Free Motion Quilting

Monday Moments: July 7

/ quiltinggail / 16 Comments

Well, I don’t drink alcohol very often, but I do love to have virgin cocktails … Love the fruity taste!

Swan

I finished quilting the Swan. This pattern was from the book “Picture Patchwork” by JoAnn Lepore. Earlier in the spring, I wrote a review of this book HERE. This quilt called for 3″ squares, but since I wanted a smaller quilt, I raided my blue and neutral Island Batik scraps and cut 2 1/2” squares.

And here’s a close up of the quilting. Feathers in the white part of the swan and small curves outlining all of the other blocks in the quilt. It’s all free motion on my domestic sewing machine.

And, I have one more pattern from this book in progress – using Purple!

Quilt Stats:

Did you see?

My post from last Friday where I talked about this super cool use of Island Batik scraps? THIS POST.

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 – June: 176 / 180 days
  • July: 6 / 6 days
  • Total: 176 / 180 97 %

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:

  • Disappearing 9 patch using “ORANGE” and Island Batik’s solid grey for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  • Purple for Rainbow Scrap Challenge
  • “Bloomers:” I decided to use fabric from the Radiant Burst collection! And the main blocks are started with Eggwhite and Solid White. I’m going to Paper piece the Hexi blocks. See Denise’s website HERE to join in the fun!

Quilting projects:

  • Splish Splash is webbed together and needs a backing, sandwiching and quilting.

Sunday Stash

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!

No buying this week. The swan used 8.5 yards.

  • Fabric used in the last week: 8.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     144 yards. {45 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    17 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              127 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Quilt & Bind Swan. √   DONE.
  2. Web Disappearing 9 patch: “ORANGE” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. in progress.
  3. Web Jelly Roll Twist √   DONE.
  4. Work on getting scraps for placemats completed … there are at least 6! XX NOT DONE XX
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Sandwich and quilt Disappearing 9 patch: “ORANGE” Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  2. Make backing, sandwich and quilt Jelly Roll Twist
  3. Work on getting scraps for placemats completed … there are at least 6! XX NOT DONE XX
  4. Work on Purple for Rainbow Scrap Challenge
  5. Work on Bloomers – make Hexi and half-Hexi blocks
  6. Think about Island Batik September challenge
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Free Sew Along

This has started!! It’s such a beautiful quilt!! I’m excited to have started!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: June 29

/ quiltinggail / 20 Comments

Well, this is ALMOST true!! I have no interest in having mice in my sewing space, nor a fox or a goat … but the rest is true!

Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery

You can read more about this quilt HERE. It was a fun mystery quilt to make. Thank you Joanne (from Canuck Quilter Designs) for the fabulous directions and great mystery!

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 – April 150 / 151 days
  • June: 25 / 29 days
  • Total: 176 / 180 97 %

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:

  • I’m using a 2 1/2” stack of Island Batik’s “Splish Splash.” It’s a recently release collection. I love the seahorses, fish, bubbles … well, I just love the whole line of these fabrics. I’m using a pattern from The Fat Quarter Shop called “Jelly Roll Twist” and you can get the free pattern HERE.
  • Disappearing 9 patch using “ORANGE” and Island Batik’s solid grey for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  • I need to pull fabrics for “Bloomers“

Quilting projects:

  • Swan. is sandwiched, needs quilting and binding

Sunday Stash

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!

No shopping … I used 7 yards for the Canuck Mystery.

  • Fabric used in the last week: 7 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     135.5 yards. {38.5 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    17 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              118 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Quilt it! √   DONE.
  2. Make the backing and Sandwich Swan. √   DONE.
  3. Work on Disappearing 9 patch: “ORANGE” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. √   DONE.
  4. Work on getting scraps for placemats completed … there are at least 6! XX NOT DONE XX
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Quilt & Bind Swan.
  2. Web Disappearing 9 patch: “ORANGE” Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  3. Web Jelly Roll Twist
  4. Work on getting scraps for placemats completed … there are at least 6!
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Free Sew Along

This officially starts soon!!!

I have done several of Denise’s Sew Alongs and they are always AWESOME!!! I’m going to be doing this one!! Are you going to join me???? I promise, it’s a beauty!!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Canuck Quilter’s Mystery Quilt

/ quiltinggail / 17 Comments

This quilt is FINALLY done!!!

Joanne Kerton from Canuck Quilter Designs offered a mystery quilt this spring. I’m a sucker for mystery quilts and couldn’t resist doing it! She called it a “Colour Value Mystery” and offered 2 options: Modern or Traditional. I opted for the Traditional. I’ve done a few of Canuck Quilter’s Designs and they are always well written!

Here’s a few of the progress pictures: Fabric cut out, blocks ready to assemble and on the design wall prior to sandwiching.

