Friday’s

Another UFO??? Finished!

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Yup!  I finished another UFO … this one was not on my official list for PHD in 2020 (see HERE).  But, it was a UFO that I found last year as I went through ALL of my bins as I was moving into my studio.

These were left-overs from a Seminole quilt that I made eons ago.  The left-over strips were too nice to just discard, so I made them into pouches.  The photo above shows the 4 zipper pouches that were made.  Each side is different from the other.

I needed a gift for the “secret” gift exchange at the retreat last weekend … and I thought, “why not finish up a UFO?”  So, I did!  The one one the bottom right was the one that was gifted.

Island Batik Unboxing Videos

This month, all of the Island Batik Ambassadors are assigned a day to show their unboxing videos.  (My date is Jan. 29).  As this post goes live, the ambassadors that have already posted are above the arrows  ⇒⇒⇒ and I have provided direct links so that you don’t have to go searching their blogs.   Everyone gets different lines of fabrics … it’s worth going to see, so you can drool over the fabric!

I was Featured!!

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THIS quilt by Quilt Fabrication!

 

 

NEXT Friday,

I’ll be hosting TGIFF … so be sure to visit and link what YOU are working on!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Lets Get Scrappy!

/ quiltinggail / 31 Comments

I LOVE Scrappy Quilts!!!

It was fun to go through my box of Island Batik fabrics and make a scrappy quilt.  I wanted one that would cover my embroidery machine.  I ended up making 2.  The first one, I used my Accuquilt cutter and cut a zillion half-square triangles.  I love that the triangles were cut perfectly and were SEW easy to so and made for perfect HSTs.  However, I was not happy with the end result.  With the great variety of  scrappy pinwheels, it just ended up looking disjointed.  Not something to make me smile when I walk into my sewing room … so it became a bag to keep my Accuquilt Go cutter in.  You can read about it HERE.

The 2nd quilt is one that I’m VERY happy with and will enjoy seeing it covering my embroidery machine!  I used fall colours, many left-over from the “Soil and Seeds” collection that I used in a blog-hop quilt.  (See HERE)  And, I used other co-ordinating fabrics from Island Batik foundations, basics and stash buster bundles.  The background fabric is “Coconut,” an Island Batik foundations neutral.  I LOVE this neutral!

The 4 patch blocks are made with 2″ squares and end up being 3 ½” finished in the quilt. The batting is Hobbs 80/20.  The binding is 2″ scraps, left over from making the blocks.

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Sometimes mistakes happen

/ quiltinggail / 31 Comments

Oh yes, they do!

Most of you know that I absolutely LOVE scrappy quilts.  Occasionally, I do sew a quilt with only a couple of fabrics, but for the most part, I love scrappy.  A few years ago, I made a series of quilts with my Grandmother’s fabric.  You can see them HERE.  I used pretty much all of the fabrics, without much consideration to colour.  The only rule was that 2 squares of the same colour couldn’t go next to each other.  There was every colour in the rainbow, shades, tints and tones and they all got mixed up together.  In my opinion, all of the quilts turned out just fine.

Then came the Island Batik January’s challenge to make something scrappy!  I smiled and smiled.  I knew I wanted to make a cover for my embroidery machine and it would just be a small quilt, not shaped or anything.  I have scraps from all the Island Batik projects that I made last year.   I decided to make pinwheels.  I used my Accuquilt Go to cut the pinwheels (talk about accurate!) and was mostly happy with each pinwheel.  Individually, they looked pretty good.  They all went well with the Island Batik grey solid.  Then, when I put them together, it was blah.  Like yuck! gross …  ULK!!!   Not something I’d like to look at every time I walked into my studio!

I quilted it with blue thread (Aurifil 1128), hoping that would add some cohesiveness.  It helped … a little … but … Not doing it for me.  ULK!!!

When I compared this to some of the quilts I made with Grandma’s fabric, I realize that in each of the blocks (some were the same size as the pinwheels in this piece) that the colours were all mixed up together.  In this piece, there isn’t the mixed variety … each pinwheel is only 2 colours.  My conclusions are that:  1.  If I’m going to do scrappy pinwheels, I need to stick to a certain theme or colour.  2. Scrappy quilts work best with lots of variation and a solid, or calm piece, to pull it all together.

It’s LEARNING … and I’m just fine with that!

