Monday’s Design Wall

Not much to show!

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I’ve been sick … but I won’t gross you out with the details.

Today I saw a robin!!!  YAY!!! Spring is on the way!  Sorry, no picture,  I wasn’t fast enough before it flew away!

Stash Report

Nothing is finished, so nothing taken away …  no shopping / no fabric buying!

* Fabric Used this week: 0 yards
* Fabric Used this year: 0 yards
* Fabric Added this Week:   0 yards
* Fabric Added this Year: 4.5 yards
* Net Fabric Used for 2019: 3.4 yards
* Husband’s purchases 5 yards

Design Wall

I thought I was making great progress on Bonnie Hunter mystery,  Good Fortune … as I said in my last post, Ithought I had all the grey sides added on,  … I did but I had to unsew about 10 of them as I didn’t have the white making the X.  All I’ve done is finished the ripping, but haven’t sewn them back together.

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I was Away

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Yes, I was away in Hawaii for 10 days!  I loved every minute!  Here is a picture of the view from our Airbnb on the east coast of Oahu.

Can you imagine listening to the waves all night and waking up to this view?   I loved the warm weather (it wasn’t HOT).  It was pretty great … and is now a wonderful memory.

 

 

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Slow Stitchin’

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Design Wall

Well, when you don’t keep up with all the parts of Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery … it takes a LOT of time to catch up … On Friday, I sewed with friends … I was hoping to at least get one of each block done – that didn’t happen!

img_2794Then I asked for opinions … for my gray – for the blocks with the teal 4 patches. I had 5 different grays … only one of them was big enough (the one on the left) to make the rectangles that went with the 4 patches … It was voted down … too dark … the others were too light,  or just right … but none of that mattered since there was not enough of the “just right” one to do the trick.  My friend’s solution was “quit being lazy and strip them together like the pattern suggests.” img_2795HA! HA!  And THEY are the ones that tease me endlessly about sewing with small pieces!  (Don’t I have awesome friends?) SEW, I’ve been sewing strips of grey fabric together for my rectangles.  One strip is made. No blocks are made yet! But I’m liking the strips.

I am no where near the reveal … On Monday, I’ll be linking to Good Fortune Linky Party.  There is bound to be some who have the top completed.  And, there’s probably a few that have not slept since Friday and have it quilted.   Me? I’m enjoying the slow stitchin’.

Stash Report

Yes, I bought fabric this week.  I needed binding for Purple Shells.  And YES, I’m going to keep track of my husband’s purchases – separate from mine!  If I use them, then I’ll subtract what I use from HIS purchase.  (GRIN!)Purple Shells

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PHD in 2019: Quilting UFOs and Finishing New Projects

If you want to join us to decrease your UFOs and finish your new projects – you have until Jan. 20, 2019 … more information is HERE.

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Summary:  I finished Purple Shells … I counted it as a Start in 2019 even though it was started in late December. (Mostly because I didn’t want to add to my UFO list!

There are no UFOs finished, I’m just slow stitchin’ on Good Fortune.

Happy Quilting!
Gail

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Last Monday of 2018

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I’ve been working on Shells from Turnabout Patchwork.  You can see my start HERE.

The picture on the left is the quilt sandwiched – with the spool of thread I plan to use for quilting it … the one on the right has the painter’s tape marking the straight lines.

 

I do hope I have this done in time for my son to deliver it!

Good Fortune

 

Parts 1, 2 & 3 are done … all done (left picture).  Part 4: I still debating whether to strip fabric together for the rectangles – or just go with one piece of fabric.    Part 5 has the orange / neutral (grey / neutral for me)  partially sewn (right picture) … the bigger triangles still need to be cut. Part 6 … string piecing neutrals … not too many, but not sure when I’ll start them.  Tomorrow, I will be linking to Monday’s Good Fortune link-up HERE.

