buzzy bee blocks...

 every now an then something comes along that you get a little bit excited about.

yesterday a very lovely Flickr contact asked me if i could make her up some scrap packs for her turn in the bee she is in.

she wanted to send a selection out to her bee mates, along with some coordinating solids to make blocks inspired by the ones ashley had done.

this was an unbelievable compliment, firstly because i am a huge fan of ashley's and secondly because i just love umbrella prints (the ones that Ashley used in her blocks).

i made up a block for her yesterday because i couldn't resist trying one out for myself i said i would do a sample for her bee guys and gals and i am beyond ridiculously excited at the thought of all these blocks being made with my fabrics by all the bee peeps. i can not wait to see how this turns out and i think i may not be able to resist further making my own quilt of them too.

i am not going to ruin it by mentioning who bought this or which bee they are for, but if you have a little pack come through your door i hope you have fun and i can't wait to see what you do with them!

Here's the finished cot quilt that I was doing this week to take to one of my stockists. I'm really pleased with how it turned out and is the beginning of a new range for them.

I backed it in Ikea's House fabric (I'm sure it's not called that. In fact I'm positive it isn't...it doesn't sound very Swedish does it?) which I love. I love the childlike bold illustration. All in all I am pleased how it turned out.

But it got me thinking...What's your view on binding?

My quilting journey is very much a learn as I go along adventure, seeing what works for me and what I like. I'm pretty much in a place where the quilt top is a style that suits me...little fuss and letting beautiful fabrics do the talking.

But when it comes to binding I'm a little bit stumped. My initial reaction to it is that it is an added detail that is more fuss than I am generally drawn to.

But like everything, my thoughts are changing as my journey continues. I still like the simplicity of a quilt without binding. Take this gorgeous quilt by Manda. Again the beauty is in the fabrics and to me it is complete without binding. In fact a binding would detract from the beauty of it. Make it too perfect. Is it the simplicity of a design that doesn't need a frame to hold it all together?

But that's not the case here in Ashley's stunning quilt. Still, the use of a simple style and stunning fabrics, but all framed with a coordinating binding that pulls it all together. Would it work as well without a binding? Is it the large size that forces it to need holding together?

Is it a busier design that requires a binding? Would it float around aimlessly without the binding to hold it all together. I can't imagine Kate's beautifully worked piece without the binding.

So is it the size? Design? Complexity? Or am I just too much of a shirking, corner cutting quilting novice to think that no binding is ever right?

What's your view on binding?