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When I was looking at this quilt, I was wondering what I could make with it.  I had said on the blog that I had started Secret Project #1 – so, I couldn’t just ignore it and hope that it would disappear.  It was a project started in 2020, and therefore, needed to be finished in 2020.  And, I couldn’t wimp out on my PHD in 2020!  Especially this early in the year!!!

I have always fought with the bag that the Accuquilt cutter came in because it just fits and there isn’t a lot of wiggle room.  AND, to top it off, the bag ripped when I pulled it out to use it to cut the pinwheels.  An AH-HA moment happened.  This piece would be come a bag for the cutter.  A perfect solution, don’t ya think?

Here it is … and I’m thinking that it doesn’t look too bad as a bag.  And the Accuquilt Go fits in it with ease!

This is NOT my official Island Batik scrappy project for January but it is a completed project.  It did use Island Batik fabrics, cut with the HST Cube 8″ Accuquilt die, Aurifil thread and Hobbs 80/20 batting.    I had labelled this Secret Project #1.

There is still time

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AMto join in PHD in 2020!

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 post for 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.

Now, you don’t have to have a blog to join … you can use Pinterest (start a separate board) or Instagram … post the direct URL in the linky party and you’re IN!  Come and join us!

I was Featured

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By Jeniffer at Inquiring Quilter with This POST about 2 works in progress.  Thank you to Jennifer for hosting the Wednesday Wait Loss.  By the way … it’s worth going to her blog to see all the wonderful works that are featured this week.

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

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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First Friday of the Roaring 20’s

/ quiltinggail / 26 Comments

No finishes … yet ….  But, I’m off to a roaring start for this year!

I have been working on a couple of UFOs.

Ode to 30s

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The picture on the right was the state it was in before Christmas … I made a few more blocks and added sashing and it is now sandwiched … the quilting can begin!  Oh … and I need to decide HOW to quilt it … it will definitely be a decision I’ll need to make with each block!IMG_5939.JPG

Summer Solstice

IMG_5864This picture, taken before Christmas, showed the only sewing I had done on this project.  One block …  However, all the pieces were cut and had been placed in numbered bags!  Whew … at least I didn’t have to figure out what fabric goes where.

To tackle this UFO, I decided I would work on it for ½ hour each day that I sat at the machine.  Well,  the first day, it took me about an hour to figure out what I was doing and got started.  Today, I have 8 blocks to the stage below.  IMG_5938.jpeg

PHD in 2020

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Have you joined in the PHD in 2020?  There is still time!  You can go to THIS POST for details and to add your link … you have until Jan. 14 to join!

The first part in tackling your UFOs to acheive your PHD in 2020 is making your list.  Many of you have already done that!

The next step in tackling UFOs is to do an analysis of each project.  You can read about that HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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My Best of 2019

/ quiltinggail / 33 Comments

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

/ quiltinggail / 35 Comments

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

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

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

PHD in  2020?

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

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

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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A Squirrel, a DrEAMI … it’s done

/ quiltinggail / 24 Comments

I’ve been dreaming, drooling, admiring and wanting to make this cute table topper from Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting!

IMG_5591And I needed a new table runner for my coffee table … it was time for the pumpkins to be retired for the year.  What’s a gal to do … it was obvious … it started easily with pulling fabric … and then it sat for a day … and then I started to make the first cut … and then the second cut … and before I knew it, it was almost done … SEW then I had to finish!  And finish I did!

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A Quilt I haven’t shown before

/ quiltinggail / 24 Comments

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I don’t have a finish for Friday, but I thought I’d show you this quilt that I made for a sweet, sweet young lady, “V.”  I made it for her when she was born.  I believe she’s 5 now! Her parents told me that they put the quilt away for when she was bigger than a newborn.  “V” now has the quilt. Continue reading →

A Finish on a Rainy Friday

/ quiltinggail / 22 Comments

It is pouring outside.  We are thankful it’s not snow.  We’d be buried 10 feet deep if it was!

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Years ago (and I mean YEARS ago), a friend asked me if I’d sew these blocks into pillow shams for her.  Her mom had made them a quilt and intended to make shams out of the left-over blocks to match.  Then dementia set in and her mom was unable to even attempt to finish them.  I said “yes, I’ll finish them.”  I bought the green fabric to do another border and the backs.  (The green fabric was bought at Wild Rose in Orting, Washington a few years before they closed and they’ve been closed for about 4 years).

