In November, Carla from Creatin’ in the Sticks announced the Sew It – Show It Challenge: Shades of Blue. How could I resist? Blue is my absolute favourite colour!!
I have a LOT of blue flying geese and half-square triangles that I have made as a leader and ender project. I put them together to make these 3 table toppers. (All different sizes since my table tops are different sizes!) They use all sorts of Island Batik fabrics from my Island Batik scraps. That means that they were left-overs from some projects and pieces from stash-builder rolls.
Hobbs batting (80/20) is in the middle and they are Free-motion quilted with Aurifil #2600 (Dove Grey).
I taught a binding class to a wonderful group of ladies this week and thought these 3 little table toppers would be perfect for demonstrating my easy method of machine binding!
Here’s a closeup of 2 different stitches that can be used for securing the binding down.
Here’s the list of all the “Shades of Blue” Blog Hoppers. They all have awesome “blue” projects and it’s well worth visiting each and every one of them!
March 13: Parade – showing all of your finished SAHRRs!
How I made my spool blocks
The half square triangles are tiny … they finish at 1″ …. so they are 1 1/2” unfinished … the blocks below the top HST are 1 1/2” square, unfinished and the center column is 1 1/2” x 3 1/2” unfinished … the whole block will finish at 3″ …
Linky Party
Roseanne & Sue @ Home Sewn by Us will have a linky party so you can see everyone’s 1st Round!
More Centre Blocks
Some people are participating in the SAHRR, but don’t do social media … so I and another hosting blogger are posting their blocks for them … It’ll be fun to see how these blocks grow into their own quilts!
Has started!!! Be sure to come back and see all the wonders that are happening!!! If you need some incentive to join in the fun, we have a lot of wonderful sponsors!!! and you could win some fantastic quilting goodies!
Classic Car BOM
The colour for January is pink. I used scraps of Island Batik to make this beautiful block. Visit Patterns by Jen to download the pattern this month. It’s free until the end of the month. She also has a video to help you make the funky flying geese!
Stitching Stuff
Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!
January: 22 / 22
Percentage: 100%
Stash Report
Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!
I did finish this little wall hanging … and used 1 yard of fabric!
Actually, I could brag … it was a bit hard to resist going shopping with other retreaters … but I resisted!
Fabric Used this week: 1 yards
Fabric Used in 2023: 1 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 0 yards
Net Fabric used: 1 yards
Just an FYI: I do not count any fabric that is given to me (Island Batik), but this year, I am going to count it as fabric used.
To Do Tuesday
Carol from Quilt Schmilt is now hosting “To Do” every week.
The To Do list from a last week:
Finish the sashing and borders Clue #7 Chilhowie. in progress
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Sept / Oct in progress – blocks are cut
More Nutcracker colouring. in progress
Sandwich Naturescape Lone Star.√ DONE
Work on Shades of Blue Blog Hop project in progress
Continue working on Island Batik February project in progress
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
This week’s list:
Finish the sashing and borders Clue #7 Chilhowie
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Sept / Oct
More Nutcracker colouring.
Finish Shades of Blue Blog Hop project – I post on the 26th!
Continue working on Island Batik February project
Sandwich Bird Panels
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes
Design Wall
Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week. Piecing:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Sept / Oct
Chilhowie – Clue #7, sashing and borders picture shows most of the sashing blocks ready to sew … still in progress
Island Batik February project – isn’t the fabric beautiful?
Shades of Blue Blog Hop project – need to ‘get er done!’
Quilting:
Naturescape Lone Star is ready to quilt
The bird panels are ready for sandwiching.
Current Blog Hop
This blog hop starts Monday, hosted by Creatin’ in the Sticks: here are the links to all the participants:
This is my centre block using Island Batik’s Baby Bloomer’s by Kathy Engle with Island Batik solid white as the background. You can read more about it HERE and see all the wonderful centre blocks that others have chosen!
I started this little mini wall hanging when I was at a retreat last week. It was a partial kit that came in Missouri Star’s Advent Christmas box. We were given a full charm pack of Kona solids, but since I LOVE blue so much, I picked out the blues for the border.
Since it is a wall hanging, I didn’t worry too much about getting all the letters sewn into place and I just quilted it with a wavy stitch with my walking foot, using Aurifil thread. I had the perfect size piece of Hobbs Poly-down for the batting.
