Anyone fancy a fresh modern bee?

UPDATE on SUNDAY: We need one more member and comment 14 will probably be that member. If you're too late, leave a comment anyway and I'll group together the next 15 to be Fresh Modern Bee 2 if you'd like.

I've been wanting to join a fresh modern bee but nothing really came up on Flickr Quilting Bee Blocks that sparked my interest. So I decided to start a fresh modern quilting bee. The inspiration from the blocks can come from anywhere but I am thinking Film in the Fridge, Oh Frannson, Red Pepper, Crazy Mom etc. And of course there is also Fat Quarterly and the Flickr Fresh Modern Quilts page. And I am thinking fresh modern fabrics. I'm thinking straight, wonky, drunk (love), improv, mod, break the rules, there are no rules, bold, mad, bad - you get the picture. I am also thinking international (I'm in the UK), the more nationalities the better and the more styles and fabrics and ideas the better.

If I knew how to make a button, this would be the button. If anyone in our group turns out to be good at graphic design then hopefully they can come up with something better than this sorry attempt!


So here are the rules:

1. We will have 15 participants and 15 months. That way, if anyone drops out along the way, we will still hopefully have enough to make a whole quilt and, if everyone stays in the whole way, we will have 15 or 30 blocks each.

2. Start by leaving a comment on this post linking to your blog and/or flickr account. Let me know in your comment whose quilts you admire, what styles you like, what you're currently into (eg. hexagons, grey sashing, wonky blocks, flying geese etc.) and even what fabrics you're desperate to have the excuse to buy! I will gather more information once we have our final 15. I am ideally looking for participants with active blogs or flickr accounts so that I know they will be committed. If life takes over during the bee and you have to drop out for any reason, that's fine but please return any unused fabrics.

3. We will each be assigned a month. Post your inspiration mosaic and instructions on our Flickr page by the 1st of your month and post your fabrics out by that date or a week earlier if you're posting abroad. Before posting your fabrics, post a Flickr mail asking each bee member to confirm that they are still in. That way, we hope to avoid fabrics going missing.

4. You can ask for one block or two. Specify the size you want. Send enough fabrics for the blocks you want and state in your instructions whether bee members can add in anything from their stash. State also whether you would like the scraps back or not. Don't make enormous amounts of work for the members - don't ask them to do anything you wouldn't want to do yourself. This is supposed to be fun, not Dear Jane!

5. If you are making blocks, post sneak peeks and finished blocks on Flickr (and your own blog too if you have time) to keep us all updated. Let me and that month's member know, on Flickr or email or via a comment on my and their blog, if you are running late or having any difficulties.

6. Keep in touch, via the Flickr page (and blogs too if you have the time and energy) with photos, posts and comments - it is fun to get positive comments on stuff you've done! Post photos of every step along the way if you can.This rule kind of repeats rule 5 so I guess I'm not the best rulebook writer.

7. Post your finished blocks out by the end of the month, post on Flickr when they're sent (or post to say when they will be if you run late) and then post on Flickr when you have received your blocks. That way, we all know where we are.

8. If I've missed out any obvious rules or there are any you would like to add, let me know.

9. If we're ready, we'll start in June. If not, July.