This is my finished Bonnie Hunter Mystery: Chilhowie. I used scraps of Island Batik to make this. Interestingly, I still have a LOT of scraps left!!!
Quilt Stats:
size: 78″ x 78″
fabrics: Island Batik scraps from many collections
batting: Hobbs 80/20
Quilted and Pieced with Aurifil thread #2600: Dove Grey
Wild Quilting: anything goes.
When you make a quilt as busy as this one, it’s a great quilt to do wild or graffiti quilting. It was a LOT of fun to quilt!!! I demonstrated wild quilting at a guild function … it was fun to have different people tell me what to quilt next. And yes, I did have a page full of motifs that are appropriate for wild quilting!
Starts tomorrow!!! Be sure to come back and see all the wonders that are happening!!! If you need some incentive to join in the fun, we have a lot of wonderful sponsors!!! and you could win some fantastic quilting goodies!
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: 15 / 15
Percentage: 100%
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!
In 2023, I haven’t finished any projects, so haven’t used any fabric, but I haven’t bought any either!
Fabric Used this week: 0 yards
Fabric Used in 2023: 0 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 0 yards
Net Fabric used: 0 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 now hosting “To Do” every week.
The To Do list from a last week:
Start Clue #7 Chilhowie.√ DONE
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – July / Aug √ DONE
Start colouring Nutcracker. √ DONE
Work on Naturescape Lone Star.√ DONE
Start Island Batik February project
Pack for retreat! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
This week’s list:
Finish the sashing and borders fClue #7 Chilhowie
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Sept / Oct
More Nutcracker colouring.
Sandwich Naturescape Lone Star.
Work on Shades of Blue Blog Hop project
Continue working on Island Batik February project
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
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:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #7, sashing and borders picture shows most of the sashing blocks ready to sew …
Island Batik February project – isn’t the fabric beautiful?
Shades of Blue Blog Hop project
Quilting:
Nothing … I need to colour the Nutcracker before I can start quilting!
Naturescape Lone Star is ready for sandwiching …
Maybe I’ll get Chilhowie to the flimsy stage!
The Quilt More just needs to be trimmed and bound.
The bird panels are ready for sandwiching.
Upcoming Blog Hops
Creatin’ in the Sticks: Sew It – Show It: Shades of Blue (January) My day is January 26!
So, what does Strip Poker and “Row, Row, Row the Boat” have in common?
They were happenings at the retreat I attended this week. (and dang it … that silly song is still singing in my head!)
Yes, Strip Poker was played with different 2.5″ strips of fabric … lots of fun! And “Row, Row, Row the Boat” was sung by everyone that participated in the secret sister exchange!
Here’s a glimpse of what happened at the retreat … the first group of pictures were taken by Judy B.
And I took these pictures …
Unfortunately, I didn’t get pictures of what everyone was working on … but, believe me, there was a LOT of creativity happening!
So what did I get done?
I didn’t get a single thing finished … but I did get a few things done on a few things. Here is the list of what I took to work on and what I got done …
Birds panel (ufo). … to the flimsy stage
Wallet #1 (ufo) … a little bit of work on it … snaps are in
Wallet #2 (ufo). … a little bit of work on it
Colour BOM (ufo). … not even touched
MSQ wall hanging (Quilt More, Worry Less) … put together and quilted.
Chilhowie … one row of sashing on …
Shades of Blue project … not even touched
Nutcracker and Inktense pencils … a little colouring done
I could have easily finished the Quilt More, Worry Less wall hanging, but I didn’t have binding fabric with me and I did not want to buy any more fabric … but it may be finished soon!
Starting Monday …
Yes, the SAHRR (pronounced Stay At Home Round Robin) starts on Monday. You can read more about it HERE. Be sure to follow all of the bloggers and join in the fun!!!
I’ve been busy, but don’t have much to show for it!
I’m going to a 4 day retreat tomorrow and hope to get a LOT done! Well … you know how that goes … I take a dozen projects to work on and finish one or 2! LOL!!!
Here’s my list of what I’m taking:
Birds panel (ufo)
Wallet #1 (ufo)
Wallet #2 (ufo)
Colour BOM (ufo)
MSQ wall hanging (Quilt More, Worry Less)
Chilhowie
Shades of Blue project
Nutcracker and Inktense pencils
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!
