Month: November 2021

Scrappy Improv Class – Finished projects!

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

This was a super fun class to teach. All of the participants were delightful ladies – which made it even more fun.

Here is Joan’s finished project “Prismatic.” Look at her beautiful quilting!

And here is Sue’s Prismatic. Again some awesome quilting with a totally different approach!

And Judy’s Prismatic – with totally different quilting! I LOVE the variety of the mini quilts and the quilting! And Judy added a flange binding! super cool!

Here are Robin’s.

The first is the ornament in reds and greens. I like the simple straight line quilting! It really makes the ornaments pop!

The 2nd is Prismatic in blues purples and teals … again, the simple straight line quilting lets the design show through!

Cathy has completed 3, yes THREE, tops! Go Cathy Go! It was fun to watch her put this one together as she used different fabrics for the background. Who knew that the backside of a blue grunge would be the perfect dark grey?

And these 2 are so sweet!

And here is my Prismatic. I had a bunch of orphan log cabin blocks that I joined together and then cut as directed. I cut a lot more than indicated in the pattern … then joined them in the rows. My intent was not to make a quilt this big … it’s 45″ x 60″, but that’s how big it turned out to be.

It uses Island Batik fabric and Hobbs 80/20 batting. The backing is a lovely light blue flannel.

Design Wall

#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …

Absolutely NO change from the last month! None at all! However, I’ve been questioning why I’m hesitating at getting this one done and I think I figured it out. That purple balloon is too small and I thought I’d just adjust all the measurements and make a smaller one – but I don’t feel like doing that. So, I will do something else for the purple balloon … make it bigger somehow … I haven’t gotten that far in my thinking yet!

Quilting: 

#1  The last Secret Island Batik project is being quilted – and should be finished within a couple of days!

Stash Report

The back of my Prismatic quilt used 1.5 yards of flannel from my stash.

  • Fabric Used this week     1.5   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       101.75 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                 51 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!

Stitchin’ Time

  • January – October –  292/ 303
  • Nov – 28 / 28
  • Total: 320 / 331
  • Percentage = 96 % 

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

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The To Do list from 2 last week:

  1. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #4 In progress
  2. Finish Tree Skirt √   DONE
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!  Got inspired to make a tree skirt √   DONE
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

  1. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #4
  2. Work on December’s Island Batik project.
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

DrEAMi

I had 2 DrEAMis this month … I posted about them HERE

Favourite Quilt in November

I’m waffling between 2 quilts. Both of them were “Storm at Sea” quilts that I made for November’s Island Batik blog hop. You can read about them HERE.

Table Scraps

I made a mug rug for the “No Ring” blog hop … so it’s also my Table topper for November. There was no specific colour for this month … so this fits perfectly!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

2 Friday Finishes!

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

That’s correct! I have 2 finished projects! Both of them were started and completed in less than a week! OK … they’re both easy projects – AND it was fun to make them!

This first one is a 36″ Christmas Tree Skirt. I used a 9 degree ruler! The fabrics were an assortment of Christmas fabrics from Essem Textiles. Hobbs 80/20 batting was used. I quilted a simple loop-d’-loop pattern. I neglected to stay-stitch the circle before adding the binding, so it stretched a bit and sort-of comes up a bit in the middle … but since it’s a tree skirt, it’ll be fine!

This one is a Quilt-as-you-go Table Runner. Although it doesn’t show in the picture, the fabric has lots of glimmering gold in it! Again, the fabrics came from Essem Textiles. I will be teaching this as a class in December.

Hope those who celebrate Thanksgiving had a great Turkey Day!

Playing with Rulers

A bunch of us got together at Essem and played with rulers. We all brought the rulers that we had and experimented with them! We had all levels of expertise: from “I’ve never done this before” to a gal that used to teach ruler quilting.

Talk about fun!

I was so busy, that I forgot to take a picture of what I did.

This is the back of a baby panel and I added some free motion loop-d-loops in to fill the gaps.

Yesterday, I was Zoom quilting with some of the guild members and mentioned that we had done this. Several people were interested … if you live in the lower mainland and are interested in driving to Cloverdale, let Essem Textiles. know and we’ll arrange a “Playing with Rulers” time!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

What’s Happening in the Studio?