I didn’t have binding fabric with me at the retreat and I didn’t want to go shopping for fabric. I’m trying really hard to stick to a very strict “no buying fabric” diet. So, the project needed to wait until I got home.
In my stash, I had the perfect solid navy blue for the binding. It didn’t take too long and the project was trimmed, binding cut and sewn on. And ta-da!!! it’s DONE!!!
If you need more information on the SAHRR … you can go to THIS POST.
Centre Block
Here is my centre block. The birds and the flowers were cut with Accuquilt dies that I borrowed from our guild’s die collection. (Go! Birds and Rose of Sharon). This piece is 9.5″ x 12.5″. I will do the applique stitching when I quilt it. I used Island Batik fabrics from the Baby Bloomers collection (by Kathy Engle for Karen Overton) and solid white. I initially used the Baby Bloomer fabrics for a Lone Star Quilt you can see HERE.
Now, you Need to go to the co-hosts blogs and see their center blocks! Their links are in the schedule below.
If you do not have a way to join the linky party, email me your photo by Sunday noon, and I’ll post it on my blog the following week. (quiltinggail@yahoo.ca)
Next week?
Roseanne & Sue will tell us what to do. Make sure you follow their blog, Home Sewn by Us .
Relax … this is easy … and it’s only one round each week!
Our Wonderful Sponsors
We will be drawing for prizes from our sponsors after the March 13 Parade.
Here’s a list of the sponsors and their generous gifts!
Starts tomorrow!!! Be sure to come back and see all the wonders that are happening!!! If you need some incentive to join in the fun, we have a lot of wonderful sponsors!!! and you could win some fantastic quilting goodies!
Stitching Stuff
Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!
January: 15 / 15
Percentage: 100%
Stash Report
Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!
In 2023, I haven’t finished any projects, so haven’t used any fabric, but I haven’t bought any either!
Fabric Used this week: 0 yards
Fabric Used in 2023: 0 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 0 yards
Net Fabric used: 0 yards
Just an FYI: I do not count any fabric that is given to me (Island Batik), but this year, I am going to count it as fabric used.
To Do Tuesday
Carol from Quilt Schmilt is now hosting “To Do” every week.
The To Do list from a last week:
Start Clue #7 Chilhowie.√ DONE
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – July / Aug √ DONE
Start colouring Nutcracker. √ DONE
Work on Naturescape Lone Star.√ DONE
Start Island Batik February project
Pack for retreat! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
This week’s list:
Finish the sashing and borders fClue #7 Chilhowie
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Sept / Oct
More Nutcracker colouring.
Sandwich Naturescape Lone Star.
Work on Shades of Blue Blog Hop project
Continue working on Island Batik February project
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes
Design Wall
Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week. Piecing:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #7, sashing and borders picture shows most of the sashing blocks ready to sew …
Island Batik February project – isn’t the fabric beautiful?
Shades of Blue Blog Hop project
Quilting:
Nothing … I need to colour the Nutcracker before I can start quilting!
Naturescape Lone Star is ready for sandwiching …
Maybe I’ll get Chilhowie to the flimsy stage!
The Quilt More just needs to be trimmed and bound.
The bird panels are ready for sandwiching.
Upcoming Blog Hops
Creatin’ in the Sticks: Sew It – Show It: Shades of Blue (January) My day is January 26!
So, what does Strip Poker and “Row, Row, Row the Boat” have in common?
They were happenings at the retreat I attended this week. (and dang it … that silly song is still singing in my head!)
Yes, Strip Poker was played with different 2.5″ strips of fabric … lots of fun! And “Row, Row, Row the Boat” was sung by everyone that participated in the secret sister exchange!
Here’s a glimpse of what happened at the retreat … the first group of pictures were taken by Judy B.
And I took these pictures …
Unfortunately, I didn’t get pictures of what everyone was working on … but, believe me, there was a LOT of creativity happening!
So what did I get done?
I didn’t get a single thing finished … but I did get a few things done on a few things. Here is the list of what I took to work on and what I got done …
Birds panel (ufo). … to the flimsy stage
Wallet #1 (ufo) … a little bit of work on it … snaps are in
Wallet #2 (ufo). … a little bit of work on it
Colour BOM (ufo). … not even touched
MSQ wall hanging (Quilt More, Worry Less) … put together and quilted.