And the Finished Quiilt:

Close up of the Quilting: A little free motion, but mostly ruler quilting.

Thanks Joanne for the fantastic mystery sew-along!

Quilt Stats:

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: June 22

/ quiltinggail / 16 Comments

Totally!! I struggle to do any housekeeping!

A Fun Photo

Last year, my sister and 2 cousins and I went to Lori’s Country Cottage for their longest day of the year sale. It was a lot of fun. We went for the 10 pm part of the sale, where everything was 40% off! Yup it was fun! One of the employees climbed up on a cutting table and took this picture. They posted it on their Facebook page to advertise this year’s sale. (I’m the one in the white at the front of the picture and my sister is towards the back of the line … my cousins had already left as they were finished shopping). Unfortunately, I wasn’t in Edmonton to go this year, but my sister went to on Friday night and got lots of goodies!

Glowing Hearts Quilt Along

I often join in MMM Quilts sew alongs each spring. She always has interesting patterns and ways of doing something. This year did not disappoint! See THIS POST for details on my Glowing Hearts Quilt.

This used 13 fat quarters from “Bluebird” by Editya Sitar. There is Hobbs Batting 80/20 inside, Aurifil Thread #2600 (Dove Grey) and Schmetz Needles were used. The project was pressed with my Oliso Iron m3Pro. I used Silly Moon‘s “Cupid” for the quilting on my domestic machine!

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 – April 150 / 151 days
  • June: 19 / 22 days
  • Total: 169 / 173 97 %

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:

  • I’m using a 2 1/2” stack of Island Batik’s “Splish Splash.” It’s a recently release collection. I love the seahorses, fish, bubbles … well, I just love the whole line of these fabrics. I’m using a pattern from The Fat Quarter Shop called “Jelly Roll Twist” and you can get the free pattern HERE.
  • Disappearing 9 patch using “ORANGE” and Island Batik’s solid grey for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Quilting projects:

  • Swan. needs sandwiching
  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery

Sunday Stash

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!

No buying this week … although my sister was going to be going to a fabulous sale at Lori’s Country Cottage and planned to buy me some Island Batik fabric …

I used 13 fat quarters (3 1/4 yards) for the front of Glowing Hearts and 2 3/8 yards for the backing … So, I’ll say that I used 5 1/2 yards.

  • Fabric used in the last week: 5.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     128.5 yards. {36 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    17 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              106 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Sandwich it and Quilt it! in progress
  2. Make the backing and Sandwich Swan. XX NOT DONE XX
  3. Plan something for “ORANGE” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. in progress
  4. Quilt MMM’s Glowing Heart √   DONE.
  5. Work on Island Batik’s August challenge √   DONE.
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Quilt it!
  2. Make the backing and Sandwich Swan.
  3. Work on Disappearing 9 patch: “ORANGE” Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  4. Work on getting scraps for placemats completed … there are at least 6!
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Free Sew Along

I have done several of Denise’s Sew Alongs and they are always AWESOME!!! I’m going to be doing this one!! Are you going to join me???? I promise, it’s a beauty!!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Glowing Hearts

/ quiltinggail / 17 Comments

I joined Sandra Walker’s (MMM Quilts) Glowing Heart Quilt-a-long this spring. I originally was going to make a baby quilt, then I changed my mind and made it bigger. I used 7 fat quarters from a bundle of “Bluebird” by Editya Sitar for the hearts. 3 for the background of the hearts and 3 for the sashing. My intention was to alternate the ‘backgrounds’ with light and dark, but I wasn’t paying attention when I cut the darks and all of a sudden, I had enough for all the backgrounds. The light fabrics then became the sashing. The extra pieces were used for the scrappy binding!

To quilt this quilt, I used Silly Moon’s 4″ Cupid ruler. I started off in the middle, doing half hearts in a vertical row. It was OK … but once I got back to the top, I decided ‘enough of that!’ Then I filled out the sides of the quilt with random hearts. I did a heart, back-tracked on the ruler and started the next heart. In a few spots, I used the 3″ Cupid to fill in.

I’m joining in the Glowing Hearts Parade! There are already several quilts posted … it’s quite the variety and well worth going to check it out. HERE. Thank you Sandra for the easy paced, wonderful sew-along!

Quilt Stats:

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: June 15

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

It is. If you take any pattern and change the colours, it’ll be a totally different look. I’ve been known to add more blocks or rows for a larger quilt, or take away blocks or columns for a smaller quilt. However, whenever I do this, I always credit the original designer because the basis of the quilt is their idea, not mine.

An Island Batik Challenge completed

I made two Funky Friend squirrels. You can read about their adventures HERE.

