We had some delightful company from Ireland visiting! It was a lot of fun to visit with them. I did get a little bit of sewing done when they went to be tourists in Vancouver! But, I’ve also spent a LOT of time moving into my new sewing room. Yes, I’ll show you pictures when I have things where I want them. I did sort through ALL my fabric … and I have a ton of it ready to go out … I mentioned it on our guild’s FB page and a few people have showed interest in it. I just need to get organized and get it to them!
I did manage to sew up three little bags. The white fabric is “colouring fabric.” My daughter gave the plain, uncoloured rectangles to a couple of little girls. They came for dinner the other night and I had them pick out zippers. It was lots of fun to watch them pick out the colours they liked, with no regards to the finished project! They just picked out what they liked! Perfect! I stitched their initials on the tabs. It was a fun way to stitch them!Continue reading →
In the spring, at our guild, I demo’d how to web a quilt. They asked me to provide written instructions. Well, that proved extremely difficult for me. SEW … as I was webbing my demo quilt for the Baby Quilt Marathon, I decided to do a video. You can see it on YouTube HERE. The quilt in the video is below.
This challenge scared me! I’m not an artsy-fartsy quilter. I don’t do “art.” The challenge directions were: Use any fabric art/non-traditional quilting/sewing/thread painting technique using 3 Aurifil thread weights.Oh me, oh my … what to do? I literally had NO idea. None at all. I was wondering if I could skip this challenge? Perhaps pay someone to do it for me? no … that’s not my style … I couldn’t live with the guilt!
Inspiration
Then, I was looking at a crazy quilt hanging in a sewing machine store and it hit me!!!
R-e-l-i-e-f !!!
YEAH!!! Suddenly, I knew what to do. I would do a crazy quilt block, embroider it with at least 3 weights of Auriful thread, make it into a little bag and call it done! What a relief to have a plan!
And, thankfully, I had the perfect fabric left-over from my Christmas RAPPing table runner. (see HERE). Along with pieces from the Island Batik Stash Builder bundles.
In April, we travelled across the country, which meant a few LONG plane rides. I quickly made my crazy quilt blocks, sewing them onto Hobbs 80/20 batting. One was partially embroidered on our trip.
Earlier this spring, Jennifer Strauser. an Island Batik ambassador, reached out and asked if any of us would like to do a Quilt of Valor. I said, “yes,” provided I could do a Canadian one. The answer was “yes!” SEW, I knew I would be using only the white and red fabrics. We were all sent a stack (like a layer cake) of red, white, and blue fabric. Along with yardage: a solid white, 2 reds and 3 blues. It was a bit of a challenge to use just the red and white in the package. I did end up using one navy with red poppies on it. Also, I needed to use a red fabric from a stash builder bundle and some white=ish fabric left over from my “Stars on Ice” quilt.
Here is a picture of the stack from the Freedom line:
This quilt is my own pattern “Ivan’s Diamonds” and I’ve made it several times. You can check them out HERE, HERE, and HERE. Although, this is the first time I’ve put a maple leaf in the middle. I used the Artistic Cutter to cut out the Maple Leaf.
The quilt will hang in the Quilt of Valour display at the Ladner Car and Quilt Show in August. After that, Lynn, our guild’s Quilts of Valour volunteer, will deliver it to a representative from Quilts of Valour and it will eventually be presented to a past or present member of the Canadian Armed Forces who is ill or injured as a result of their service to Canada.
Here is a close-up of the centre of the quilt. This picture shows the true colours better than the above picture. It is grafitti quilted with a light grey, Aurifil #2600 and Hobbs 80/20 batting. I did bind it with a dark navy as there was not enough red fabric left for binding.
Here is an Excel Sheet for you to track your hours: Hmm, I can’t seem to embed the excel sheet … If you want one that will add your hours up, email me & I’ll email the sheet to you
Here are the quilts I plan to finish: 2 strippy quilts (only 1 picture) and 3 star quilts.
Both strippy quilts need borders, sandwiching, quilting and binding
The first star quilt needs to be webbed, borders, sandwiching, quilting and binding
The 2nd star quilt needs the backing enlarged, sandwiching, quilting and binding
The 3rd quilt is webbed and needs to be sewn together, borders, sandwiching, quilting and binding
There is a link-up at the end of this post.
