Sunday Summary: April 14

Finishes since the last Sunday Summary:

The first is Taylor the Tiger, a Funky Friend pattern. It was challenging, but fun to make! You can read all about him/her HERE.

Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!

  • Jan – Mar:  80 / 90 days
  • Apr 1 – 14: 14 / 14 days
  • Total: 94 / 10490%

Design Wall Mondays

Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week.

Piecing projects:

  • Island Batik May project.
  • Canuck Quilter: Mystery Project. I’m using a 10″ stack of Island Batik “Constellations” and the light fabric is “Fondant.” Visit Canuck Quilter HERE and shoot her an email if you want to join in the fun! I’m behind on the last clue … hopefully, I’ll catch up soon!

Quilting: to do

  • Finish Quilting “Gardenia
  • April Showers: blog hop
  • BBQG Baby Quilt Challenge: Sorry, no picture until after the show
  • Lone Star Left-overs (you can see details of the Lone Star HERE)

Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!

When I go to a retreat at Over the Rainbow, I really, really struggle to NOT buy fabric. And this year’s retreat was no exception! Although, I did resist going on the first day! However, on the 2nd day it was another story … and then I needed to go back to check on things for next years’ retreat … and then I needed to go back to pick up some thread. The picture below shows what I bought. The 2 fabrics on the right are Island Batik fabrics: Ravine and solid white. The 2 fabrics on the left are flannel. A total of 12 yards.

  • Fabric Used in the last week:   2.5yards
  • Fabric Used in 2023:     59.5 yards  from non-IB: 26
  • Fabric Added this week: 12 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:     20 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              39.5 yards

Carol from Quilt Schmilt is hosting “To Do” every week.

I have a bit of progress on many things … but nothing completed …

To Do from the last report:

  1. Finish quilting “2023 Fall Mystery Quilt”. √   DONE. I’ll show you this after the BBQG quilt show.
  2. Finish Quilting “Gardenianot done
  3. Finish IB April project √   DONE and posted HERE.
  4. Finish piecing Lone Star Left-overs from Pin Dot Floral lone star √   DONE now in line for sandwiching and quilting.
  5. Work on Canuck Quilter Mystery Quilt not done need to catch up
  6. Start April Showers: blog hop project √   DONE. Need to finish it …
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for next week:

  1. Finish BBQG baby quilt challenge
  2. Finish Quilting “Gardenia
  3. Sandwich and Quilt Lone Star Left-overs from Pin Dot Floral lone star
  4. Catch up on Canuck Quilter Mystery Quilt
  5. Finish April Showers: blog hop project
  6. Pull fabric for Luminous Layers. See HERE.
  7. Work on May IB project: Holiday Paper Piecing
  8. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  9. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

This year, I am committed to finishing all the projects that I start, plus finished the 6 UFOs that I started the year with. From my chart it appears that I do have several projects that are started that I need to finish!! At least I only have 4 UFOs left!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: Feb. 25

This is why some people figure quilting is HARD!!!

The hosts have shown their centre blocks, many rounds, and other’s have joined in on the fun. See This Post for all the details! Here’s my centre block with the rounds, including the last round #5! My blog post HERE has links to all of the participating bloggers. Tomorrow is the last round! Almost done!

Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!

  • Jan 1-28: 22 / 31 days
  • Feb 1-25: 25 / 25 days
  • Total: 47 / 56.83%

Design Wall Mondays

Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week. Sorry, no pictures to share!

Piecing projects:

  • Island Batik April project
  • Fast and More Fun: blog hop project
  • Give it a Whirl: blog hop project

Quilting:

  • 2023 Fall Mystery Quilt. I have the backing now … no excuses!
  • Finish Quilting “Gardenia
  • IB March project
  • SAHRR 2024

Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!

This past week, I showed you this sweet baby quilt … You can read about it HERE.

  • Fabric Used this week:  2.5yards
  • Fabric Used in 2023:     28 yards  from non-IB: 10
  • Fabric Added this week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:     8 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              20 yards

Carol from Quilt Schmilt is hosting “To Do” every week.

To Do from the last report:

  1. Sandwich, Quilt and Bind “2023 Fall Mystery Quilt” sandwiched, not quilted
  2. Continue to work on SAHRR ’24 in progress. Round #6 completed, needs quilting
  3. Finish Quilting “Gardenianot done
  4. Finish IB March project  not done in progress.
  5. Work on Fast and More Fun: blog hop project. in progress
  6. Work on Give it a Whirl: blog hop project. in progress
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE I actually spent about 2 hours tidying and cleaning … what a difference it made!