2022 Stitching!
Total: 318 / 365
Percentage = 87%
2023 Stitching
January: 8 / 8
Percentage: 100%
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!
In 2022, I used a net total of 76.5 yards of fabric.
Fabric Used since the last report 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 109.5 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 33 yards
Net Fabric used: 76.5 yards
In 2023, I haven’t finished any projects, so haven’t used any fabric, but I haven’t bought any either!
To Do Tuesday
Carol from Quilt Schmilt is now hosting “To Do” every week.
The To Do list from a last week:
Start Clue #6 Chilhowie.√ DONE
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – May / June √ DONE
Re-do Nutcracker. … when I went to start colouring the Nutcracker, I realized that many of the black lines had run … well, duh, Helen said to use UNWASHED calico … and Batik has been washed a zillion times … √ DONE
Work on Naturescape Lone Star.√ DONE
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
This week’s list:
Start Clue #7 Chilhowie
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – July / Aug
Start colouring Nutcracker.
Work on Naturescape Lone Star
Start Island Batik February project.
Pack for retreat!
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
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:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #7, sashing and borders
Naturescape Lone Star …. after making the Lone Star for the December Island Batik challenge, I fell in LOVE with Lone Stars!!! I just happened to have an Island Batik 2 1/2” strip pack of Naturescape with coordinating green and so I started sewing and cutting! Yes, there is a LOT of matching of seams … every. single. one. But the end result is great – even if I can’t sew at 100 miles an hour!
Quilting:
Nothing … I need to colour the Nutcracker before I can start quilting!
And maybe I’ll get the Naturescape Lone Star top ready for sandwhiching …
On this first Friday of 2023, I don’t have any finishes … however, I do have many things partially done …
My Stay at Home Round Robin is close to being finished … but of course, I can’t show you until March … but you can watch my progress, starting January 16!
Would you be interested to know that we have several awesome sponsors and will be giving away prizes when the SAHRR is over??? So make sure you join us for the fun!
Bonnie Hunter Mystery
This is her latest mystery quilt. Chilhowie with Island Batik fabrics! I’m all caught up except for the clue and reveal that came out today. If you’ve ever done a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt, you know that it involves a LOT of little pieces and can be quite time consuming. The first picture is the blocks in progress and the 2nd picture is the blocks as they are today. Now, I just need to do the final steps!
I hope that everyone had a pleasant Christmas – if you celebrate! I know there were lots of changes in travel plans because of the weather across Canada and the USA. So, hopefully, you were able to celebrate with your loved ones!
A Dog Quilt
My daughter has been complaining that her beloved dog did not have a quilt of her own … so I decided I’d make one for Christmas for her. I went to my “dog” fabric bin and found this panel! Viola! A simple dog quilt. I quilted it with Silly Moon’s Cupid ruler. So fun to have hearts all over it! I think she loves her quilt!
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!
Lots of stitching in the past week!
January – November: 288 / 333
Dec: 24 / 25
Total: 324 / 358
Percentage = 87%
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!
The dog’s quilt used 2.5 yards of fabric for the front, back and binding!
My goal each year is to have a net fabric of 100 yards used. I didn’t make it this year! But at least I used more than I bought!
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
This week’s list:
Start Clue #5 Chilhowie
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Mar / Apr
Re-do Nutcracker. … when I went to start colouring the Nutcracker, I realized that many of the black lines had run … well, duh, Helen said to use UNWASHED calico … and Batik has been washed a zillion times … so I need to re-trace it on some unwashed fabric!
Work on Naturescape Lone Star
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
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:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #5 When I went to start the block assembly, I realized that I had missed part of Clue #1 … so I’m currently catching up and finishing Clue #1!
Naturescape Lone Star …. after making the Lone Star for the December Island Batik challenge, I fell in LOVE with Lone Stars!!! I just happened to have an Island Batik 2 1/2” strip pack of Naturescape with coordinating green and so I started sewing and cutting! Yes, there is a LOT of matching of seams … every. single. one. But the end result is great – even if I can’t sew at 100 miles an hour!
Quilting:
Nothing … I need to re-trace the Nutcracker before I can start colouring and then quilting!
