Moving Along with Projects

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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 

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Linking to:

New Finishes?

/ quiltinggail / 26 Comments

No, not for me … well, at least not a new finish that you haven’t seen before. I posted these 2 quilts earlier this week for my June Island Batik Challenge “Spread Love & Joy with Accuquilt.”

UFO progress

I’ve been working on my UFO … these panels … attempting to put it into a quilt … lots of decisions … do I leave them like this? Separate them … what to do?

I decided that I wanted to highlight the small block with the horse and buggy … but, would you believe that I did NOT have any red fabric that was ‘right’ for this? All of my reds were too bright, too orange, too patterned, or too dark …

SEW … what’s a gal to do? Go shopping of course!! I went to Essem Textiles and bought the red and beige-brown grunge fabric. (The fabric in the corners of the star were from cutting the larger block panel.)

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Spread Love & Joy with AccuQuilt

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This month’s Island Batik challenge said, “Our partners from AccuQuilt are asking you to create a throw quilt as a gift of comfort! This can include anything from baby to memory quilts, but should be inspired by spreading love through quilting. The challenge for you is to use the 8” or 12” finished BOB dies from your Ambassador box, the GO! Qube 8″ Mix & Match Block and create a whole new pattern by combining the two!”

I received the Maple Leaf die in my January box this year and the Go! Qube 8″ dies in the January 2019 box. Sew … what to do?

EQ to the rescue …

My original intent was to make a Canadian Quilt of Valour! So, obviously red maple leaves would be perfect.

The top left was too busy. The top right had too much black. The bottom left had the blocks too close. So, I decided on the bottom right. Maple leafs with double pinwheels (without the 2nd colour), separated by a sashing and cornerstones.

I used the Accuquilt dies to cut all of the pieces for the blocks. So very quick. And very accurate!!! Each block went together with ease.

I made all the blocks …

The maple leaves were all made with Island Batik’s “Wavy dots – Cherry BE” and white solid. The double pinwheels were made with all sorts of scraps with Custard as the background.

It looked OK on EQ, but in real life … Not so much. I really, really disliked the two together! The white with red maple leaves were crisp and fresh looking and the double pinwheel blocks, although pretty, were just not a good match.

SEW … I changed directions. I really liked the blocks together, but not the fabrics.

I made 17 more double pinwheels using only the solid white and fabrics from the “Mystery” collection. Oh yes!!! I was MUCH happier!!! Much much happier!!!

Of course, I forgot to take pictures of me cutting all of the pieces for the maple leaves and the double pinwheels, but I did take one of cutting the binding! The width of fabric fits perfect on the 2 1/2″ die. I placed 2 pieces of WOF on the die (total of 4 layers) and in less than 20 seconds, I had 6 perfectly cut binding strips. SEW easy, SEW quick, and perfect strips! (I pulled up the middle strips so that you could see them on the die.)

Here’s a picture of the finished quilt. All ready to go to the guild’s Quilt of Valour coordinator.

And here’s a closeup of the quilting …

Quilt Stats:

  • 57″ x 72″
  • Island Batik fabrics: Solid white, solid grey, assorted fabrics from the mystery collection and for the cornerstones and binding, I used “Pinecone Dark Teal” from the Napa Valley collection.
  • Hobbs 80/20 batting
  • Aurifil Thread # 2000 (Light Stand) for piecing, # 2600 (Dove) for quilting
  • Schmetz Needles

But wait … there’s more …

What to do with all the double pinwheel blocks with the custard background? I made some super scrappy maple leaf blocks and made a 2nd quilt. This is going to a young couple that just got married.

This one is quilted in a similar manner, but different!

Quilt Stats

Disclosure:

The fabrics, thread, batting and needles were generously supplied by the following companies:

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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 

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Linking to:

A Finish for TGIFF!

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For those of you that may not be aware, TGIFF is a weekly linky party, hosted by a variety of bloggers. TGIFF stands for Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday.

SEW … what have I finished? I have finished my “Follow Your Own Path,” designed by Sandra Walker at MMMQuilts!

I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, the multi-coloured background is not consistent. But with elongated swirls on the background and straight lines on the arrows … I think it turned out OK.

You might notice that the bottom left binding is not complete … I’m waiting for a special little one to be born and when I know the details, the label will be made.

Here’s a closeup of the quilting …

TGIFF Linky Party

Join the TGIFF Linky Party and show us your Finish (or non-finish!)

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=a8b40ada7693d64e5923

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Linking to:

PHD in 2021: May Report

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This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is phd-in-2021.png

How are you doing with your PHD in 2021?

Are you procrastinating? Is there one project that you are dreading doing? Well, you know you have choices, right?