Design Wall:
Piecing
I have started piecing my August Island Batik project … and of course, I can’t show you until the actual blog hop. Sorry … I know you hate secrets!
Quilting
A few weeks ago, I showed you the border of a commissioned quilt. I’m now quilting the said border. And then it needs a label and binding and then it will be finished.
Stash Report
Nothing finished this week and no fabric bought so there isn’t a lot of change in my stash …
Fabric Used this week 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 101.6 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 57.05
Net Fabric used 44.65
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Husband’s Purchases 9.5
Stitchin’ Time
January – May: 122 out of 140
June – 27 out of 30
Year-to-date: 149 out of 170 = 87%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Happy Quilting! Gail
Link up if you want to show us your plans for the marathon. I will try to have a link-up at the half-way mark and at the finish line.
If you don’t have a blog, you can always link to an Instagram post or a Pinterest picture.
About 9 months ago, I bought a Janome 500E embroidery machine. I’ve been making quilt labels on it and also a few other projects. I absolutely LOVE making “in the hoop” zipper bags. They are SEW fun.
This first one is an Anita Gooddesign. I altered it a bit because I was suppose to use “see through” fabric – which I don’t own. The fabrics were Island Batik.
This next one is a free pattern from Sweet Pea in Australia. It was a fun way to learn “in the hoop” applique and zipper insertion.
Who knows what I will make next?
My Daisy Chain Mystery was featured on Free Motion Mavericks. Check it out HERE.
There are LOTS of people going to join the Baby Quilt Marathon. Some are making baby quilts, others will be working on their own projects.
All that is required is a concentrated effort to work on a project for 26 hours during the time from July 1 to July 15. Are you going to join us?
Yes, the last week has been a whirlwind. I had a 12 hour drive up north to help a friend, then came back a few days later. The bonus was that I got to see a neice and a few old friends for a little visit! Unfortunately, I missed seeing a ton of other people!
Then, just as I got home, we picked up my quilting cousin, Terry! (She blogs occasionally at TLC Quilts).
My Cousin Time
Terry helped me cut and sew some border strips … unfortunately I didn’t get a picture. Since the binding flange strips needed to be cut the same width as the 1st border, she cut those as well. Then, I had a glass of wine and decided it was totally unsafe for me to either cut or sew …
This is a secret commissioned project, but I figure that I can show you a bit of the 1st border without giving too much away.
Terry and I hit a couple of local quilt stores. She fell in love with “Dragonfly Quilting and Gifts” To quote Terry, “This is heaven.” She bought a few fabrics to go with her future projects and she bought a beautiful beautiful piece that is simply beautiful. To my credit … I resisted buying that beautiful fabric. However, Dragonfly is only about 3 km from my house … but I’m not going there!
While Terry was here, she was talking about needing scraps of fabric for a couple of future scrappy quilts. I just grinned and grinned. And I grinned some more!!! She tackled my bag of red, blue and brown scraps and took a fair amount – but why are the bags still full???? I didn’t measure the fabric – so I can’t use the amount in my stash count this week. But, at least she has scraps and doesn’t need to go buy fabric to make her quilts. If she sends me pictures, or blogs about the quilts, I’ll be sure to let you know!
Terry then sorted my green scraps … and made a comment that a certain tone of green was predominant in my green scrap bag and there was likely enough for a quilt there. She’s probably correct and I may use that green in Bonnie Hunter’s 2019/20 mystery quilt.
Feathers
Terry also showed me how she does her feathers. It uses a “bird” and “sun” for guidelines. I’ll have to get the link of the youtube. Sew … she had me practicing different feathers. FUN!
Quite a few people have expressed interest in joining us for the Baby Quilt Marathon. Not everyone will be making baby quilts – but I will. You can see more details HERE. One person is planning on making a string quilt, another is going to be sewing up a bunch a baby / Christmas panels, and another plans to make a baby quilt from start to finish!
Are you going to join us?
Design Wall:
Piecing & Quilting
I showed you the little bit of border that I’m finishing piecing and will soon start quilting.
Stash Report
I finished the Quilt of Valour quilt. And, although the fabric from the top was from Island Batik, the backing was from my stash. It used 4 yards of fabric.