Chilhowie … one row of sashing on …
Shades of Blue project … not even touched
Nutcracker and Inktense pencils … a little colouring done
I could have easily finished the Quilt More, Worry Less wall hanging, but I didn’t have binding fabric with me and I did not want to buy any more fabric … but it may be finished soon!
Starting Monday …
Yes, the SAHRR (pronounced Stay At Home Round Robin) starts on Monday. You can read more about it HERE. Be sure to follow all of the bloggers and join in the fun!!!
I’ve been busy, but don’t have much to show for it!
I’m going to a 4 day retreat tomorrow and hope to get a LOT done! Well … you know how that goes … I take a dozen projects to work on and finish one or 2! LOL!!!
Here’s my list of what I’m taking:
Birds panel (ufo)
Wallet #1 (ufo)
Wallet #2 (ufo)
Colour BOM (ufo)
MSQ wall hanging (Quilt More, Worry Less)
Chilhowie
Shades of Blue project
Nutcracker and Inktense pencils
Stitching Stuff
Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!
2022 Stitching!
Total: 318 / 365
Percentage = 87%
2023 Stitching
January: 8 / 8
Percentage: 100%
Stash Report
Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!
In 2022, I used a net total of 76.5 yards of fabric.
Fabric Used since the last report 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 109.5 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 33 yards
Net Fabric used: 76.5 yards
In 2023, I haven’t finished any projects, so haven’t used any fabric, but I haven’t bought any either!
To Do Tuesday
Carol from Quilt Schmilt is now hosting “To Do” every week.
The To Do list from a last week:
Start Clue #6 Chilhowie.√ DONE
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – May / June √ DONE
Re-do Nutcracker. … when I went to start colouring the Nutcracker, I realized that many of the black lines had run … well, duh, Helen said to use UNWASHED calico … and Batik has been washed a zillion times … √ DONE
Work on Naturescape Lone Star.√ DONE
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
This week’s list:
Start Clue #7 Chilhowie
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – July / Aug
Start colouring Nutcracker.
Work on Naturescape Lone Star
Start Island Batik February project.
Pack for retreat!
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes
Design Wall
Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week. Piecing:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #7, sashing and borders
Naturescape Lone Star …. after making the Lone Star for the December Island Batik challenge, I fell in LOVE with Lone Stars!!! I just happened to have an Island Batik 2 1/2” strip pack of Naturescape with coordinating green and so I started sewing and cutting! Yes, there is a LOT of matching of seams … every. single. one. But the end result is great – even if I can’t sew at 100 miles an hour!
Quilting:
Nothing … I need to colour the Nutcracker before I can start quilting!
And maybe I’ll get the Naturescape Lone Star top ready for sandwhiching …
On this first Friday of 2023, I don’t have any finishes … however, I do have many things partially done …
My Stay at Home Round Robin is close to being finished … but of course, I can’t show you until March … but you can watch my progress, starting January 16!
Would you be interested to know that we have several awesome sponsors and will be giving away prizes when the SAHRR is over??? So make sure you join us for the fun!
Bonnie Hunter Mystery
This is her latest mystery quilt. Chilhowie with Island Batik fabrics! I’m all caught up except for the clue and reveal that came out today. If you’ve ever done a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt, you know that it involves a LOT of little pieces and can be quite time consuming. The first picture is the blocks in progress and the 2nd picture is the blocks as they are today. Now, I just need to do the final steps!
Colour BOM – from patterns by Jen (made with Island Batik scraps) (a UFO)
Necessary Clutch wallet (a UFO)
Pencil Cases (free pattern byAnnie)
Missouri Star Mini Quilt
Winter Branches Table Runner
The Tally Sheets
I managed to get 12 UFOs completed this year. The New Starts in 2022 have been completed, except for the ones that won’t finish until 2023 and projects that I started in December … and just didn’t have enough time to complete … (and that’s allowed! – They will be on the 2023 UFO list!)
My Task sheet has not changed … And here is the link where you can find the colourful Task Sheet at Ms P Designs.
This month, my favourite is the Lone Star quilt!!! I was pretty intimidated with this challenge, but in the end, following the directions (who me?) made it easy! It was so much fun!! Check out Meadow Mist Designs for more “Favourite Finishes”.
DrEAMI
DrEAMI stands for Drop Everything And Make It.