  1. You can keep procrastinating, feeling down because that project isn’t getting done, nor is there any progress on it. You can keep wallowing and feeling bad … OR
  2. You can take that project and just work on one part of it. Sometimes just getting it out of the container is a start. Examine what needs to be done. Break what needs to be done into small steps. Start working on those small steps. … OR
  3. Give the project away and let someone else finish it!

Sew, what are you going to decide?

I will Follow my own advice!

This project is one that I’ve been procrastinating on for quite a few years … time to get it out of the container!

Continue reading →

BBQG Healthcare Hero’s Mystery Quilt

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Warning, this post is very picture heavy!!!

I am SEW very proud of the Quilt Guild I belong to!!! (Boundary Bay Quilters Guild). Whenever there have been urgent needs for quilts, the guild members step up. Just going off the top of my head, there have been quilts made for the Saskatchewan hockey bus tragedy, the shootings in Nova Scotia, blocks for the wildfires in Australia, banners for a public stabbing in Lynn Canyon, and the regular donations from our guild (baby quilts, comfort/cancer quilts and Quilts of Valour.)

Recently, the guild decided to donate quilts to local Healthcare Heros. They are doing such a fantastic job and working extremely hard!  As a former nurse educator, I can only imagine what stresses they undergo daily!  

There have already been a LOT of quilts donated and many more are in the line up. Unfortunately, I don’t know who made all of them, but I do have pictures of the ones previously donated to this cause … If you are in the guild and want your quilt acknowledged, please let me know and I’ll edit the post.  

Continue reading →

Getting the UFOs done!

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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 →

Born to be Wild

/ quiltinggail / 49 Comments

This fun Blog Hop is the inspiration of Carol from “Just Let Me Quilt.” Have you been following it? Tons and Tons of Wild eye candy!

When Carol first announced this blog hop, I immediately KNEW exactly what I was going to do. A few of you may remember that I went to Africa in Sept., 2019. I bought some fabric there. You can read a little about my trip HERE.

And wonder, of wonders, I mostly followed through on my plan for this blog hop!

Here’s a picture of the fabric I bought when I was in Africa.

fullsizeoutput_ba0
Continue reading →

2 Blog Hops this week and more …

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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 →

Things your friends tell you

/ quiltinggail / 28 Comments

Sometimes it’s a lot of fun! Sometimes, it just gets you into trouble!!!

Four of us met in the park on a sunny afternoon to visit and show our latest projects. Part of the conversation went like this:

One: Did you know there’s a new store in town … a fabric store?

All of us: NO! Where???

One: gives us the address (downtown Cloverdale, across from where the liquor store used to be) Edit: 5625 176 St Cloverdale (Surrey) BC.

The rest of us: What do they have?

One: I’m not sure, the sign said fashion and quilting

The rest of us: We’ll have to check it out.

Yesterday, one of the gals checked it out … Today I checked it out.

It’s bright, cheerful and the owners were VERY welcoming!!! It’s called Essem Textiles. On a rack outside the store, she has some cute little tops that must fit a size 0-4 adult … um, not for me! But inside … See what I mean about bright and cheerful? (and yes, I ‘borrowed’ this picture from Essem’s Intstagram) AND, I LOVE all the notions on the back wall!

Continue reading →

Quilt Modern! Blog Hop

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In March, I took an Improv class, hoping that I would learn something that I could use to make the quilt for this month’s challenge! And I did. (You can see information about that class and what I learned HERE. I decided to use the freehand curved piecing technique (more pictures below).

The fabric I was given for this blog hop is Napa Valley, designed by Kathy Engle. I LOVE the colours! They are so rich! The motif’s on the fabric are so fun! There are grapes, wheat, pumpkins, corn, leaves and dots! Such a fun collection! And of course, the fabric is fantastic!

I started by pairing an 8″ square of Napa Valley with an 8″ square of Island Batik grey solid. Then I free-hand cut the quarter circles.

I sewed the print and the grey together without using pins. In the picture below, you can see the print of the inner circle with the grey on the outer circle. The reverse is just below it. The blocks were then trimmed to 6 ¾”.

The blocks were arranged on the design wall. And, I forgot to take a picture! The quilt was webbed together, sandwiched and then the quilting began. I used Hobbs Heirloom Natural Cotton batting.

I used Schmetz Quilting Needle 90/40 for both the piecing and the quilting.

All of the quilting happened on my domestic machine: Janome M7 Continental. Aurifil #2600 (Dove) was used. I love how is contrasts slightly with the grey solid fabric!

And, a close up of the quilting

And a picture with the last of the pink “snow” (cherry blossoms)

You have 2 chances to win fabric!

  1. Island Batik is giving away precuts of Glacier Bay: Click on the Raftercopter link
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

2. From Me! If you want to win fabric from me you have to be from Canada (and sorry, not Quebec). In the comments, answer the following questions: (they won’t be published)

  • where in Canada do you live?
  • have you made a modern quilt?