To Do for next week:

  1. Sandwich, Quilt and Bind “2023 Fall Mystery Quilt”
  2. Continue to work on SAHRR ’24 finish quilting and binding
  3. Finish Quilting “Gardenia
  4. Finish IB March project 
  5. Work on Fast and More Fun: blog hop project.
  6. Work on Give it a Whirl: blog hop project.
  7. Start IB April project
  8. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  9. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

This is the last week of a FABULOUS blog hop!! Be sure to visit the Zen Funk log cabins!

February 26:

February 27:

End of Blog Hop and Final Round-Up

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: June 5

I’m wondering if I’m Going Crazy?

Last week, on Monday, I was teaching at Essem and we were looking at walking foot quilting. My machine wouldn’t work with the walking foot on it. Dang! I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The class participants were stellar and so I didn’t need to demonstrate on my machine. When I came home, I pulled the machine out and it worked like a charm. I was relieved that it wouldn’t need to go to the machine doctor or have a spa appointment!

Fast forward to Friday. I went to a Quilt-as-you-Go workshop. When I got there, I set up my machine. I put the extension table in place, with the slip slide thing taped in place. Turned on my machine. The walking foot wouldn’t work! WHAT???? Knowing that I needed it, or at the very least, I wanted to use it, I sat and stared (maybe GLARED) at it. I did not swear – promise! 🤪

The feed dogs were not working. WHY? The feed dogs were not lowered. I checked that! What is wrong???

I stared glared some more … and then it hit me! DUH!!! DUH!!! DUH!!! The slip slide thingy is good for free motion, but it does cover up the feed dogs. As soon as I removed it, the walking foot worked like a charm!

Yup, sometimes I think I’m going crazy!

Classic Cars: Monthly Colour Challenge

May’s Classic Car colour is Grey …. Visit Patterns by Jen HERE for your free download of this month’s block …

Here’s my May block, followed by the January, February, March, April and May blocks … I know that I ‘stretched’ the grey colour a bit, but I’m trying to use up my bits and pieces of Island Batik scraps and this seemed to fit the bill!

One Gift a Month

May’s gift is Soup Bowl Cozies. You can go to Days Filled With Joy for information and links to several different on-line tutorials.

So far for the One Gift a Month, I have made January’s, February’s, and April’s gifts.

Yes, I will be making Soup Bowl Cozies … soon, it obviously won’t be in May! Here is the fabric for my bowl cozy … These are 10″ squares from a stack of Island Batik “Pumpkin Spice” that I had. Now to get some cotton batting that doesn’t have scrim on it! …

Stitching Stuff

Kate, from Life in Pieces, is hosting “Stitching Stuff” and the goal is to sew for at least 15 minutes a day. I use Kate’s guideline, but my personal goal is to sew for 30 minutes a day. On those “blah” days, it does motivate me to sit at my machine and 30 minutes often turns into several hours. Thank you Kate for the motivation!

  • January – May:  147 /150
  • June:  4/ 4
  • Total: 151 / 154
  • Percentage: 98%

Stash Report

Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash numbers. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks!

I saw this meme on a friends blog (Brenda) and it just cracked me up! “I’m not a Hoarder … I’m the Curator of an Extensive Private Fabric collection.” And with the chicken holding all the extra fabric, it’s perfect. You can see this at Songbird Designs HERE.

This meme is very appropriate for me!

So, as I mentioned, I took a workshop making a Quilt-as-you-Go quilt. It was a LOT of fun!!! Thanks to Dawn and Nora for organizing and teaching. This quilt used 3 yards of fabric from my extensive stash collection, plus about 1/2 yard for binding and Hobbs 80/20 batting from left-over pieces. It will be donated to the guild’s baby quilt charity!

No shopping. No fabric added!

Yearly Tally:

  • Fabric Used the last week: 3.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2023:    111 yards  from non-IB: 50
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    12.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:             98.5 yards 

Just an FYI: I do not count any fabric that is given to me (Island Batik), but this year, I am going to count it as fabric used.

To Do Tuesday

Carol from Quilt Schmilt is hosting “To Do” every week.