/ quiltinggail / 14 Comments

First, I need to show you a finish … not a quilty finish, but a finish. While I was at Essem Textiles, I spotted some super cute knit teddy bear fabric. I LOVE teddy bears! Years ago, in the last century, I made a cute nightshirt with teddybears on it. That nightshirt was loved for years and years. This summer, I noticed that it was pretty thread barren and it’s time was near! Well, I might have noticed it much longer than just this summer! When I saw the fabric at Essem, I just knew I had found the perfect fabric to replace the nightshirt with. And the old night shirt is re-purposed as cleaning cloths in the garage. However, I did rescue the button off the old one and put it on the new one!

I’m not going to model it, but here it is on my design wall:

It was fun to use my serger and complete a project in less than a day! That doesn’t happen when I’m quilting!

Island Batik’s Storm at Sea Blog Hop

Did you get to see all of the Storm at Sea quilts? They were all based on the Storm at Sea block. Some people used Paper Piecing (me), some used Studio 180 rules, and some used the Accuquilt Block on Board die. Andi (from True Blue Quilts) made a great youtube video that showcases all of the quilt. Watch it and Enjoy!

Design Wall

#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …

Absolutely NO change from the last month! None at all!

#2.  A Christmas Tree Skirt

These are fabrics from Essem Textiles. I have started piecing the tree skirt … such pretty fabrics to work with!

Quilting: 

#1  The last Secret Island Batik project is being quilted

#2 Scrappy Improv Quilting This is from the pattern “Prismatic … just made bigger … lots bigger … (from Kelly Young’s book “Scrappy Improv Quilting.” This book is SEW much fun … make sure you order yours before it’s too late!

  • Fabric Used this week     0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       100.25 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                  49.5 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!

Stitchin’ Time

  • January – October –  292/ 303
  • Nov – 21 / 21
  • Total: 313 / 324
  • Percentage = 96 % 

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

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The To Do list from 2 Weeks ago:

  1. Quilt Island Batik Secret #2 √   DONE 
  2. Quilt Island Batik Secret #4 in progress
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!  Got inspired to make a tree skirt  not done
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

  1. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #4
  2. Finish Tree Skirt
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

I have finished enough UFOs for my PHD, but I still have a few “Starts in 2021” to finish …

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

******************

Linking to:

When the boss is away … and TGIFF

/ quiltinggail / 28 Comments

If you’ve been following my blog, you’ve heard me mention Essem Textiles. Well, the lovely couple that own the store had their traditional Indian wedding last week. They’re already married, but had to keep it small because of Covid, but now with the restrictions lifted, they were able to celebrate in style! I got to run the store for them. I asked if I could have a Mini Retreat in the classroom … and they said “yes.”

There were 4 ladies that were able to come … and I heard lots of laughter and chatting coming from the back.

This is what the classroom looked like after everyone left on Day 1:

The machines all set up and projects in process. Unfortunately, I neglected to get a close up of some of the projects. Judy, (bottom left) is working on a beautiful Card Trick Quilt. Robin, (top left) made pillowcases for each of her grandkids. Nora, (bottom right) is working on a Postcard from Sweden quilt. She had everything labeled … talk about organization – oh my! Nora takes organization to an all new level! Amy, (top right) worked on a couple of different projects: binding a quilt and making a block for a new quilt or pillow …

Fun work for the store & TGIFF

TGIFF is Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday. There is a linky party every week.

I did work on a couple of quilts for Essem. I managed to piece the whale in between customers, but the quilting on both of these happened at home. They were fun to do!

The whale is from the book “Fat Quarter Baby.” It’s a very cute book. Each of the quilts is named after someone. The whale one is called “Andrew.” The directions were very clear and easy to follow. The book is available at Essem Textiles, if you want to purchase it.

Aren’t the whales adorable? And yes, the bubbles and eyes were appliqued on … and I survived the process! ( For those that don’t know me very well, I’ve been know to call applique CRAP-lique! )

Here is a super cute panel that Essem Textiles has in the store. It was fun to quilt! Mostly stippling, outlining the main portion and some snowflakes thrown in. See the part on the right hand side? The panel comes so that there is enough of those snowmen and snowflakes to have as the complete back.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

No Ring Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail / 61 Comments

I bet you’re wondering what the No Ring Blog Hop is all about, right? It’s about Mug Rugs … so that you don’t leave a ring on your furniture from your drinks! Now, I bet it makes sense!