For those of you that have difficulty leaving comments, you can email me with your answers (quiltinggail@yahoo.ca)

Each entry will be given a number and I’ll use a random number generator to pick the winner.

I’m giving away 19 pieces of Napa Valley that are 8″ x 9.5″

Next:

Be sure to visit Emily at the Darling Dogwood. She used the same collection of fabric and her quilt is stunning! And totally different than mine!

Disclosure: The fabrics, thread, batting and needles were generously supplied by the following companies:

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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 →

Scrappy Irish Chain Class

/ quiltinggail / 24 Comments

In March, I taught a scrappy Irish Chain class for a Chilliwack guild. Thank you to the guild organizers for having me teach this class via Zoom!

Here’s some pictures of some of the results:

This is Shirley’s quilt. Very scrappy!

And here it is quilted! I like the variety of straight line quilting!

Continue reading →

May

/ quiltinggail / 20 Comments

The word “May” means “is it possible?” As in “May I ____”. However the month, MAY, comes from a Greek goddess of fertility and spring. It made me wonder if I’m going to have a lot of new projects spring forward this month, or if my UFO completion list will increase in numbers? I know, it’s a stretch either way! If you’re curious, you can read more about May HERE.

Island Batik Blog Hop

This week starts the wonderful Quilt Modern Blog Hop. I’ve had a sneak peak of some of quilts and all I can say is “Be prepared to be Amazed!!!”

May 3:

May 4:

May 5:

May 6:

AND

An opportunity to win some awesome Island Batik Fabric from the Forecast collection: Click on the following link.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d463e29d26/

A Quick UFO finish!

This baby panel is now completed and the binding on.

YOUR opinion …

Last week I had a couple of polls asking your opinion on wool mats. Thank you to everyone that completed the polls … The results were very clear. Definitely a 12″ x 18″ mat with rounded corners.

I will let you know when these Canadian made mats are ready.

Design Wall

Piecing

#1  Follow your own path:  I have made the first 4 left facing arrows and the first 4 right facing arrows. I reversed them since I want the shadow (the grey) under the arrows. I’m now double guessing my chose of “Moonstone” as the background. Yes, it’s very pretty, but when cut into small pieces surrounding the arrows, it loses something. Oh well … I shall carry on …

#2 Thailand Batiks  Well, I didn’t receive much help from you all as for suggestions as to what to do. I pulled out a bunch of different Island Batiks and decided on the light purple “Lavender” to use to border the blocks. A bit of fudging here and there and the blocks are ready to sew together. I decided to not use the 5th block. You can see more about these hankies HERE.

Quilting: 

#1 Speed Dating still needs a facing. “Story-less Improv.”

#2 Born to Be Wild (blog hop later this month) is ready for quilting.

Stash Report

The baby panel (above) used 2 yards of fabrics

  • Fabric Used this week     2   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       42 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                  33 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 – April–  120 / 120
  • May: 2 / 2
  • 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:

Again, I did not focus on my “To Do” list … but a couple of things got done.

  1. Focus on the TO DO list  not   done
  2. Follow Your Own Path: first arrows √   done
  3. Healthcare Hero’s Mystery: Make backing not   done
  4. Speed Dating: Add facing not   done
  5. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!   √   done
  6. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes   √   done    

This week’s list:

  1.  Follow Your Own Path: work on next step
  2. Thailand Batiks: finish top
  3. Healthcare Hero’s Mystery: Make backing
  4. Speed Dating: Add facing
  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:

PHD in 2021: April Report

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How are you doing with your PHD in 2021?

Sometimes, people will ask me how I get so much done. I ALWAYS end up telling them the same thing: One stitch at a time. I was quilting yesterday as I thought about this. When I was doing the free motion, the stitches were fast a furious, and when I switched to doing the ruler quilting, the stitches were WAY slower and more methodical. But, in both cases, it was one stitch at a time.

I remember last year, when I was learning to piece curved seams, it was like an epiphany when I realized that curved seams take care and take time. However, when I’m putting binding on a quilt, I’m full speed ahead. But still, it’s one stitch at a time.

When I was working full time, sometimes doing 12 plus hours, plus the commute, I would come home and sew for 15 minutes. That’s all. Just 15 minutes. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish with little bits of time! And yes, it was still one stitch at a time.

SEW … if you are struggling at getting something done: Remember, it’ll get done One Stitch At a Time.

As for me? I’m steadily moving right along! My one UFO finish for April was the “Open House” wall hanging.

Linky Party

Link up and show us your PHD in 2021 Progress.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=a8b40ada7693d64e5923

My Favourite Finish this Month

Was my Island Batik “It’s All Up to You” challenge. You can read more about the challenge quilt HERE.

