Aurifil Thread

My Best of 2019

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Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs is having a Best of 2019 Linky Party!

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It’s HARD to choose just one quilt that is my favourite for this year!  SEW … as you can see, I chose 8 of them.  I finished many many more, but these 8 are my favourite!  Well, there’s probably a few more that are also my favourite … but I figured I needed to limit the number!

You can see the original posts for the quilts by clicking on the quilt name.  All but the first quilt, Good Fortune, used Island Batik Fabrics (you can see all the Island Batik quilts HERE.)  Good Fortune was made from my stash and was a Bonnie Hunter mystery.  All of the quilts used Hobbs batting … 80/20 or wool … Aurifil thread was used in each project.  Each quilt was quilted on my domestic sewing machine – Janome 8900.

Friday Finish or Not

I have no finishes this Friday, but the quilt below is ready to be quilted.  I used the left-over fabric from a baby quilt I started in November.  I was able to cut most of the 5″ squares from the left-overs … I was a few squares shor … mostly because I cut some at 4.5″ instead of 5″ 😦 …  sew … I took the pieces that were too small and pieced a bunch of them together and then cut those pieces 5″ square.   It will work.  This is a pattern where you sew the blocks straight, do a few big cuts, rearrange the big cuts and you have a quilt that is on point.  Missouri Star has a YouTube Video that shows basically how to make this.   It’s pretty easy!

This quilt will also be donated to the guild.

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fullsizeoutput_c18This is the quilt that had the left-overs that I used for the above quilt.  There were 2 fat quarters that I did not use in the original quilt … one was a mini panel with the blocks of animals and the other was the white /with leaves that is on the outside of the quilt … it was a perfect place to use these fabrics up!

 

 

 

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Linking to:

Island Batik Projects – 2019 Review

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What a YEAR!!!

This has been a year of growth for me as a quilter.  Becoming an Island Batik Ambassador has been a highlight of my year! Thanks to the monthly challenges, I stepped outside my comfort zone and made things that I NEVER would have.   As well, a short photography class helped me go beyond my “quilt on a clothesline” photos!

Island Batik provided all of the fabrics for the quilts and projects this year.  My heart is over-filled with gratefullness for their generousity and that of the co-sponsers (Aurifil, Hobbs batting & Accuquilt).  I was totally spoiled this year by being an Island Batik Ambassador!

I am also grateful to my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors!  They offered a ton of support and encouragement.  Not to mention the plethora of ideas that flowed … it’s been a fun year!

February: Magnificent Mini

The first challenge for the year was to make a mini.  I wasn’t sure what to do … My love of fall colours and the desire to make something I would use, lead me to make this Suduko mini quilt.  For more details, go HERE.

Magnificent Mini

On the huge boulders on the side of our yard.

March:  Vintage Re-Imagined

What happens when you have beautiful fabric, an idea and EQ7?  Stars on Ice became the reality of that dream. See HERE.

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April: Accuquilt Baby Quilt

All ambassadors received an Accuquilt cutter and dies.  I used the 8″ cube dies to make this beautiful baby quilt.  See HERE.

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May: Make it Modern

Me? Make a modern quilt???  Find out more about how it came about HERE.

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Christmas RAPPing

This table runner was made for a Blog Hop celebrating the book “Christmas RAPPing” by Margaret Brewster Willingham and Nan Baker.  You can see the blog post HERE.

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June:  Try It

We were challenged to try a new technique … sew, I used one of Angela Walters quilting tutorial series and this table runner was born.  See HERE.

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A Zipper Pouch

This little zipper pouch was made with my embroidery machine, using an AnitaGoodesign pattern.  For more details see this POST.

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July: Artsy Fartsy

I do not do Artsy-Fartsy … I’m a more traditional quilter.  However, this project was enlightening.  I remembered how to do some simple embroidery stitches … and with it being “Artsy-Fartsy” I didn’t need to worry about it being exact.  You can read about it HERE.  This bag was made for travelling and I used it on my month long trip to Europe & Africa.

Quilt of Valour

One of my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors organized a group of us to make Quilts of Valour out of a wonderful line of fabric called “Freedom.”  It had lots of red, white & blue fabric.  Since I was making one for a Canadian veteran, I just wanted to use the red and white.  I did have to dip into the blue fabric for a few squares (scattered randomly) and the binding.  It is my own pattern.  Read more about it HERE.

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August: Beat the Heat

This was made for a blog hop.  The line is “Soil & Seeds.”  I loved the line and wanted to be able to showcase each fabric.  This quilt was perfect for that.  For more details, see HERE.