I decided that I needed another table runner for the top of my piano. I chose a beautiful dark blue Island Batik fabric called “Ravine” and paired it with “Rice. This was also a DREMI: DRop Everything And Make It. This is the result:
Another DREAMI
I received a lovely charm pack and pattern from Missouri Star Quilting … and I just had to make it! Yup, it was a DRop Everything And Make It project! Such a fun project.
Another UFO Finish
The Spicy Colour Challenge quilt was started last December and I finally got it finished this month! You can read about it HERE. That makes 12 UFOs that I’ve finished this year. SEW … I will be getting my PHD in 2022. However, I still have a list of UFOs that need to be finished, so I will be having PHD in 2023!
Island Batik Fabric
Hobbs 80/20 on the inside
Aurifil thread (to piece and quilt)
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!
Lots of stitching in the past week!
January – November: 288 / 333
Dec: 18 / 18
Total: 306 / 351
Percentage = 87%
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!
However, this week, I went out to Chilliwack to Cozy Cotton Quilting to pick up some quilts, deliver patterns and give her another quilt for display. Angela had recently received a lot of Island Batik bolts (mostly from the Pumpkin Spice collection) and I just couldn’t resist … so I had 3 fabrics cut for me! Aren’t they beautiful ???? I will definitely be making the trip out to Cozy Cotton just to buy Island Batik fabric!!!
The Spicy BOM used 4.5 yards of fabric. The newest branches table runner used 1 yard. And the mugs / snowflake used 1.5 yards
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √ DONE
This week’s list:
Finish Clue #4 Chilhowie
Start Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM – Jan / Feb
Start colouring the Nutcracker
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
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. I must apologize, I’ve been calling Judy by the wrong name !!! I’m so glad that she let me know and now I’m calling her by the correct name!
Piecing:
Classic Cars Colour Challenge BOM
Chilhowie – Clue #4 in progress
Quilting:
Once I do some colouring with Inktense pencils, I’ll start quilting the Nutcracker. Here he is on my window for tracing.
Upcoming & Current Blog Hops
Island Batik‘s December’s Lone Star Blog Hop. Week #3 is started! LOTS and LOTS of fabulous quilts!
Are you slugging away at a project that doesn’t seem to have an end in sight? We’ve all been there. Did you know that as you’re slugging away, it’s OK to switch to something else for a short time, or take a break. If you know me at all, squaring up HST or blocks is NOT my favourite thing. I know it gives good results, but taking those slivers off of a HST is just plain boring. So, one of my tactics is to do 10 and then do something else. Then do another 10. Pretty soon, all 2000 (an exaggeration) are done! And it feels good to have that task completed.
Here’s my tally for the year so far. I have completed 12 UFOs and I just need to finish all of the projects that I started and I’ll have achieved my Phd in 2021! I’ve got 2 months left, so I’m hoping it’s a good 2 months of sewing!
I did finish one of the guild baby mystery quilts … I used it when I took a “Beanie” ruler class from Silly Moon. Nope, I’m not going to show you the front, but here is the back. There is NO way you can tell what the front is! (chuckle) But I learned how to easily make concentric circles, clam shells, circles, and baptist fans. And I played with the ruler in the in the border.
My Favourite Quilt this month!
My favourite quilt has got to be the Pangolin that I made for October’s Island Batik challenge. I absolutely loved doing all the zen-doodling in the scales! This piece is 20″ square and you can read about it HERE. I will be linking to Meadow Mist Designs.
Design Wall
#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …
I’m still working on a Hot Air Balloon quilt from Kelly Young’s “Scrappy Improv Quilting” Book. I decided that I would use different techniques for making slabs and have 4 balloons … I haven’t gotten too far … Obviously my balloons need baskets and the sky around them … And my Island Batik scraps isn’t much smaller!
#2. Scrappy Improv Quilting …
This is from the pattern “Prismatic.” I had some scrappy Island Batik log cabin blocks that were languishing in a pile. What to do with them? I sewed them all randomly together and made a large slab. Then I cut it up. The log cabin blocks were 3/4″ finished … so there are a LOT of tiny pieces in these blocks. They will be sewn together with white fabric surrounding them.
#4, #5, & #6 Secret Sewing: Island Batik
I’m happy to report that all of the patterns have been written. 2 of them are tested and ready to roll. And 2 of them are still being tested.