Fabric Used this week 4 yards
Fabric Used this year: 101.6 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 57.05
Net Fabric used 44.65
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Husband’s Purchases 9.5
Stitchin’ Time
January – May: 122 out of 140
June – 21 out of 23
Year-to-date: 143 out of 163= 88%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
A few blog posts ago, I mentioned that I have 3 UFO baby quilts and 2 new baby quilt starts. A couple of readers suggested that I have a Baby Quilt Marathon and get those little quilts done!
SEW … that germinated a few seeds and got me thinking … What would a Baby Quilt Marathon look like?
According Merriem-webster, one of the definitions of a marathon is an endurance contest. It can include an event, an activity or requiring concentrated effort.
Typically runninmarathons can be around 26 miles or 42 kilometres.
Now, I know that I can not sit at the sewing machine for 26 hours, let alone 42 hours … SEW … I decided that I can concentrate on these baby quilts for 26 hours … over the space of 2 weeks. That’s less than 2 hours a day. I can do that! And so can YOU!
SEW … are you going to join me? All you need to do is keep track of your hours and make a concentrated effort to work on baby quilts and get them done!
OK OK …. so you don’t have 5 baby quilts that you need to finish? … that’s OK … you can work on whatever project you want. But it has to be a concentrated effort to a goal of finishing the project.
What happens if you don’t sew for 26 hours in 15 days? Absolutely nothing. But you need to make an honest effort to do so.
When people run marathons all sorts of things happen. I did a half marathon several years ago (before my back became nasty about it) and I was SLOW!!! My son text me when I was about the 1/2 way mark and said he was finished!!! That made me a bit mad, but also made me determined to finish. Some people that were running didn’t finish … but at least they tried. That’s all that I will ask of you … that you try! 🙂
I won’t show you all 5 of the baby quilts, but I will show you one of the new starts … I have started to add borders.
The Island Batik challenge for this month is: “Try a Technique” Challenge. Oh, lots and lots of things to choose from!!! I had been wanting to try Angela Walter’s “Free Motion Challenge, Layered Quilting.” Sew, that became my project!
Oh – I almost forgot to write the PHD in 2019 report.
Here’s the January Report for Participants
Kate @ Life in Pieces has started 2 projects that she plans to complete by year’s end! One is a Storm at Sea (something I’ve never made) and the other is her Daisy Chain Mystery quilt – sew pretty!!! I really like the pattern!
Tish @ Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland doesn’t seem to have any UFOs finished, but she has a lovely heart quilt …. it’s worth going to take a look!
Emily @ The Darling Dogwood has made a pretty awesome I spy quilt for a new baby! She made a similar one for the baby’s sibling – so that should be fun!!! Make sure you check out her cool I spy quilts!
Deana @ Dream Worthy Quilts has a goal tracker on the right side bar. According to the tracker (which may not be up to date), there hasn’t been any recent UFO finishes. However, she has made a pretty neat bag. Check it out HERE. I love how she didn’t purchase the hardware, but re-purposed it from other bags. I’ll have to keep that in mind!
Elizabeth @ Applique and … has a lot going on in her life and sewing is happening in little bits.
Sharon @ Adventures in Fiber has not posted any quilty posts lately … but she has been busy with lambs! Soooo cute!
A FUN Youtube video
I know that I often use quilting acronyms and I hopefully explain them. This video explains a LOT of different ones! SEW Fun. It’s well worth the time to watch it.
Design Wall: Quilting
Fractured Paint Brush.
I made the label and I just have the borders to quilt … and the binding to do … then you’ll see it in all it’s glory!
Stash Report
I did finish my June Island Batik project and used 1/2 yard of my own fabric on the back … I need to take pictures and write that post – sew you’ll see the project pretty soon!
Fabric Used this week 0.5 yards
Fabric Used this year: 84.9 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 57.05
Net Fabric used 27.85
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Husband’s Purchases 9.5
Stitchin’ Time
January – May: 122 out of 140
June – 8 out of 9
Year-to-date: 130 out of 149 = 87%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
No UFO finishes in May, but I did finish my May Island Batik project …
I did start 2, yes 2 baby quilts at the guild’s baby quilt making day … they are added to my “Starts in 2019” list. Hmmm … I still have 3 guild baby quilts from previous years that aren’t finished … one day …
This week has been totally different for me. You can decide what to call it, but I’m calling it “Whatchamacallit.” And yes, Whatchamacallit is a ligit word, it’s in the dictionary!