My friend’s mom died this summer and then guilt set in.  I worked on the shams at the quilt retreat, but decided that I needed to quilt the tops and I didn’t have batting or backing to finish them there.  SEW, I finished them this week.  I used invisible thread and just quilted in the ditch. Nothing spectacular, but just perfect for the blocks!

It’s a relief to have them finished … I no longer have guilt about them sitting there not being done.  And, they’re not even on my UFO list!

I was Featured

Wednesday Wait Loss Featured From the post about my gift for the quilt retreat.  You can read about  it HERE.

IMG_5706One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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PHD in 2019 – October Update

/ quiltinggail / 13 Comments

I have another finish!!  I cut into my Island Batik rayon and finished a top!  It’s the same pattern as the one I showed last week (see HERE) – except I altered the neckline a bit.  It fits perfectly!  My hubby is not home at the moment, so no photos with it on me! Just one of it pinned onto the design wall!img_5651-scaled-2560-e1572571190440-scaled-2560.jpg Continue reading →

Friday … Bonnie Hunter – revisited

/ quiltinggail / 22 Comments

I’ve been sewing … a lot …  but not a lot to show for it.

I saw this picture on a facebook page … and just cracked up.  The skeleton is obviously working on hand quilting “Good Fortune.”  It’s Bonnie Hunter’s mystery from last year.  And, I love the soft colours that were used!  Or have they just faded over time??? (grin!)

Sarah Young

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Top it Off

/ quiltinggail / 31 Comments

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

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New Sewing Room!

/ quiltinggail / 23 Comments

I am mostly moved into my sewing room!!!  YEAH!!!  It’s a big room, but I still don’t have everything in it!  All of my batting will eventually find a spot.  But at least I have all my machines (except a treadle, named Stella) and my tools in one room!  My treadle is named “Stella” after the lady that gifted it to me!

In the video, you will see the serger on a table behind my Janome 8900 – the machine I do all my quilting on.  When I move the serger, it gives me a bigger table space for my quilt! Which is perfect for quilting those large queen sized quilts!

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Webbing a Quilt

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

In the spring, at our guild, I demo’d how to web a quilt. They asked me to provide written instructions. Well, that proved extremely difficult for me. SEW … as I was webbing my demo quilt for the Baby Quilt Marathon, I decided to do a video. You can see it on YouTube HERE.  The quilt in the video is below.

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Something Different

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About 9 months ago, I bought a Janome 500E embroidery machine. I’ve been making quilt labels on it and also a few other projects. I absolutely LOVE making “in the hoop” zipper bags. They are SEW fun.

This first one is an Anita Gooddesign. I altered it a bit because I was suppose to use “see through” fabric – which I don’t own. The fabrics were Island Batik.

This next one is a free pattern from Sweet Pea in Australia. It was a fun way to learn “in the hoop” applique and zipper insertion.

Who knows what I will make next?

My Daisy Chain Mystery was featured on Free Motion Mavericks. Check it out HERE.

There are LOTS of people going to join the Baby Quilt Marathon. Some are making baby quilts, others will be working on their own projects.

All that is required is a concentrated effort to work on a project for 26 hours during the time from July 1 to July 15. Are you going to join us?

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Try It!

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Try It!Try It!

The Island Batik challenge for this month is: “Try a Technique” Challenge.  Oh, lots and lots of things to choose from!!!  I had been wanting to try Angela Walter’s “Free Motion Challenge, Layered Quilting.”  Sew, that became my project!

Angela Walter’s

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Favourite Finish of May

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Cheryl from Meadow Mist Designs has a monthly linkup of your favourite finish.  This month, it’s really really hard for me to choose!  I have 2 finishes, my Island Batik “Make it Modern” quilt and my “Daisy Chain Mystery Quilt.”

I like the Make it Modern one because it took me WAY outside my comfort zone and I really like how it turned out!

I also like the Daisy Chain Mystery quilt because it was a super well written mystery and I LOVE making mystery quilts.  AND, I do like how it turned out!  SEW … like I said, it’s hard to choose.  Which would you choose?

Muv featured my Make It Modern quilt was Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing!

You can see the original posts for “Make it Modern“ and “Daisy Chain Mystery” by clicking on the underlined titles.

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I’m going to link up to a bunch of blogs and I Continue reading →