Quilting:
#1 Secret Island Batik project is being quilted
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 1.25yards
Fabric Used this year: 100.25 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 11 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
Total: 292 / 303
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 last To Do list: (from AGES ago)
OK … even though I had a LOT of time to complete everything, pattern writing and making the secret quilts took a LOT of time!
Continue working on Island Batik’s November project DONE!!!
Work on 3rd Project from Scrappy ImprovNope … in progress
Work on Island Batik’s December project ... in progress
Complete top for Secret Sewing BBQG mystery quilt #2 All 3 quilt tops are done, one is quilted.
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! √ DONE
Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes I need to start doing this daily!
This week’s list:
Sandwich BBQG Guild Mystery #2 & #3
Sandwich Island Batik Secret #4
Sew top together Prismatic from Scrappy Improv
Work on Island Batik’s December project
Finish Island Batik Secret #2 top
Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #3
Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!
Where ever you are with your UFOs … if you’ve made any progress at all … that is good! Very good!
This year, I have done (in my opinion) extremely well with finishing UFOs. So far, I have finished 17! And when I consider that one UFO turned into 3 quilts … (Florabunda) … and another UFO turned into 2 quilts … (Dog & Cat) … Yup … I’m pretty pleased!
Frolic is finished! Borders on, label on, quilted and binding! Done Done DONE!!! It usually takes me 4-5 days to quilt a full sized Bonnie Hunter quilt, but with my new machine (Janome M7), the quilting was done in less than 2 days! Those extra stiches / minute really do make a HUGE difference!!!
I’m loving how using mostly whites for the neutrals, along with the colours make for a nice cheery summer quilt! This will be on a bed as soon as it’s washed!
The batting is Hobbs 80/20. For quilting, I did a large swirl, with echoed flower petals around it. I was amazed at how this pattern caught all of the 1″ squares quite nicely! A light grey CanSew thread was used for the quilting.
Design Wall
Piecing:
Stay at Home Round Robin: squares … were added this week. I’m loving the Island Batik fabrics!
Masks: More made, but no picture …
Quilting:
Just finished Frolic – as above!
TO DO
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
Last week’s list:
Finish up a UFO … Actually finished 2!!! Frolic (above) and Fr.Gen #2√ done
Round Robin: add the next borders √ done
Masks: Make some more √ done
This week’s list:
Round Robin: add the last borders: maybe finish the purple one since it’s a quilt-as-you-go.
Masks: being made as leaders & enders … pull out the serger and serge the ties.
With all the stuff happening in the world right now, I’m electing to self-isolate. Yes, that means I’ll be staying home, not going out and will have lots of time to sew.
Well, I will go out. I was signed up to do the 10 km SunRun, and that is now cancelled. However, I’m still going to continue training for it. I no longer run, but I walk. I walk a LOT. So, going outside and walking will still be a constant in my life. Unless I’m told to stay home.
Round Robin
Have you ever wanted to do a round robin? I’ve been interested, but have huge BUTs surrounding them. Well, I’m going to do a Stay-At-Home Round Robin here on my blog. Beginning instructions will be given on Friday, March 20th.
For those of you that don’t know what a Round Robin is … here’s how it usually works:
Each participant makes a block … usually you are given a size. Sometimes participants have the fabric they want used placed in the bag that the block is in. Sometimes a little notebook is with the block and states the block owner’s preferences, notes are added as the block is passed along. Then the original block is passed to another participant.
Directions are given as to what to add as a border onto the block. Sometimes it’s all 4 sides … sometimes only one side …
Then the block is passed on to the next participant and there are different directions as to what to add as a border.
This carries on until the quilt is deemed “finished” and the original with all the borders are returned to the original block owner.
There are many advantages of doing a Stay-at-Home Round Robin
you use the fabrics that YOU want to use
you don’t have to sew on someone else’s quilt
you make the decisions
it’s your quilt
it doesn’t need to leave your home (which is a HUGE thing right now with all the media attention of COVID-19)
Here’s how it’s going to work.
This Friday, I will post the beginning instructions. What size centre block (if you follow what I do) and approximately how big the quilt will be.
By March 27th, you will have your centre block done. There will be a linky party on the 27th, and you can share your block then. With the linky party, you can share a blog post, an instagram post, a pinterest page. Your choice! You don’t need a blog to do this! And, with the Linky party, we get to see what everyone is working on.
