Stitchin’ Time

Inktense Pencil Fun

/ quiltinggail / 17 Comments

On Monday and Tuesday, a bunch of us met at Essem Textiles to play and explore Inktense Pencils. If you’ve never used Inktense – it’s worth giving it a try. They are like pencil crayons with water soluble ink in them. You can colour on fabric and use water, aloe vera or a textile medium to bring out the vibrant colours.

Below is what I worked on. It’s a free drawing from Helen Godden and is the Christmas 2019 project. My plan is to finish “painting” it and then follow Helen’s Youtube videos for the zen-doodling quilting.

While we were at Essem, a bunch of ladies from the Chilliwack guild stopped in the store. You’ve seen a lot of their SAHRR center blocks HERE … and it was fun to meet them in person!

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 1-16 – 16 / 16
  • Total: 16 / 16
  • Percentage =100% 

Stash Report

Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash.

This meme is still true! No fabric has been bought … at least not yet! No change in what I’ve used!

  • Fabric Used this week      0   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        1.5 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      0 yards 
  • Net Fabric used                  1.5 yards 

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week.

The To Do list last week:

  1. SAHRR: Finish Round 2 & work on Round 3 √   DONE
  2. Work on Polar Bear Plunge: get the top done √   DONE
  3. Work on Tickled Pink √   DONE
  4. Work on Island Batik January Project √   DONE
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! √   DONE
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes √   DONE

This week’s list:

  1. Finish Round 3 & start Round 4 of SAHRR
  2. Sandwich and Quilt Polar Bear Plunge
  3. Work on Tickled Pink
  4. Finish Island Batik January Project
  5. Finish Macaron Mystery – January clue
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

Design Wall

There are a few things on my Design Wall and there is a couple of things I can show you …

#1 SAHRR is in progress … You can read about it HERE.

But I can show you my center block with Round 1 added.

#2 Polar Bear Plunge: This is for a blog hop in January … it should be fun! Of course, I can’t show you until the blog hop!

#3 Tickled Pink: This is for a blog hop in February … and again, I can’t show you until then!

#4 … Macaron Mystery Quilt

I’ve got some of January’s clue done … still have more to do …

Quilting:

Island Batik, January challenge is being quilted.

One New Start … no finishes. I did pull the fabrics for the February Island Batik challenge – does that count as a new start? And I started the Christmas wall hanging.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

A Wintery Finish!

/ quiltinggail / 17 Comments

I have a UFO finish! It is the Any Which Way Mystery Quilt … it was finally trimmed and the binding was added! The first picture was taken in the sun … and the 2nd picture was taken on the snow – just because I could!

The binding was finished today while I was Zoom quilting with fellow Island Batik Ambassadors! It’s so fun to get together and see what everyone is working on!

This quilt used Island Batik fabrics, Hobbs 80/20 batting and was quilted with Aurifil thread using Schmetz needles. It finishes at 44″ x 44.” It’s nice to have this UFO done!

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!

This week, I managed to only sew for 15 min a day …

  • January 1-9 – 9 / 9
  • Total: 9 / 9
  • Percentage =100% 

Stash Report

Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks! However, I am human and I do break down and buy fabric!

I love this meme that I saw recently (but can’t find the source) …

I used 1.5 yards of fabric for the backing of the Any Which Way Mystery Quilt.

  • Fabric Used this week      1.5   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        0 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      0 yards 
  • Net Fabric used                  1.5 yards 

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week.

I didn’t get a lot done this week. I’ve had a bad back and can only sit for very short periods of time.

The To Do list last week:

  1. Trim & bind “Any Which Way” Mystery – √   DONE
  2. Finish Round 3 & 4 of SAHRR (yes, I want to work ahead) Decided I didn’t like Round 2 – so did some un-stitching and re-doing the round X not done
  3. Work on Polar Bear Plunge  √   DONE
  4. Work on Tickled Pink  √   DONE
  5. Work on January’s Island Batik project  √   DONE
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder!  √   DONE
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes: no cleaning or tidying done and boy does it show! X not done

This week’s list:

  1. SAHRR: Finish Round 2 & work on Round 3
  2. Work on Polar Bear Plunge: get the top done
  3. Work on Tickled Pink
  4. Work on Secret Project
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

Design Wall

There are a few things on my Design Wall and there is NOTHING I can show you … yet!

#1 SAHRR is in progress … Centre block comes out Tomorrow! Be sure to come back so you don’t miss it!!!

#2 Polar Bear Plunge: This is for a blog hop in January … it should be fun! Of course, I can’t show you until the blog hop!

#3 Tickled Pink: This is for a blog hop in February … and again, I can’t show you until then!

#4 … Island Batik January Gradation project is getting there! and it will remain a total secret for now!

#5 Macaron Mystery by Meadow Mist Designs I have printed off the January clue – but haven’t done any sewing … yet …

Quilting:

Nothing is being quilted at the moment!

One UFO done!

Ms. P. Designs has this nifty colourful tool that you can use to track the tasks you have to do for your PHD. You can access the tool HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

Plans for the New Year … and EXCITING NEWS!!!

/ quiltinggail / 30 Comments

My husband says every new year, “My New Year’s Resolution is to not make any resolutions.” I sort of feel the same way, but I do have quilty goals in mind and I’ll share them with you.

Island Batik Ambassador

I was again chosen to be an Island Batik Ambassador for 2022! I was beyond excited when I found out! If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you KNOW how much I love Island Batik fabric!

There will be monthly challenges and projects to make! I can’t wait to show you all the fabulous fabric and goodies from the industry partners!

New to Me

This is new to me, but it’s been around for awhile. I have watched other bloggers do this block of the month and thought I’d join in on the fun this year! Check out Jen’s blog post for more details and to get the pattern for this month’s block. Doesn’t “Spicy” sound fantastic???

