Economy Blocks-March Craftsy BLock of the Month-

Jana and I are still working together on our Craftsy 2013 Block of the Month quilts. If you have been following our progress you know that grandma (me) is doing the quilt in reproduction fabrics. I am old school. Jana has decided to be thoroughly modern and use bright colors and modern prints. She is new school. So the old school/new school project continues.

March's block is the economy block. It included a drafting lesson, which I am sure will come in handy some day. I'll have to go back and watch it again. I admit that I was not paying attention. This weekend we just wanted to get our blocks done? My January and February blocks where a little on the dull side so I decide to brighten things up with another fabric that I feel compliments the reproduction fabric. Here is my block.

Grandma's old school Economy Block.

Jana has contiued with her cheerful bright selections. She had considered using orange for her setting triangles, but we thought it might overpower the block. She went with blue instead. I think it turned out beautiful. I have no idea what kind of fabric she will end up using for her background. In the project picture the background all appears to be a white/natural fabric. I am not sure if using the blue in this block will throw a wrench into the process or not. She is pretty adventurous and is trusting her instincts. We tried out several fabrics before she pick this blue. I am actually pretty amazed at the  "eye" she is developing at her young age.  Here is her "new school" block.

Jana's Economy Block

This project has been very good for learning how to carry a color theme through the various blocks. Each month the blocks have been very different, and since we are both doing our own fabric thing it is exciting to see how these blocks are coming together. For now Jana has used the dark blue in each block. She also used the red fabric in her February block.

old school-new school

Grandma and granddaughter-side by side.

So we are keeping up with the project and excited for each month to come along so we can do the next block. Stay tuned and keep quilting together!

Craftsy BOM 2013-Old School VS Modern

This weekend my granddaughter Jana and I have been catching up on the Craftsy BOM for 2013. We where not sure if we where going to do it. Jana started with the Sugar Block Club as her project, but the second month was paper piecing. Now neither of us have the patience, so for now that has been put aside.

Jana and Grandma (me) with a cool pincushion grandpa made.

We wanted  our own project, but one we could do it together. We decided that we each will do our own Crafts 2013 BOM quilt. For the last few months I had been picking up reproduction fabrics. This not usually my taste, but I was feeling a little historic, thinking about ancestry, etc and thought I'd pay a little homage to the past and use this fabric.

Jana on the other hand is a thoroughly modern 10 year old. She is into light and bright, wild and funky. As you can image her fabric choices are electric.

Since we got a late start we spent our weekend catching up. We have both done lots of log cabin blocks, so January was an easy assignment. It is actually very interesting to see the difference fabric makes in a quilt.

Modern Jana on left- Reproduction for Grandma on right

February assignment is 3 blocks with partial seams. Neither one of us had made  blocks with partial seams before. The video lesson was very helpful. You will love Jana's philosophy. "Grandma you make yours first, that way if you make a mistake by the time I do mine we will know the right way", she said.

I have to admit I did get a little turned around. But she was right by the time I got mine done we had figured it all out, worked out the kinks and hers came together easily. She was a little nervous at first, but quickly gained confidence.

Jana with  January and February Blocks

You might notice that Jana likes to sew in her pajamas. Are there any of you out there who do the same? Jana is also still wearing the back brace from the spinal fusion she had on December 12th. Hopefully she will be able to stop wearing it after her next appointment the end of March. So for now she is just taking it easy.

Modern  vs Reproduction

If I am being honest I must say I am finding the modern more inviting, but I am sticking with my fabric choices. I am going to sneak a few more colorful pieces in along the way. This quilt is about learning new skills and quilting together so we have room for flexibility.

 All of our blocks plus her new pincushion. It's made from lace wood. 

Jana in her own words.

My name is Jana and I will be 11 in April. I have been sewing with my grandma ever since I was 8. I have been making quilts for a year. My favorite colored fabrics are pink,purple,red,and blue. Look at papa don't peek to see the secret project I am making for my dad.

This is our sewing space.

I like to organize my pins by shape and color.

 

This is me sewing one of the blocks for my dad.

This is me ironing a block for my dad.    I LOVE TO IRON!!

Do you know someone my age who likes to sew?

Jana and the Sugar Block Club

My granddaughter Jana has been sewing for a little over a year. As she likes to say, she is going on 11. Last year we did the Craftsy BOM. At times she decided the block was too much (paper piecing) and instead we did a wonky, scrappy block or more Ohio Stars. As she likes to say "It does not matter what we do, we are just having fun".

Jana  has been out of commission for the last month or so as she needed to have a spinal fusion. Surgery is over, and the worst part of the recovery. She is getting stronger each day. Despite wearing a back brace she is back to sewing. It is working out great because her activities are limited, no gym or recess, or rollerskating, climbing trees, walking in creeks, etc. Sewing has been a great way to fill the time and be creative.

We looked for a project for the coming year. She has one planned for her dad...we will blog about that later. But for now she decided on the Sugar Block Club (which we keep calling the Sugar Bowl Block of the Month). It promises to be a modern twist on some traditional blocks. Each month there is a new block and a recipe for something sweet. A link to that BOM and Stitchery Dickery Dock is on this blog. This month is  the Snow Blossom block and Banana Cream Whoopie pies. Jana changed it to Pumpkin Cream Whoopie Pies..After all we are just having fun.

Here are some pictures of Jana's progress on the first block.

Inspecting her work

Proud of the results

Happy with the results!

Oh yes, we can't forget the treats!

So good and so sweet!

 So besides sewing and quilting Jana is interested in another adventure. She wants to write together too. So she will be appearing as a guest blogger at times on this blog. After all we are just having fun, and quilting, and writing together.