Happy Quilting!
Gail

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Christmas Contest

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IMG_2432There is a Janome club meeting 4 times a year where I work.  In September, attendees are able to choose one of 2 fabrics (or both).  They can make whatever they choose and may add whatever fabrics they wish.  When they return in November, they hand in the project they made. These projects are placed up on the walls around the store. Customers are encouraged to vote for the one they like best.  The winner will get a prize from the store.  All participants get to keep their projects.  If you live in the area, pop into Langley Vacuum and Sewing and vote for your favourite one! (The ones without numbers were made by employees of the store.)  I hope you enjoy the small slideshow!  Which one would you vote for?

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Moving through the UFOs …

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This “Irish Snails” quilt was a kit … I’m not sure I like buying kits … I loved the sea-shell fabric – that’s what sold me on this kit.  However, there was not enough brown in the kit to make the pattern with the borders as instructed.  Luckily, I was able to get the exact brown fabric locally.  The pattern is by Peggy Gelbrich of Yellow House Quilter and is available HERE.  It’s an easy pattern to follow!

Anyhow, this quilt is in the process of being quilted.  IMG_2589 Continue reading →

Keeping Track

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One person asked why I bother to keep track of UFOs, this years’ starts and fabric bought or used.  Well, it’s my way of cutting down on UFOs and attempting to use up the fabric that I already have!

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Summary: All Starts in 2018 are completed.  One UFO is almost done (see Design Wall).  That leaves 2 and a bit UFOs to complete for my PHD in 2018.

Design Wall

IMG_2568The scrappy red/pink/brown/green version of Ivan’s Diamonds is being quilted … Just have the outside border to quilt … then add the binding.  The label is already done and will be completely sewn down as the border is quilted. You can see the whole of this quilt HERE.

Bonnie Hunter Mystery

You can check out the mystery at Quiltville.com  Good Fortune Mystery.  Bonnie has called for primary colours for this mystery quilt.  Unfortunately, I’m not a fan … but, it would be just like me to choose my own colours for the mystery … just like I’ve done with the quite a few of the past mysteries.  I’m still debating …

Stash Report

IMG_2565This baby quilt was completed and used 3.75 yards of fabric. You can see details of the quilt HERE.

I HAD to go to a fabric store the other day.  I had a gift certificate that was crying to be used.  Sew, I ventured across the river, into Burnaby, to visit “The Needle & I“.  A wonderful quilt store!  She has a lot of fabric and a great variety.  And as the saying goes, ….Screen Shot 2018-11-17 at 1.57.28 PM.png

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The fabric at the front of the basket is the 8 fat quarter yardage I bought at the retreat.  (It doesn’t count this week).  The yellow is what I needed to coordinate with the fat quarters … and the other 3 at the back of the basket … well, um, uh … well … they were on sale and I’m sure I’ll use them sometime, somewhere in something.  🙂  The total damage 6.75 ….

  • Fabric Used this week:  14.25 yards
  • Fabric Used this year:   252.6 yards
  • Fabric Added this Week:    6.75 
  • Fabric Added this Year:   88.3 yards
  • Net Fabric Used for 2018:  164.3 yards

Happy Quilting!
Gail

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Retreat … FUN!!!

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Remembrance

If you haven’t done so,

before you read my blog

take a moment to be thankful …

 

The Retreat

Oh … what fun!  Here’s a slideshow of some of the creations … Enjoy! Unfortunately, I didn’t get pictures of what everyone was working on … but here’s a few …

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Retreat? Oh yes!!!

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I’m getting ready to head off to a retreat!  Oh – how I love retreats!  At this retreat – we don’t have to cook!  Bonus!  And I won’t have my lovely husband asking, “what’s for dinner tonight?”  And, I won’t have to answer with, “I don’t know!”  It’s amazing how often we have “I don’t know” for supper!
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Anyhow … since I had my embroidery machine up and running, I did up a few labels (one for the scrappy blue quilt – below – that I’m hoping to get quilted at the retreat)   Now, you don’t need to email me and tell me that a couple of the labels have 2019 on them!  I did that on purpose.  See the top label with 2019? Well, when I pulled out the bin with the UFO that the label will go on, I discovered a label that I made for this quilt that said, “2015!!!”  I often joke that the quilt is not necessarily finished in the year that the label is made.  However, I figured that 3 or 4 years beyond the date is a little too long.  And, 2 of the quilts belonging to 2 of the labels are not in my plan to be finished by the end of the year. (That is, unless I change my mind – which could happen!)