January’s spice is Saffron. This is the 12 1/2″ block that I made:

I used 2 different oranges from Island Batik. I didn’t have enough of the dark orange, so I pieced the bottom left square.

Here are this month’s bloggers that are highlighting this Spicey month!

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!

Last year I managed to sew 97% of the days. What will this year bring?

  • January 1-2 – 2 / 2
  • Total: 2 / 2
  • Percentage =100% 

Stash Report

Donna at Quilt Paint Create hosts a weekly linky party where you can display your stash. This has really kept my stash from growing (somewhat!) Before I buy anything, I am always mindful of the fact that I need to report it on my blog … That sometimes stops me in my tracks! However, I am human and I do break down and buy fabric!

I love this meme that I saw recently (but can’t find the source) …

  • Fabric Used this week      0   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        0 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      0 yards 
  • Net Fabric used                  0 yards 

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week.

I had 2 weeks to work on my previous To Do list … let’s see how I did …

The To Do list last week:

  1. Finish A&A’s Quilt  √   DONE
  2. Bind the guild Fall Mystery Quilt  √   DONE
  3. Prepare the PHD in 2022 blog post.  √   DONE
  4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   DONE
  5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

  1. Trim & bind “Any Which Way” Mystery
  2. Finish Round 3 & 4 of SAHRR (yes, I want to work ahead)
  3. Work on Polar Bear Plunge
  4. Work on Tickled Pink
  5. Work on January’s Island Batik project
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

Design Wall

There are a few things on my Design Wall and there is NOTHING I can show you … yet!

#1 SAHRR is in progress … You can read about it HERE.

#2 Polar Bear Plunge: This is for a blog hop in January … it should be fun! Of course, I can’t show you until the blog hop!

#3 Tickled Pink: This is for a blog hop in February … and again, I can’t show you until then!

#4 … January’s Island Batik project and it will remain a secret for now! But, I will show you the stack of fabric that I’m working with! Tantalizing Teals! Aren’t they absolutely BEAUTIFUL? !!!

Quilting:

Nothing is being quilted at the moment!

However, my Any Which Way mystery quilt needs to be trimmed and bound.

My January Island Batik project is started … no finishes

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

The Year is Almost Over …

/ quiltinggail / 26 Comments

Yes, it seems like the year has gone by quickly! And, with the Covid numbers increasing and talks of future lockdowns, I’ll be hunkering down and quilting!!!

Next week, starting on Boxing Day, I will be hosting a mystery quilt. It’s a quick and easy mystery – and it will be fun! Are you going to join me?

Finally finished!

Do you remember the picture on the left? After lots of procrastination and neglect, I finally finished this hot air balloon quilt. The pattern is from Kelly Young’s book “Scrappy Improv Quilting.”

Before I taught a class, using this book, I wanted to demonstrate a few different techniques in making the slabs. There are many different ways. In this quilt, I used stripes, bargello, “twosies, foursies, eightsies …” and my own invention “random pieces in a line.” I have also use orphan blocks.

The baskets were chain pieced and made all at the same time.

Once the baskets were attached to the balloons, I played around with the layout and positioned them all slightly different … I wanted it to look like balloons were in the sky.

The fabrics were all from my Island Batik stash … bits and pieces of this and that. The background is BE34-E1 Dot Sky from the Blender’s collection. Hobbs 80/20 is used for the batting. The free motion quilting was pretty simple … clouds and meandering in the sky and vertical wavy lines on the balloons. The baskets were a grid of mish-mashed straight lines. It is bound with Island Batik’s Black solid.

The binding looks a little wonky on the bottom right, but that’s because it won’t be finished until after a special baby is born and I can put the label on it.

Design Wall

#1 SAHRR: I have my centre block done! Whoo hoo!!! And plan to work on the other rounds! The SAHRR will start on January 10. I’ll show you the centre block then!

Here’s the Schedule of Events for SAHRR:

SEW … start thinking about what you can use for your centre block. Will it be an orphan block? Will you start something new? something different? Will it be square or rectangle? It’ll be fun to see what you choose!

#2 Polar Bear Plunge: This is for a blog hop in January … it should be fun! Of course, I can’t show you until the blog hop!

#3 Tickled Pink: This is for a blog hop in February … and again, I can’t show you until then!

#4 Monthly Colour Challenge – with Patterns by Jen. Yes, I’ve pulled my fabrics for the first few months. I’m excited to show you January’s block on January 1!

Quilting: 

#2 A&A’s Quilt: This quilt is under the machine at the moment!

Stash Report

The back of the balloon quilt used 2 1/2 yards of flannel – from my stash.

This will be my last stash report for 2021! By the end of the year, I will have used at least another 9 yards of fabric, but I’m not counting it until it’s finished. I will continue with my Sunday Stash report in 2022 – it keeps me honest about what I buy. And, I will often 2nd guess a fabric purchase when I think that I need to report it on my blog! (and that’s a good thing!)

Well, my husband didn’t add any fabric this year. Yes, he was with me on a few occasions when we were in a fabric store, but he didn’t pick up anything for me to buy! Well, the next trip to a fabric store could be another story!

  • Fabric Used this week     2.5   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       104.25 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                 52.5 yards 
  • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

Stitchin’ Time

This is my last Stitchin’ Time for 2021. The “Any Which Way” Mystery quilt is happening next week and I want to focus on that!

As for this year, I think I did pretty good … only missed 9 days in the whole year! Wow!! It does help that, aside from one 10 day trip, we didn’t go anywhere! If Kate continues this next year, I’ll be back with more Stitchin’ Time in 2022!

