OK - Its time for WasaNewbieJean to start a blog!

Peppermint Twist Table Runner

Hello all! If you're involved in Craftsy's FREE Block of the Month we may have already met. I joined in February of 2012 with the goal of becoming a real quilter. Since then I've learned a lot and am totally hooked. These days its hard to leave my machine. The creative juices are flowing and I'm having a ball!

Many of my fellow Craftsy BOMers have blogs. I've begun to follow quite a few and will add them here once I figure this blogging thing out (newbie). For now I'm learning as I go!

Since this is my beginning as a blogger let's start with some history on what has led "NewbieJean", who is now "WasaNewbieJean" here... :D

I recently rediscovered my love of sewing when I got involved piecing (how about that for a quilting term!) 8" squares with a group making Blankets of Love for the homeless. I soon began making quilted totes using charm packs then invented the "Pretty Mini Tote" (more on that later) as a hostess gift for a Ladies Tea. In the process of online fabric shopping I came across Craftsy' Block of the Month and hopped on board and set out to achieve my goal to become a "real" quilter.

I quickly caught up with all four (4) Jan & Feb blocks using a small FQ bundle purchased some time ago. I also quickly began running out of fabric! Unfortunately, buying coordinating new fabrics became an immense challenge as today's offerings seem to be all bright colors and bold patterns. 1st lesson learned the hard way: Buy enough fabric up front! Here's a block using the original colorway and some newer fabrics:

Wonky Log Cabin

Next came the March "string" blocks which are made with strips. I have lots of Black,White & Red scraps from making totes so why not use those?

The Broken Spider Block

While making this block I had such fun "revisiting" many of my favorite B,W&R fabrics I decided to make a 2nd BOM quilt using just these three colors. So- I went back and made Jan & Feb blocks in B,W&R.

From the very start I have learned so much. I'm riding a bell curve and its headed straight up! I became familiar with Fat Quarters and Charm Packs making totes. But I had no idea what a Half Square Triangle or Dresden Plate or - well lots of quilting terms - mean. Six (6) short months later I do! As I picked up the semantics of quilting and skills with each block I began to experiment with design. One of my 1st creations was inspired by Amy Gibson's (BOM teacher) Feb block: the Balkan Puzzle. I call my block the Balkan Framed Square. Here's a layout using tone-on-tone fabrics I have yet to finish:

The Balkan Framed Square
Thank you Amy for encouraging me!

You can view a sampler of this block in other fabrics that shows the design process here.

Here are some of my favorite blocks. Please visit my Craftsy projects to view more.

String Block

Hexi Spiral (challenge block)

Sunny With a Chance of Play

Wonky Log Cabin

Along the way I've met so many wonderful quilters from all around the world. I've been inspired by their work over and over. They have encouraged me and finally convinced me I am no longer NewbieJean. I've become WasaNewbieJean and I'm well on my way to being a "real" quilter.

Now its time to learn Free Motion Quilting to finish my Block of the Month Quilt. Craftsy offers a number of classes that will help me in this endeavor. Perhaps one day I'll become "NotaNewbieJean"...

BTW- Amy's Block of the Month is STILL going on! You can join at any time and return as often as you wish. Membership grows every day and the project gallery just keeps getting bigger. Craftsy is a wonderful community. The classes have video lessons and instructions to print out. There are several forms of question/answer and communication/conversation formats. Members upload photos of their work and receive comments. Not only is BOM  FREE but its never ending. You can return to the lessons as often as you wish. They will never go away. As I mentioned there are other classes. Not only for Quilting, but Sewing, Cake Decorating, Knitting, Crocheting... the list grows all the time. The free offerings are great places to sample out Craftsy Classes. Check 'em out! 

Thanks for visiting! My next post will have details on my latest project: the "Peppermint Twist Table Runner". Here's a a sneak peak at the finished runner which is a gift for my daughter. If you can't wait visit my Craftsy project page for full details.

Merry Christmas!