The To Do list from last week: 

  1. Finish Mystery Quilt (making and writing). Partially done. I have the quilt quilted and just need to bind it. The border portion needs to be written.
  2. X’s & O’s #1 & #2: bind √   DONE #2 is bound, but I need to do a photo shoot and then I can show it to you.
  3. Finish “When Pigs Fly” project √   DONE … you’ll see this on June 19!
  4. Finish the Secret Project for Kelly Young’s new book – I’ll be telling you all about it in June! Partially done. It’s still a work in progress
  5. Lone Star Left-overs – get it to a flimsy stage. … Partially done. I’m still webbing the top
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE

This week’s list:

  1. Finish Mystery Quilt (making and writing).
  2. Make the Crazy quilt with Decorative stitches for Essem … I’m teaching this class in a few weeks.
  3. Finish the Secret Project #1 for Kelly Young’s new book – I’ll be telling you all about it later this month!
  4. Finish the Secret Project #2 for Kelly Young’s new book
  5. Lone Star Left-overs – get it to a flimsy stage
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Design Wall

Judy, at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, hosts a linky party for “What’s on your Design Wall” every week.

Piecing projects:

  1. #1 Secret Project for Kelly Young’s new book (mostly the purples and greens from the Island Batik Napa Valley collection)
  2. #2 Secret Project for Kelly Young’s new book. (Island Batik, “Wild Blooms”)
  3. Crazy Quilt for Essem using Grunge and other fabric
  4. Some blocks ready for webbing from Lone-Star Left-overs (Island Batik “Naturescape”)

Yup … it’s official, I am crazy … working on 4 projects at once!!! I know I often work on at least 2, along with a leader and ender … but 4??? Actually 6 … I don’t have a picture of the back for Secret Project #1 … it’s also in progress, as is the back for the Lone-Star Left-overs. YIKES!!!!

Quilting: These are all sandwiched and ready to quilt …

  • Nutcracker
  • Bird Panel

Upcoming Blog Hops

Moose Stash Quilting: Sew It – Show It: When Pigs Fly (My day is June 19)

Just Let Me Quilt: Sew It – Show It: Picnic Party. (My day is July 20)

Moose Stash Quilting: Sew It – Show It: Call Me Crazy


One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

Donation Quilts

Last Saturday, our guild had a Christmas social. We followed all the current protocols and had a great time. It felt almost normal!!! And it was SEW good to see people in person.

I took a total of 9 quilts to donate, but I forgot to take a picture of them in their pile before they went out the door. 5 of the quilts were for the Baby quilts and 4 of them were for Comfort Quilts. And, of course, I can’t remember what all of them looked like! Here is a picture of some of them!

With all the restrictions, the quilts stayed in my home until now. This helped me to have a little bit more room, but I still have lots of quilts!

I’m counting the donation of the 9 quilts as a “Finish.” They are finished living in my house!

I was Featured!

Jennifer, from Inquiring Quilter, featured this table runner on her blog. You can read about it HERE.

Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing featured this baby quilt and you can read about it HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

BBQG’s Jan/Feb Mystery Quilts

I have a LOT of finishes to show you. In January, I hosted a mystery quilt for our guild (Boundary Bay Quilt Guild). It’s a lot of fun for me!!! This mystery was written by Sue P … a member of the Peace Arch Quilt Guild. I did it as a mystery several years ago. I repeated it again this year. Thank you, Sue, for permitting me to share this quilt pattern with the guild! This post is dedicated to YOU!!!

I absolutely LOVE how the same design looks SEW very different with different fabrics and different layouts! And THANK YOU to all the guild members that sent me their pictures!

This is Kathy S’s: I love the tree’s!

Continue reading

PHD in 2021: February Report

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How are you doing with your PHD in 2021. So far I have 4 UFOs completed, but I still feel like I’m cheating. Three were started in December and were easy finishes. All of these were made with wonderful Island Batik fabrics. The 4th was a panel, so that was also a quick finish.

I have started working on the Echo Lake T-shirt quilt. The T-shirts are cut and interfacing is on each piece. Now, to decide the layout and how to piece it together!

Linky Party

Link up and show us your PHD in 2021 Progress.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=a8b40ada7693d64e5923

Do You need Help?

A fellow candidate for PHD in 2021, Sheila from “So This is Kentucky” posted about using Trello. It’s free to start with and gives you a visual of what projects you have going. See Sheila’s post HERE. You may also find it helpful!