  • January – Nov –  324 / 333
  • Dec – 19/19
  • Total: 342 / 351
  • Percentage = 97 % 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

I won’t be posting a To Do list next week, but I’ll be back in 2022 with updated lists!

The To Do list last week:

  1. Get A&As quilt sandwiched.  √   DONE
  2. Finish Scrappy Improv top.  √   DONE
  3. I find it interesting that I had a blank on the list from last week!
  4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!  HA! HA! … I started 3 new projects for the new year … I’d say I was distracted !!! Unsuccessful
  5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

  1. Finish A&A’s Quilt
  2. Bind the guild Fall Mystery Quilt
  3. Prepare the PHD in 2022 blog post.
  4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

I have 2 projects to finish before the end of the year. Unless something weird happens, I should be able to get them done this week! The BBQG Mystery #3 just needs the binding done and A&A’s quilt needs the quilting finished and the label and binding … doable … I hope!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

Moving right along …

/ quiltinggail / 17 Comments

Here’s what’s happening in the studio …

A Finish

This week I posted my final Island Batik challenge for 2021. It’s been a fantastic year! I will soon have a blog post that will show all of the projects I’ve made with wonderful Island Batik fabrics! You can read more about this finish HERE. It was pieced and quilted with Aurifil thread and Hobbs batting was used.

Design Wall

#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …

Absolutely NO change from the last month! None at all! Even though I analyzed why it wasn’t getting done – I still haven’t worked on it! I need to get it finished in order to achieve my PHD in 2021!

#2 A&A’s Quilt: This quilt which was started in Mar. is getting pieced into a top. I was suppose to get some direction on how they wanted it pieced, but no direction came, so I decided to do my own thing. … I’m looking forward to quilting some of the negative space …

Quilting: 

Amy and I had another “Playing with Rulers” day at Essem Textiles. I was working on my Guild’s fall mystery quilt. I struggled the whole time. First, I did not have my slip slidey thing for my machine, then I realized that my quilting gloves no longer had any grip on them … If we have more “Playing with Rulers” days, I will definitely choose a smaller project! And I will have my slip slidey thing and some good gloves! In spite of my challenges, it was a fun couple of days!! It is so rewarding to see quilters become comfortable with ruler quilting!!! If you live in the area and would like to join us for a “Playing with Rulers” session – let Simina or Rajan at Essem Textiles know. They will put you on a waiting list.

Stash Report

No finishes that used fabric from my stash.

  • Fabric Used this week     0   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       101.75 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                 51 yards 
  • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

Stitchin’ Time

  • January – Nov –  324 / 333
  • Dec – 12 / 12
  • Total: 336 / 344
  • Percentage = 97 % 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The To Do list from 2 weeks ago:

  1. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #4 √   DONE
  2. Work on December’s Island Batik project. √   DONE
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!  Got inspired to make a tree skirt √   DONE
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

  1. Get A&As quilt sandwiched
  2. Finish Scrappy Improv top
  4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is phd-in-2021.png

OK … I’ve got 3 projects to finish before the end of the year. I think I can get them done! I hope I can get them done.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

Scrappy Improv Class – Finished projects!

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

This was a super fun class to teach. All of the participants were delightful ladies – which made it even more fun.

Here is Joan’s finished project “Prismatic.” Look at her beautiful quilting!

And here is Sue’s Prismatic. Again some awesome quilting with a totally different approach!

And Judy’s Prismatic – with totally different quilting! I LOVE the variety of the mini quilts and the quilting! And Judy added a flange binding! super cool!

Here are Robin’s.

The first is the ornament in reds and greens. I like the simple straight line quilting! It really makes the ornaments pop!

The 2nd is Prismatic in blues purples and teals … again, the simple straight line quilting lets the design show through!

Cathy has completed 3, yes THREE, tops! Go Cathy Go! It was fun to watch her put this one together as she used different fabrics for the background. Who knew that the backside of a blue grunge would be the perfect dark grey?

And these 2 are so sweet!

And here is my Prismatic. I had a bunch of orphan log cabin blocks that I joined together and then cut as directed. I cut a lot more than indicated in the pattern … then joined them in the rows. My intent was not to make a quilt this big … it’s 45″ x 60″, but that’s how big it turned out to be.

It uses Island Batik fabric and Hobbs 80/20 batting. The backing is a lovely light blue flannel.

Design Wall

#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …

Absolutely NO change from the last month! None at all! However, I’ve been questioning why I’m hesitating at getting this one done and I think I figured it out. That purple balloon is too small and I thought I’d just adjust all the measurements and make a smaller one – but I don’t feel like doing that. So, I will do something else for the purple balloon … make it bigger somehow … I haven’t gotten that far in my thinking yet!

Quilting: 

#1  The last Secret Island Batik project is being quilted – and should be finished within a couple of days!

Stash Report

The back of my Prismatic quilt used 1.5 yards of flannel from my stash.

  • Fabric Used this week     1.5   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       101.75 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                 51 yards 
  • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

Stitchin’ Time

  • January – October –  292/ 303
  • Nov – 28 / 28
  • Total: 320 / 331
  • Percentage = 96 % 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The To Do list from 2 last week:

  1. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #4 In progress
  2. Finish Tree Skirt √   DONE
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!  Got inspired to make a tree skirt √   DONE
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

  1. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #4
  2. Work on December’s Island Batik project.
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

DrEAMi

I had 2 DrEAMis this month … I posted about them HERE

Favourite Quilt in November

I’m waffling between 2 quilts. Both of them were “Storm at Sea” quilts that I made for November’s Island Batik blog hop. You can read about them HERE.

Table Scraps

I made a mug rug for the “No Ring” blog hop … so it’s also my Table topper for November. There was no specific colour for this month … so this fits perfectly!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

What’s Happening in the Studio?