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September: Child’s Play

This quilt used the Accuquilt Die “Cleopatra’s Fan.”  It was an intimidating block for me to make: it had CURVED piecing.  However, I did learn that with the die, the pieces are cut perfectly and sewing the curves was not all that difficult.  It was fun to design the butterfly. Except for the antenna, the butterfly was cut with the Accuquilt 8 ” Cube dies.  You can read about the post HERE.

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Biscournu Pin Cushions

These little pin cushions were made with the “mistake” blocks from making the Christmas Rapping table runner (May). I think they are so stinking cute! And a fantastic way to use up those orphan blocks.  For more details see HERE.

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October:  Top it Off – using Applique!

Nothing says “October” to me more than pumpkins.  I had some great orange fabric, a great background fabric, my embroidery machine and this table runner fell into place.  For more details, see HERE.

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Island Batik Rayon

I needed new clothes … I had an ancient T-shirt pattern, I had this beautiful rayon fabric … SEW this top, which fits me perfectly, was made!  Check it out HERE.

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November: Tool Time

We needed to use our favourite tool.  My favourite is the Tri-rec ruler … and the Shape-cut ruler … and … a zillion other tools that are necessary for my quilt making … Visit THIS BLOG POST to see a video on how I used these tools.

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The Tool Time Mistake

I forgot to take pictures as I was making this quilt.  And it can easily be made with the Accuquilt Go, 8″ Cube dies. See HEREand HEREI love how this quilt used the same fabrics as the quilt above, but with a white background instead of black.  It certainly gives the quilts a very different look!

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Randy the Rhino

Many fellow Ambassadors made various “Funky Friends” for quilt market.  After my trip to Africa, I just HAD to make the Rhino!  See this POST for more details.

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December: 3D Challenge

This quilt pattern has always spoken “3D” to me. It was the obvious choice for a quilt!  See HERE  for more details!

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Sewing Machine Cover:  3D Challenge #2

I needed to make sewing machine covers for all of my machines.  I used the extra fabric from the 3D quilt to make this serger cover.  To find out how I did it, go HERE.

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Snowman Table Runner

You can call it a squirrel, you can call it a DrEAMI, but I’m calling it DONE.  Check out the details HERE.

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Alice Alpaca: 3D Challenge #3

Alice was fun to make!  See this POST for more details!

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Disclaimer: The products featured in this Blog post were given to me by Island Batik, and their co-sponsers Aurifil, Hobbs Batting & AccuQuilt!  And the Patterns for the Stuffed Animals were from Funky Friends.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Linking to:

Smith Mountain Morning is DONE, done, DONE!!!

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I started this quilt while at a workshop with Bonnie Hunter at Camp Arnold in 2015.  I’ve been working on it pretty steady for the last few months.  I made it bigger than the pattern … it is 89″ x 89″

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IMG_5775I did graffiti quilting, using Aurifil #2000 and just over 9 bobbins!  It took me quite a while to quilt it!  I used Hobbs 80/20 for batting!  I’m almost through the roll that I bought  a year ago!

This is my 13th UFO for this year!  Now, as soon as I get 3 little baby quilts completed, I will have acheived my PHD in 2019!

PHD in  2020?

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I’ve been asked if I’m going to do the PHD in 2020 … The answer is YES YES YES!!!

I have a ton of UFOs still left to do –  so, I’m going to continue doing this.  It certainly helps me to complete old UFOs and with finishing all the new starts, I don’t add to my UFO list.  Win-win, wouldn’t you say?  I’ll be posting more about this in the near future!  In the meantime, gather up your UFOs and be ready to join in the fun!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Linking to:

 

 

3D Challenge #2

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I posted about Challenge # 1 HERE.

Island Batik did not say we needed to do 2 challenges this month … this was my choice.  Especially since this project is also 3D.  And,  since I need to make sewing machine covers, this just made sense to me!

IMG_5774 Continue reading →

3D Challenge #1

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IMG_5738When this challenge was first mentioned, it sort-of indicated that it was to be something 3D … so I got to thinking … bags, sewing machine covers … oh the possibilities.  Then, in late September, a quilt was indicated.  Something with a 3D effect.  I knew exactly which quilt to make and which fabric to use!! Continue reading →

Tool Time

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This month, half of the Island Batik ambassadors were involved in the “A Piece of …” Blog Hop and the rest of us were challenged to use our favourite tool and make a quilt.  I started out with one idea and made the top. However, I had forgotten to take pictures of me using the tool with the Island Batik fabric.  Now that was plan dumb!!!  So – that quilt got put aside and I changed my tool and design.  I did use EQ to plan both quilts.  That was tool #1. Continue reading →

Top it Off

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October’s Island Batik challenge is “Top It Off.”   We were told to create a holiday themed table runner or table topper that includes appliqué.   Well, you all know how much I love applique (NOT!!).  However, with my Janome 500E embroidery machine, applique has become SEW much easier!

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Webbing a Quilt

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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.