PHD in 2023
Yes, there is a PHD in 2023 … see THIS POST for details
Earlier this year, as we had a parade for the SAHRR (pronounced Stay At Home Round Robin), we announced that we would be doing it again in 2023.
For the past 3 years, I have done a SAHRR and have made different quilts. The first year I did it on my own and then for the next 2 years, I had some fantastic blogging/quilting friends join in the fun!
Here’s the quilts from previous SAHRRs. The two on the are from 2022 & 2021 and the two on the right are ones I did on my own. It’s so much MORE fun with others! Here’s the LINK where you can see all the quilts made last year.
What’s a Round Robin?
This is a common activity in many quilt guilds. A round robin (in quilting terms) is where each person makes a centre block. This block is put in a bag or container, maybe with extra fabric, perhaps with a notebook, and the bag is passed onto another quilter in the group. They are given instructions as to what kind of border (or round) they are to add on to the quilt. Sometimes the next person will make a border for each side, or one side or two sides of the block. It’s then passed on to another quilter and it continues on … when the quilt centre and all the borders are completed, it is returned to the original maker of the centre block.
So, I stay at home?
That’s correct! You and your centre block and the borders all stay home. You have to make the decisions as to what to add when given directions. How big, how many … it’s up to you.
How do I join?
There’s nothing to join, no sign up. All you need to do is follow our blogs.
How often does this happen?
On January 16, we will show you our centre blocks … I haven’t seen any of my friends blocks – so it’s going to be a surprise for each of us. This will give you some ideas of what you can make or use (do you have orphan blocks?)
Then on January 23 (and each Monday following) we will give you instructions as to what the next border/round is to be. Again, we will all show you our centre blocks with the first border to give you some ideas.
Here are my blogging co-leaders in the order of what we will be doing and the linky parties we will be holding each week. (There will only be one linky party each week … and we’ll direct you to it …)
January 16: I will host the first linky party … for you to show each of your centre blocks … but you’ll have to visit each of the SAHRR co-host bloggers to see their centre blocks
March 13: Parade – showing all of your finished SAHRRs!
This Year we have Sponsors!
We reached out to several companies that we all LOVE and many of them agreed to sponsor the SAHRR 2023!!! We will keep track of all of the participants that link to our Linky parties each week. We will make a list and use a random number generator to choose the winners for each prize! So, it you link up to 3 Linky parties, you will have 3 opportunities to win!
I’ve made and posted all of these during the past year! Enjoy!
January
This was a UFO from the “Any Which Way” mystery that was hosted on the blog in ’21. See HERE for the finishing details!
The first Island Batik challenge of the year was to use a Fat 1/4 bundle of Tantalizing Teals. You can see details on this challenge HERE.
February
I used Kelly Young’s book “Scrappy Improve Quilting.” You can see details of it here.
This was a quilt I made for Island Batik’s catalogue featuring the “Evergreen and Pine” fabric collection. See the link HERE.
This quilt was made for Island Batik’s catalogue featuring the “Contempo” fabric collection.
The February Island Batik challenge was to create a quilt with the Row by Row theme. I used the “Vintage Lace” collection, designed by Kathy Engle. You can read more about it HERE.
I made this cute little basket using Deco Revival fabrics. You can read about it HERE.
March
Here is the Stay at Home Round Robin that I made using the Flutterfly collection and Island Batik’s solid white. You can read more details HERE.
We were challenged to create a piece based on the Italian thread that we received from Aurifil. I received “Pompeii Red” colour builder set. See HERE for more details.
This was a table runner that I made for the Quilt as You Go class that I taught. See HERE.
I made these little coasters with left-over fabric blocks from my SAHRR. See HERE for details.
This quilt was made for the Time in a Bottle Blog Hop. I used fabrics that were left-over from my gradation quilts (January). See HERE for more details.
April
April’s challenge was to make a Funky Friend. I chose Gregory Gorilla. He was a lot of fun to make!! See all the details HERE.
This little zipper pouch was made for the “World of Colour” Blog Hop. Details can be found HERE.
May
The following 3 projects were made for Island Batik’s challenge called “Triangle Tricks. I found the first one very difficult to make, but the last 2 were quite easy! See HERE for details.
June
June’s Challenge was to make a New York beauty and I was given the Harvest Night fabric collection. See HERE for details.
These 2 quilts were made with the “Jewel Carvings” fabric collection (designed by Kathy Engle) for the Island Batik catalogue. My friend, Amy, made the one with the light background and I made the one with the dark. See more details HERE.