/ quiltinggail / 14 Comments

First, I need to show you a finish … not a quilty finish, but a finish. While I was at Essem Textiles, I spotted some super cute knit teddy bear fabric. I LOVE teddy bears! Years ago, in the last century, I made a cute nightshirt with teddybears on it. That nightshirt was loved for years and years. This summer, I noticed that it was pretty thread barren and it’s time was near! Well, I might have noticed it much longer than just this summer! When I saw the fabric at Essem, I just knew I had found the perfect fabric to replace the nightshirt with. And the old night shirt is re-purposed as cleaning cloths in the garage. However, I did rescue the button off the old one and put it on the new one!

I’m not going to model it, but here it is on my design wall:

It was fun to use my serger and complete a project in less than a day! That doesn’t happen when I’m quilting!

Island Batik’s Storm at Sea Blog Hop

Did you get to see all of the Storm at Sea quilts? They were all based on the Storm at Sea block. Some people used Paper Piecing (me), some used Studio 180 rules, and some used the Accuquilt Block on Board die. Andi (from True Blue Quilts) made a great youtube video that showcases all of the quilt. Watch it and Enjoy!

Design Wall

#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …

Absolutely NO change from the last month! None at all!

#2.  A Christmas Tree Skirt

These are fabrics from Essem Textiles. I have started piecing the tree skirt … such pretty fabrics to work with!

Quilting: 

#1  The last Secret Island Batik project is being quilted

#2 Scrappy Improv Quilting This is from the pattern “Prismatic … just made bigger … lots bigger … (from Kelly Young’s book “Scrappy Improv Quilting.” This book is SEW much fun … make sure you order yours before it’s too late!

  • Fabric Used this week     0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       100.25 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                  49.5 yards 
  • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

Stitchin’ Time

  • January – October –  292/ 303
  • Nov – 21 / 21
  • Total: 313 / 324
  • Percentage = 96 % 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The To Do list from 2 Weeks ago:

  1. Quilt Island Batik Secret #2 √   DONE 
  2. Quilt Island Batik Secret #4 in progress
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!  Got inspired to make a tree skirt  not done
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

  1. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #4
  2. Finish Tree Skirt
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

I have finished enough UFOs for my PHD, but I still have a few “Starts in 2021” to finish …

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

******************

Linking to:

November … and the first week is over?

/ quiltinggail / 10 Comments

Oh dear … time seems to be flying by this month!

But it’s OK … I’m busy and having fun!!!

Design Wall

#1 Scrappy Improv Quilting …

Absolutely NO change from last week! None at all!

#2.  Scrappy Improv Quilting …

This is from the pattern “Prismatic.” This has gone from the first photo to the 2nd. So it is ready for sandwiching. I just need to choose a backing.

#4, #5, & #6 Secret Sewing: Island Batik

I’m happy to report that all of the patterns have been written. And one is still being tested. All of the tops are complete!

Quilting: 

#2  Secret Island Batik project is being quilted

#1 Secret Island Batik is quilted. I can only show you the back … the fabric is a beautiful “Moonstone,” one of the fabrics that is available all the time! It is quilted with Aurifil 2600 – Dove. Hobbs 80/20 batting and a Schmetz Microtex needle was used.

Stash Report

I got “paid” in fabric for the class that I taught. Even though I didn’t “buy” it, it still adds to my stash. I added 11 yards of flannel … all for backing baby quilts. And I did use 1.25 yards on the back of the mystery quilt (see the purple above?)

  • Fabric Used this week     0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       100.25 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      50. 75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                  49.5 yards 
  • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

Stitchin’ Time

I have been sewing for at LEAST 3-4 hours each day … deadlines add pressure, you know! So my stitchin’ time is good!

  • January – October –  292/ 272
  • Nov – 7 / 7
  • Total: 299 / 310
  • Percentage = 96 % 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

To Do

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The To Do list from Last Week:

  1. Sandwich BBQG Guild Mystery #2 & #3 #2 Done, #3 not done
  2. Sandwich Island Batik Secret #4 √   DONE 
  3. Sew top together  Prismatic from Scrappy Improv √   DONE 
  4. Work on Island Batik’s December project in progress
  5. Finish Island Batik Secret #2 top √   DONE 
  6. Finish Quilting Island Batik Secret #3 not done
  7. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   DONE 
  8. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   DONE  

This week’s list:

Is fairly light … priorities only … as I won’t be home for a few days. (I’ll tell you about it later).

  1. Quilt Island Batik Secret #2
  2. Quilt Island Batik Secret #4
  3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

Island Batik Blog Hop

Island Batik’s Storm at Sea Blog Hop is into it’s 2nd week! Check out THIS POST to follow each of the ambassadors and their creative and awesome quilts!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

******************

Linking to:

Catching up …

/ quiltinggail / 11 Comments

I was away on holidays … did a bit of sewing then, but most of it is secret sewing … so no pictures.

Design Wall

Piecing:

#1. Secret Sewing: Island Batik

#2 Secret Sewing: BBQG mystery quilt

#2. Scrappy Improv … another variation of the hot air balloon quilt

Quilting: 

#1 November Island Batik project is being quilted

Stash Report

I was in Edmonton while I was away … Lori’s Country Cottage had a 40% sale on selected fabrics … I did not behave myself … It was fun to be in a fabric store … it was fun to shop … here’s a picture of the damage ….

I could justify each purchase … the fabrics on the left were for one of the guild’s mystery quilts and the fabrics on the right were all flannels … necessary for backings …

  • Fabric Used this week     0 yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       99 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  12  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      39.75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                  58.25 yards 
  • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

Stitchin’ Time

While away, I managed to sew for 5 days … and for 6 days, I did not sew.