SEW … this week started off by me travelling up to the southern Okanogan Valley to meet with my sister and a bunch of her friends from Edmonton. The purpose was to go wine tasting. I’m not a great consumer of wine and have been known to have the odd half glass and the occasional full glass. On Monday, I made it to 3 wineries (the group was going to 5) and that was enough for me. I did spot a quilt store in Pentiction, but didn’t venture over to it. That probably saved me a little bit of money! 🙂
However, I did set up my featherweight in the corner of the living room and worked on a quilt! There was a lot of interest … a few would like to learn to quilt, one fellow said the machine reminded him of a relative’s treadle and so on. One lady took a picture of my set-up and was going to show her daughter, Sarah. I don’t know if you remember, but Sarah, when she was 16 years old had made a quilt a few years ago and I showed it on my blog. You can check out the post HERE. One interesting thing I found out was that Sarah’s mom does not quilt!!!
And when I look at this quilt again, I am totally amazed that a 16 year old put it together. She definitely has talent!!!
Now … the rest of the week … I usually work Monday & Tuesday, but I will be working Wed, Thurs, Fri and Saturday! How will I survive?
Daisy Chain Mystery Quilt
Alison, of Little Bunny Quilts is having a link-up for those of us that made the quilt to show it off. There are quite a few different quilts. I continue to be amazed at how colour choices can totally make the quilt look very different! Go check them out at the Daisy Chain Link-up
Cheryl from Meadow Mist Designs has a monthly linkup of your favourite finish. This month, it’s really really hard for me to choose! I have 2 finishes, my Island Batik “Make it Modern” quilt and my “Daisy Chain Mystery Quilt.”
I like the Make it Modern one because it took me WAY outside my comfort zone and I really like how it turned out!
I also like the Daisy Chain Mystery quilt because it was a super well written mystery and I LOVE making mystery quilts. AND, I do like how it turned out! SEW … like I said, it’s hard to choose. Which would you choose?
At our recent quilt show, there was a baby quilt challenge: Welcome to the Zoo. I just didn’t have any ideas at all. Or at least none that were practical and manageable. So, I grabbed a panel from my stash of panels and quilted it up. Just a panel people, a panel!!
Can you imagine my surprise when it was announced that I was the 3rd place winner? I still can’t believe it. It’s a panel. A few people told me that the quilting was amazing. I don’t know about that – but I did quilt it to death! And, it’s still nice & soft. It will be a donation quilt. I will take it back to the guild next month and hand it in.
The last block for the Daisy Chain Mystery is up. The clues had me guessing until the very last minute!!! It’s a great mystery! Thank you, Little Bunny Quilts!!!
So, I pieced the last blocks together and I was so excited to see this quilt put together, I didn’t take any pictures of the block until the quilt was sandwiched! T
These “cross” blocks pieced together very quickly! All the units were previously put together, so it was very easy to do!
Once I had the blocks done, I was eager to see how my quilt would look. SEW … I put it all together. The instructions tell you to pay attention to the orientation of the “star” blocks and the “cross” blocks. Amazingly, I did pay attention and I didn’t have to reach for my seam ripper!!!! Perhaps, I’m learning to follow directions? Continue reading →
When we were in Hawaii in January, we went to Pearl Harbour. I was captivated by the history of the bombing and intrigued by the “Tree of Life” relief. According to “A Day at Pearl Harbor – USS Arizona Memorial” the design “has come to be known as a symbol of peace and harmony”.
I had already recieved an outline from Island Batik of our upcoming projects. “Make it Modern” was the title for the month of May. As I looked at the structure and took the photo, I pondered, “Could I? Should I? Can I?”
And the answers to my questions were: Yes, yes, yes…. Continue reading →
Continue reading 
OK … so how did you do? Did you complete 26 hours of focus sewing on your intended project? Here’s how I did:
The last block for the 
T
Quilting Gail 