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Artsy-Fartsy with Aurifil Thread

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Artsy Fartsy Challenge

At first I was Scared

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.

Here is the first block

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Happy Canada Day!!!

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July 1

Is Canada Day! And the start of:

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.

Ivan's Diamonds, Quilt of Valour

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.

Visit the other blogs in the hop.

Today it’s
Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty Piney
Denise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail You are already HERE! 🙂
Tomorrow, July 2
Pamela Boatright — Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens —Seams Like a Plan
Wednesday, July 3
Bea Lee —Bea Quilter
Carla Henton — Creatin’ In the Sticks
Thursday, July 4
Emily Leachman — The Darling Dogwood
Joan Kawano — MooseStash Quilting
Jen Strauser – Dizzy Quilter
Friday, July 5
Steph Jacobson — Steph Jacobsen Designshttp://Dizzyquilter.com
Leah Malasky — Quilted Delights
Anja Clyke — Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe — Mary Mack Made Mine

Disclaimer: The products featured in this Blog post were given to me by Island Batik, and their program partners:  Aurifil, Hobbs Batting & AccuQuilt!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Try It!

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Try It!Try It!

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!

Angela Walter’s

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Make it Modern with Hobbs

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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 →

Christmas RAPPING

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What’s this?  Christmas in May?  Well, yes and no.  The blog hop from Christmas RAPPING is in progress … and just because the book is titled “Christmas,” it doesn’t mean that you have to make the projects in Christmas colours.  I was tired of winter and wanted to do a quilt in spring/ summer colours! Island Batik generously sent me the fabric I requested.  I also used Hobbs 80/20 batting and Aurifil thread #5008 (blue) for the quilting.

If you know me, I know you’re surprised and saying “look at all those appliquéd stars.”  Well … read on … (and the centre block is paper pieced, not appliquéd!fullsizeoutput_a78 Continue reading →

PHD in 2019 – April Update

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PHD in 2019: Quilting UFOs and Finishing New Projects

I have 5 UFO finishes for 2019!

The first picture shows, Ivan’s Diamonds, Carpenter’s Wheel and a Star Table runner

My 2 April finishes are Good Fortune and a Retreat Bag.

I have an Inlinks party for PHD in 2019 participants to link up to.  However, you you want to link up, feel free!  Just be sure to mention this blog in your blog post, Instagram or Pinterest picture!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I did Promise you

Close up pictures of a couple of quilts:  This first one was the Island Batik Accuquilt Challenge.  Free Motion quilting did not call to me and it’s totally stitched in the ditch. (And yes, I used my ruler foot and a ruler for most of the quilting.)  I used Aurifil Thread and Hobbs batting.  The fabrics are Island Batik and mostly came from the Stash Builder Rolls or my yardage.

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This is a Close up of Good Fortune and the quilting.  I just did an all-over pattern that was inspired by Roseanne of Home Sewn by US, but then it morphed into my own design.

Christmas RAPPing BLOG HOP

Christmas RAPPers blog

This awesome blog hop is continuing.  If you haven’t checked out the great projects – be sure to do so.  And, there is a chance for YOU to win!  Check it out!

April 29  Joan @  MooseStash Quilting

April 30 Linda @ One Quilting Circle

May 1 Kathy @ Kathy’s Kwilts

May 2 Bea @ Beaquilter

May 3 Sherry @ Powered by Quilting

May 4 Jennifer @ Dizzy Quilter

May 5 Barbara Gaddy @ Bejeweledquilts by Barb

May 6 Nancy Myers @ Patchwork Breeze

May 7 Vicki @ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

May 8 Gail @ Quilting Gail  THIS IS ME come back and see what I made!

May 9  Michelle @ Creative Blonde

May 10 Maryellen @ Mary Mack’s Blog

May 11 Denise @ For the Love of Geese

May 12 Maria @

CHANCE TO WIN

Click on the Rafflecopter giveaway link to have a chance to WIN 9 Island Batik FQ’s and 3 Aurifil spools of thread to 2 lucky winners!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Linking to: 

PHD in 2019 – March Report

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Island Batik

If you want to see the newest fabric and patterns from Island Batik … go to the Spring and Summer 2019 Catalog.  Be prepared for an online magazine full of the most beautiful  fabric and tons of patterns for wonderful quilts and tuffets, clothing and other projects.

Version 2

I received these Aurifil threads in the mail today!  The dark purple is 40 wt, blue is 12 wt and the pink is 28 wt.  Very pretty!!!  I need to use all 3 weights in an upcoming Island Batik Challenge.

What will I do?  I’m not sure.  I haven’t used 12 wt or 28 wt thread before.  I used 40 wt once on a quilt. It will be fun to come up with something that uses all 3 weights of thread! Continue reading →