  • January – August –  235 / 242
  • Sept –  20 / 26
  • Total: 255 / 268
  • Percentage = 95 % 

For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

TO DO 

Linda from Texas Quilt Gal is now hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

The last To Do list: (from weeks ago)

OK … so I had over 2 weeks to accomplish my To Do list – a little bit of everything got done!

  1. Finish quilting Island Batik’s November project Partially done!
  2. Finish 3rd Project from Scrappy Improv Partially done!
  3. Work on Island Batik’s December  project Partially done! 
  4. Write the directions for the guild’s Fall Mystery quilt √   done
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes      √   done  

This week’s list:

  1. Finish quilting Island Batik’s November project
  2. Work on 3rd Project from Scrappy Improv
  3. Work on Island Batik’s December project
  4. Quilt Secret Sewing BBQG mystery quilt #1
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

PHD in 2021

Table Scraps

I have 2 Table Scraps for this month … First is my table runner and 2nd is the coaster.

This Table runner was made with scraps of Island Batik fabric … mostly from the Autumn Wings collection. Quilted with Aurifil thread, Hobbs Batting and Schmetz needles.

This coaster was made with a free pattern from Kreative Kiwi … Island Batik fabrics, Hobbs Batting and made in the hoop on my embroidery machine.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

Linking to:

  • So Scrappy @ Scrap Happy

  • Sunday Stash @  quiltpaintcreate

  • Oh Scrap @  Quilting is More Fun than Housework

  • 15 minutes to Stitch @ Life in Pieces

  • Frédérique  @ Quilting Patchwork Applique

  • Monday Making @  Love, Laugh, Quilt

  • Design Wall Monday @  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

  • To-Do Tuesday @ Texas Quilt Gal

  • Table Scraps @ Joyful Quilter

    • Weekly update

    / quiltinggail / 11 Comments

    Are you following along with the Summer Mystery Quilt? You can see the latest clue HERE.

    Design Wall

    Piecing

    #1. Country Panels: No work on it this week!

    #2 It’s A Secret: you’ll see it in October! (And yes, I HAD to start something NEW to give myself a break!)

    Quilting: 

    #1 Amish panels: I finished the quilting and when I went to put the binding on I discovered that the rows of swirls in the border were HORRID!!! So bad that I’ve spent more than a couple of days taking it out. That’s why it’s not finished, the quilt above isn’t finished piecing.

    Quilting #2: Island Batik August is ready to quilt – but I have to fix the other one first!!!

    Stash Report

    I didn’t need any more fabric this week and I only finished my Island Batik project which used 1 yard of fabric for the backing.

    • Fabric Used this week     0 yards
    • Fabric Used this year:       70 yards
    • Fabric Bought this week:  0  yards
    • Fabric Added this year:      27.75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
    • Net Fabric used                  42.25 yards 
    • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

    Stitchin’ Time

    I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

    I have stitched for over 30 minutes all days this past week. And, I’m including “unsewing” as part of my 30 minutes / day!

    • January – May–  180 / 180
    • July – 18 / 18
    • Percentage = 99 % 

    For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

    TO DO 

    Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

    Last week:

    This week it was hard to get everything done. Like most people, I highly dislike unsewing. OK … if I’m honest, I HATE it!!! Its taken me ages to get all the horrid quilting out … and I’m not finished yet! GROAN!!!. I do have a personal policy of taking out the mistakes before quitting for the day … but more than a couple of days of unsewing is discouraging! It’s OK … it’s almost all done … and then I can start moving forward again!

    1.  Add sashing to  Country Panels: not done
    2. Finish IB August top   √   done 
    3. Finish quilting Amish Panel not  done 
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   sort-of …
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes     √   done    

    This week’s list:

    1. Add sashing to Country Panels
    2. Fix Amish Panel , finish quilting, bind
    3. Start quilting IB August
    4. Finish Secret project (listed at KY book in my UFO tally)
    5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
    6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

    One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

    Happy Quilting! 
    Gail 

    ******************

    Linking to:

    Summer Days

    / quiltinggail / 16 Comments

    I’m really enjoying our lovely summer days! It’s cooling off at night – so I think the weather is lovely! However, it’s so tempting to spend a LOT of time outside! The garden needs weeding, the tomatoes are ready for picking – almost every day!

    I finished my latest project for Island Batik! You can read more about it HERE. This wall hanging used Hobbs 80/20 batting, Aurifil thread, Schmetz needles and of course, Island Batik fabric!

    Are you following along with the Summer Mystery Quilt? You can see the latest clue HERE.

    Design Wall

    Piecing

    #1. August Island Batik project: Moving right along!

    #2. Country Panels: No work on it this week!

    Quilting: 

    #1 Amish panels: Lots of quilting done … not quite finished.

    Stash Report

    I didn’t need any more fabric this week and I only finished my Island Batik project which used 1 yard of fabric for the backing.

    • Fabric Used this week     1  yards
    • Fabric Used this year:       70 yards
    • Fabric Bought this week:  0  yards
    • Fabric Added this year:      27.75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
    • Net Fabric used                  42.25 yards 
    • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

    Stitchin’ Time

    I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

    I have stitched for over 30 minutes all days this past week.

    • January – May–  180 / 180
    • July – 11 / 11
    • Percentage = 99 % 

    For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

    TO DO 

    Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

    Last week:

    I did work on a few projects and was not distracted by squirrels! And the studio got a cleaning for 30 minutes! However, I think that I need to spend more than 30 minutes this week – but I’m going to leave my To Do list at 30 minutes! ~grin~

    1.   Work on Country Panels: not done
    2. Work on IB August project   √   done 
    3. Start quilting Amish Panel √   done 
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes     √   done    

    This week’s list:

    1. Add sashing to Country Panels
    2. Finish IB August top
    3. Finish quilting Amish Panel
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

    No further finishes. I started my August Island Batik project.

    One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

    Happy Quilting! 
    Gail 

    ******************

    Linking to:

    Heat wave is over

    / quiltinggail / 19 Comments

    Thank you to all that offered your sympathy and concern for us surviving the heat wave. It is over and the temps are way more comfortable … around 30C (86 F). And it is cooling down at night! So sleep is possible!!! YEAH!!!

    Although, in the wake of the heat wave, there are a LOT of fires burning in British Columbia, lots of lightening strikes … one town was burnt totally to the ground … the residents had less than 15 minutes to flee the town. Lots of sad stories …

    But this blog is about quilting … so here goes …

    The Summer 2021 Mystery Quilt fabric amounts and cutting directions have been posted. You can see them HERE and HERE.

    I still don’t have a lot of energy, but Zoom sewing with Island Batik Ambassadors on Friday helped! I got a start on my August project … using a BEAUTIFUL line of fabric (Autumn Wings) and Studio 180 rulers. It’s a secret, so no pictures … sorry!

    Design Wall

    Piecing

    #1. August Island Batik project: a bit of progress

    #2. Country Panels:

    I started working on another UFO … 2 different country panels that I’m putting together. I’m using the burgandy grunge fabric for sashing and a first border. But I don’t have enough … so I had to go shopping … More about that further down …

    Quilting: 

    #1 Amish panels: 2 panels, put into one quilt top, sandwiched and ready to quilt. No progress on this. But the machine is threaded with the thread I want to use, bobbins are wound … just need to start.

    Stash Report

    I needed some more burgundy grunge for the 2 country panels that I’m putting together … so I went to Essem Textiles … and they just happened to have a skinny bolt sale on a “black dress” grunge and a “grey” grunge. I might or might not have bought them. Well, I can’t lie, of course I bought them … Sew … that adds 3 yards to my total of fabric bought!

    • Fabric Used this week      0  yards
    • Fabric Used this year:       69 yards
    • Fabric Bought this week:  3  yards
    • Fabric Added this year:      27.75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
    • Net Fabric used                  41.25 yards 
    • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

    Stitchin’ Time

    I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

    I have stitched for over 30 minutes all days this past week.

    • January – May–  180 / 180
    • July – 4 / 4
    • Percentage = 99 % 

    For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

    TO DO 

    Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

    Last week:

    1.  Finish July Island Batik project. √   done   and blog post is almost ready!
    2. Quilt and bind:  Town Table Topper √   done   
    3. Start quilting Amish Panel not started.
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes    √   done    

    This week’s list:

    1.  Work on Country Panels
    2. Work on IB August project  
    3. Start quilting Amish Panel
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

    No further finishes. I started my August Island Batik project.

    One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

    Happy Quilting! 
    Gail 

    ******************

    Linking to:

    We’re having a heat wave

    / quiltinggail / 31 Comments

    A serious heat wave. This is so unusual for Canada’s west coast! But our temperatures are over 41 C (translates to 106 F) and it’s not cooling off at night. No fun!!! It’s hard to have any energy to do anything … oh … and did I mention that our air conditioning is called a fan?

    I have been working to get the Summer 2021 Mystery Quilt ready to roll. It takes time, but I was able to post the introduction on Saturday! You can read about it HERE.

    Sew, even though not a lot is happening … here’s this week’s report:

    Design Wall

    Piecing

    #1 Town Table Topper: This table topper is not finished, yet … On Friday, I showed the “unstitching that I needed to do … It’s now unstitched and the 2 offending blocks are switched around … but that’s as far as it’s gotten!

    Quilting: 

    #1 Island Batik July’s project: Still in progress … 2 days of ripping out did not help my progress or my mood with this project!

    #2 Amish panels: put into one quilt top, sandwiched and ready to quilt. No progress on this.

    Stash Report

    No shopping, no buying … nothing finished …

    • Fabric Used this week      0  yards
    • Fabric Used this year:       69 yards
    • Fabric Bought this week:   0  yards
    • Fabric Added this year:      24.75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
    • Net Fabric used                  44.25 yards 
    • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

    Stitchin’ Time

    I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

    I have stitched for over 30 minutes most days this past week.

    • January – May–  150 / 150
    • June – 25 / 27
    • Percentage = 99 % 

    For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

    TO DO 

    Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

    Last week:

    1. Finish July Island Batik project. not quite done
    2. Finish piecing Town Table Topper √   done
    3. Start quilting Amish Panel: Not started
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes    √   done    

    This week’s list:

    1.  Finish July Island Batik project.
    2. Quilt and bind:  Town Table Topper
    3. Start quilting Amish Panel
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

    No changes from last week!

    One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

    Happy Quilting! 
    Gail 

    ******************

    Linking to:

    Progress ? Well yes … a bit …

    / quiltinggail / 18 Comments

    I have almost finished my July Island Batik challenge and here is a close-up of the progress. I’m using Aurifil #2600 (Dove) quilted on Island Batik Coconut and using Silly Moon’s “Twinkle” ruler. There are 2 layers of Hobbs 80/20 to make those stars pop!

    Design Wall

    Piecing

    #1 Town Table Topper: This panel will be a table runner … and yes, it is that curved! One of the main reasons that I highly dislike panels … they are NOT straight! And fudging is the main focus of putting them together! It is a UFO that is headed to the Finish line!

    Quilting: 

    #1 Island Batik July’s project: in progress

    #2 Amish panels: put into one quilt top, sandwiched and ready to quilt. (I decided that this is it … no more borders …)

    Stash Report

    No shopping, no buying … nothing finished … well, I did finish this panel, but I didn’t buy the fabric and I didn’t use any of my stash … so it doesn’t count.