Sew, as I was cutting the batting to length to sandwich the 4 quilts that the labels will go with, I noticed that 3 of the quilts were EXACTLY the same pattern.  Yes, it’s a pattern that I wrote and I remember making each quilt, but I sort of find it ironic that they are all getting sandwiched on the same day! Two are scrappy and one is a 2 fabric quilt.

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No sewing when I’m away …

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I was away for a bit … travelling in some weird white stuff for part of it.  But, since my sister didn’t drive into the ditch, I’ve come to the conclusion that she’s not too bad of a driver.  Although, I’m not sure if my white knuckles have regained their colour yet! Wink spokesperson clipart free clipart image image

 

It’s good to be home … but it was good to go … Continue reading →

Our Beautiful Fall Continues!

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Oh – it is so lovely outside!  Although I’m missing summer, I’m loving these wonderful west coast fall days.  It’s hard to be inside when it’s so nice outside!  However, they are forecasting rain for Tuesday, so this wonderful days will come to an end.

Fireburst has the first stitches of quilting done.  There is nothing active happening with piecing.  IMG_2479 Continue reading →

Beautiful Fall Days

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It is beautiful right now on the West coast of Canada.  Cool crisp nights, some morning fog, and sun in the afternoon.  It’s hard, very hard to stay inside and quilt when it is so nice outside!

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However, I have been working with digitizing software.  It’s Artistic-Digitizer_500.jpgactually fun!  A simple project that I have been working on is taking an element from the fabric in the quilt, making a simple outline and stitching it out.

It worked great on my sample, (first picture), but when I tried to put it on the quilt, it wouldn’t line up right: see the “line” between the ears?”  I have a very small machine and I don’t think it was intended for quilting.  I will finish the quilt on a bigger machine at work.

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Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

Design Wall

No piecing … but I’m having fun quilting the Wonky Logs quilt!  Craftsy / Blueprint is free this week. My cousin Terry told me to watch “Wild Quilting.”  Oh, it was an excellent class!  I don’t have a tone of wide open spaces to apply her techniques but I did take notes!  However, if YOU are interested in Free Motion Quilting – I would advise you to watch this class!

I know that I said I wouldn’t use straight lines in this quilt … but as you can see in the green square, I changed my mind!  I’ve got about half of the blocks done!  Six more to go!

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Serged Top is done

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Here are the questions I had before I started serging this quilt together and the answers to those questions:

  • Which serger will I use?  I used a serger at work (Pro-4DX) and my own serger at home.  I actually prefer the Pro-4DX over my own serger
  • Will I be able to finger press the seams, or should I use an iron? I did do some finger pressing, but as usual, the iron made a much nicer job of pressing the seam.
  • Will I be able to chain piece using a serger? Yes, there was no problem at all with chaining
  • Will it make the quilt “lumpy” at the seams? I don’t really see much different than when using a regular sewing machine
  • Will I be able to web or lattice the final blocks?  Absolutely! The first picture shows the first webbing, the second shows the top pieced together.

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Stash and Project Update

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A few days ago, a couple of cousins on my mom’s side came to visit.  It was a fantastic visit as I had not seen either of them for at least 50 years!  Anyhow … one of them quilts, and when she saw my very messy creative sewing room, she asked how many projects I had going at one time.    Just off the cuff, I said, “5.”   Um … well, I didn’t really take a good look at what I had actively going in the room  … and of course, it’s the reason for the MESS CREATIVITY. Continue reading →