thing to do for either of my months. I've tried and discarded a number of ideas as too intriquite, too time consuming, too obscure. Now I see that the deadline is farther back than I had thought, so I'm tempted to try some more, but I really don't know if I've got it in me.
Before I completely drop out, can anyone suggest something basic, easy even, for June and November?

June, I was going to do a kite. seemed fairly simple - I'd planned on just a diamond shape (probably 4 pieces with different colors, but you could just do a diamond).. a ribbon down the middle and across for the cross pieces, and I was going to sew on those little bows onto the kite string. Or.. make a tie for father's day. That'd be fairly easy too.

for Nov.. what about a turkey? I'll think more on that one..

don't drop out!!

I don't want you to drop out either. :)

For June, you can just pick your favorite block pattern and use some cool summer fabrics. Like the bright tutti fruti fabrics at JoAnns. Just think summer.

For November, think harvest. Falling leaves, grain... oooooh if you can find a fabric that looks like grain you can do a simple pattern that looks like a field of grain. You could make a skyline in blue with fields of grain in the bottom half. No applique, just piecing. Go a step further and attach a small bunch of dried stalks... doesn't have to be the real thing, as long as it suggests wheat.

Go to the fabric store and brain storm! Or ask for suggestions at your local quilt store. I'm sure they can help you think of a few ideas.

HTH
-Jeannine

Here's an example of a leaf I did for a fall quilt swap here a few years ago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v56/mamadulce/IM000869.jpg



I haven't mailed mine yet, but promise to this week.

Here's that quilt sewn up so you can get some ideas what others did for fall (with my now 20 y.o. but she must have been about 17 in the pic?, who I gave the quilt to)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/momkas2002/Ariana/IM001112.jpg

Kathy, you're good.. we moved the date back to May 1st.

Whew! I'm shipping my squares out tomorrow. Sorry ladies... I punked out on the seeds for my watermelon slices. My life is just too crazy to get that detailed. Just think of them as "seedless". ;)

-Jeannine

Those are BEAUTIFUL, Jean! I hope everyone else is getting close to being done, too! I'm looking forward to getting these!

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh44/tisme78/CIMG0036.jpg

I got these mailed out last week :) (sorry it's so big, I cant get it to resize)

Those are super, Emily! anyone else have pictures to share?

Those are super, Emily! anyone else have pictures to share?

Thanks :) I was kinda nervous, this being my first swap and all and me not being a professional...:lol: I had a blast making them!

I'm headed to the post office now.

My machine died after a almost 2 yr old stuck about 50 straight pins in an opening. I borrowed a friends machine and thought I finished all of them. I should have mailed them back then but I had thoughts of hand sewing leaves onto the pumpkins. That didn't happened.

I had May 15th stuck in my head (that was another swap) and pulled them out to mail yesterday and noticed one pumpkin wasn't sewed on the last square. So I decided to take both pumpkins off all the squares and sew lines on them to make them look more like pumpkins. A million hours later I'm done.
This was my first applique project. They're not perfect but hopefully everyone will like theirs. If I missed a thread or two please excuse me. I'm headed to the post office now.

Jodi,
Have you received mine? I mailed them out last Friday before we left on vacation. I sure hope they arrive safely, I forgot to take any pictures. :)

I also forgot to enclose my address and a SASE. I'd be glad to send one out.:)

I also forgot to enclose my address and a SASE. I'd be glad to send one out.:)

I put my address, but I didnt put a envelope. I didnt know about that (newbie...lol)

I've recieved from Sonya, Margaret, Jennine and Emily/Tisme.

I'm pretty sure I've got enveloppes to send them back in, so don't worry. :)

Alright. 2 more squares left to finish and mine will go out on Tuesday. :)

Oops - sorry I forgot the SASE! Just let me know how much I owe for return postage. Thanks!

Just wanted to let you know I mailed mine priority Thursday morning.

I'll get mine out asap. I thought it was the 15th. Jodi, please pm me your addy.

That's okay, Cassie :) Kathy, yours came. :)

I'm going out of town in a couple days, so it'll be next week at earliest that they'll be sent back. If anyone is running late, I'd rather wait than have people drop out or anything, kwim?

How is this swap coming along, Jodi? Could you update the first page to let us know which squares have been received? I'm really looking forward to getting these! :)

haven't recieved anymore than what I'd posted here. I'll update the op one of these times when I'm not nak - that's a good idea. I've had several people tell me they're coming.. but they haven't arrived yet.

updated the OP, waiting on stuff from Amy, Hastings, afurrything and miahswife.

I'll be sending packages out at the end of this month, reguardless. If they're not here, they'll have to arrange direct swaps for the missing squares. I'm so very hoping that they all come though.. it'd suck to have a calendar missing months!

