UFOs

Dust bunnies?

/ quiltinggail / 15 Comments

Nothing too exciting this week.  I did finish my April Island Batik challenge … but of course, I can’t show you until April.

How am I?

I’m feeling a bit unfocused!  The other day, I sewed for about 10 minutes and then I HAD to organize my zippers [i don’t know why – i’ve never done so before]…  Then I sewed for about 5 minutes and then I HAD to tidy up a box of fabic [OK … it was a huge mess and needed to be cleaned up] … Then I sewed for about 3 minutes and then HAD to sweep the floor and gather the dust bunnies … Then, it was time for a break … Sigh … but the zippers are still organized, as is the box I tidied … but the dust bunnies escaped and multiplied and are taking over!!!!  Thankfully, this is from the floor and not from inside a sewing machine!!!  And this is just today’s bounty … and I did sweep yesterday as well!  fullsizeoutput_c9e

ANYHOW … enough of my First World Problem!   On to quilting!

Design Wall

Piecing:

Donation Quilt:  On Facebook, I challenged the guild members to make a donation quilt by next Friday … the inspiration for this came from the cancelled Baby Quilt Kit Making day that had been scheduled for Saturday.  There are a few that have taken up the challenge, and some are almost finished!  Me?  Well, I haven’t even started.  Do I make a quick baby quilt? Finish a flimsy for donation?  I’m un-decided … but I better make up my mind soon, eh?

Frolic:  One border is done on 1 side … 

IMG_6321.jpegFlorabunda:
10 blocks completed this week … the picture on the left is not from this week … I have a sneaking suspicion that I will be making more than one quilt from these blocks.

Stay at Home Round Robin:  The 2nd row (piano keys) is on and you can read about it / watch the video about it HERE.   And, below is a picture of the 2 quilts with their piano key borders on.

Quilting:

No quilting happening right now.

TO DO 

I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”

Last week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders    √  done
  2. (Maybe) finish quilting April Island Batik    √  done
  3. Make Elvira into a flimsy    √  done
  4. Summer Solstice: Complete next step  NOT DONE
  5. Frolic: get the borders on!!!!   only side of one border on

This week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders
  2. Donation Quilt: ???
  3. Sandwich Elvira #1  & #2  (need to piece the backing)
  4. Frolic: get the borders on!!!!

Stash Report

SS yellowAn Island Batik project was completed … but that’s not counted in my stash.

  • Fabric Used this week       0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        66.5  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9.5
  • Net Fabric used                    57.75
  • –
  • Husband’s Purchases           0

Stitchin’ Time

I’m aiming for at least 15 minutes / day.   Even with a sore back, I’m managing 15 minutes a day …

  • 15 minute days:  January – Feb  59 / 60
  • 15 min days/ March = 29/29
  • Total days in 2020:  88/89
  • Percentage = 98% 

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

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AM

To be honest, I had hoped that with self-isolation, I’d get more UFOs done.  But I guess, I’m just too busy chasing dust bunnies!Screen Shot 2020-03-29 at 2.39.23 PM

 

Another Blog Hop this week!

Scrap Everything

 

I’ll be posting on April 2 … so stay tuned!

 

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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

Linking to:

Did you see it?

/ quiltinggail / 20 Comments

All the posts on Facebook for International Quilt Day!!  It was a lot of fun!

I think I’m the only one in the neighbourhood that had quilts out … but that’s OK …

IMG_6368.jpeg

I just grabbed a few small quilts that were handy and made in the last year … no digging through the camper to find more … and yes, I have more, LOTS more!

It was a BEAUTIFUL spring day!  Sunny (although not very warm) … you can see purple hyacinths blooming and the magnolia tree on the left is just starting to bloom!

I have a finish!!

Yes, my “Circles” quilt is finished.  The quilting is finished, the binding is finished AND the label is on!

This quilt was started at a guild workshop on curves.  The circles were all cut with a large and a small Accuquilt die. (The guild owns them).  The instructor was fabulous and the die-cut pieces made for almost perfect piecing.   I say almost, because nothing I do is perfect!IMG_6336.jpeg

And here’s a close-up of the quilting: A biggish swirl with smaller swirls on the outside of the biggish swirl …

IMG_6337.jpegIMG_6338.jpeg

And, it seams like flange binding is all I do these days!  But, I do like the look.IMG_6340.jpeg

Design Wall

Piecing:

Summer Solstice:   The next step is completedIMG_6322.jpeg

Frolic: didn’t work on it this week …

IMG_6321.jpegFlorabunda:
Only one block completed this week

 

Stay at Home Round Robin:  I started 2 … you can read about them HERE.  You can still join in, if you want … there will be a linky party on Friday for you to post pictures.

IMG_6377.jpeg

Elvira: This as a “Quarantine Quilt Along”  with GE Quilt Designs.  The temptation to spend the day quilting with others was too much …  SEW, I dug into my stash of Reproduction fabrics and cut the amounts I needed.  For some reason, the bins are still just as full!!!

Quilting:

April’s Island Batik is being quilted … sorry no pictures until April!

TO DO 

I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”

Last week’s list:

  1. (Maybe) Finish quilting “Circles“  √  done
  2. Summer Solstice: Complete next step  √  done
  3. Round Robin: Make block  √  done
  4. Make “Making us Laugh”   —  almost there
  5. Sandwich April Island Batik    √  done
  6. Get bordrers on Frolic!  Not done

This week’s list:

  1. Round Robin: add the next borders
  2. (Maybe) finish quilting April Island Batik
  3. Make Elvira into a flimsy
  4. Summer Solstice: Complete next step
  5. Frolic: get the borders on!!!!

Stash Report

Circles used up 14.25 yards … and since I didn’t leave the house and didn’t shop on-line, there were no fabric purchases.

  • Fabric Used this week       14.25  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        66.5  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9.5
  • Net Fabric used                    57.75
  • –
  • Husband’s Purchases           0

Stitchin’ Time

I’m aiming for at least 15 minutes / day. 

  • 15 minute days:  January – Feb  59 / 60
  • 15 min days/ March = 22/22
  • Total days in 2020:  81/82
  • Percentage = 98% 

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

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AM

Screen Shot 2020-03-21 at 8.32.50 PM.png

Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop

It stated on Wednesday … and here are the participants for this week.  These are FUN!!!  I will be sharing mine on Tuesday!

Qwazy Monday, March 23

Qwazy Tuesday, March 24

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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

Linking to:

A Stay-at-home Round Robin

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

With all the stuff happening in the world right now, I’m electing to self-isolate.  Yes, that means I’ll be staying home, not going out and will have lots of time to sew.

Well, I will go out.  I was signed up to do the 10 km SunRun, and that is now cancelled.  However, I’m still going to continue training for it.  I no longer run, but I walk.  I walk a LOT.  So, going outside and walking will still be a constant in my life. Unless I’m told to stay home.

Screen Shot 2020-03-14 at 4.34.42 PMRound Robin

Have you ever wanted to do a round robin?  I’ve been interested, but have huge BUTs surrounding them.  Well, I’m going to do a Stay-At-Home Round Robin here on my blog.  Beginning instructions will be given  on  Friday, March 20th.

For those of you that don’t know what a Round Robin is … here’s how it usually works:

  • Each participant makes a block … usually you are given a size.  Sometimes participants have the fabric they want used placed in the bag that the block is in.  Sometimes a little notebook is with the block and states the block owner’s preferences, notes are added as the block is passed along.  Then the original block is passed to another participant.
  • Directions are given as to what to add as a border onto the block.  Sometimes it’s all 4 sides … sometimes only one side …
  • Then the block is passed on to the next participant and there are different directions as to what to add as a border.
  • This carries on until the quilt is deemed “finished” and the original with all the borders are returned to the original block owner.

There are many advantages of doing a Stay-at-Home Round Robin

  • you use the fabrics that YOU want to use
  • you don’t have to sew on someone else’s quilt
  • you make the decisions
  • it’s your quilt
  • it doesn’t need to leave your home (which is a HUGE thing right now with all the media attention of COVID-19)

Here’s how it’s going to work.  

This Friday, I will post the beginning instructions.  What size centre block (if you follow what I do) and approximately how big the quilt will be.

By March 27th, you will have your centre block done.  There  will be a linky party on the 27th, and you can share your block then.  With the linky party, you can share a blog post, an instagram post, a pinterest page.  Your choice!  You don’t need a blog to do this!  And, with the Linky party, we get to see what everyone is working on.

There are no hard and fast rules … this is meant to be fun and to occupy your mind as we live in this chaotic time!

A New Blog Hop starting this week

Quilt Qwazy Queens!

It starts on Wednesday … and here are the participants for this week.  It should be FUN!!!  I will be sharing mine the following week!

Wednesday March 18 
Thursday March 19
Friday March 20

Design Wall

Piecing:IMG_6319.jpeg

Summer Solstice:   I made myself complete these blocks.  Yeah, they got done!

Frolic: The centre is trimmed.

IMG_6321.jpegFlorabunda:
This is a free pattern from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com  You can access the pattern HERE.  This is being used as a “Leader & Ender” project and 12 blocks were completed in the last week.

 

April Island Batik Challenge is ready for sandwiching

Quilting:

IMG_6323.jpegCircles is being quilted

TO DO 

I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”

Last week’s list:

  1. Time to pull this back out and work on Summer Solstice: ½ hour / day √  done
  2. Finish March Island Batik √  done
  3. Finish piecing April’s Island Batik √  done
  4. Trim Frolic and get the borders on  Partially done … Trimmed but no borders on it.

This week’s list:

  1. (Maybe) Finish quilting “Circles“
  2. Summer Solstice: Complete next step
  3. Round Robin: Make block
  4. Make “Making us Laugh” wall hanging
  5. Sandwich April Island Batik
  6. Get bordrers on Frolic!

Stash Report

IMG_6320.jpeg

There was this sale at “Dinkydoo” … a friend had never been … so off we went.  Inspite of the strict fabric diet that I have put myself on, I fell into temptation … 7 yards worth of temptation …  but aren’t they pretty?   The plan is to use some of them for guild pillowcases …

  • Fabric Used this week       0  yards
  • Fabric Used this year:        52.25  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   7  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9.5
  • Net Fabric used                    42.75
  • –
  • Husband’s Purchases           0

Stitchin’ Time

I’m aiming for at least 15 minutes / day. 

  • 15 minute days:  January – Feb  59 / 60
  • 15 min days/ March = 15/15
  • Total days in 2020:  74 / 75
  • Percentage = 98%

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

 

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!  
Gail 

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

Linking to:

 

PHD in 2020: Mid March Progress Report

/ quiltinggail / 12 Comments

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AM

Sew how are YOU doing with your PHD in 2020?

In the past we’ve talked about:

1.  Analysis analysisHERE.

2. Track your Progress Screen Shot 2020-01-11 at 11.20.40 AM   PHD-Tally-with-formulas 2020

3. Assistance from other Blogs  HERE

4.  Focus :  HERE.Image result for clipart focus

5.  Be Selective Screen Shot 2020-02-29 at 10.49.09 AM

6.  Today: STOP Being a PERFECTIONIST!

Image result for StopOk … OK … I know that you are going to say “Gail, that’s easy for you to say, because you’re NOT a perfectionist!”  Yes, I know I’m not … but I really, really, really don’t understand when people take things out because the point is 2 threads off of perfect.  I get it when the point is 1/4″ off, or even 1/8″ off, maybe even 1/16″ … but in the whole scheme of things – NO ONE is going to notice the 2 threads difference.  I get taking stitching out when it’s bad and not what you want … but 2 threads?  … seriously!

Did you know that Perfectionism sets you up to fail?  Mostly because NOTHING is perfect.   Perfectionism limits your creativity and the willingness to take risks and TRY.  It may also be what’s holding you back from finishing that last UFO.

Get it out that UFO that’s your stumbling block … work on it … try to not let the 2 threads ruin your enjoyment.  Fudge and ease in that seam … it’ll be fine in the end – you won’t even notice it!  I promise!

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AM2 UFO finishes

I went to try out a new sewing machine.  (Yes, I did end up buying it! More details in another post).  But what better way to test out a sewing machine than to take a few UFOs?  The Sunflower placemats were great to try quilting, piecing binding together, and sewing binding on.  The Orange/Green Baby quilt was good for doing more quilting.  As soon as the machine was set up, I finished the projects!  I also took some straight piecing to try out the 1300 stitches/minute!  It works like a charm!

fullsizeoutput_c94

fullsizeoutput_c95

A close-up of the fox.  It is with the orange thread … I used a Janome app, took a picture of a fox on the white fabric, drew the fox and transferred it to my embroidery machine.  It stitched out ok.  I still need to do some work on it.

IMG_6327

To be honest, I almost feel a little guilty at finishing these 2 small projects in one week, when I have SEW many others to finish that take more time.  However, they are done and now off the to do list!  At this rate – I’m sure I’ll get more than 12 UFOs finished this year … and that’s OK with me!

Screen Shot 2020-03-14 at 5.53.33 PM

Linky Party

Show us your progress (finished or not) on what you’ve been working on for your PHD in 2020!  Or show us your recently finished UFO!
PLEASE:  Make sure that you link your post back to this blog post .  Also, visit others that also working on their PHD in 2020 and leave them an encouraging comment!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Yeah! Daylight Savings!

/ quiltinggail / 11 Comments

What a joy it is to have daylight later in the day!!!  I LOVE it!

Design Wall

Piecing:

IMG_6139.jpegCircles – borders on and it is sandwiched ….

IMG_6189.jpeg

 

Frolic: All the rows are joined and trimming is the next step.  I do need to do the trimming Continue reading →

52 x 52, Friday’s Finish

/ quiltinggail / 28 Comments

I finally finished my “52 Blocks in 52 Weeks.”  The quilt blocks were released weekly by Canadian Quilter’s Association designed by Jackie White.  Each block is unique and finishes at 6 ½” square.  Or should I say, each block is suppose to finish at 6 ½” square?  Most of mine did and I fudged with the rest.  I did not trim down any blocks.

Every single piece of fabric came from my stash. This was a picture of the bag of scraps that I dug into for each of the blocks … along with a constant light that I’d had for years.img_2976

Continue reading →

Progress

/ quiltinggail / 6 Comments

First:  Week 3 Island Batik Blog HOP!!!

If you want to see a recap of Week 1, click HERE.  Week 2, click HERE.  If you haven’t seen the fabulous Log Cabin quilts, it will be well worth your time to visit the 2 Island Batik blog posts … beautiful eye candy!!! Here’s who’s in line for this week!  I can’t wait to see what they create! Continue reading →

Keeping Records

/ quiltinggail / 11 Comments

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 …??

/ quiltinggail / 15 Comments

 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 →

Another UFO??? Finished!

/ quiltinggail / 36 Comments

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!!

IMG_5971

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 

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

Linking to:

Monday, Monday …

/ quiltinggail / 11 Comments

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

IMG_2178.jpeg

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!

IMG_2170.jpg

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

IMG_2176.jpg

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!

IMG_5973

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

 

Screen Shot 2019-12-06 at 11.47.00 AM

 

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)

Screen Shot 2020-01-18 at 4.30.25 PM

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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

Linking to:

The Retreat – January 2020

/ quiltinggail / 26 Comments

The retreat I went to earlier this week was fantastic!  (I know, aren’t they always?)

It was a lot of fun!

Here is a slide show of the people and the projects … and I’m sure that I missed some of them!  You will see several “52 blocks in 52 weeks” quilts,  bags, games of Left-Right-Centre, Secret gift exchange, Maple leaf and tree blocks for Australia, and lots and lots of eye candy!

Here’s pictures of what I got done!

2 quilts quilted and bound:  The photo shoot happened at home during a break in the snow!

French General Layer Cake – a UFO from 2012

This was quilted with a large meander following the back fabric.  It was fun to do, but I doubt if I’ll do it again.  As I quilted, when I hit a seam, it would sort-of startle me.  I think when I quilt from the front, I know where the seams are and can prepare myself for the bumps that may be coming.

75″ x  58″  IMG_2196.jpeg

Ode to 30’s – a UFO from 2009

IMG_2178.jpeg   58″ x 66″

IMG_5995.jpeg

Maple Leaf Blocks

I made 3 maple-leaf blocks for the Australian wildfire relief.

Rag Log Cabin

Worked on what I was calling a rag bento box … but have since changed the name to a “Rag Log Cabin” quilt.  It’s definitely NOT a bento box!  Prior to the retreat, the centres were all fussy-cut at 6 ½” and the strips were cut at 3 ½”.  I had to cut more strips to finish the blocks.  Thankfully, I had taken the extra fabric with me.

It’s such a simple quilt design, but oh my … the ripping I had to do.  It was hard to wrap my head around “sew WRONG sides together.”  At least all the wrong sides together part is done!

Once I got home, I put the blocks up on the design wall and have webbed the top together.

IMG_2256.jpeg

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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

Linking to:

Monday … and I’m off to a retreat!

/ quiltinggail / 15 Comments

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 →

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!

img_5950.jpg

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

c22a6-WednesdayWaitLoss

 

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 

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

Linking to:

First Monday of the Roaring 20s

/ quiltinggail / 21 Comments

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 →