Chris Dodsley @mbCD: kindness

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop

I'm so happy with my November NYC Mod Quilt Guild Bee Block. This month's Queen Bee Rossanna sent out an even more simple package than Queen Bee Maria did last month.

A rectangle of cream fabric printed with white roses and her instructions seemingly simple too -

Your inspirational word is: Kindness
which will be the motivation for your design ... easy to read on your block, any lettering. ... reflect how that inspirational word resonates with you. ... recreate those feelings into something wonderfully tangible that everyone else can see and feel inspired. Please use the piece of fabric provided for the background ... .

Well, such simple instructions create a huge dilemma: where to start and how to show kindness as a word on a block? As usual, I sat on the block for a couple of weeks, truth be told there were no ideas coming so I can't even say I was playing around with them but earlier this week it came to me - no need to mull it over, I just knew what I was going to do.

I decided to make an Inspirational Acts Of Kindness Block out of two types of fabric:

Type 1: fabric I have used to make gifts to give to others - my creative kindness to them; and
Type 2: fabric others have given to me - their kindness which helps and inspires me to create.

I believe whatever we create from fabric is a form of kindness to the recipient.

So here's my created piece of kindness fabric:

The top row is Type 1 fabrics - fabrics I've given to others while
the bottom row is Type 2 fabrics - fabrics given to me.

Then I printed out the words 'create' and 'kindness' - nothing fancy here, just a Word document and a normal sheet of standard printer paper.

I have a glass table which is just perfect to use as a light box to trace words/designs off onto fabric.
I placed the printed sheet on the table with the fabric over it - a spot lamp under the glass and traced the words off onto the fabric with a marker pencil. If you don't have a lightbox or glass table you can also fix paper to a window using sellotape/scotch tape/masking tape and use natural light or a spot lamp behind to trace off your design.

Next, I ironed a piece of lightweight double sided fusible 'HeatnBond Lite' onto the back of my kindness fabric rectangle.

I left the fusible backing paper attached and using a pair of small, pointed and very sharp embroidery scissors I cut out each letter through both the fabric and the fusible. I love the letters I've cut out too - I'm thinking I'll create a 'mantra' cushion for myself with them at some point.

Once all the letters were cut out I peeled away the fusible backing paper sheet.

And ironed the kindness fabric onto the background fabric provided by Queen Bee Rossanna. This 'glues' the fabrics firmly together and allows for easy sewing over the block.

I selected an embroidery stitch and secured the outside edge of my kindness fabric onto the background fabric and then I free motioned twice around each letter and secured all thread ends. If you prefer you can zig-zag around the fabric letter edges to prevent fraying but I chose this freehand, raw look for the block.

Here's a little more detail of the stitching and that Aurifil 50/2 2850 - Med Juniper thread.

I even love the back!!!

I feel a bit odd calling this a tute as there's not that much to share with you instruction wise - but the truth is reverse applique really is that easy :D

I want to say a big thank you to my friends and fellow quilters Ana, Cynthia, Sarah and Wendy for your inspiration, support and, of course, for your kind fabric gifts - I wonder if you recognised them?!

As always you can check out all the blocks that our Bee make for Rossanna on my Quilty - Inspirational Block Pinterest Board - I'll add more pins as each person in the Bee posts photos of their finished blocks and you can see my NYC Mod Quilt Guild Post here too.

I'd like to take the opportunity also to thank all my blog readers for continuing to support me here at made by ChrissieD. Last week my little blog passed the 300 follower mark on Bloglovin alone and I know there's many more of you following via numerous other social media. It doesn't seem too long ago I was keen to reach 10 followers then 20 then 50 and so it continues!!!