This quilt was my very first magazine publication. It was in the Fons & Porter Love of Quilting July/August issue. See HERE for more pictures and details.
This quilt was designed by Sandra Walker at MMM Quilts. You can see more details of it HERE. If you want the pattern you can find it HERE
I made this window hanging in an on-line class with Epida Studio. Elizabeth is a great teacher! More details of my window hanging can be found HERE.
July
Island Batik’s challenge for July was “Christmas in July with Accuquilt.” We were all given the Tree of Life die. This was a super fun quilt to make and it was super fun to give it to a dear friend on mine! See more pictures HERE.
I had left-over HST from the Tree of life, so I made this little zipper pouch!
August
August’s challenge was to make a Marvelous Mini Quilt. I was inspired by a speaker we had at the guild, as well as many different Dresdens made with friends. This was my mini. Details HERE.
September
I received the “Corner Pop” tool from Studio 180 and was challenged to use it, along with a 1/2 yard bundle of “Flourish” by Kathy Engle It was a lot of fun to make this quilt using the tool, along with other Studio 180 tools! See HERE for details.
These were made using “Left-overs” from the above quilt. See HERE for details.
This was made for the Queen of Gadgets Blog Hop. You can read about all the gadgets I used to make this quilt HERE I used a 10″ stack of Pumpkin Spice and the background is “Celery”.
October
October’s challenge was a ByAnnie bag. I chose to make the “A Place for Everything 2.0” bag and paired it with fabrics from the “Bee Kind” collection. The pattern was easy to follow and with supplemental videos – it came together easily! See details HERE.
This tree skirt was made for Island Batik’s catalogue using the Winter Sky collection. I just LOVE the blues!
This quilt was made for Pinktober. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. My heart is all a flutter when I think of the story behind the gifting of this quilt. You can read about it HERE.
And little bags made from the left-overs from the Pinktober quilt.
November
Island Batik’s November challenge was to make a Christmas stocking. These were fun to make! You can read about how I made them and used an Accuquilt die for the snowflackes … HERE.
This quilt was made with a 2 1/2″ strip pack of “Citified.” It was fun to make and I had a blast quilting it! You can read about it HERE.
This was made for the class I was teaching called “Travel Posts.” You can see class participants’ quilts HERE.
These little baskets were made with left-over fabric from making the Winter Sky tree skirt (see above). You can read more about them HERE.
I did a trunk show for Boundary Bay Quilter’s Guild – with ONLY Island Batik quilts and projects that I have made in the past 4 years as an Island Batik ambassador. You can see a glimpse of some of the trunk show HERE.
December
Island Batik’s challenge for December was to make a Lone Star! It was SEW rewarding to have this quilt turn out so nice! You can read about it HERE.
Left-overs from the Lone Star quilt turned into this cute quilt! Read about it HERE.
Little Pencil cases made with the left-overs from the Lone Star and the Baby Quilt:
The Scrappy Fall Mystery Quilt, background is “Linen,” all scraps from my Island Batik scrap bin:
This was my Spicy BOM Colour challenge Quilt. You can read more about it HERE.
A Winter Branches Table Runner … made a bit bigger to fit on the top of my piano.
I hope that everyone had a pleasant Christmas – if you celebrate! I know there were lots of changes in travel plans because of the weather across Canada and the USA. So, hopefully, you were able to celebrate with your loved ones!
A Dog Quilt
My daughter has been complaining that her beloved dog did not have a quilt of her own … so I decided I’d make one for Christmas for her. I went to my “dog” fabric bin and found this panel! Viola! A simple dog quilt. I quilted it with Silly Moon’s Cupid ruler. So fun to have hearts all over it! I think she loves her quilt!
Stitching Stuff
Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!
Lots of stitching in the past week!
January – November: 288 / 333
Dec: 24 / 25
Total: 324 / 358
Percentage = 87%
Stash Report
Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!
The dog’s quilt used 2.5 yards of fabric for the front, back and binding!
My goal each year is to have a net fabric of 100 yards used. I didn’t make it this year! But at least I used more than I bought!
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
This week’s list:
Start Clue #5 Chilhowie
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Mar / Apr
Re-do Nutcracker. … when I went to start colouring the Nutcracker, I realized that many of the black lines had run … well, duh, Helen said to use UNWASHED calico … and Batik has been washed a zillion times … so I need to re-trace it on some unwashed fabric!
