Emily, from the Darling Dogwood, nominated me! I must confess, someone nominated me a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t find the blog post … sigh … so I didn’t follow up. (Sorry, whoever you are! …) The purpose of the Outstanding Blogger Award is to applaud our fellow bloggers and learn more about them by answering questions that are asked.

Here are the questions that Emily asked:

1. Do you still have your first quilt? No. I made my first quilt when I was 17. I designed it with scraps in my mother’s scrap drawer and used gingham in part of the blocks. It was backed with the ugliest fabric (translate into cheapest) that we could find. It was tied. I had no idea what I was doing. No one showed me what to do. I used the quilt throughout my years in nursing school. I remember it became the dogs blanket at one point and was either buried with her or destroyed.

2. What is something on your Quilty Bucket List? I’ve always wanted to make a Storm at Sea! And, I hope to make one later this year.

3. Is there a color or fabric style that you really dislike working with? I used to hate working with orange. But orange goes nicely with so many other colours … and when I’m using Island Batik fabrics … well, what can I say … it’s growing on me.

4. Do you have a favorite traditional quilt block? The quick answer to this question is no. I don’t have ONE favourite block. I have several … Log Cabin, Pinwheels, Friendship Star, 8 point star … and the list goes on.

5. What one non-quilting thing about you that your readers might not know? I was a swimming instructor and lifeguard prior to going into nursing school. I also scuba dived at that time. I played the oboe and bassoon when I was in middle and high school.

Who to nominate? I have a zillion blogs that I follow … and I honestly couldn’t say that I know who has or has not been nominated …

• Anja @ Anja Quilts
• Velda @ Freckled Fox Quiltery
• Karen Neary @ Sew Karenly Created
• Michelle Roberts @ Creative Blonde
• Jennifer Eurbank @ Jennifersewing.wordpress.com

If you choose to accept the nomination, here are your questions:

1. What inspired you to make your first quilt?
2. What inspires you to make your quilts today?
3. Do you use software to pencil to design your quilts? (or patterns)
4. Which quilt is your favourite?
5. Tell us something about where you live that is fantastic!

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Scrappy Table Runner is Completed!

Light blue was the chosen colour for this month’s Table Runner. The pattern is from QUILTsocial and you can find it HERE. I also talked about this runner HERE.

After I had this quilt top done, I saw my Studio 180 “Split Recs” ruler. It’s still in the package. I’ll have to pull it out and try it. I suspect that I will prefer the Studio 180 method, but I do need to try it to be sure!

I used Scraps from my Island Batik box with Coconut as the neutral. The batting is Hobbs Poly Down and it is quilted with Aurifil #1148 (light jade). I didn’t have a light blue Aurifil, but the Light Jade was a perfect fit!

I will be linking to The Joyful Quilter.

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I would like YOUR opinion …

A friend of mine raises Alpaca’s in Southern Alberta. I blogged about them HERE.

Anyhow, she is in the process of having wool mats made for pressing. We have had a discussion about round or straight corners.

The picture above shows:

• on top: my commercially bought mat with the rounded corners (actually made in China)
• on the bottom: the smaller sample mat with the 90 degree corners (made here in Canada)

I have 2 questions for you to answer and I have put in a poll in the blog … lets see if it works!

Thank you for your opinion!

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A UFO is Finished!

I’ve been slowly working on my “Open House” UFO. It was a kit. I talked about how I changed out the colour of one of the houses HERE. Last week, it was on my To Do list to quilt it and finish it. And I got it done.

I used Hobbs PolyDown as the Batting and Auriful #2000 (Light Stand) to quilt.

The quilting was pretty simple, mostly stippling, but I did do some tiles on the roofs. It’s nice to have another UFO off my list!

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Design Wall

Piecing

#1  Follow your own path:  I have cut out the “Arrows” … and the instructions this week were to sew the first set of arrows together.

The fabrics are all Island Batik. The background is “Moonstone,” an Island Batik basic. The picture below shows to fabrics from the “Primo” collection by Ebony Love. The light purple (mauve) is “Lavender” the green is a nameless fabric, likely a basic. On the right is the solid grey I’m using for the shadows of the arrows.

#2 Thailand Batiks I was in Thailand 7 years ago on a tour for work. I was a nursing educator and taught Internationally Educated Nurses (basically an upgrading course so they could safely work in Canada). During the tour, we visited a few prisons and mental health facilities and several cultural sites. As well we gave presentations (via an interpreter) at nursing university. It was a fascinating and eye-opening tour!

While at one of the prisons, we visited their Art Therapy department. I purchased these batik hankies that were made by a prisoner. My intent has always been to make them into a wall hanging … or ???

They are on the design wall … waiting for inspiration! Of course, they are all different sizes … Any suggestions?

#3 Born to Be Wild (blog hop in May) needs to be cut

#4 June Island Batik Challenge: is in progress and being used as my leaders and enders. (Sorry no pictures).

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Quilting: 

#1 Speed Dating still needs a facing. “Story-less Improv.”

#2 Baby Quilt Panel ... is quilted and just needs binding … As you can see in the picture, the binding is cut and ready …

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Stash Report

The Open House wall hanging is complete and used about 1 yard of fabrics

• Fabric Used this week     1   yards
• Fabric Used this year:       40 yards
• Fabric Bought this week:  0  yards
• Fabric Added this year:      9 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
• Net Fabric used                  31 yards 
• Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

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Stitchin’ Time

I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day

• January – March –  80 / 80
• April – 25 / 25
• Percentage = 100 % 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

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TO DO 

Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting it “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

Last week:

Again, I did not focus on my “To Do” list … but a couple of things got done.

1. Focus on the TO DO list not   done
2. Cut out Follow Your Own Path √   done
3. Quilt and finish House Wall Hanging √   done
4. Healthcare Hero’s Mystery: Make backing not   done
5. Speed Dating: Add facing not   done
6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!    not   done   
7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes  √   done    

This week’s list:

1. Focus on the TO DO list not   done
2. Cut out Follow Your Own Path √   done
3. Quilt and finish House Wall Hanging √   done
4. Healthcare Hero’s Mystery: Make backing
5. Speed Dating: Add facing
6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

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One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

• Joy @ Joyful Quilter
• Tish @  Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland
• So Scrappy @ Scrap Happy
• Sunday Stash @  quiltpaintcreate
• Oh Scrap @  Quilting is More Fun than Housework
• 15 minutes to Stitch @ Life in Pieces
• Frédérique  @ Quilting Patchwork Applique
• Monday Making @  Love, Laugh, Quilt
• Design Wall Monday @  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
• To-Do Tuesday @ Chris Knits