Month: November 2017

Last Trunk Show of the Year – done!

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I was invited to the Fraser Valley Quilter’s Guild to do a trunk show.  I did one in the morning and one in the evening.  A HUGE thank you to those that held up my quilts!  I’m sure they have sore arms/shoulders today!

Here’s a couple of the quilts that I showed.  The first is a Bonnie Hunter mystery from ~ 2009, that was finished in 2015.  I altered the pattern quite a bit – but the inspiration is from Bonnie.

IMG_1880The 2nd was a block of the month from A Great Notion … I showed it because I knew that at least one member of FVQG had done the same class as me.

IMG_1849 copyThis last picture is of the quilts lined up on 4 tables in front of the stage.   IMG_1909

Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Labyrinth Completed

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UFO: Labyrinth

I was happily working away on my Labyrinth quilt while I was at the retreat.  When the quilting was done, I, as normal, trimmed off the batting and extra backing.  The there was a HUGE loud swear word that came out of my mouth.  I had somehow gotten a corner of the quilt under what I was trimming and I cleanly sliced a wedge about 2″ x 7″ out of a corner (sorry, no picture) … GROAN … A lot of people came to my rescue and provided me with a ton of suggestions … ♥ quilting friends ♥ calmed me down and gave me viable solutions.  I hand stitched the wedge into place.  You can’t see it in the border, but it does show on the back.  One suggested I add an additional label over the wedge once I know who it will be gifted to.  I am just very thankful that it was in a corner and not in the middle of the quilt!  Here’s a picture of the finished quilt, followed by close-ups of the quilting:

Labyrinth 1-1

More Retreat Photos: Works in Progress

Here’s a few more pictures of works in progress at the retreat.

Design Wall

IMG_1215Benartex had a contest on Facebook and I entered a quilt that I had made years ago with their fabric.  No, I didn’t win.  I didn’t even come in the top half.  But that’s OK.  Just for entering, I received a very cute charm pack.  It’s called “A Moose for Christmas.”  It’s in the process of becoming a table runner.  This is the first design / fabric placement layout … there’s likely to be many more before I start sewing it together.  It’s fun to work with these fabrics because they are  so very cute!  And the colours suit me and my house.

Stash Report

broken wagon

I fell off my fabric diet wagon this weekend.  In fact, the wagon broke.

I went into one store and managed to leave with only buying a few notions.  But the 2nd store, Needle & I, I went into buy micro brushes.  They are intended for applying IMG_1216adhesives etc.  but they are fantastic for cleaning your machine.   They were on sale … so was some fabric and I looked at the fabric and quickly looked away.  And then I was chatting with the gals in the shop and I looked some more and then the wagon broke!   In my defence, the neutral fabric is for backing a quilt!  The colour is not true in the picture.  The top fabric is actually a beige/cream and the bottom is a pretty blue.  A VERY pretty blue.  A lovely lovely blue.  Did you know that blue is my favourite colour? unknown-jpg

Fabric Used this Week:     8.5  yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  171  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    8  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:  62 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   109 yards  

UFO tally

2017     UFO’s completed
Jan:           2
Feb:           0
Mar:          0
Apr:          0
May:         2
June:         4
July:          0
Aug:         1
Sept:         2
Oct:          5
Nov:         1

27  UFO’s left to complete.  (3 UFO’s have  been given away)

Linking to:

Happy Quilting
Gail

 

 

 

Retreat FUN!

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The retreat was a blast!  It was fun, fun, FUN!!!  There was an overdose of belly laughter:  SEW good!!!  And the food was fantastic!  The weather was good and many enjoyed walks through the trails and fall leaves!

I did work on the 4 projects that were my priority … but no pictures – yet!

Here is a picture that was taken after we all said “one, two, three, squirrel nipples” – no wonder we were laughing!

IMG_1173

Machines were humming and hands were stitching.  There was everything from improv to traditional to hand appliqué, machine appliqué, and everything else in between.  Gypsy wife was started or in progress at a January retreat and the top was completed at this retreat!

Here is a slide-show of pictures that were taken by a few of us:

There was a lot of learning taking place, not only with sewing, but an impromptu tutorial on “Air drop.”  (Pic below!)

IMG_1191

Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Off to a retreat …

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Yes, I’m off to a retreat … from today until Thursday.  I LOVE quilting retreats!  Here is all my sewing stuff – do you think I have enough?   I still need to pack my clothes – but hey, at least I have my priorities in order – right?IMG_1167

Everything is packed up – so I can’t show you up-to-date pictures of what I’ll be working on.  But these projects are in line:

And there are a few other projects also tucked in.  I will be lucky if I finish an eighth of what I am taking!  Or maybe 1/16 th!!!

I did buy some fabric this week – but it’s going to be used to back quilts at the retreat.  So – it doesn’t count.  And, nothing got finished this week.

Stash Report

Fabric Used this Week:     0 yards  
Fabric Used year to Date:  162.5  yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0  yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date:   54 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:   108.5 yards  

 

UFO tally

2017   Completed
Jan:           2
Feb:           0
Mar:          0
Apr:          0
May:          2
June:          4
July:          0
Aug:          1
Sept:          2
Oct:           5 (all baby quilts – 1 gifted, 4 to be donated)

30  UFO’s left to complete.

Linking to:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Mystery Quilts

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No finishes today … but am working on 3 mystery quilts that the guild is doing.   The one on the left is the jelly roll mystery and the 2 on the right are the beginner’s mystery. .   And, since I can’t work ahead of the group – all 3 of these quilts will end up on my UFO list in January.

On Ringo Lake

This is the name of Bonnie Hunter’s fall mystery.  She has the colour selection out for her mystery that starts at the end of November.  I haven’t decided exactly what colours I’m going to use – but I know the chocolate brown will make the cut … but it will all come from stash.  If you want to participate in Bonnie’s mystery – go HERE.  There’s also a link on the side-bar of this blog.

Link-ups

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail