A New Member and Our New Look

Let's give a warm welcome to another new member of our group.  Sally Burrup has agreed to join us.  We are so excited to have her as one of our piece traders. 

I edited the post "A Late January Square" to include Sally's name on her inspiration square and to post the size the finished square should be.  Unless otherwise specified, all finished squares should measure 12.5 x 12.5.

Mardie, I love the new look for the blog.  You did a wonderful job.

A Late January Square

Before I got so sick this past fall I had the idea that I wanted to do a Christmas tree quilt.  I know we've all packed up our decorations trees, and the last thing you probably want to do is design a Christmas tree.....but I really, really want one.  Our January square will be an applique pattern.  I have some pictures of tree shapes that I like.  I will assign each person a picture to use as their inspiration.  The tree doesn't have to look exactly like the picture, just a general interpretation.  You can put one or one hundred (that might be a little hard) trees on the square.  You can add elements to your square such as presents, ornaments, scenes, etc. to satisfy your creative pangs.  The only reason I am giving inspiration trees is to keep all the trees from looking the same.  I would like traditional Christmas colors used.  Bold reds, blues, greens,and gold.  The only thing that I request is that you use the following material somewhere in your square.  It doesn't have to be the main color, just a piece of it somewhere.  The square needs to be done on plain white material without any designs or white on white pieces.   It should measure 12.5 x 12.3 when completed.  Here is the material:

Here is a sample of some of the colors that I have chosen for my square to give you an idea of the tones I would like:

And now for the inspiration trees:

Emily

Jennifer S.

 Jennifer R.

Sherrie T.

Sally Burrup

Julie

Vanitta

Marnita

Llewellyn:

Sherrie D.

Mardie:

Connie:

I can't wait to see what everyone is inspired to create!

Trading Pieces Month by Month

I am so excited to start the quilts for 2012.  I wrote everyone's name on a slip of paper, shook them up, shook them up again and drew for monthly assignments.  Since it is so late in January I will take that month.  I will post the tutorial ASAP.  Some of you already have a strip of fabric that I would like you to use in your square.  I will get the material to all others this week.  Since it is so late in the month, you can take a little extra time to complete it.  Our goal will be to have January's square completed by February 29th.

Here are the assignments by month:

January - Marnita
February - Jennifer S.
March - Vanitta
April - Julie
May - Sherrie T.
June - Sallie
July - Emily
August - Mardie
September - Connie
October - Jennifer R
November - Sherrie D.
December - Llewellyn

Llewellyn, I swear I didn't rig this.  I don't know how I manage to draw your name for the holiday month each time!

I will work up an address list for us and email to each one of you so that we can get fabric or completed squares to each piece trader.  If any of these months are a problem for any of you, please let me know and I might be able to switch with someone.  Connie, isn't it nice that I didn't draw your name for March or April since you will be running yourself ragged getting Sarah's wedding ready?  Again, just a random thing that worked in your favor.

A Great New Look

Many thanks to Mardie Tobler and Elizabeth Holman for offering to spruce up our blog.  I can't wait to see the finished project.

Excited to get started...

I'm excited to get started as well. I think your list of do's and don'ts, are great Marnita. I do think Nov. and Dec. are hard months to get done, although I don't know what the solution is. Thank you Marnita for putting us all back together again. (Sounds like a nursery rhyme)

Happy New Year!

Excited to say Julie and I are excited to be part of your group!  For mailing ease, just get the squares to me or Jennifer Russel and I'll send them to Julie for FREE!  I am going to visit Julie in June and maybe July too.  Hope that helps!

Loves and Kisses and Cute Quilt Wishes,
Jennifer and Julie

Welcome, Welcome

Trading Pieces wishes a warm welcome to three new members:

Sherrie Dillon (Jennifer R.'s aunt)
Sherrie Torgerson  (Jennifer R.'s sister)
Vanitta Turnbull  (Jennifer R.'s mother)

We are so excited to have you in our group and look forward to seeing your creations.

Fond Farewells

Trading Pieces wishes a goodbye to:

Nikki Webster
Courtney Sanderson
Kristin Beaumont
Lara McElderry
Terri Bailey

We are going to miss each of you.  We know you will be following our blog so we won't be losing you entirely.

Thank you all so much for all the great work on the quilt pieces.

A New Year, A New Commitment

To help our virtual bee run a little more smoothly, we will be implementing the following rules.  I hope everyone is in agreement with them.  I speak with tongue in cheek since I have not been fully committed to the program this past year.  These rules are directed more to me than anyone else.  I apologize for the lack of commitment after starting this group.  I will just say that I hope I never have another year like last year!

Here are the things that make things run more smoother.

1.  Commitments
      We should all have a strong commitment to making beautiful quilt squares for each other.  Our squares should be finished by the last day of each month.  If this cannot be achieved due to circumstances beyond your control, please notify me so that I can let the recipient know when to expect the square. 
     We should turn in a square that is neatly sewn, following the instructions/guidelines of the recipient regarding square size, color theme, type of quilting, etc.  Our quilt pieces should show our best sewing talent.  Help can be provided on any pattern by each of us in a group. Please reach out if there is a particular problem. 

2.  Tutorials/Piece of the Month
     All tutorials should be posted no later than the 5th day of the month.  Please notify me if this will be a problem.  We might be able to do some switching around.
     Please make tutorials as clear as possible.  Sew your square using your tutorial to make certain all group members can follow it.
     Please be very specific about the materials that you want (white on white background vs. plain white background) so that your squares are coordinated and go together when it is time to piece your quilt.  Be very specific about complimentary colors that you would like.  Please show examples of the colors or theme that you are asking for. 
     If your square requires more material than the norm (12 x 12) you may want to provide it yourself.  The quilting bee should not be an expensive hobby for anyone.  If you have specific material quality, specific colors, etc., you should think about providing them to the group.  Otherwise we should be able to go to our scrap pieces to build your square.
     If anyone requires help producing a tutorial, please contact me or one of the other group members.  Everyone is happy to help out.

3.  Communication
     We need to have all communication taking place on one venue.  The facebook group is going to be discontinued and the blog will be our source of communication.
     Everyone should post their finished square (picture and a few words) before the end of the month.  Everyone wants to see all the creativity.
     Everyone is encouraged to share other projects on the blog.  We can all use a little inspiration.  Your other projects can be anything you are doing.  It doesn't have to be about quilting only. 
     Everyone should post a picture of the finished project.  We will all be excited to see how you pieced all the squares.  Don't let the pieces be dust collectors, let them become beautiful works of art that can be used or displayed.

4.  Delivery of Squares
     Everyone should deliver squares promptly after they are finished.  No one should have to wait more than 15 days after their month.  There will be some expense in shipping/mailing squares to those members that do not reside in the Little Rock area.  If we all communicate, we could probably cut the expenses by doing one packet for mail out.

5.  If you want to provide materials for your square, please plan to have the material in every one's hand by the 5th of the month.

Please let me know if you are all comfortable with these guidelines and are ready to commit to a great 2012!


  

Hello 2012!

Hi guys! If you haven't responded to Marnita's question: "Are you interested in returning to Trading Pieces for a FABULOUS February 2012 START", please do so quickly! My sewing machine is sitting in the corner purring at me ready to get started! .......Whoooooooooo's IN?????

Also, do you have Llewellen's block? I have one, and I think Marnita has one... Anyone else?

Let's get busy!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!