on the road sewing + bee blocks

When I was young we took lots of cross country road trips. I spent hours in the back of our Chevy Lumina minivan (which we dubbed the "dust buster" given it's odd shape) creating elaborate, beaded macrame jewelry. Once I got old enough to drive I realized how much it sucks not being a passenger. It's impossible to get my craft on if I have to keep my eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel. Enter Jon, who loves to drive, who drives me anywhere and everywhere all the time. And only gives me the slightest bit of shit over my compulsive need to sew while riding shotgun.

Speaking of EPP on the road, I've been making some cute blocks out of antique/vintage fabric scraps. They're kind of along the lines of Clare's rose star blocks, only not really since they're scrappier, made from all kite shapes and I'm not adding the outer two rows. But those rose stars certainly were my original inspiration. I just love how you can dice up a hexagon and make so many different things from its pieces.

I have four of these hand-sewn blocks pieced and was thinking I'd float them on the natural quilter's muslin I used to cover this gigantor ironing/pressing board I made (with the help of my handyman). I got it at my LQS for $5/yd and it's heavier weight than normal muslin. I think it works really well with these old fabrics.

The pressing board is something I've wanted to make for forever and has been super useful while working on some far flung bee blocks for Holly. She asked for mod mosaic blocks using our scraps, with a color gradient and odd/unsquare shape. I have to finish the red-purple-blue one tonight so I can mail them off ASAP, as these were July's blocks and I'm a major tool for being so behind.

In my defense, my sewing room and supplies were in a horrific state of chaos (I'd never really finished "moving in") until recently when I finally got my butt in gear and organized the hoard. It's only slightly better now but I can at least move around in there and find what I need to make stuff. Ah, progress.

We'll be on the road again this weekend and I'll be taking full advantage of my passenger status, as usual :D

edit to add: yesterday I stumbled across Cindy's Really Random Thursday link-up and told her I'd wished this post were more random so it would fit the bill. She told me to link up anyway, so I did! Go check it out, there's some great randomness going on.