Another Left-over Finish

see THIS POST for details on these placemats:

This used fabric from Island Batik‘s (Lumin Fabrics) Tinsel Treasures and Midnight Blue (a foundation that is available all the time. There is Hobbs Batting fusible inside, Aurifil Thread #2600 (Dove Grey) and Schmetz Needles were used. The project was pressed with my Oliso Iron m3Pro.

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 – April 150 / 151 days
  • June: 12 / 15 days
  • Total: 162 / 166 97 %

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:

  • I’m using a 2 1/2” stack of Island Batik’s “Splish Splash.” It’s a recently release collection. I love the seahorses, fish, bubbles … well, I just love the whole line of these fabrics. I’m using a pattern from The Fat Quarter Shop called “Jelly Roll Twist” and you can get the free pattern HERE. And, as I said earlier, “A Pattern is only a suggestion.” I’ll be making it a little bigger … it’ll be 7 blocks by 7 blocks.

Quilting projects:

  • MMM’s Glowing Hearts
  • Swan. needs sandwiching
  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery

Sunday Stash

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 did buy 2.5 yards of fabric at “The Chicken Coop” in Mundare, Alberta and 1 yard at Emmaline Bags in Spruce Grove, Alberta.

The placemats used 1 yard and the squirrels used 2.5 yards

  • Fabric used in the last week: 3.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     123 yards. {30.5 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 3.5 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    17 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              106 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Sandwich it! XX NOT DONE XX
  2. Sandwich Swan XX NOT DONE XX
  3. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. XX NOT DONE XX
  4. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage √   DONE
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Sandwich it and Quilt it!
  2. Make the backing and Sandwich Swan
  3. Plan something for “ORANGE” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. XX NOT DONE XX
  4. Quilt MMM’s Glowing Heart
  5. Work on Island Batik’s August challenge
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Free Sew Along

I have done several of Denise’s Sew Alongs and they are always AWESOME!!! I’m going to be doing this one!! Are you going to join me???? I promise, it’s a beauty!!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Using Left-overs and TGIFF

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

I love using Left-over pieces and blocks from quilts. And the sooner they can be used, the better. When I made one of the quilts using Tinsel Treasures for my May Island Batik challenge, I had a design change that left me with lots of the longer Irish Chain pieces.

Where all the white sashing is, I originally had pieces from Tinsel Treasures. But, oh my! It was WAY too busy and did not look good at all! I swapped them out and used Island Batik’s solid white instead. It was much better, giving the eye places to rest!

I put all of the longer pieces together and joined in lots of the smaller blocks to make these 2 place mats. I had the extra smaller blocks because I had miscounted. Yup, I do that often!

These placemats will be donated to the guild for Meals on Wheels at Christmas time.

They were pieced and quilted with Aurifil Thread #2600 (Dove Grey). I used Hobbs fusible batting in the middle.

TGIFF

Here’s the link for you to add your Finished project for this week!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Quilting for a Friend

/ quiltinggail / 32 Comments

This is the first time I’ve quilted a quilt for a friend. It has been an honour to quilt it. I typically refuse to quilt for my friends! I’m more than willing to help them learn to quilt … but I don’t want to quilt their quilts. However, Amy passed away last year. Her husband contacted me this spring, stating that she had started a quilt for their daughter. It’s a Jacqueline de Jonge quilt called “Catch Me.” I remember her showing us as she progressed along. I remember being amazed at the intricacy of the pattern and all the colours! Amy had quilted the flying geese and triangles around 2 of the stars. She had quilted in the ditch. That’s as far as she got. SIGH!!!

I knew I could quilt in the ditch … probably not with the skill that Amy had … but I could do it!! I brought the quilt home and it sat for a few weeks. I had a few ‘deadline’ quilts to finish. And to be honest, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed!

Although I wasn’t sure which threads Amy had used, a lady at Chitter Chatter Fabrics helped me select colours that had been used in the quilting. Part of the solution was easy as I knew that Amy loved using Glide thread.

Finally, I started! Using my domestic sewing machine: Janome M7 … First, I outlined all of the black areas by stitching in the ditch.

Then I started outlining all of the triangles and flying geese. But, I neglected to take any pictures. I started out by using Silly Moon’s “Rocket” ruler and then switched to “Charming” since it’s smaller, but still has the ‘guides’ for stitching in the ditch. For the ‘spokes’ of the stars, I used “Jelly.” All other areas were free motioned.

Here’s some pictures of the back of the quilt:

And close-ups of the front:

And the whole quilt:

The quilt has been given to Amy’s daughter, Danielle, and I received permission to post the quilt on my blog.

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Sunday Summary: June 1

/ quiltinggail / 9 Comments

Can we start our Christmas Wish List in June?

A Left-over Finish

When I made the Irish chain blog hop quilts, see HERE. I had some left-over squares. I finished this little zipper pouch … I had some more left-overs, but haven’t finished that project yet. Here’s a picture of the front and back of the zipper pouch.