    • Fabric Used this week      0  yards
    • Fabric Used this year:       69 yards
    • Fabric Bought this week:   0  yards
    • Fabric Added this year:      24.75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
    • Net Fabric used                  44.25 yards 
    • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

    Stitchin’ Time

    I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

    I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day

    • January – May–  150 / 150
    • June – 20 / 20
    • Percentage = 100 % 

    For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

    TO DO 

    Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

    Last week:

    1. Summer Mystery Quilt: still waiting for the testing to be completed and double check fabric amounts
    2. Amish Panels: sandwich and prepare for quilting √   done
    3. Essem Panel: finish quilting and deliver it √   done
    4. July IB project: work on it √   done
    5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done
    6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes    √   done    

    This week’s list:

    1.  Finish July Island Batik project.
    2. Finish piecing Town Table Topper
    3. Start quilting Amish Panel
    4. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
    5. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

    I was Featured

    Tish, the Madd Quilter from Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland featured this quilt … Thank you, Tish for the feature!

    One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

    Happy Quilting! 
    Gail 

    ******************

    Linking to:

    Moving Along with Projects

    / quiltinggail / 20 Comments

    Design Wall

    Piecing

    #1 Amish panels: 

    I think I have the top pieced … just deciding if I need to add another border … The centre square, the star block is what I bought extra fabric for. I’m sort of wishing I hadn’t bordered the rest of the small blocks and I could have done all of them like the star. But, since I’m not a fan of taking a lot of things apart … it’s not going to happen.

    #2 July Island Batik project … it’s a secret for now!

    Quilting: 

    #1 Mystery Quilt … coming soon! I finished quilting it and am quite happy with the result!

    #2 Essem Panel: Essem Textiles (the new store close to where I live) got a huge bunch of kids prints in. SEW cute!!! The owner is not a quilter (yet!!!) and I offered to quilt a panel for her. I’m having a LOT of fun … here’s a sneak peak! I hope she likes it when it’s completed.

    Stash Report

    The backing on the 2 maple leaf quilts used 9 yards of fabric. On the purchasing end of things, I bought some grunge fabric to use for the UFO, Amish Panels (see the star above!)

    • Fabric Used this week      9   yards
    • Fabric Used this year:       69 yards
    • Fabric Bought this week:  0.75  yards
    • Fabric Added this year:      24.75 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
    • Net Fabric used                  44.25 yards 
    • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

    Here’s the 2 maple leaf quilts I finished … you can read more about them HERE. Yes, the tops were were made with Island Batik fabric, using an Accuquilt cutter and dies. Hobbs batting, Aurifil thread and Schmetz needles were also used.

    Stitchin’ Time

    I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

    I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day

    • January – May–  150 / 150
    • June – 13 / 13
    • Percentage = 100 % 

    For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

    TO DO 

    Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

    Last week:

    1. Summer Mystery Quilt: Quilt & Finish writing pattern √   done
    2. Amish Panels: Finish cutting out and maybe get it assembled √   done
    3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done
    4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   done    

    This week’s list:

    1.  Summer Mystery Quilt: waiting for the testing to be completed and double check fabric amounts
    2. Amish Panels: sandwich and prepare for quilting
    3. Essem Panel: finish quilting and deliver it
    4. July IB project: work on it
    5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
    6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

    One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

    Happy Quilting! 
    Gail 

    ******************

    Linking to:

    FINALLY: Story-less Improv gets a facing

    / quiltinggail / 25 Comments

    Oh, I put off putting a facing on my improv piece. I haven’t faced a quilt before … so why not procrastinate and put it off? and wait a little longer? and put it off? and put it to the side so it’s not staring me in the face? Maybe it’ll just disappear and I’ll forget about it …

    Oh … it’s on my PHD chart of “Starts in 2021” and so in order to get my PHD in 2021, it does need to be finished. And a lot of my followers have seen me say in my “To Do” list that it needs a facing … for several weeks. Sigh …

    Last week in my PHD in 2021 May post, I talked about how one can easily be faced with procrastination. I wasn’t thinking about this project, but it fits!!!

    SEW … with a renewed determination to get it done, I decided to Google “How to Add a Facing.” The first link that showed up was a Youtube video from American Patchwork and Quilting. I grabbed a drink of water and started to watch it. You can see it HERE. AND my immediate reaction was

    HOW CAN IT BE THAT SIMPLE ????

    I quickly cut the squares for the corners and the side strips. I LOVE the fact that there are hanging triangles on ALL 4 corners, so I can easily change how I want it hung! I cut the squares at 4.5″

    Then I pinned the triangles and facings in place:

    The facings were pinned in place and I sewed as directed …

    Turned the facing and triangles to the backside.

    Then, the directions said to HAND stitch the facings down. OH NO!!! I hate hand stitching. What to do? I took my trusty Elmer’s disappearing glue and glued the facings down. If it holds for a period of time, I’ll be happy! If it doesn’t, well then I’ll pull out the black thread and hand stitch it down. But I’m crossing my fingers and hope that it holds!

    This little piece used Island Batik solids, Aurifil, dove for quilting and Hobbs batting.

    Design Wall

    Piecing

    #1 Amish panel: I’ve cut some of the blocks apart … I’m just deciding if I want to cut them all apart … Then I need to add black sashing …

    #2 July Island Batik project … it’s a secret for now!

    Quilting: 

    #1 Mystery Quilt … coming soon! This will be a mystery quilt that you can do over the summer. I’m still writing the pattern, but I think there will be around 10 clues. (This mystery was originally going to use fat quarters, but I’ve changed my mind and have gone in another direction … so it’s no longer called the “Bunny Fat Quarter Mystery.”