Last week, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, I worked at Essem Textiles. The lovely couple that own the store were having a traditional Indian wedding. They had previously married, but because of Covid, there was no celebration. So, with restrictions lifted, it was time to have the formal ceremony.

I usually take a water bottle with ice in it and it sweats and leaves RINGS where ever it is placed. I needed to make a mug rug and this fit the bill! It’s a free embroidery design from Kreative Kiwi. Kreative Kiwi has a LOT of free patterns and the directions are easy to follow. I added “Essem” to personalize it for the store.

The fabrics were from my scrap pile, I used Hobbs batting and the thread was an assortment of Robison-Anton, Aurifil and Madeira.

Here is the Schedule:

Monday, November 15th

Tuesday, November 16th

Wednesday, November 17th

Thursday, November 18th

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Week 3: Island Batik Storm at Sea Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail

Here is the line-up of fabrics and links to the ambassador’s blogs for Week 2! Again, I’ve seen a sneak peak of some of them and we’re in for some wonderful eye candy!

November 15:

Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio

Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

November 16:

Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky

Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde

November 17:

Sally Manke, Sally Manke Fiber Artist

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt 

You could win!

Click on the rafflecopter link for your opportunity to win some beautiful fabric! 10″ Stack of Sail Away or a 2.5″ Strip Pack of Twilight Glow!

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

A Review of Last Week’s Quilts!

Island Batik’s Blog has the full line-up of quilts from last week. Visit it HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

November … and the first week is over?

/ quiltinggail / 10 Comments

Oh dear … time seems to be flying by this month!

But it’s OK … I’m busy and having fun!!!

Design Wall

#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …

Absolutely NO change from last week! None at all!

#2.  Scrappy Improv Quilting …

This is from the pattern “Prismatic.” This has gone from the first photo to the 2nd. So it is ready for sandwiching. I just need to choose a backing.

#4, #5, & #6 Secret Sewing: Island Batik

I’m happy to report that all of the patterns have been written. And one is still being tested. All of the tops are complete!

Quilting: 

#2  Secret Island Batik project is being quilted

#1 Secret Island Batik is quilted. I can only show you the back … the fabric is a beautiful “Moonstone,” one of the fabrics that is available all the time! It is quilted with Aurifil 2600 – Dove. Hobbs 80/20 batting and a Schmetz Microtex needle was used.

Stash Report

I got “paid” in fabric for the class that I taught. Even though I didn’t “buy” it, it still adds to my stash. I added 11 yards of flannel … all for backing baby quilts. And I did use 1.25 yards on the back of the mystery quilt (see the purple above?)

  • Fabric Used this week     0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       100.25 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                  49.5 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!

Stitchin’ Time

I have been sewing for at LEAST 3-4 hours each day … deadlines add pressure, you know! So my stitchin’ time is good!

  • January – October –  292/ 272
  • Nov – 7 / 7
  • Total: 299 / 310
  • Percentage = 96 % 

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

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The To Do list from Last Week:

  1. Sandwich BBQG Guild Mystery #2 & #3 #2 Done, #3 not done
  2. Sandwich Island Batik Secret #4 √   DONE 
  3. Sew top together  Prismatic from Scrappy Improv √   DONE 
  4. Work on Island Batik’s December project in progress
  5. Finish Island Batik Secret #2 top √   DONE 
  6. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #3 not done
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   DONE 
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

Is fairly light … priorities only … as I won’t be home for a few days. (I’ll tell you about it later).

  1. Quilt Island Batik Secret #2
  2. Quilt Island Batik Secret #4
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

Island Batik Blog Hop

Island Batik’s Storm at Sea Blog Hop is into it’s 2nd week! Check out THIS POST to follow each of the ambassadors and their creative and awesome quilts!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

******************

Linking to:

Week 2 of Island Batik’s Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail / 3 Comments

Here is the line-up of fabrics and links to the ambassador’s blogs for Week 2! (I’ve seen a sneak peak of some of them and we’re in for some wonderful eye candy!