This used fabric from Island Batik‘s (Lumin Fabrics) Tinsel Treasures and Midnight Blue (a foundation that is available all the time. There is Hobbs Batting 80/20 inside, Aurifil Thread #2600 (Dove Grey) and Schmetz Needles were used. The project was pressed with my Oliso Iron m3Pro.

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 – April 150 / 151 days
  • June: 1 / 1 days
  • Total: 151 / 152 99 %

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:

  • MMM’s Glowing Hearts I’m using a fat quarter bundle that I bought from Chitterchatter Fabrics called “Bluebird” by Editya Sitar. I used a total of 7 fat quarters for the hearts and 3 different fat quarters for the ‘darks.’ I’ll use a couple of the lighter fabrics for the sashing … and dark blue for the cornerstones.

Quilting projects:

  • Swan. needs sandwiching
  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery, needs sandwiching

Sunday Stash

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 little zipper pouch used 0.5 yards

  • Fabric used in the last week: 0.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     119.5 yards. {30 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    13.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              106 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Finish making the extra blocks to make the quilt bigger √   DONE
  2. Sandwich Swan. XX NOT DONE XX
  3. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. XX NOT DONE XX
  4. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage. In progess
  5. Quilt Friend’s quilt √   DONE.  (I’ll show you if I get permission!)
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Sandwich it!
  2. Sandwich Swan
  3. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  4. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Free Sew Along

I have done several of Denise’s Sew Alongs and they are always AWESOME!!! I’m going to be doing this one!! Are you going to join me???? I promise, it’s a beauty!!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: May 26

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

You know you are a quilting addict when you take a break from a big quilting project and relax by working on a different quilting project.

This is so me!

A Double Finish for a blog hop

These are the 2 quilts I made for the Island Batik Irish Chain blog hop using the Accuquilt die. Read more about it HERE.

And the backs …

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 – April 119 / 120 days
  • May: 25 / 25 days
  • Total: 144 / 145 99 %

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:

  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Putting the extra blocks together.
  • MMM’s Glowing Hearts I’m using a fat quarter bundle that I bought from Chitterchatter Fabrics called “Bluebird” by Editya Sitar. I used a total of 7 fat quarters for the hearts and 3 different fat quarters for the ‘darks.’

Quilting projects:

  • My priorities have shifted. I’m quilting (slowly) a beautiful quilt that a friend of mine made. I’ll show pictures when it’s done.
  • Swan

Sunday Stash

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 finished quilt (above) used 10 yards. I did buy the fireside backing.

  • Fabric used in the last week: 16 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     119 yards. {30 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    13.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              105.5 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Finish making the extra blocks to make the quilt bigger √   DONE
  2. Sandwich Swan. XX NOT DONE XX
  3. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. XX NOT DONE XX
  4. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage. In progess
  5. Quilt Friend’s quilt In progess
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Web the quilt, get it to flimsy stage
  2. Sandwich Swan
  3. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  4. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage
  5. Quilt Friend’s quilt
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Blog Hop

The Irish Chain Blog hop is complete. And WOW!!! There are some beautiful quilts!! Visit Island Batik’s Blog (Lumin Fabrics) to see all of the quilts HERE.

Also on Monday, May 26, visit Island Batik’s blog to vote for YOUR favourite Irish Chain quilt. It’s a Viewer’s choice … so take a look and vote for YOUR favourite!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Irish Chain Blog Hop

/ quiltinggail / 32 Comments

I received the blue wrapped “Surprise” package in my January box. I didn’t look at the label and was very pleasantly surprised when I saw what was in the bundle!!! It’s Tinsel Treasures, designed by Jerry Khiev. It is accompanied by 2 yards of Cornflower (blue) and 2 yards of Coconut. I was excited to get started on this quilt! Isn’t it a beautiful collection? (Tinsel Treasures is a signature collection designed by Jerry Khiev for Sarah Fabian of Quilt Basket)

Each ambassador received the 10″ Irish Chain BOB (Block on Board) Accuquilt die. (You can purchase it HERE)

After searching various Irish chain patterns, I decided on the “GO! Scrappy Irish Chain Throw.” It’s a free pattern from Accuquilt and it’s also on the die packaging. You can get it HERE.

I started by dividing the collection into light (with white background), medium blue and dark blue. I chose the “Pine Needles Long-Blu” to be the binding.

Using the die, I started cutting each of the pieces for the main blocks. Each of the rectangles and squares have the corners notched. This made sewing the pieces together so EASY!!!

A decision was made to use Island Batik’s solid white for the sashing and the Dark Blue fabrics for the cornerstones. Wanting the quilt to be a little bigger, I opted to put an extra row of sashing on the top, bottom and each side.