There are no hard and fast rules … this is meant to be fun and to occupy your mind as we live in this chaotic time!
A New Blog Hop starting this week
Quilt Qwazy Queens!
It starts on Wednesday … and here are the participants for this week. It should be FUN!!! I will be sharing mine the following week!
Summer Solstice: I made myself complete these blocks. Yeah, they got done!
Frolic: The centre is trimmed.
Florabunda: This is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com You can access the pattern HERE. This is being used as a “Leader & Ender” project and 12 blocks were completed in the last week.
April Island Batik Challenge is ready for sandwiching
Quilting:
Circles is being quilted
TO DO
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
Last week’s list:
Time to pull this back out and work on Summer Solstice: ½ hour / day √ done
Finish March Island Batik √ done
Finish piecing April’s Island Batik √ done
Trim Frolic and get the borders on Partially done … Trimmed but no borders on it.
This week’s list:
(Maybe) Finish quilting “Circles“
Summer Solstice: Complete next step
Round Robin: Make block
Make “Making us Laugh” wall hanging
Sandwich April Island Batik
Get bordrers on Frolic!
Stash Report
There was this sale at “Dinkydoo” … a friend had never been … so off we went. Inspite of the strict fabric diet that I have put myself on, I fell into temptation … 7 yards worth of temptation … but aren’t they pretty? The plan is to use some of them for guild pillowcases …
Fabric Used this week 0 yards
Fabric Used this year: 52.25 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 7 yards
Fabric Added this year: 9.5
Net Fabric used 42.75
–
Husband’s Purchases 0
Stitchin’ Time
I’m aiming for at least 15 minutes / day.
15 minute days: January – Feb 59 / 60
15 min days/ March = 15/15
Total days in 2020: 74 / 75
Percentage = 98%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
If you want to see a recap of Week 1, click HERE. Week 2, click HERE. If you haven’t seen the fabulous Log Cabin quilts, it will be well worth your time to visit the 2 Island Batik blog posts … beautiful eye candy!!! Here’s who’s in line for this week! I can’t wait to see what they create! Continue reading →
Island Batik “Log Cabin Blog Hop” Starts Today! Be sure to visit Island Batik Blog each week to enter to win a pre-cut of one of the fabric collections highlighted that week. These fabric collections are from the Fall 2019 line-up and should be available in quilt stores shortly.
I have seen a few of the quilts finished and a few in progress … oh my!!! Fantastic eye candy for sure!!! Be sure to visit each of the blogs!
Every Sunday, or Monday, I post a bit about what I’m working on. It’s my way of keeping records, keeping on track and getting a LOT of quilting done!
Here’s an explanation of all the blogs that I regularly link up to have a category for them every Sunday or Monday.
Judy’s “Design Wall Monday” to show you what I’m piecing and quilting. I think it’s fun to show you progress …
Roseanne & Sue’s “To Do” Tuesday“, to publicly say what I hope to do in the coming week. I find it’s OK to have a list and it’s perfectly OK to not get everything on the list done. It’s all progress and that’s what counts!
Donna’s “Stash Report” has really helped me to cut down on my fabric buying binges. Very seldom do I ever buy “just because,” or “it’s on sale,” or “it’s pretty” or whatever reason I can dream up at the time!!! I’m not saying that I never make these types of purchases, but knowing that I need to report what I buy, makes me think twice … and those that follow my blog, know very well that I make frivolous purchases sometimes.
Kate’s “Stitchin’ Time” helps pull me to the sewing machine on those days that I’ve been too busy to sew, or just don’t feel like it. Sometimes, I even set an alarm for 15 minutes and actually get up to turn the alarm off and also turn off my machine. Other times, I get up and turn off the alarm and sit back down to sew … I never know which will happen!
And of course, I alway have my own PHD in 2020 report!
Design Wall
Piecing:
Summer Solstice: I’ve started piecing the lone star. Row 1 – 4 are completed. Now to sew each of the 8 star points. I think it’s going to be a pretty quilt! Continue reading →
Last year, I got a Block on Board die from Accuquilt … Cleopatra’s Fan … it had curves. I perservered, and made several blocks. I was not happy. I liked the block in the end, but I was not happy sewing it!
