Catching Up

November 23, 2020November 24, 2020 / quiltinggail / Leave a comment

Now that some self-imposed deadlines are met, I feel like I’m catching up.

Connected Project

I haven’t mentioned this project before. Our guild decided to do the “Connected Project.” A fun project where it connects various guild members together. We’re not suppose to know what the finished block is like and although I’ve seen a Youtube videos, I don’t know exactly what my block will look like. The idea is that we are divided into groups of 8. Each of us is given a paper pieced block (with various options from simple to complex) and we make the block in the colours that are chosen by my group mates. It was fun to go through my scraps and use some of them up! I can’t show you yet … but I will show you what I’ve done when I’m allowed to.

On the right is s a picture of the scraps of fabric left after I cut the blocks into their finished sizes.

Below is the 7 envelopes all ready for the mail. AND, they are nestled into a UFO that is NOT even on my list. It was just sitting there when I was looking for something to show off the envelopes. OH my … how many more UFOs will I find when I’m not even looking for them???

If you look closely at my PHD list, you’ll see “connected” is not considered “Finished.” I have done my part for now. I’ve got 7 envelopes from other quilters that I get to open Dec. 1. Then I’ll be putting my block together.

Hanging Sleeve

In my last post (HERE), I showed you a B&W photo of a hanging sleeve using a blind hem. One lovely person asked if either Kathleen or I had a tutorial on it. Well, Kathleen, the very smart quilter that she is, has a tutorial on it. You can check out her blog post HERE. While you’re visiting Kathleen, check out her tons of tutorials. Well worth the visit!

Morewood Mystery

You can find details of the mystery quilt HERE. I’m all caught up. This is November’s clue.

Inspired by Nature Blog Hop

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This week you have the opportunity to win a fat quarter bundle of Venetian Marble or Tiki Punch! Both are wonderful collections!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Design Wall

Piecing:

After Quilt: This term is new to me … but I completely understood it when I heard it. It’s those bits and pieces that are left over when you finish a quilt. SEW … I’m going to be working on an After Quilt.

Scrappy 4 patches: This is in the same state that it was last week. It hasn’t moved off the design wall.

Quilting:

Nothing happening … yet

Stash Report

A sad week in this department. A local quilt store was closing their doors … with some good sales. When I went, everything was 65% off. Can’t complain about that! One good thing: a quilting friend was right behind me in line … we chatted up a storm and the wait went quickly then!

Here’s a picture of the damage. My husband was with me when I bought the first pieces of John Deere fabric and he “ordered” me to buy more (6.5 yards). He has a plan for them … of course I’ll be doing the sewing! The blue with white polka dots is for backing baby quilts (4.5 yards). A total of 11 yards will be added into Fabric Added this year.

And yes, I bought some quilting rulers, glass head pins in a tin, and (2) 4 yard zippers by Annie (with zipper pulls).

Fabric Used this week 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 279.5 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 61.5 yards (my husbands amounts as well)
Net Fabric used 229.0 yards
Husband’s purchases: 17 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!

Stitchin’ Time

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

January – Sept: 290 / 304
30 min days/ Nov: 22 / 22
Total days in 2020: 312 / 325
Percentage = 96%

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

TO DO

I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”

Last week’s list:

Secret project #3 : finish quilting, bind and photos √ done
Work on UFO (Scrappy 4 patches) (to flimsy stage) not done
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √ done (did this when Secret Project #3 was complete and I could put all the stuff away!)

Even though I didn’t get my Scrappy 4 patches to flimsy stage, I did get a couple of things completed that weren’t on the list:

Connected Project
Morewood Mystery

This week’s list:

Work on UFO (Scrappy 4 patches) (to flimsy stage)
Work on an After Quilt
Make Pillow Cases with John Deere fabric
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

No UFOs finished.

Eekes … I didn’t add the UFO that my envelopes are nestled in … perhaps it’ll be a finish next week!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!
Gail

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Linking to:

Tish @ Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland
Sunday Stash @ quiltpaintcreate
Oh Scrap @ Quilting is More Fun than Housework
15 minutes to Stitch @ Life in Pieces
Scrappy Happy @ So Scrappy
Monday Making @ Love, Laugh, Quilt
Design Wall Monday @ Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Main Crush Monday @ Cooking Up Quilts
To-Do Tuesday @ Home Sewn By Us

Inspired by Nature Blog Hop: Week 3

November 22, 2020 / quiltinggail / 2 Comments

I can’t wait to see what my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors create this week! Make sure you follow along! Scroll down for the rafflecopter link for your opportunity to win some awesome fabric!