A close up of the quilting:

A picture of the back: I did the ‘magic’ sew a rectangle 4 blocks by 8 blocks, cut it and re-sew and you end up with the blocks on point.

Quilt Stats:

There’s More!

The Irish Cain Accuquilt die actually has a LOT of versatility!

For my second quilt using the Irish Chain Accuquilt die, I was inspired by a quilt on THIS VIDEO (around 39:30) and there is a free pattern HERE (designed by Barbara G Harper).

In the middle picture, you can see the back of a block … and if you look closely, you can see where the corners are trimmed at a slight angle. This made strip piecing a dream, lining up those corners! And it reduces a bit of the bulk.

The dark blue is ‘Midnight Blue’ from the Brilliant Blues collection and the sashing is Island Batik’s solid white. The binding is scraps from the medium and dark fabrics in the collection.

Here’s a picture of the quilting on the back. I didn’t have enough of the Midnight Blue, so I added a diagonal piece of solid black as well as on the top right & bottom left corners.

Quilt Stats:

  • Size: 60″ square
  • Fabric: Island Batik: “Tinsel Treasures” by by Jerry Khiev for Sarah Fabian of Quilt Basket
  • Hobbs Batting: Heirloom 80/20 Black. (I wanted to make the white solid less bright, but it didn’t work! Island Batik is such a great fabric that even black batting doesn’t dull the colours!)
  • Aurifil Thread: 50 weight
    • Piecing & Quilting: #2600 (Dove Grey)
  • Silly Moon Rulers: Rocket, Drop 2, Drop 3, Beanie, and Cheesie
  • Schmetz Needles: Universal 80/12
  • Oliso Iron

Photo Shoot of Both Quilts

Be sure to visit Emily at The Darling Dogwood!!! She received Tinsel Treasures and her quilt is totally different than my two!

Where can YOU find Tinsel Treasures?

Tinsel Treasures-SPBlue Magic QuiltworksAZ
Checker DistributorsOH
Fiber Art GalleryFL
My Favorite Quilt Store-TXTX
Tinsel Treasures-STBlue Magic QuiltworksAZ
Checker DistributorsOH
My Favorite Quilt Store-TXTX
So & SewTX

Thank YOU!

Thank you to the generosity of Island Batik and Industry partners! They have supplied the products for free as my role as an Island Batik Ambassador! Island Batik, Aurifil Thread, Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Needles, Oliso Iron, Studio 180 Designs, Accuquilt, and Funky Friends.

Island Batik Ambassadors

Visit the other Island Batik Ambassadors to see what they made this month:

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Monday Moments: May 19

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

From the mess in my studio, you can bet there is a LOT of creativity happening!

A Special Finish!

This has been gifted – so I can show it off. It’s a bitter sweet quilt. The reason is bitter, the sweet is who it went to and the quilt itself! Read more about it HERE.

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 – April 119 / 120 days
  • May: 18 / 18 days
  • Total: 137 / 138 99 %

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:

  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Putting the extra blocks together.
  • MMM’s Glowing Hearts I’m using a fat quarter bundle that I bought from Chitterchatter Fabrics called “Bluebird” by Editya Sitar. I used a total of 7 fat quarters for the hearts and 3 different fat quarters for the ‘darks.’

Quilting projects:

  • My priorities have shifted. I’m quilting (slowly) a beautiful quilt that a friend of mine made. I’ll show pictures when it’s done.
  • Swan

Sunday Stash

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 finished quilt (above) used 10 yards. I did buy the fireside backing.

  • Fabric used in the last week: 10 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     103 yards. {30 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 4 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    13.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              89.5 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Make the extra blocks to make the quilt bigger in progress
  2. Sandwich Swan. XX NOT DONE XX
  3. Island Batik May finish quilting and do the photoshoot. √   DONE.
  4. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. XX NOT DONE XX
  5. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage. XX NOT DONE XX
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Finish making the extra blocks to make the quilt bigger
  2. Sandwich Swan
  3. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  4. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage
  5. Quilt Friend’s quilt
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

An Opportunity to Win Fabulous Fabric

Visit Island Batik’s blog to WIN

  • Enter to win a fat quarter bundle of Fusion or Spooktacular ! This Post

Blog Hop

WEEK 2 is over and you can see a recap of the beautiful and wonderful quilts HERE.

WEEK 3

May 19:

May 20:

May 21:

May 22:

May 23:

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

A Secret Project – Revealed

/ quiltinggail / 21 Comments

Early in the spring, a dear relative was diagnosed with cancer. Oh … so young (in their 30s) … a heart-wrenching diagnosis. Of course, once I decided exactly what quilt I was going to make, I plowed ahead, putting almost all the other quilting projects aside. It’s called prioritizing. It’s not often I work on one quilt at a time, but other than a few enders and leaders, this one was worked on … quilted and bound.