Rainbow Scrap Table Topper

February’s colour is Yellow. I made another coaster. Again, I used Island Batik fabrics. The yellow fabric is “butter” that is available year round. I’m not sure what the beige is (but it is Island Batik) and the green was in a stash buster bundle. The pattern is a free embroidery design from Kreative Kiwi – the Mother’s Day coaster. Obviously, I omitted the writing. On the rose, I used my yellow and oragne inktense pencils to add a little more colour.

A Book Review

The guild librarian, asked me to have a look at a new book they got in the library.

“The Big Book of Little Quilts” by Martindale.
This book is jam packed with a variety of small quilts.  They range from a fresh, modern look, to homespun and many can be scrappy or controlled scrappy. Some of the patterns are pieced, some are paper pieced, some have applique and some have hand embroidery.  There is something in this book that will appeal to you!  It is a book I will definitely take out from the library when I’m looking for something small and a little different. 

DrEAMI

This month I had a DrEAMI project. DRop Everything And Make It. I will be linking to Sandra @ MMMQuilts. These little baskets were quick and easy to make! You can read more about them HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Linking to:

Moving Along in January

Last week I said that the Winnie the Pooh quilt needed some more quilting, specifically Winnie, Eeyore and the moon. A loving friend told me that if I left it, they would pop. So, I’m going with her advice and am considering this a UFO finish! That made for a super quick finish!!! This will be another donation quilt for the guild. It was a fun quilt to quilt. There is Hobbs 80/20 batting in it. It was quilted with CanSew beige thread.

Another Holiday Seclusion Quilt

Somehow, I missed putting Valda’s quilt on my blog last week. It’s a beauty!!! You can see all the other ones from my guild HERE.

Design Wall

Piecing:

#1 I’m still working on the SAHRR but can’t show you any current pictures. Want to know more about the SAHRR? check it out HERE. We started the reveal of our centre blocks last week. See my centre block and the centre blocks that many others have made HERE! Tomorrow, we’re showing the 2nd round! Be sure to check out all of the bloggers that are co-hosting with me! We’re taking turns hosting and having a linky party. It’s Emily’s turn this week!… here’s the list:

#2 The fabric is stilled pulled for the RSC21 Table Scraps Challenge table runner. I have an idea of what I’m making, but I haven’t gotten any further than that!!

#3 The February Island Batik challenge is up on my design wall. I’m using some wonderful fabrics and they are all so pretty!!!

#4 Moorewood Mystery : Half of Block A are pieced. I’m doing them as leaders and enders … so they will be done before the next clue comes out on Feb 4.

Quilting: 

Nothing being quilted at the moment …

Stash Report

I

Winnie the Pooh was 2 yards of fabric

  • Fabric Used this week      2  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        5 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                   – 4 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’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day

  • January –  24 / 24
  • Percentage = 100 % 

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:

Even with sewing a LOT this past week, I didn’t get much on my list completed. But I’m fine with what I DID get done!!

  1. Finish current round of Stay at Home Round Robin √   done
  2. Finish next round of Stay at Home Round Robin partially done
  3. Piece Moorewood Mystery Block A partially done
  4. Make the PINK table topper not done
  5. Start cutting for February’s Island Batik Challenge! √   done
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   not done !!! I have been doing SEW well with this – except for this week!! And this week I was Zoom sewing with other Island Batik ambassadors and we showed our studios … mine was a total mess!

This week’s list:

  1. Finish piecing the current round of Stay at Home Round Robin
  2. Start on the next round of Stay at Home Round Robin
  3. Finish Piecing Moorewood Mystery Block A
  4. Make the PINK table topper
  5. Web the top for February’s Island Batik Challenge!
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

OK … the Winnie the Pooh quilt was a quick finish this week. All it took was a decision! (grin)

I KNOW that not all my UFOs will be finished this quickly. But it is nice to have 3 considered done!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Linking to:

I Won!!!

I won fabric and a book! I donated several quilts last year to the Charity Baby Quilt program. Usually in June, they draw names for prizes. Of course, with Covid, and no in-person meetings, that did not happen. At the last Zoom guild meeting, my name was drawn. I received these in the mail. I love that the grey and pink fabrics are so “not me!” It’s going to be fun to play with them … and yes, there will likely be a baby quilt or two made from them. There’s a total of 4 yards – which I will add to my “bought” amount below. Thank you Nora and Carol for facilitating the Baby Quilt Program!