So I'm a toad. My machine was giving me fits at first, then I was so sick in March and April, then started at Intel, tennis elbow crept in, all these doctor appts and such...I completely blew this off with my brain in gear elsewhere. I'm sorry. :eyes: I don't know that I can finish them all off by the end of the month though...letting down the whole group is not fun, so what should I do now?

what if you wait to send mine until you finish them.. and if you pull mine and the ones you're doing for you off the list, that makes 5 of each you'd have to do right now rather than 12.. little less overwhelming. Then you can work on the 4 for me and the 3 for yourself, but I can still get these turned around to everyone else... I'll be down there late July when Rebecca comes if you're done with mine by then.. or you can send them up.

what if you wait to send mine until you finish them.. and if you pull mine and the ones you're doing for you off the list, that makes 5 of each you'd have to do right now rather than 12.. little less overwhelming. Then you can work on the 4 for me and the 3 for yourself, but I can still get these turned around to everyone else... I'll be down there late July when Rebecca comes if you're done with mine by then.. or you can send them up.

That is much more doable, thanks mama! :hug:

we're going out of town soon... all quilt squares in my posession will be mailed out either Monday July 14th or Tuesday July 15th (depends on whether there are any waiting at the post office for me on the 14th when we get our mail delivered when we come home and if I can get it turned around the same day or have to wait until the next morning). I won't delay it past that date.. so if you're one of my stragglers... I need it by then. :) If it's not here, you'll have to arrange one on one trades to get the other quilt squares.

amy, I can save you return shipping and bring it when I come down at the end of July if you'd prefer, since it's not that big of a time difference.

thank you :)

That's great mama, I'm a hair's breadth from being done with mine, and they will go out this week. They are turning out really neat. :)

Thank you to all of you who were actually on time and for your patience with the rest of us. :o

Amy, put them in the swap box if they'll fit, and save shipping :)

I feel so badly that I still haven't finished these.
I had started them and made some but then saw the ones posted and I was really doing more of appliqueing and not piecing, so I got frustrated and stopped making them.
Then I just got busy, didn't even have any time to come here for a few months. Life has been crazy busy the past few months with legal matters,then flying to SC and all the planning that went into that. Now dealing with a few more things and my brain is racked.
Anyway if you want I can try to get these done sometime in July or if someone else wants to take over for me I can send you all the fabrics I bought to make them.
I just feel horrible about not getting them finished. I shouldn't have signed up as I am not a quilter, I think it was way over my head.
Just let me know what you want me to do, you can pm or email me, ilovewescaddle@yahoo.com

mine are appliqued! I don't do fancy piecing... I'm too much a beginner :)

I'd love for you to still participate.. try to get them done!

Ok I will work on them hopefully this weekend.
I just wasn't sure they would work out, if they would match enough, since mine are way different. I have most of the snowmen done, need to finish those up and do the chicks.

Mindi mine are applique too. ;)

Mindi mine are applique too. ;)

Me 3

just a reminder.. I'm leaving town, and when i return, these will be going back out.. all slackers.. nows the time to get them in!

CRAP!!!! Mine are done and will go out tomorrow I promise! I am so sorry I have become such a slacker :(

Mindi - Mine were appliqued too (I think!) :)

Mindi - Mine were appliqued too (I think!) :)


Mine too! If I knew I had more time I would have kept them and put leaves and vines on my pumpkins.

Ok these are going to be done this week. I planned to finish them yesterday but was at the baby shower from hell all day.
Anyway they are coming along nicely and will be sent out this week.
Jody can you pm or email me your address.
Thanks everyone for being so patient.

I finally got mine out on Saturday, they should be there today or tomorrow along with the round robin swap box. :)

I'm really happy with one square, moderately happy with the 2nd and minimally happy with the third and most difficult in the end. I hope y'all aren't expecting professional quality squares!

I recieved them, and they're beautiful Amy! I also recieved from Miahswife.

Mindi just posted - I'm PMing her my address, and Hastings said she'd ship hers in the morning, so they're almost all here!

I had a uterine biopsy tonight and am really crampy and sore - my dr. said I'm supposed to rest for a few days, and Thursday is all dr. apts. It'll be Friday to get these out if I've got the missing ones, otherwise I'll ship everything Monday.

I appologize for the delay with how long it's taken for these.

I recieved them, and they're beautiful Amy!
Thank you mama...the May/Mother's Day one was pesky...but I love the concept and the fabrics! :) I couldn't get pics of them cause I had to get to the PO before it closed!

I had a uterine biopsy tonight and am really crampy and sore - my dr. said I'm supposed to rest for a few days, and Thursday is all dr. apts. It'll be Friday to get these out if I've got the missing ones, otherwise I'll ship everything Monday.


Have I been under a rock? I'm sorry you're going through all that mama, hope you get good news and do take care of yourself!

I'm not gonna complain about any supposed tardiness since I'm one of the slackers that has drug this on for months beyond our original date! :o I hope it is worth the wait for all the timely mamas who have been so patient. :smooch:

I didn't post much about it - there's so many with bigger things going on. My dr. said the tissue looks good, so she'd be surprized if it came back cancerous - but we need to rule that out as what's been going on with me. Hopefully I'll know by the end of the week, maybe next.

:hug: Jodi! Thanks for putting up with all of my tardiness too. Take care of you!

Jodi, take care of yourself!

Am looking forward to seeing all the squares, and SO glad that everyone was able to finish!

This week has really sucked. Thank you all so much for your patience. Mindi, are you done yet? Have you sent? If not, please let me know if you can get it out either Monday or Tuesday so that I can get these turned around. I've recieved from everyone else. :)