My idea was to make a quilt that was cheerful and warm. I wanted it to provide LOVE and HUGS. I wanted it to be big enough to provide warmth during chemo, without toes peaking out.

The quilt has arrived at it’s destination so I can now post about it!

Hocus Pocus by Studio 180 Designs

  • Supply List: This Post [I did not use fat quarters. I used (1) 10″ Stack and 2 yards of neutral) I omitted the border]
  • Video: HERE
  • Tips: HERE

I made the original block and cut it as directed … then I auditioned 3 of the layouts:

And here’s a picture of the layout:

The final quilt:

The Quilting:

Quilt Stats:

  • Size: 56″ x 70″
  • Fabric: Island Batik: Floral Fun 10″ stack (by Kathy Engle for Lizard Creek Quilting), paired with “Rice” and bound with Cheerios-Navy
  • Pattern: Hocus Pocus by Studio 180 Designs
  • Hobbs Batting: Heirloom 80/20 Cotton
  • Aurifil Thread: 50 weight
    • Piecing: #2600 (Dove Grey)
    • Quilting: #2600 (Dove Grey)
    • Binding: #2775 (Steel Blue)
  • Silly Moon Rulers: Rocket, Beanie, and Cupid
  • Schmetz Needles: Universal 80/12
  • Oliso Iron

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Monday Moments: May 12

/ quiltinggail / 10 Comments

A Single Finish!

One finish this week … at least one I can show you!

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 – April 119 / 120 days
  • May: 11 / 11 days
  • Total: 130 / 131 99 %

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:

  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. I got caught up, but decided that I want it bigger, so am making more blocks.
  • MMM’s Glowing Hearts

Quilting projects:

  • Island Batik May
  • Swan

Sunday Stash

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 train used 4 yards (or more) of fabric! No shopping, so nothing added!

  • Fabric used in the last week: 4.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     93 yards. {26 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    9.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              83.5 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Finish catching up and complete the clue that comes out on Thursday. in progress
  2. Get Swan to a flimsy stage √   DONE.
  3. Island Batik May – quilt. in progress
  4. Finish Island Batik June √   DONE.
  5. Quilt Yellow – rectangles √   DONE.
  6. A Secret project – get to flimsy stage. √   DONE.
  7. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge. in progress
  8. Cut out MMM’s Glowing Heart’s Quilt (see HERE). √   DONE.
  9. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  10. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for this week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Make the extra blocks to make the quilt bigger
  2. Sandwich Swan
  3. Island Batik May finish quilting and do the photoshoot.
  4. Plan something for “Green” Rainbow Scrap Challenge.
  5. Get MMM’s Glowing Heart’s quilt to flimsy stage
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

An Opportunity to Win Fabulous Fabric

Visit Island Batik’s blog to WIN

Enter to win a fat quarter bundle of Splish Splash or Jabberwocky by going to This Post

Blog Hop

WEEK 1 is over and you can see a recap of the beautiful and wonderful quilts HERE.

WEEK 2

May 12:

May 13:

May 14:

May 15:

May 16:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

May 19:

May 20:

May 21:

May 22:

May 23:

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

A Yellow Finish

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for March was Yellow. I didn’t have a ton of Island Batik yellow scraps (not like my blue and green stash), but I made these rectangles and sashed them with Island Batik’s solid black.

As you can see in the picture, I did a double loop-d-loop quilting.

Quilt Stats:

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: April 27

/ quiltinggail / 13 Comments

One Finish!

This was finished awhile ago, but this past week was the first time I posted about it on my blog. Check THIS POST for details. (photo credit: Jerry Khiev)

and maybe a 2nd …

12" Mini using Petal Poetry (by Jerry Khiev for Megan Best of Best Quilter)

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 – March 89 / 90 days
  • April: 27 / 27 days
  • Total: 116 / 117 99 %

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:

  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Still need to work on this week’s clue: adding sashing and cornerstones.
  • Swan – still piecing it
  • A Secret project

Quilting projects:

  • Yellow – rectangles
  • Island Batik May

Sunday Stash

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 Petal Poetry quilts used a total of 8.5 yards.

  • Fabric used in the last week: 8.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     89 yards. {24 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    9.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              79.5 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Finish catching up and complete the clue that comes out on Thursday. XX NOT DONE!!
  2. Get Swan to a flimsy stage in progress
  3. Island Batik May – sandwich and quilt in progress
  4. Finish Island Batik June in progress
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for next week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Finish catching up and complete the clue that comes out on Thursday.
  2. Get Swan to a flimsy stage
  3. Island Batik May – quilt
  4. Finish Island Batik June
  5. Quilt Yellow – rectangles
  6. A Secret project – get to flimsy stage
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

Befitting Fours

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

I sent this design into Island Batik in February 2024 and it was accepted for the Fall/Winter ’24 Catalogue. The quilt was made last spring and then sent to Island Batik in California for it’s special photo shoot! (Thank you, Jerry Khiev). If you recognize the pattern, it’s because it was the Fall ’23 Mystery quilt on my blog. (Pattern is now removed).

