Monday’s Design Wall

Keeping Records

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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 →

What do you do when you hate …??

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 I Hate sewing curves.

I Hate sewing circles.  

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.

Continue reading →

Monday, Monday …

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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

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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!

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Some custom quilting in Ode to 30’s … and some blocks just had an all-over motif in each block.

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My husband loved the birds in the tree!IMG_2219.jpg

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!

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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:

  1. Finish Ode to 30’s    √  done  
  2. Work on Bento Box  Rag Log Cabin  UFO  √  done  
  3. Make Maple leaf block for Australia   √  done  

This week’s list:

  1. Sandwhich Rag Log Cabin
  2. Start Quilting Rag Log Cabin
  3. Make at least 2 “Frolic” blocks
  4. Make the last 4 “52 blocks in 52 weeks”
  5. Put “52 blocks in 52 weeks” on design wall and arrange
  6. 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

 

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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)

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One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Linking to:

Monday … and I’m off to a retreat!

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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!IMG_5960

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 →

First Monday of the Roaring 20s

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OK … so things are NOT roaring around here … they are plodding along … slowly …

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AMIf 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. Continue reading →

Last Monday of 2019! Plans for 2020!

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Plans for 2020

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

My plans for 2020 include:

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

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

PHD in 2019: Quilting UFOs and Finishing New Projects

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

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

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

PHD in 2019! DONE!!!

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

PHD in 2019 November update

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Baby Quilt Making Day

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

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

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

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

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

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Isn’t he cute?

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Meet Randy the Rhino!!!  He is one of the wonderful patterns available at Funky Friends Factory!  If you sign up for the Funky Friends newsletter, you can get a free pattern for a bear!  And Funky Friends provide fantastic directions as well as pictorial tutorials. Continue reading →

Retreat accomplishments – some …

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Oh my! The retreat was a great time.  They always are!  So many different projects, so many ideas, so much help … so much food … and 2 people brought halloween jellies and candy corn … groan!  … too much sugar …  click HERE to see the slide show of other people’s projects.

SEW … What did I get done? 

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A Retreating I will go …

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Oh YEAH!! A retreat!!!

I love retreats!!!

There are a group of 18 17 of us going to Edenvale in Abbotsford. 17 because one lady is too ill to attend! 😦

What am I taking?   A zillion things … WAY more than I’ll get done!

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How to get rid of a UFO without going crazy

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I’m working on Smith Mountain Morning from Bonnie Hunter’s book “Scraps & Shirtails II.” You’ve seen the odd picture in recent posts … It’s a UFO from 2015 that was started in a workshop with Bonnie at Camp Arnold – near Seattle. Washington.  The workshop was fantastic!!  The quilt will be fantastic!!  (visit Bonnie’s blog Quiltville.com for lots of eye candy and free patterns.)

I think I might be going crazy!  Who in their right mind starts a quilt with 3 million pieces (don’t count them, I just might be exaggerating! but not by much). And then decides that she wants to make it bigger?  YUP – I was crazy when I made that decision! Continue reading →

Monday’s Progress …

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I have been sewing.  Smith Mountain Morning is slow going …. tons of pieces fro each block … but I’m determined to get ‘er done!

Design Wall

Piecing:

Several projects are now in progress:

  1. Smith Mountain MorningIMG_5631
  2. 52 blocks in 52 weeksIMG_5630 
  3. A secret project is still in progress, but has changed from this picture!IMG_5621

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Squirrels!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A Little bit of my trip …

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Oh me, oh my!!!  What an awesome trip I had.  I spent a week in England/Wales, a week in Johannesburg, 3 days in Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls), 5 days on Safari in Namibia at Etosha National Park, 4 days in Cape Town, and finally 2 days in Paris.  If you ever consider an African Safari – let me know, and I will give you the name of a fabulous company and the most wonderful guide!

Visit my YouTube video HERE to see pictures from my trip that may inspire future quilts. These pictures were all taken with my phone and were chosen from over 3,000 pictures that I took.

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This is a sewing machine that was in a store in Cape Town, where the owner makes all of the clothes for sale right in the store.  This machine was one of the “newer” ones. The ones they use on a daily basis were in the back and unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them! Somehow, I suspect that the decals are not in the prestine condition of this machine!

 

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Monday check-in

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I’ve been trying out the arrangement of my sewing room.  So far, just a few minor things have been moved around.  And I’m loving it!  If you missed the tour – check out this Blog Post.

Design Wall:

Piecing 

It’s not quilt related.  I’m working on some travelling neck pillows.  I made them before, but didn’t have a loop/button at the front and it was a real pain in the neck to not have it.  (did you get the pun?)  As well, I’m making them a little bit longer.  I put zippers in the top and we stuff them loosely with clothes.  It  gives us a little bit more room as we try to only travel with carry-on. These are being made out of flannel.

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