**November 23:**

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs
Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
**November 24:**

Pamela Boatright, PamelaQuilts
Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde
**November 25:**

Vasudha Govindan, Storied Quilts
Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
**November 26:**

Sally Manke, Sally Manke Fiber Artist
Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!
Gail

Hanging Sleeves

November 20, 2020November 22, 2020 / quiltinggail / 24 Comments

OK … in THIS POST, I talked about how I hate hand sewing on hanging sleeves. I really dislike hand sewing. period.

Making the sleeve is easy …

Edited

Measure the width of the quilt. Add 1″
Take the width of the quilt and cut a 8.5″ strip
Turn under 1/4″ on each end of the strip.
Sew this strip lengthwise with a 1/4″ seam.
Secure the sleeve to the quilt
- sew the top of the sleeve just below the binding
- Press the bottom of the sleeve, measure up 3/4″ on the side towards the quilt. Press
- the last pressed line is what you fasten to the quilt (this leaves space for the rod to be inserted so that the quilt can hang

When I’ve done this for quilt shows, I’ve made the sleeves and pinned them on. They’re only going to hang for a couple of days, so I don’t need to worry about rust or too much stress.

Anyhow … after talking about how I HATE hand sewing, I had 2 comments that I thought were worth mentioning.

Gene Black an Alabama Artist suggested fusing the sleeve on. I think this is a great idea for a wall hanging!
Kathleen, from Kathleen McMusing, suggested putting them on with a blind hem and using invisible thread. I thought this was a brilliant idea.

SEW … when a gal needs to get 3 quilt sleeves on, she uses her sewing machine. As you can see, I used the blind hem stitch. There was a grey thread in the bobbin (that’s what you can see) and I had Aurifil invisible thread on top. There is NO stitching visible on the quilt! Perfect.

Continue reading →

Inspired by Nature Blog Hop: My Day

November 16, 2020November 17, 2020 / quiltinggail / 38 Comments

I received “Ohana” fabric collection to use for this blog hop. Aren’t the fabrics awesome?

They made me think of flowers … Well, there are pretty flowers in some of the fabrics. H I thought of the Accuquilt die that I have, “Cleopatra’s Fan.” To me, this die never made me think of a fan, but it did make me think of flowers …

SEW … off to EQ and I played around with the design and the fabrics and came up with this …

Below is some of the pieces on the Accuquilt die. I wasn’t able to lay all of the fabric out at once because I wanted specific fabrics in specific places. So each fabric was cut and placed into the sections where they were destined to go.

I did need to have reverse pieces of each fabric for this block. However, working with Island Batik fabrics, it is seldom that I can decipher the wrong side from the right side. That made it super easy! I just needed 8 pieces of each cut and I didn’t have to worry about right or wrong sides! Island Batik fabrics are pretty cool that way!

Here are all of the blocks on the design board before being sewn together and borders added.

Here’s a close up of the quilting from the front. I outlined all the shapes and quilted little 3 or 4 petal flowers in the grey neutral portions. Wavy leaves formed the border.

And from the back showing more of the border’s wavy leaves.

Once the borders were added and the quilt quilted, … I only had 2 fabrics that I had not used in the quilt … and neither of them was good as a binding. A scrappy binding just didn’t feel right for this quilt. I was given “Marble-Purple-BE” as a coordinating fabric and it is perfect for the binding. Just a hint of the dark purple frames the quilt.

Stats:

54″ x 54″
Quilted with Aurifil #2600, light grey.
Binding attached with Aurifil #2581, dark purple.
Hobbs 80/20 batting
Pieced and Quilted on my Janome Continental M7 sewing machine.

Be sure to visit my Blog Hop Partner, Mania and see the quilt she made with the same fabric collection! Ohana!

Ohana should be arriving in stores soon!

Opportunity to Win

There are 3 opportunities to win some fabric! One from me and 2 from Island Batik.

From Me:

You could win scraps from 5″ x 10″ to 12″ squares of 12 Ohana fabrics. If you live in Canada, in the comment section, tell me how nature inspires (or could inspire) your quilting.

From Island Batik:

Click on the link below to have an opportunity to win Fat Quarter bundles of wonderful fabric: either Sweet Hearts or Love and Kisses

Click HERE

Disclaimer: All of the fabric and supplies (other than my sewing machine and iron) were given to me by Island Batik and the industry partners! Thank you!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!
Gail

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The Latest about Masks

November 15, 2020November 17, 2020 / quiltinggail / 27 Comments

Did any of you see this article from CBC Marketplace about masks? Click HERE.

After reading this article, I asked Island Batik what the thread count is for their fabric. Here’s what Elizabeth Phillips (Marketing and Graphic Design) said, “Our greige goods are the highest quality we can purchase. The thread counts are stated a little differently when buying the prepared for dyeing cotton but It’s a little higher than 600.”

So there you have it! If you’ve been making masks with Island Batik fabrics … you’ve been doing the best you can.

And yes, I’ve made masks with Island Batik fabric … here’s a picture of my purse with the matching masks!