Design Wall

Piecing:

I showed you this last week … it’s still in the same state.

Hopefully, I can start on my SAHRR.

I did make a few Covid ornaments: They are approximately 2″ x 4″ with small pieces of elastic on each end and “2020” embroidered on them. I plan to stick them in a few Christmas cards.

Quilting: 

Scrappy 4 patches: Is still waiting to be quilted.

Stash Report

SS yellow

Nothing finished. No shopping and nothing added.

  • Fabric Used this week     0 yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       292.5 yards
  • Fabric Bought Gifted this week:   4  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      66.5 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                   226 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! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

Stitchin’ Time

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

  • January – Nov: 320 / 334
  • 30 min days/  Dec:   13/13
  • Total days in 2020: 333 / 347
  • Percentage = 95 % 

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:

  1. Work on SECRET project √   done
  2. Work on Mystery (Dec 26-31) √   done
  3. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √   done

This week’s list:

  1. Finish  SECRET project top
  2. Finish on Holiday Seclusion Mystery (Dec 26-31)
  3. Make a Christmas gift
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

I have ONE UFO to finish and I’ll have completed my PHD in 2020. YEAH!!! However, I have made no progress on it … So the chart below is exactly the same as last week.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Linking to:

First Monday in April Report

Curved Piecing

I did a quilt with curved piecing for my April Island Batik Challenge.  I’m LOVING, yes, LOVING sewing curves now!!!  Isn’t it amazing how, once you are competent at something you loathed, the relationship becomes a good one?  You can read about this quilt in THIS POST.

IMG_6384

Design Wall

Piecing:

Stay at Home Round Robin:  The 2nd row, Pinwheels was put on last week.  I’m currently working on “Arrows” for this week.

IMG_6401

Guild Challenge: This week’s challenge is to make a heart quilt.  People here are putting hearts in their windows … so I’m making a heart baby quilt … later, it can be donated … The top is done, but I’m having to be creative to piece the back!

Quilting:

I have a few quilts to quilt … All but the guild heart quilt are sandwiched.

  • Guild heart quilt
  • Elvira (2)
  • Scrappy

TO DO 

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

Last week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders     √  done
  2. Donation Quilt:      √  done
  3. Sandwich Elvira #1  & #2    √  done
  4. Frolic: get the borders on!!!!  NOT done

This week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders
  2. Guild Heart Quilt: Sandwich & Quilt
  3. Masks:  The Canadian health officials are now suggesting that people wear masks when out shopping or taking transit.  Therefore, I will be making a few masks. At this time, I do not know which pattern I will be using.  I do know that the mask will have 2 layers and the ability to insert a filter of some sort.

Stash Report

SS yellowIMG_6413

I completed the above quilt …  3.25 yards for the top and binding & 1.25 yards for the back … for a total of 4.5 yards

  • Fabric Used this week       4.5  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        71  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9.5
  • Net Fabric used                    61.5
  • Husband’s Purchases           0

Stitchin’ Time

When I started this in January, I was aiming for at least 15 minutes /day.  With social isolating, I am aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.  And yes, on most days, it’s usually at least a few hours.  But, I don’t want to put myself under pressure saying that I will do a few hours each day!

  • 15 minute days:  January – Mar. 90/91
  • 15 min days/  April= 5/5
  • Total days in 2020:  95/96
  • Percentage = 98% 

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

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AM

No UFOs finished since March.  I did finish the Donation challenge quilt.

The Heart Quilt challenge is a new start.  It will be done by Friday when I need to post a picture on Facebook.

Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 9.37.29 PM

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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Linking to: 

Last Monday of 2019! Plans for 2020!

Plans for 2020

I don’t make resolutions … they never work for me.  However, I do make PLANS.  Plans can be changed … in my mind, resolutions are sort-of set in stone and unchangeable.

My plans for 2020 include:

  • Obtaining my PHD in 2020 (obviously, eh?)
  • Learn how to sew curves!!! I’ve signed up for a class in January!  I want to master, or at least feel more comfortable sewing curves!
  • Use up my stash!!!  Dare I aim for using at least 100 yards?  Can I avoid purchasing fabric???  Lofty plans … but I’ll try!
  • Having a Baby Quilt Marathon on the blog … likely in July – but subject to change.  And, same as last year, if participants want to work on specific projects and not baby quilts- that’s fine!  All that is required is a concentrated effort to work on a project for 26 hours during the time from ?? date to ?? date.   See HERE, HERE and HERE for some posts about the 2019 Baby Quilt Marathon.
  • Have a Baby Quilt Sew-a-long … the EQ picture is done, just need to write out the pattern and figure out the details.  This may happen during the marathon, I haven’t decided yet.