NEW BLOG HOP

That’s correct, Island Batik ambassadors are bringing you a new blog hop starting Monday! I’ll let you know where to go to see the awesome new fabric collections and the amazing quilts that my fellow ambassadors have made! AND there will be an opportunity to WIN some fabulous fabric!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Linking to:

Outstanding Blogger Post & Weekly Report

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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.

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Stitchin’ in the Kitchen Blog Hop

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Carla, from “Creatin in the Sticks” is the wonderful organizer for this week’s blog hop: Stitchin in the Kitchen.

I had several ideas of what to make … but none of them felt just right. Then I remembered this apron that was cut-out. It just needed to be sewn together. Nice and simple, right? And for once, it was a simple finish!!!

Here’s the front:

And the back:

The other bloggers in the blog hop:

Make sure that you visit them! Lots of ideas … (and you know that the holiday in December will arrive before you’re ready … you could get started now! )

Monday, April 19th

Tuesday, April 20th


Wednesday, April 21st


Thursday, April 22nd

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

A SQUIRREL ?? !!!! oh no!!!

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Oh yes!!!

A blogging friend of mine, Sandra, from MMM Quilts is having a quilt-a-long. For a couple of weeks, I’ve been telling myself, “NO … don’t start this quilt.”

Sandra hosts a quilt-a-long every year. And every year, I regret that I didn’t do it! And for awhile, I was pretending that I didn’t want to do it. But who was I kidding?

SEW … this year is different and I’m going to do it!!! Follow Your Own Path! Yup, I’m going to follow my own path and sew along with Sandra!

There are 2 sizes … but I thought the small one would be perfect for a baby quilt! The cutting directions are out. I have pulled my fabric, but haven’t started cutting! The fabrics are all Island Batik. The background is “Moonstone,” an Island Batik basic. The top left and bottom right are from “Primo” by Ebony Love. The top right is a basic called “Lavender” and the bottom left is a nameless fabric, likely a basic. I’m using the solid grey as the shadows of the arrows.

Are you going to join me in this Quilt-A-Long?

Design Wall

Piecing

#1 Blue Table Runner It is started … this is for the monthly Rainbow Scrap Challenge. As you can tell, the first couple of rows are sewn together … the rest is webbed.

One of our guild members posted a link to a website on “Learn to make Half Rectangles with this Easy Technique.” Well, since I didn’t want to be distracted by a squirrel project, and the technique was for a table runner – to me it was an easy decision to try the technique. You can visit QUILTsocial for all of the steps.

I tried to follow the directions, honestly, I did. But I messed up with the marking of 8 of the rectangles, so basically the table runner is backwards. And, I only used 4 fabrics instead of 6 … so I had to play a bit – but it was fun! I always enjoy playing!

And yes, The fabrics are all Island Batik, with Coconut as the background!

#2 June Island Batik Challenge: is in progress and being used as my leaders and enders. (Sorry no pictures).

#3 Follow your own path: As stated above … I have the cutting to do.

Quilting: 

#1 House Wall hanging. This UFO is now pieced and sandwiched. It needs to be quilted.

#2 Speed Dating still needs a facing. “Story-less Improv.”

May Island Batik challenge is quilted and I will give you a sneak peak of it … That’s the only peak you’ll get until my day on the Blog Hop.

Stash Report

May’s Island Batik challenge is completed and I used 4 yards of fabric from my stash for the backing.

  • Fabric Used this week     4   yards
  • Fabric Used this year:       39 yards
  • Fabric Bought this week:  0  yards
  • Fabric Added this year:      9 yards  (my husbands amounts as well)
  • Net Fabric used                  30 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 – March –  80 / 80
  • April – 18 / 18
  • 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:

Again, I did not focus on my “To Do” list … but a couple of things got done.

  1. House Wall Hanging: finish putting together √   done
  2. Healthcare Hero’s Mystery: Make backing not   done
  3. Speed Dating: Add facing not   done
  4. May Island Batik: sandwich and start quilting √   done and bound!
  5. A & A’s quilt: Make extra blocks if decision has been made! not   done
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS!    not   done   
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes  √   done    

This week’s list:

  1. Focus on the TO DO list
  2. Cut out Follow Your Own Path
  3. Quilt and finish House Wall Hanging
  4. Healthcare Hero’s Mystery: Make backing
  5. Speed Dating: Add facing
  6. Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS! I NEED this continual reminder! 
  7. Tidy & clean studio for 30 minutes

Later this week:

I’m participating in the “In the Kitchen blog hop” … My project is done. Photo is taken and I just need to write the blog post. My day is April 22 … Thursday!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

SAHRR – Parade Finale!

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SAHRR is the Stay at Home Round Robin that happened on this and several other blogs. 7 bloggers got together and each one decided what the next round would be! SEW fun!

When you do a Round Robin, you are actually the designer. You are given a theme for the round and it’s up to you to decide HOW the round is done. The following quilts will show you the fantastic variety of what each quilter decided to do.

Enjoy!

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