This year, I received another Block on Board die … it has CURVES. (Can you hear the loud groan??? !!!)
The guild was offering a one day workshop on sewing circles. SIGH!!! I figured that I better take the workshop. Here’s a sample of what happened at the workshop. Lots of curved piecing.
Yesterday, I showed what I got done at the retreat and I just knew you’d want to see more details!
Ode to 30’s
When I started this quilt … a long time ago … I wasn’t aware that there was a quilt genre called “30s.” I just picked the pink fabric (1st border) and picked out complementary colours.
I did a diagonal backing on Ode to 30’s. I love how some of the blocks really shine through with the sun shining! When I made the back, I was tired of putting a stripe vertical or horizontal … I’d worry about it looking crooked. SEW, I made sure that the diagonal did not reach the corners … this way, if the diagonal was off a degree or 2 (or 10!), it wouldn’t matter. I think it worked!
Some custom quilting in Ode to 30’s … and some blocks just had an all-over motif in each block.
My husband loved the birds in the tree!
Details:
58″ x 66″
Hobbs 80/20 batting
Pieced with Aurifil thread
Quilted with Glide thread
Binding is 2 colour/flange binding (1¼” dark & 1½” light)
Design Wall
Piecing:
Summer Solstice: I did not work on this at the retreat. Pat, one of the other retreaters, helped me get my head around the lone star piecing, so I hope to make some progress on that this week!
Frolic: Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery: The reveal came out on Friday … I have some cutting to do before I can start putting the blocks together. I think I will like it when it’s done!
52 Blocks in 52 weeks: Need to make the last 4 blocks.
Quilting:
Hope to sandwich and start quilting Bento Box “Rag Log Cabin.”
TO DO
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
A Gladys Taber quote “Contentment is a list with half of it crossed off.”
This week my list is ALL crossed off!
Last week’s list:
Finish Ode to 30’s √ done
Work on Bento Box Rag Log Cabin UFO √ done
Make Maple leaf block for Australia √ done
This week’s list:
Sandwhich Rag Log Cabin
Start Quilting Rag Log Cabin
Make at least 2 “Frolic” blocks
Make the last 4 “52 blocks in 52 weeks”
Put “52 blocks in 52 weeks” on design wall and arrange
Start the lone star portion of Summer Solstice.
Stash Report
The 2 finished quilts used 21 yards of fabric, plus ½ yard for the maple-leaf blocks for Australia. I did go shopping at the retreat but only bought zippers and a thingy-ma-jig to hold stuff at my machine. No fabric added.
Fabric Used this week 21.5 yards
Fabric Used this year: 21.5 yards
Fabric Bought this week: 0 yards
Fabric Added this year: 0
Net Fabric used 21.5
–
Husband’s Purchases 0
Stitchin’ Time
January 1-19 : 12 out of 19 100%
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
I finished 2 UFOs. And I’ve finished 2 of my 2020 starts. There’s another 2020 start for Island Batik that I’ve put in the sheet, but I actually haven’t started it yet.
If you are working on your PHD in 2020, be sure to link up to the mid-January linky party and show us your progress! (HERE)
YEAH, I LOVE retreats!!! They are always lots of fun! Lots of chatting and laughing and eating and sewing and laughing and eating and … oh ya, lots of fun!
I hope to work on a few UFOs … we’ll see how that goes!
Design Wall
Piecing:
Summer Solstice: This section of 8 is done! Spending 15 min / day worked! Often it turned out to be closer to an hour … it takes a LOT of time when you need to take out the little tiny stitches that you can barely see!
Frolic: Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery: All caught up .. and everything fits in this container. I suspect that the reveal may come soon … either this week or next … and I’ll be ready! Continue reading →
OK … so things are NOT roaring around here … they are plodding along … slowly …
If you want to decrease your UFOs … and not make your UFO list any bigger, Join me for your PHD in 2020! Check out this blog postfor details … and scroll WAY down for the linky party so that you can join in! You can join in on the PHD in 2020 until Jan. 14. Then on the 1st and 15th of each month, there will be a linky party for you to show your progress. Continue reading →
Quilt Qwazy Queens!
Florabunda:
Circles is being quilted
Circles – borders on and it is sandwiched ….
Quilting Gail 