Work on Naturescape Lone Star
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes
Design Wall
Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week. Piecing:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #5 When I went to start the block assembly, I realized that I had missed part of Clue #1 … so I’m currently catching up and finishing Clue #1!
Naturescape Lone Star …. after making the Lone Star for the December Island Batik challenge, I fell in LOVE with Lone Stars!!! I just happened to have an Island Batik 2 1/2” strip pack of Naturescape with coordinating green and so I started sewing and cutting! Yes, there is a LOT of matching of seams … every. single. one. But the end result is great – even if I can’t sew at 100 miles an hour!
Quilting:
Nothing … I need to re-trace the Nutcracker before I can start colouring and then quilting!
UFOs are all those UnFinished Objects – usually quilts and small projects that are hanging around your sewing area, or under the beds, or tucked into closets, or stuffed behind the couch or … well, you get the picture!
Join me in 2023 for PHD in 2023. To join in, you must have at least 12 UFOs you want to complete AND … here’s the clincher, because we don’t want to increase our UFO list, you need to complete EVERY. SINGLE. PROJECT. you start in 2023!
By the way: PHD is quilt-speak for “Projects Half Done.” My definition for the purpose of the PHD in 2023 is every project that was started before January 1, 2023 counts as an UFO and therefore fits into the PHD!
As for EVERY. SINGLE. PROJECT. ???? Well, there are a couple of exclusions … like a BOM that starts in September and won’t finish until the next year or something that it’s impossible to finish before the end of the year.
At the end of each month, there will be a linky party where you can share your PHD in 2023 progress.
Here’s what you have to do:
Select 12 UFOs (or more) that you want to finish in 2023
Join, with the linky party (below) and tell us about your UFOs
Grab a Template (or make your own) to keep track of your UFOs
Plan to FINISH every single quilty project that you start in 2023. And keep track of them. This keeps your UFO list from increasing!
You have until January 15, 2023 to officially join in!
You’ll notice that my PHD list has 13 UFOs on it. And I forgot to include the Appliqué BOM that I’m doing for 2023 … that’s OK … I just need to finish 12 UFOs … and it doesn’t matter which 12. Who knows, I might unearth another UFO that is hiding in some obscure place and finish it instead of one on the list …
Here’s a Template
You can Download the Template below and use it to keep track of your UFOs and New Starts.
I made this beautiful tree skirt for Island Batik’s Fall/Winter ’21 catalogue. You can see the catalogue HERE. And, it’s now under my Christmas tree! There is Hobbs 80/20 in the middle and it was quilted with Aurifil #2600, Dove Grey.
And, in a previous post, I showed you a couple of little baskets that I’ve made with this same line of fabric.
I decided that I needed another table runner for the top of my piano. I chose a beautiful dark blue Island Batik fabric called “Ravine” and paired it with “Rice. This was also a DREMI: DRop Everything And Make It. This is the result:
Another DREAMI
I received a lovely charm pack and pattern from Missouri Star Quilting … and I just had to make it! Yup, it was a DRop Everything And Make It project! Such a fun project.
Another UFO Finish
The Spicy Colour Challenge quilt was started last December and I finally got it finished this month! You can read about it HERE. That makes 12 UFOs that I’ve finished this year. SEW … I will be getting my PHD in 2022. However, I still have a list of UFOs that need to be finished, so I will be having PHD in 2023!
Island Batik Fabric
Hobbs 80/20 on the inside
Aurifil thread (to piece and quilt)
Stitching Stuff
Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!
Lots of stitching in the past week!
January – November: 288 / 333
Dec: 18 / 18
Total: 306 / 351
Percentage = 87%
Stash Report
Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!
However, this week, I went out to Chilliwack to Cozy Cotton Quilting to pick up some quilts, deliver patterns and give her another quilt for display. Angela had recently received a lot of Island Batik bolts (mostly from the Pumpkin Spice collection) and I just couldn’t resist … so I had 3 fabrics cut for me! Aren’t they beautiful ???? I will definitely be making the trip out to Cozy Cotton just to buy Island Batik fabric!!!