November 8:

Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter

November 9:

Joanne Hart, Unicorn Harts

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Jennifer Eubank, Archipelago Quilting

November 10:

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

Janet Yamamoto, Whispers of Yore

November 11:

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

November 12:

You could win!

Click on the rafflecopter link for your opportunity to win some beautiful fabric!

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

A Review of Last Week’s Quilts!

Island Batik’s Blog has the full line-up of quilts from last week. Visit it HERE.

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Friday’s summary!

/ quiltinggail / 14 Comments

My finishes this week include the quilts I shared on Monday for the Island Batik Storm at Sea Blog Hop. My surprise fabric was the fabulous Bellingham Bay collection by Kathy Engle. Two very different quilts, both using a 12″ Storm at Sea paper piecing block (From EQ). You can read more about these quilts HERE.

Island Batik Blog Hop

To see all of the quilts in this week’s collection, check them out at the Island Batik blog HERE. There is also an opportunity for YOU to win either a strip pack or a stack of beautiful Bellingham Bay fabric!

October’s Island Batik Challenge

A fellow Island Batik Ambassador, Andi, from True Blue Quilts, put together this great video that showcases most of the completed challenges. We were all given 3 spools of 40 weight Aurifil thread and told to create a wall hanging that is inspired by the endangered species. It is well worth the look!

Mine was the Pangolin and you can read about my creation HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! Gail

******************

Linking to:

Storm at Sea Blog Hop!

/ quiltinggail / 63 Comments

This month, the Island Batik challenge was to make a Storm at Sea quilt with the following guidelines:

  • Project Type: Quilt
  • Size: Lap size or larger
  • Must use the Summer 2021 bundle, wrapped and labeled “Surprise”
  • Any technique

My Surprise package in Box #2 was Bellingham Bay. I was in LOVE immediately!!!! I LOVE the colours … the rich greens paired with a few deep purple … just wonderful!!! These should be available in stores soon!

I searched for a Storm at Sea that was a bit different. I found several quilts with diagonal waves and I really liked them. I went to my EQ program and came up with this:

I know that I would easily become confused with which piece of fabric went where … so I printed out the quilt outline and numbered the main fabrics. I was hoping that if I took my time, I’d be able to paper piece the quilt with the correct fabrics in the correct spots.

In order to keep all of the fabrics in the correct wave, that’s how it was pieced … one wave at a time. I knew that I would get it all mixed up if I did it by blocks …

Each element is paper pieced – without sewing on the paper. I really dislike removing the papers after I’ve sewn on them.

Here’s a picture of my piecing without sewing on the paper.

The quilting was done on my domestic sewing machine, with a walking foot and a Schmetz quilting needle.

I used Aurifil #2600 (Dove) for the quilting and the scrappy binding was attached with Aurifil #5012.

This quilt is 57″ square. And, I LOVE it!!!

For some reason, I didn’t use all of the fabrics in the main quilt. I have no idea why. So, I made a 2nd quilt using Coconut as the background and 4 of the lightest coloured prints from Bellingham Bay.

You could win …

That’s correct, you have an opportunity to win some wonderful Bellingham Bay fabric … Click on the Rafflecopter link and follow the instructions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

The Photo Shoot

Bellingham Bay is just a short drive from my house. However, since the USA border is closed to Canadians driving down, I had to content myself with going to a local beach to take pictures. It was a blustery windy day … very windy … but I did manage to get some shots!

The Blog Hop

Pretti, from Sew Preeti Quilts also made a Storm at Sea quilt using the Bellingham Bay fabric collection. Make sure you visit her blog!

Here is a list of all the ambassadors participating in the Storm at Sea Blog Hop. I’ve already had a sneak peek of some of them – they are all pretty awesome! Make sure you follow along!!!

November 1:

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail 

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts

November 2:

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts

Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

November 3:

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese

Megan Best, Bestquilter

November 4:

Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia

November 8:

Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter

November 9:

Joanne Hart, Unicorn Harts

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Jennifer Eubank, Archipelago Quilting

November 10:

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

Janet Yamamoto, Whispers of Yore

November 11:

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

November 15:

Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio

Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

November 16:

Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky

Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde

November 17:

Sally Manke, Sally Manke Fiber Artist

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt 

Thank you!

The making of my Storm at Sea quilts would not be possible without the generosity of Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread, and Schmetz Needles!!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail