UFOs

Squirrels!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Summer sewing

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We had some delightful company from Ireland visiting!  It was a lot of fun to visit with them.  I did get a little bit of sewing done when they went to be tourists in Vancouver!  But, I’ve also spent a LOT of time moving into my new sewing room.   Yes, I’ll show you pictures when I have things where I want them.  I did sort through ALL my fabric … and I have a ton of it ready to go out … I mentioned it on our guild’s FB page and a few people have showed interest in it.  I just need to get organized and get it to them!

I did manage to sew up three little bags. The white fabric is “colouring fabric.”  My daughter gave the plain, uncoloured rectangles to a couple of little girls.  They came for dinner the other night and I had them pick out zippers.  It was lots of fun to watch them pick out the colours they liked, with no regards to the finished project!  They just picked out what they liked!  Perfect!  I stitched their initials on the tabs.  It was a fun way to stitch them!fullsizeoutput_b4c.jpeg Continue reading →

Webbing a Quilt

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

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PHD in 2019 – May Report

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Oh – I almost forgot to write the PHD in 2019 report.

Here’s the January Report for Participants

Kate @  Life in Pieces  has started 2 projects that she plans to complete by year’s end!  One is a Storm at Sea (something I’ve never made) and the other is her Daisy Chain Mystery quilt – sew pretty!!!  I really like the pattern!

Tish  @ Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland doesn’t seem to have any UFOs finished, but she has a lovely heart quilt …. it’s worth going to take a look!

Emily @ The Darling Dogwood   has made a pretty awesome I spy quilt for a new baby!  She made a similar one for the baby’s sibling – so that should be fun!!!  Make sure you check out her cool I spy quilts!

Deana @ Dream Worthy Quilts has a goal tracker on the right side bar. According to the tracker (which may not be up to date), there hasn’t been any recent UFO finishes.  However, she has made a pretty neat bag. Check it out HERE.  I love how she didn’t purchase the hardware, but re-purposed it from other bags.  I’ll have to keep that in mind!

Elizabeth @ Applique and … has a lot going on in her life and sewing is happening in little bits.

Sharon @ Adventures in Fiber has not posted any quilty posts lately … but she has been busy with lambs!  Soooo cute!

A FUN Youtube video

I know that I often use quilting acronyms and I hopefully explain them.  This video explains a LOT of different ones!  SEW Fun.  It’s well worth the time to watch it.

Design Wall:  Quilting

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Fractured Paint Brush.

I made the label and I just have the borders to quilt … and the binding to do … then you’ll see it in all it’s glory!

 

 

Stash Report

I did finish my June Island Batik project and used 1/2 yard of my own fabric on the back … I need to take pictures and write that post – sew you’ll see the project pretty soon!

  • Fabric Used this week         0.5 yards
  • Fabric Used this year:         84.9  yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:   0 yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      57.05
  • Net Fabric used                     27.85
  • –
  • Husband’s Purchases           9.5

Stitchin’ Time

  • January – May:  122 out of 140
  • June – 8  out of  9
  • Year-to-date: 130  out of 149 = 87%

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

PHD in 2019: Quilting UFOs and Finishing New Projects

 

No UFO finishes in May, but I did finish my May Island Batik project …

I did start 2, yes 2 baby quilts at the guild’s baby quilt making day … they are added to my “Starts in 2019” list.  Hmmm … I still have 3 guild baby quilts from previous years that aren’t finished … one day …

Screen Shot 2019-06-08 at 11.11.53 PM

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Slowly getting through things …

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Design Wall

Piecing

Last week, I told you I was piecing 3 other projects …

One is finished, finished, finished!  … (yeah) but I can’t show you until July.

One is ready to sandwich … but I can’t show you until July!

The Fractured Paint brush is ready to be sandwiched.  I will be opening a new roll of Hobbs 80/20 for this quilt!

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May 20 – Monday’s Update

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image  The last block for the Daisy Chain Mystery is up.  The clues had me guessing until the very last minute!!!  It’s a great mystery!  Thank you, Little Bunny Quilts!!!

So, I pieced the last blocks together and I was so excited to see this quilt put together, I didn’t take any pictures of the block until the quilt was sandwiched! fullsizeoutput_b2d T

 

These “cross” blocks pieced together very quickly!  All the units were previously put together, so it was very easy to do!

Once I had the blocks done, I was eager to see how my quilt would look.  SEW … I put it all together.  The instructions tell you to pay attention to the orientation of the “star” blocks and the “cross” blocks. Amazingly, I did pay attention and I didn’t have to reach for my seam ripper!!!!  Perhaps, I’m learning to follow directions? Continue reading →

PHD in 2019 – April Update

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PHD in 2019: Quilting UFOs and Finishing New Projects

I have 5 UFO finishes for 2019!

The first picture shows, Ivan’s Diamonds, Carpenter’s Wheel and a Star Table runner

My 2 April finishes are Good Fortune and a Retreat Bag.

I have an Inlinks party for PHD in 2019 participants to link up to.  However, you you want to link up, feel free!  Just be sure to mention this blog in your blog post, Instagram or Pinterest picture!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

I did Promise you

Close up pictures of a couple of quilts:  This first one was the Island Batik Accuquilt Challenge.  Free Motion quilting did not call to me and it’s totally stitched in the ditch. (And yes, I used my ruler foot and a ruler for most of the quilting.)  I used Aurifil Thread and Hobbs batting.  The fabrics are Island Batik and mostly came from the Stash Builder Rolls or my yardage.

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This is a Close up of Good Fortune and the quilting.  I just did an all-over pattern that was inspired by Roseanne of Home Sewn by US, but then it morphed into my own design.

Christmas RAPPing BLOG HOP

Christmas RAPPers blog

This awesome blog hop is continuing.  If you haven’t checked out the great projects – be sure to do so.  And, there is a chance for YOU to win!  Check it out!

April 29  Joan @  MooseStash Quilting

April 30 Linda @ One Quilting Circle

May 1 Kathy @ Kathy’s Kwilts

May 2 Bea @ Beaquilter

May 3 Sherry @ Powered by Quilting

May 4 Jennifer @ Dizzy Quilter

May 5 Barbara Gaddy @ Bejeweledquilts by Barb

May 6 Nancy Myers @ Patchwork Breeze

May 7 Vicki @ Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

May 8 Gail @ Quilting Gail  THIS IS ME come back and see what I made!

May 9  Michelle @ Creative Blonde

May 10 Maryellen @ Mary Mack’s Blog

May 11 Denise @ For the Love of Geese

May 12 Maria @

CHANCE TO WIN

Click on the Rafflecopter giveaway link to have a chance to WIN 9 Island Batik FQ’s and 3 Aurifil spools of thread to 2 lucky winners!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Back from a Retreat

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WOW!!!  That word describes the retreat I was just at!

And, I did get a few projects done!  One UFO that got finished is this “Retreat Bag.”  It’s a free pattern from Emmaline Bags.  The instructions are very easy to follow … but you need to follow them!

 

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PHD in 2019 – March Report

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Island Batik

If you want to see the newest fabric and patterns from Island Batik … go to the Spring and Summer 2019 Catalog.  Be prepared for an online magazine full of the most beautiful  fabric and tons of patterns for wonderful quilts and tuffets, clothing and other projects.

Version 2

I received these Aurifil threads in the mail today!  The dark purple is 40 wt, blue is 12 wt and the pink is 28 wt.  Very pretty!!!  I need to use all 3 weights in an upcoming Island Batik Challenge.

What will I do?  I’m not sure.  I haven’t used 12 wt or 28 wt thread before.  I used 40 wt once on a quilt. It will be fun to come up with something that uses all 3 weights of thread! Continue reading →

Beginning of April!

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WHAT?

I know I often see other’s writing on their blogs and saying “Where did the month go to?”   And, I’ve often thought, “really? It went by one day at a time!”  YUP – one day at a time and each day FLEW by this month.  So fast!  So very fast, I’m wondering, “Where did the month go to?”

Design Wall

Piecing

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This is Week 4: Unit C of the Daisy Chain Mystery. The blocks on the lower left are all trimmed, I still need to trim about half of them.  This step is a little time consuming, but not too bad!  And easy to do.  The directions are very clear and easy to follow.  It’s still not too late to join in the mystery. Continue reading →

A first quilt!

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IMG_3339Quilting Tangent wrote to me and told me that she had used the same block as my “Stars on Ice Quilt” (see more HERE. )

An amazing Quilter!

When I was astounded that was a block she used for her FIRST quilt – she sent me pictures and this is what she said, “Yes, my first quilt was hand pieced, queen size and reversible.  I got a machine, figured out how to use it and did the quilting with a vine stitch the machine had.  Took forever!  Now I’m trying to learn to piece on the machine, a lot different then hand sewing..” Continue reading →

Travelling to a quilt show and quilting at home

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We had a fun bus trip to Monroe Washington to see all the quilts on display.  Wow oh, WOW!!!  There were over 500 quilts … tons of eye candy … I took a picture of only a fraction of them.  Click on the slideshow below to see what I took pictures of.  Of course, I took pictures of every single Bonnie Hunter design I could find!  🙂   I also included the description of each quilt … usually following the quilt, but some of them came before the quilt …  I’m sure you’ll figure it out!

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A Few Secrets

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sewing machine pic

There are secret things happening here. Slow progress is being made on each of these.  There are challenge quilts for the upcoming guild show in May as well as Island Batik challenges for the next few months.

Of course – once I am able, I will show you ALL of the secret projects … just not yet. Continue reading →

One came out …

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Out of the container, that is.

This is my #3 UFO … It’s come a little ways since I took the picture on the right in December.  It came out of the container.  I finished the blocks and put a border on it.  I was going to add an additional blue border, but then it will be too big for my coffee table … sew … I’m going to use the cut dark blue border material for the binding.  This table runner was suppose to be finished in 2017 for a swap at our annual Over the Rainbow retreat … hmmm … guess it’s missed it’s chance for the swap!  That’s OK … I like it, hubby likes it and it will be pretty on the coffee table.

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Now to sandwich it, quilt it, bind it and call it done!  Hopefully, I can show you the finished runner soon!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail

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A little of this, a little of that

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I haven’t had a lot of time to sew in the last few days … but I’ve done a bit!

Design Wall

img_2943Quilting

The March Island Batik project is sandwiched!  The theme for this month is “Vintage Reimagined.”  It is a fun theme to work with!   I used these fabrics on the right!!!  Oh – what a joy it is to use this beautiful fabric!!!  I’ll show you more when it’s quilted.

Piecing

Good Fortune Mystery Quilt: IMG_3149

  • Border #1 is on.
  • Border #2 (purple triangles) is in progress.
  • Border # 3 is ready to sew on
  • Border #4 is being pieced together.

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