OK … OK … I know you’re wondering, why so many Baby Quilts?  The quilt guild I belong to makes baby quilts for several different charities.  I have TONS of fabric and it’s fun to make small quilts.  Usually they are pretty quick to make.  Occasionally, I practice a different free motion motif on them, sometimes it’s just straight stitching.  Anything goes.

PHD in 2019: Quilting UFOs and Finishing New Projects

YES!!!  I have completed my PHD in 2019!!!!

Emily, from The Darling Dogwood, also completed her PHD in 2019.  YAY, Emily!!!

I haven’t heard from the others, so am not sure if anyone else has completed their PHD in 2019. Continue reading

My Best of 2019

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:

PHD in 2019! DONE!!!

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These are the 3 baby quilts that were started this fall.  They were all donated to the guild.  And they were fun to do.  The one in the middle and the one on the right had flannel on both sides.  I learned that it is difficult to FMQ a 2-sided flannel quilt.   When I tackled the pink one, I just did straight lines with my walking foot.  The quilt didn’t stretch as much and it was way easier to do!  The one on the left had quilting cotton on the top with flannel on the back.  It was very easy to free-motion quilt the wavy lines. Continue reading

PHD in 2019 November update

Baby Quilt Making Day

The Boundary Bay Quilt Guild gives numerous baby quilts away to various charities in the lower mainland.

The co-ordinators of the program had a Baby Quilt Making Day.  You come and make … guess what – a baby quilt!   There are kits you can choose from, tons of fabric to make up a kit of your own, or you can bring fabric from home.

I choose to make a quilt from my stash … I’m on a mission to decrease my stash – one yard at a time – so it was the obvious choice.

My only regret about baby quilt making day is that it was held on Nov. 30.  Which, according to my own rules for PHD in 2019, this quilt must be finished before Dec. 31 for me to recieve my own PHD in 2019!

Here’s a slide show of everyone at the Baby Quilt Making day:

Continue reading

Squirrels!!!

Do you like or dislike squirrels?  We have black and grey squirrels in our backyard. And we enjoy watching them scurry along the fence, hopping onto the trees and burying nuts in our garden. A friend of mine said that squirrels are just rats with fuzzy tails.  I disagree.  They are cute and fun to watch!

Recently, (like in the past year) I’ve been noticing on quilt blogs that some projects are called “Squirrels.”  I didn’t understand exactly what this meant, and I went searching.  Google searching.  When I researched “squirrel quilts” – that’s what I got – a bunch of links to quilts containing squirrels.  Not what I was looking for.

Googled “squirrel quilts new projects” … BINGO … a definition of what I was looking for.  Quilt Diva Julie had the explanation!  Thank you Quilt Diva Julie! (Photo & Definition is from Quilt Diva Julie’s blog.

The Ad-Hoc Squirrel Club
A squirrel is a sudden distraction that pulls us away from projects already underway. Something so exciting that we drop what we’re doing to enjoy the unexpected. The term comes from the movie UP where the dog named Doug is talking and suddenly his head whips to one side as he shouts SQUIRREL and he’s off to chase it.

SEW … all this talk about squirrels … and yes, I did have a sudden distraction that pulled me away from what I was diligently working on.  Our guild has a Facebook page.  This Saturday, a baby quilt kit making day was happening.  One lady posted the cutest quilt with a baby on it.  Of course, it was scrappy and blue – that’s why I thought it was cute.  I quickly figured out how it could be done … easy peasy.  Then Saturday came and I wasn’t able to make it to the baby quilt kit making day.  Sew, to get rid of my guilt, I decided to make the quilt.  It was easy to start.

  • pulled fabric
  • cut them into 6 ½” blocks
  • sew blocks into half square triangles
  • oops – realized that I should have cut 7″ blocks to make the math work properly … oh well, I’ll just add a wider border
  • ironed the blocks
  • placed them on the design wall

That’s as far as the squirrel has progressed.  I will web this together and figure out if I need 2½” border or 3″ border to make the quilt 40″ x 40″.  And, it’s using up some of my stash! And that’s always a good thing!

img_5612.jpg Continue reading