The Spicy BOM used 4.5 yards of fabric. The newest branches table runner used 1 yard. And the mugs / snowflake used 1.5 yards
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
This week’s list:
Finish Clue #4 Chilhowie
Start Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Jan / Feb
Start colouring the Nutcracker
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes
Design Wall
Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week. I must apologize, I’ve been calling Judy by the wrong name !!! I’m so glad that she let me know and now I’m calling her by the correct name!
Piecing:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #4 in progress
Quilting:
Once I do some colouring with Inktense pencils, I’ll start quilting the Nutcracker. Here he is on my window for tracing.
Upcoming & Current Blog Hops
Island Batik‘s December’s Lone Star Blog Hop. Week #3 is started! LOTS and LOTS of fabulous quilts!
This year, I participated in the Spicy Block of the Month, hosted by Patterns by Jen.
I used scraps of Island Batik fabrics to make the blocks.
Each month, Jen provides free directions for a 6″ and a 12″ block. When the month is over, you need to purchase the block for a minimal price.
Here is my December block: And yes, I goofed up and had to make adjustments, so it’s not exactly like Jen’s directions …
Here are the blocks in order …
And here is my finished quilt … I used Island Batik’s solid black for the sashing, 2 1/2″ squares of fabric left-over from the blocks for the corner stones.
And … with the quilt being a bit busy, I used wild quilting and thoroughly enjoyed quilting it!
2023 Colour Challenge
The 2023 Monthly Colour Challenge will be based on Classic Cars! Will you join me with the different monthly blocks? Make sure you follow Patterns by Jen and myself so you don’t miss a month! Jen will be posting the new blocks at the beginning of the month – me? I’ll be posting later in the month except for December, when I will post on the 1st!
This is Patti’s. I love the scrappiness and the dark background!
Here’s Dawn’s. She used 2 fabrics and the background. Doesn’t it look great?
Susan has the top together. It was a sunny day, so she was able to get a picture with true colours! And yes, you can see her shadow! She’s used ‘plane’ fabric! Very cute!
Jill has pulled fabric for her quilt … with those blues and greens against the grey – it’ll be lovely!
Isabelle says she still needs to add the border – and that will happen after Christmas.
Lynn K has the blocks laid out for one row. She says that she loves the scraps, but has very few left! That is amazing! And the background it totally scrappy – awesome!
Heather also did a scrappy background. And why not? Here it is with the rows ready to put together!
Irene ‘s inspector (Miss Hamish) obviously likes the blues in this quilt!!!
And here’s mine. The one with the dark background was the inspiration and the one with the light background was the one that I made while writing the pattern! Both are made with Island Batik fabrics, Hobbs batting on the inside and Aurifil thread for the quilting.
I taught the “Winter Branches” Table runner at Essem and I worked on my own table runner, but didn’t get it finished in class. But, it’s finished now! I used an Island Batik fabric from the Napa Valley collection along with Custard. There is Hobbs 80/20 on the inside and I quilted the straight lines with a walking foot and Aurifil #2311 (Muslin).
A UFO Finish
I finally finished this wallet! The outside is Cork and the inside is Island Batik fabric from the Napa Valley collection. The pattern is “The Necessary Clutch” by Emmaline Bags. For the twist clasp, the pattern said to follow manufacture’s directions. HUH!!! There were none!!! A friend of mine, Irene, told me to look at Spenser Ogg’s tutorial, How to Apply a Twist Lock. Spenser is brilliant. Her tutorial is great! This wallet would have been thrown in the trash if I hadn’t been able to do the twist lock. Thanks, Irene!!!
Now I can finally use this wallet! The cork on my current Necessary Clutch is falling apart. I’ve sprayed the new wallet’s cork with leather conditioner, so hopefully it will last longer than the first one. But really, 5 years isn’t too bad!
This is the wallet I made in 2018 … almost 5 years ago! And how it looks today. You can see how the cork is wearing at the edges and some of it is peeling off.
The Mystery Quilt is done!!!
This is a super simple mystery quilt! It is my own design. I designed it for the Boundary Bay Quilt Guild, but I’ve shared it with YOU as well!
The Parade is on Tuesday, Dec. 13, so be sure to come and see the wonderful quilts!
Here are 8 clues.
Oct 18: Clue #1: Fabric Requirements and Cutting HERE
Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!
Lots of stitching in the past week!
January – November: 288 / 333
Dec: 11 / 11
Total: 299 / 344
Percentage = 86%
Stash Report
Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!
Quilting Gail 