    Stash Report

    The backing of Story-less Improv used 1 yard as did the “Follow Your Own Path”

    • Fabric Used this week     2   yards
    • Fabric Used this year:       60 yards
    • Fabric Bought this week:  0  yards
    • Fabric Added this year:      24 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
    • Net Fabric used                  36 yards 
    • Husband’s purchases:  0 yards (which are added into my total amount of Fabric added this year). For those of you who don’t know … my husband often buys more fabric than I do … so, I’m keeping track! Unfortunately, he doesn’t sew!

    Stitchin’ Time

    I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.

    I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day

    • January – May–  150 / 150
    • June – 6 / 6
    • Percentage = 100 % 

    For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces

    TO DO 

    Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting it “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.

    Last week:

    1. Follow Your Own Path: bind √   done
    2. SPEED DATING: ADD FACING GAIL: QUIT PROCRASTINATING!!! √   done
    3. Bunny Fat Quarters: Summer Mystery Quilt: finish writing the pattern partially   done
    4. June IB project: finish √   done
    5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done
    6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   done    

    This week’s list:

    1.  Summer Mystery Quilt: Quilt & Finish writing pattern
    2. Amish Panels: Finish cutting out and maybe get it assembled
    3. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
    4. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

    One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

    Happy Quilting! 
    Gail 

    ******************

    Linking to:

    Getting the UFOs done!

    / quiltinggail / 25 Comments

    I finished another UFO.

    These are the hankies I bought in Thailand 7 years ago. You can see this in progress HERE and HERE.

    I used Island Batik “Lavender” for the sashings and border.

    And here is the finished wall hanging. Yes, I did quilt it to death in the background, but I wanted the main elements to pop. I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed quilting it!!!

    I used 3 different Aurifil threads to quilt this: #2315 (light Orchid), #1148 (Light Jade), and #2220 (Light Salmon).

    Hobbs 80/20 batting was also used.

    Continue reading →

    2 Blog Hops this week and more …

    / quiltinggail / 14 Comments

    The 1st Blog Hop is …

    Island Batik’s Quilt Modern … Just look at these beautiful fabrics!!!! I’ve had a sneak peak at some of the creations and believe me, you are in for a treat …

    I believe there will be a draw for some fabric, but we haven’t received any information yet … so stay tuned!

    and here are the participants …

    May 17:

    Continue reading →

    Pleasant Surprise!

    / quiltinggail / 21 Comments

    You know what? Years after you have gifted a baby quilt, it’s lovely to see it actually being used! This was a quilt made with left-over blocks from watching an Eleanor Burns video around 2017. This quilt was gifted to my daughter’s co-worker and they recently sent her this picture! I don’t know about you, but knowing that my quilts are being used makes my heart smile!

    Continue reading →

    Outstanding Blogger Post & Weekly Report

    / quiltinggail / 29 Comments

    Emily, from the Darling Dogwood, nominated me! I must confess, someone nominated me a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t find the blog post … sigh … so I didn’t follow up. (Sorry, whoever you are! …) The purpose of the Outstanding Blogger Award is to applaud our fellow bloggers and learn more about them by answering questions that are asked.

    Here are the questions that Emily asked:

    1. Do you still have your first quilt? No. I made my first quilt when I was 17. I designed it with scraps in my mother’s scrap drawer and used gingham in part of the blocks. It was backed with the ugliest fabric (translate into cheapest) that we could find. It was tied. I had no idea what I was doing. No one showed me what to do. I used the quilt throughout my years in nursing school. I remember it became the dogs blanket at one point and was either buried with her or destroyed.

    2. What is something on your Quilty Bucket List? I’ve always wanted to make a Storm at Sea! And, I hope to make one later this year.

    3. Is there a color or fabric style that you really dislike working with? I used to hate working with orange. But orange goes nicely with so many other colours … and when I’m using Island Batik fabrics … well, what can I say … it’s growing on me.

    4. Do you have a favorite traditional quilt block? The quick answer to this question is no. I don’t have ONE favourite block. I have several … Log Cabin, Pinwheels, Friendship Star, 8 point star … and the list goes on.

    5. What one non-quilting thing about you that your readers might not know? I was a swimming instructor and lifeguard prior to going into nursing school. I also scuba dived at that time. I played the oboe and bassoon when I was in middle and high school.

    Who to nominate? I have a zillion blogs that I follow … and I honestly couldn’t say that I know who has or has not been nominated …

    • Anja @ Anja Quilts
    • Velda @ Freckled Fox Quiltery
    • Karen Neary @ Sew Karenly Created
    • Michelle Roberts @ Creative Blonde
    • Jennifer Eurbank @ Jennifersewing.wordpress.com

    If you choose to accept the nomination, here are your questions:

    1. What inspired you to make your first quilt?
    2. What inspires you to make your quilts today?
    3. Do you use software to pencil to design your quilts? (or patterns)
    4. Which quilt is your favourite?
    5. Tell us something about where you live that is fantastic!

    Scrappy Table Runner is Completed!

    Light blue was the chosen colour for this month’s Table Runner. The pattern is from QUILTsocial and you can find it HERE. I also talked about this runner HERE.

    After I had this quilt top done, I saw my Studio 180 “Split Recs” ruler. It’s still in the package. I’ll have to pull it out and try it. I suspect that I will prefer the Studio 180 method, but I do need to try it to be sure!

    I used Scraps from my Island Batik box with Coconut as the neutral. The batting is Hobbs Poly Down and it is quilted with Aurifil #1148 (light jade). I didn’t have a light blue Aurifil, but the Light Jade was a perfect fit!

    I will be linking to The Joyful Quilter.

    Continue reading →