For this quilt, I used a BEAUTIFUL collection called Petal Poetry (by Jerry Khiev for Megan Best of Best Quilter) and the additional dark fabric is “Raven.”

Petal Poetry fabric should be in stores now. (see the store list below)

Here is the quilt:

And, some close ups of the free motion flower quilting:

Quilt Stats:

  • Size: 50″ x 50″
  • Fabric: Island Batik: Petal Poetry and Raven
  • Hobbs Batting Heirloom: 80/20
  • Aurifil Thread,:
    • Piecing: #2600 (Dove Grey)
    • Quilting: #4661 (mint julep – variegated)
  • Quilting: on my domestic sewing machine:
    • free motion 4-5 petal flowers with echo quilting.

I was asked to use left-over fabric from the above quilt to make a 12″ square quilt for Hobbs Batting to display in the International Quilt Show in Houston. I made this mini and sent it to Hobbs. When the Quilt Show was over, Hobbs sent it back to me. By the time it arrived at my door, UPS said that I owed $175 for customs and duty. I refused!!! The quilt was eventually returned to Hobbs and they sent it to a friend of mine. She took it to the retreat that I attended at the beginning of the month. Hobbs Batting graciously sent a crib size wool batt with the mini! (Thanks, Steph!)

Here’s a list of stores that will have Petal Poetry:

Bill Ellsworth TextilesAZThe Quilter’s StudioOH
Mill Outlet Fabric ShopCOCreekside QuiltsOR
Heart & HomeCTThe Cotton PatchOR
Close To Home-GlastonburyCTSew CreativeOR
LA HOENEMEYER LLC DBA Scrap & SewFLTennessee QuiltsTN
Sew Special HiDown Home QuiltsTX
Calico PointINOptionsTX
The Masters Quilt ShopKSMy Favorite Quilt StoreTX
Mainely Mimi MEPacific Rim Quilt CompanyWA
Smile SpinnersMNPatchwork PlusVA
Quilter’s StationMOThe Needle WorkshopWI
Beginnings Quilt ShopNC
Checker Distributors
OH

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail

Linking to:  

Sunday Summary: April 20

/ quiltinggail / 26 Comments

Happy Easter

I hope every one of you has a fantastic Easter!

One Finish!

This was my only finish this past week!! It was a super fun quilt to make. You can read about it HERE.

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 – March 89 / 90 days
  • April: 20 / 20 days
  • Total: 109 / 110 99 %

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:

Quilting projects:

Sunday Stash

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 train used 4 yards (or more) of fabric! No shopping, so nothing added!

  • Fabric used in the last week: 4 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     80.5 yards. {24 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    9.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              67 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Catch up on the clues in progress
  2. Get Swan to a flimsy stage in progress
  3. Island Batik May – get to a flimsy stage √   DONE.
  4. Island Batik June – get ready to stuff. in progress
  5. Sandwich and Quilt Train √   DONE.
  6. Sandwich and Quilt Yellow Rectangles in progress
  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. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Finish catching up and complete the clue that comes out on Thursday
  2. Get Swan to a flimsy stage
  3. Island Batik May – sandwich and quilt
  4. Finish Island Batik June
  5. Make a decision on RED scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge
  6. Cut out for MMM’s Glowing Heart Quilt-a-long
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Leaving Comments on my Blog

I appreciate each of you that leaves comments on my blog!! It’s fun to read about YOU!!

However, I know that many of you have difficulty leaving comments and I honestly do not know what to do about it. I moderate each of the comments (that’s why they don’t show up right away) so that you don’t have to read about the ugly stuff / junk that some try to slip in!

Anyhow, I notice that the vast majority of comments are “anonymous” and I have no idea who you are. If you could simply put your name after the comment, I’d appreciate it! Thank you! And Thank you to those that leave your name!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:  

A Book Review

/ quiltinggail / 20 Comments

When I first saw this book, it intrigued me! I knew that the guild library was looking for new book suggestions, so I suggested it.

Wowza! Within a week our wonderful librarian (Margaret) notified me that she had it! I was able to pick it up at our next guild meeting.

This book has all the basic beginner quilting information (which, honestly, I skipped over). It also explains how to take simple cross-stitch patterns and change them into a quilt pattern. Then she has Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced quilt patterns. All of the patterns involve either rectangles or squares, with the occasional half-square triangle. There is even a complete alphabet, if one wanted to put a specific letter on a quilt!

Personally, I believe that a beginner quilter could easily complete the advanced designs. They have smaller pieces and more of them, but easily do-able.

Before I left for my retreat, I cut out 3 quilts from the book: The swan, the train and the butterfly. The swan I cut into smaller pieces than the book suggested. The train was cut into larger pieces than instructed and the butterfly was cut as directed. Here’s pictures of the kits.

The train was pieced at a quilt retreat. The background is Island Batik’s ‘Fondant’, the black is an Island Batik solid and the prints are left over from an older line called “Midnight Dazzle.”

And then it was sandwiched and quilted once I got home. And the monkey was from a quilt that was being quilted at the retreat and the block was cut wrong … he fit into the conductor’s window perfectly!

  • Quilt Stats:
  • Fabric: Island Batik: The background is ‘Fondant’, the black solid and the prints are left over from an older line called “Midnight Dazzle.”
  • Size: 38″ x 43″
  • Thead: Aurifil Thread: 50 weight
    • Piecing & Quilting: #2600 (Dove Grey)
  • Batting: Hobbs 80/20 Black
  • Silly Moon Rulers: Rocket and Beanie
  • Schmetz Needles: Universal 80/12
  • Oliso Iron

The swan was partially pieced at the retreat and I’ve finished piecing the top. These are all from Island Batik blue, teal and neutral scraps, along with solid red and black.

And the butterfly is waiting for it’s turn. It hasn’t progressed out of the bag. It’s time will come!

My opinion on this Picture Patchwork should be obvious since I’ve plunged into doing 3 quilts from the book. I think it’s a great book, with many easy patterns in it!

Don’t Forget:

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Sunday Summary: April 13

/ quiltinggail / 30 Comments

I’m an expert in Pro-craft-in-a-ting!

Two Finishes!

This was my Island Batik challenge for April. I used Drunkard’s Path blocks to make all the animals. See this POST for more details … and for a link to the original pattern. And yes, some of my birds and animals were my design … and the quilting on the animals was also my own designs. I used the 7″ finished Drunkard’s Path Accuquilt die to cut these blocks.

and then I made a mini quilt using the smaller (3 1/2“) Drunkard’s Path blocks (cut with an Accuquilt die).

Retreat!

These are the projects that I took to the retreat … I didn’t touch the Butterfly one, The Swan got partially done, the misc projects weren’t touched, the train got done to flimsy stage, and the Island Batik May and June projects got partially done. I will show a video of the projects (but not mine) that were worked on at the retreat on Tuesday.

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 – March 89 / 90 days
  • April: 13 / 13 days
  • Total: 102 / 103 99 %

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:

  • Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. The first clue is sewn.
  • Swan – still piecing it
  • Island Batik May
  • Island Batik June

Quilting projects:

  • Train
  • Yellow – rectangles

Sunday Stash

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!

Well, I made it 3 months without buying fabric!!! The wagon broke and I fell off!! I knew that when I went to the retreat at Over the Rainbow, I’d likely buy fabric … and I did. The top 2 fabrics are flannel and the bottom fabrics will back the yellow rectangles and the train. A total of 9 1/2 yards.

The following quilts used a total of 12 1/2, 8, and 3 yards, for a combined total of 23 1/2 yards.

  • Fabric used in the last week: 23.5 yards
  • Fabric Used in 2025:     76.5 yards. {22.5 yards of non Island Batik fabric}
  • Fabric Added in the last week: 9.5 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:    9.5 yards 
  • Net Fabric used:              67 yards

To Do

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

To Do from the last week:

  1. Pack. √   DONE. (and the unpacking is done!)
  2. Work on projects at the retreat. in progress
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE. 
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes. √   DONE. 

To Do for next week:

  1. Canuck Quilter Colour Value Mystery. Catch up on the clues
  2. Get Swan to a flimsy stage
  3. Island Batik May – get to a flimsy stage
  4. Island Batik June – get ready to stuff (It’s a Funky Friends Pattern)
  5. Sandwich and Quilt Train
  6. Sandwich and Quilt Yellow Rectangles
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes.

Leaving Comments on my Blog

I appreciate each of you that leaves comments on my blog!! It’s fun to read about YOU!!

However, I know that many of you have difficulty leaving comments and I honestly do not know what to do about it. I moderate each of the comments (that’s why they don’t show up right away) so that you don’t have to read about the ugly stuff / junk that some try to slip in!

Anyhow, I notice that the vast majority of comments are “anonymous” and I have no idea who you are. If you could simply put your name after the comment, I’d appreciate it! Thank you! And Thank you to those that leave your name!

Don’t Forget

I am now a Silly Moon affiliate! So what does that mean? When you use my affiliate code Quiltinggail2024 at Silly Moon, you will receive 10% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to: