Friday

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Nothing finished this week. However there is progress on two main projects that I’m working on.

Shakespeare in the Park: 

Large star blocks and snail trail blocks are now done.  I only had 2 star blocks done on Monday, but I concentrated on making them and finished the other 14 blocks. Now I’m working on making more of the small star blocks … I have 20 done and need to make 18 dark (shown) and 18 light.

Orca Bay:
orca-bay-strips

img_0463-1Red string “yardage” was added on to and became these red string triangles.  This is only about 1/3 of how many I need.

 

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Linking to:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

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Shakespeare in the Park: 

Only one more big star block completed this week.  Slow progress on this one!

Orca Bay:

orca-bay-strips-1
orca-bay-strips

3½” blue string blocks are completed.    And here is a picture of the start of my “yardage” for the red string blocks.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report: Feb 5

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Stash Report

Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week to keep me accountable!

I didn’t buy any quilting fabric this week!!

We have had a house full of company this week, so very little sewing/quilting is getting done.

Fabric Used this Week:       0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date:   18.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week:     0  yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 2.1 yards
Net Fabric for 2017:              15.9  yards  (I’ve used more than I’ve bought!)

UFO tally

Started the year with 38 UFO’s
Completed UFO’s:     Total to complete in 2017:
Jan:   2                                    36
Feb:  nothing finished yet …

Happy Quilting
Gail

En Provence is finished!

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en-provence

I’m pretty pleased with how this turned out!  The burgundy stars make the quilt.  The border is made up of neutral 4 patches: I love how they really add to the quilt.

I’ve never completed one of Bonnie Hunter’s mysteries in less than a month after the reveal … they’ve all been finished, but sometimes not even in the same year as the reveal!

Now – on to finish some of my other quilts!

Linking to:

Happy Quilting

Gail

Monday’s Design Wall – Jan. 30

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img_0422

Shakespeare in the Park:

There is nothing more to show on my design wall … the snail tail blocks are done & the star blocks are in various stages.  Only one star block is completed.

 

Orca Bay:

Still working on 3 ½” blue string blocks.  Again, I have found that sewing string blocks is not my favourite thing.  Yes, it may use up a bunch of strings … but you can be sure that I’ll be making the red string blocks out of yardage.  (I’ll post a pic when I have my sting yardage made).

En Provence:

Is competed … as soon as there is nice weather, I’ll post a picture.

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting

Gail

Stash Report – Jan 29, 2017

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Stash Report

Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week to keep me accountable!

I didn’t buy any quilting fabric this week!!

En Provence is completed!  According to the fabric requirements this quilt needed 13 yards for the top and 5 yards for the back.  That’s a total of 18 yards used.  All from stash … most of it from scraps … visually, I don’t really see a decrease in my fabric – except that I have few neutral scraps and where the backing was, there’s a little vacant spot on the shelf.

Fabric Used this Week:       18. 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date:   18.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week:     0  yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 2.1 yards
Net Fabric for 2017:              15.9 yards  (I’ve used more than I’ve bought!)

UFO tally

Started the year with 38 UFO’s
Completed UFO’s:     Total left to complete in 2017:
Jan:   2                                    36

 

Binding is going on En Provence

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binding-e-p

Yeah!  I finished quilting En Provence. I am now working on the binding.  Hopefully it will be done in the next day or so. Then, if the sun comes out, I can take a picture and show you the finished quilt.

I’m still slowly working on my Shakespeare in the Park and …

Gulp … Confession … I started another project.  Why oh why did I do this?  I am trying to have less UFOs and WIPs.  Sigh …   I make Bonnie Hunter’s Orca Bay as a mystery quilt years ago.  It’s been one of my favourites.  But I gifted it to some dear friends – where it is loved greatly … but I want to have one of my own … and I had been given a bunch of strings … so I started making the blue string blocks… (sorry, no picture).

Linking to:

Happy Quilting

Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

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Well, since the retreat, I have been working on a little of this and a little of that.

I am still quilting En Provence.  Quilting about a bobbin’s worth each day.  Hopefully, it will be done by next week.

img_0422

The flying geese got figured out … YEAH!!!  and today, I will be working on the star blocks of “Shakespeare in the Park.”   It’s a pattern by Judy Martin and I’m finding it difficult to figure out how to make it bigger.

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting

Gail

Stash Report Jan. 22, 2017

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Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week to keep me accountable!

Well, I went to the retreat last weekend & I caved … the “Needle & I“ set up a small store for retreaters … with a sale … Christmas 50% off & everything else 20% off.  Well, since I needed to get some thread, I went in to buy thread & came out with 1 charm pack and fabric to make a “charm star” Christmas quilt … and then one other lady was buying the absolute cutest charm pack to make a bag like one of the other retreaters made … well, I just had to purchase it, don’t you know? So, in total, I had 2 charm packs and a bit of yardage.

Sew … I did go 15 days without buying fabric.  However – I did stop in at  Overseas Fabrics in Abbotsford, looking for backing, but nothing said “buy me, buy me!!”   My goal is actually to use more fabric than I buy … as soon as I finish a quilt, I should be in the black & back on track. 

Fabric Used this Week:       0. 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date:   0.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week:    2.1 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 2.1 yards
Net Fabric for 2017:              1.6  yards

Happy quilting!

Gail

Retreat at Edenvale

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I had a lot of fun at the retreat … worked a bit on different projects, didn’t finish a thing. What I did do:

  • Quilted about 1/2 of En Provence
  • Tried to get some flying geese to work – but I need to figure out what I’m doing wrong and the retreat was not a place for deep concentration!
  • A little bit of non-paper-piecing on Fractured Paintbox in blues
  • Piecing a flannel quilt … need to starch it or (gasp) use pins as I’m sewing it together … it stretches a ton!
  • Started a scrappy Irish chain with fabrics from the retreat

I do not have pictures to show you from the retreat as I forgot to ask everyone there if it was OK for me to post their picture or pictures of their quilts on my blog.  However, this morning, I have set up En Provence to finish quilting on my machine.ep-close-up

Linking to:

Happy Quilting! 

Gail

Stash Report – Jan. 15, 2017

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Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week to keep me accountable!

wait-to-buy-fabric

Had a great laugh when a friend posted this on Facebook.  But, I don’t make resolutions – remember?

Obviously, I’m not the only quilter that is trying to not buy fabric!

OK … I’ve managed two  weeks without buying any fabric!

I’m off to a retreat for 3-4 days!  YEAH!! The car is loaded & I just need to do a few things & I’ll be on my way!

One plan is to go to Overseas Fabrics in Abbotsford … I know I need backing for a quilt, but hopefully nothing else says “buy me, buy me!!”

Fabric Used this Week:       0. 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date:   0.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week:    0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Fabric for 2017:              0.5 yards

Happy quilting!

Gail

Done, Done, Done!!!

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All 13 of the quilts using Grandma’s fabrics are DONE!!!   Am I excited or what?  WooHoo!!  There is not much fabric left … and it was a stretch to make this one without using any of my own prints.  Yes, it is the same size and pattern as #12 – but the fabrics are different. As well, the quilting is a bit different, although I did attempt to do a different pattern in each neutral block.  It was fun quilting it!

gma-13

Linking to:

Happy Quilting! 

Gail

Monday’s design wall

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img_1519

Seems like I’ve done a lot of sewing this week, but not a lot of progress on the En Provence Mystery … I don’t know how some people finished the top the within a day or two of the reveal!  I still only have one block sewn together.  Three almost ready to sew together and about half of the sashing blocks done.   To be honest, I think it’s the sashing blocks that will make the quilt!  They are the ones that form the burgundy stars.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting!

Gail

Stash Report: Jan. 8, 2017

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Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week to keep me accountable!

OK … I’ve managed one week without buying any fabric!  YEAH!!  Can I manage to do this for the next 51 weeks? 

I did finish one quilt … it was in the process of being quilted at the start of the year – so I’m only going to add the ½ yard that was used for binding. However, with all future projects, I will add in the total amounts for the project.

Fabric Used this Week:         0. 5  yards
Fabric Used year to Date:     0.5   yards
Fabric Added this Week:       0  yards
Fabric Added Year to Date:   0  yards
Net Fabric for 2017:                0.5  yards

Happy quilting!

Gail

Friday & nothing finished

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I feel like I’ve been sewing up a storm, but nothing is finished …  I did manage to make ONE block for the Bonnie Hunter mystery … one block … that’s all.  However, when I consider that each block has 76 pieces in it … well that’s a lot!  And I do have all of the individual blocks made, so it’s just a matter of sewing them all together.   I think this block is a little boring … but I also think when I add the sashing blocks & borders, the quilt will be OK.

img_1518

Linking to:

Happy Quilting! 

Gail

Tuesday’s Tackling UFOs – Week 1

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I am having trouble finding a “free” link-up to add to the blog.  Well, actually, I found one, but I can’t get it to work.  So, until I come up with another solution, the only way for you to link up your UFO is to put it in the comment section.  I will try to approve comments asap. If you don’t have a blog, you can start a Pinterest page or a flicker page and share the URL to the specific page.  A bonus for using comments is that you can tell us a bit about your UFOs.

UFO # 15 “Shakespeare in the Park” 

img_1516  I’m working on the “Snail’s Tail” blocks  of this pattern by Judy Martin.   And, because I want to make it larger, I’m making 25 of these blocks.

When I opened the container yesterday, it took a bit of time to figure out what I was doing when I last worked on this quilt.  Once I have these blocks done, I need to figure out what I was doing for the star blocks.  I know I changed the pattern to do “no waste flying geese” … but I will need to spend some time trying to figure out what I was thinking … and what are all those extra 4 patches for?

UFO # 39 “En Provence”

img_1517This is a picture of some of the quarter-square triangles waiting to be sewn.  I have a ton of them to do!

 

 

UFO # 38  Quilting the last of Grandma’s fabric quilts …

No picture …

Happy Quilting,

Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

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img_1515

Not much to see.  This picture is part of the layout for the main block of the Bonnie Hunter Mystery.  I need to make a lot more of the 1/4 square triangle blocks., then I can start to assemble the blocks.

 

To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Patchwork Times
Love, Laugh, Quilt
Quilting is More Fun than Housework

Happy Quilting!

Gail

Stash Report – Jan. 1, 2017

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I generally don’t make New Year’s Resolutions … why bother? I can never follow through!  However, this year, I am going to attempt to NOT buy any fabric!

Quit laughing!  Those of you that know me are probably already rolling on the floor, busting your gut, laughing.  But, hey – one can only try, right?

Linking to Judy Laquidera’s Stash Report each week may help to keep me accountable!

So far this year, I haven’t bought any fabric! Nor have I ordered any fabric on-line, so there is none due to arrive.  (see – I’m off to a great start!)

Fabric Used this Week:         0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date:     0 yards
Fabric Added this Week:       0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date:   0 yards
Net Fabric for 2017:                0 yards

newyear-0014

The Last Friday of 2016

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UFOs

Every year around New Years, I make my UFO list (UnFinished Objects … or Quilts).  I try to keep track of all my quilt starts and when they are finished.  Last year, I had 47 UFOs on Jan 1.  This year I will have 38!  I’m pleased that the number is down … although, much higher than I’d like it to be. Only 10 of the quilts just need quilting and binding.

There is much discussion on the web as to what defines a UFO.  I find it easiest to consider each quilt that is in progress on January 1 as an UFO.

In 2016, I started 30 quilts!  Wow!  I find that hard to believe. And of those 30 quilts, I finished 22 of them!  All of them have been gifted or will be in the near future.

Here’s my plan to tackle my UFOs:  Every Monday, I quilt with a lovely bunch of ladies.  I have a personal “rule” that I only work on UFOs.  I threw that rule out this year as my priorities changed and I was working on the quilts made with Grandma’s fabrics.  However, January 2 is the beginning of a new year and I’ll go back to my own personal rule.

I have prioritized which ones I want to work on.

  • On Monday, which is for piecing, I will work on # 15 and #38
  • During the rest of the week, I’ll work on quilting #37 (the final quilt using Grandma’s fabrics)

Linky Party

Then on Tuesday, I will start a Linky Party and you can join in the fun.  I will be posting pictures of what I’ve worked on and you can do the same.  If you have a blog – you enter the URL of the blog post and fill in all the rest of the blanks.  If you don’t have a blog, you can use a flicker page or a Pinterest page that contains a photo of your work.

Mystery Quilt

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Well, I have caught up on my clues for Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilt!  Yeah!!! Yes, I’ve gotten all of the blocks for Part 1 to 5 completed!   I’ve been doing the yearly mysteries since 2009 and this is the first time I’ve ever gotten caught up.  Clue 6 came out this morning & i’ll get started on it later today!

 

Linking to:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Crazy Mom Quilts
Busy Hands Quilts

Happy Quilting and Happy New Year! 

Gail

 

 

Just a little sewing

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With being away, Christmas decorating, cooking and both kids here, I’ve done very little sewing. However, I did manage to make a few blocks for Part 4 and Part 5 (on the right side of the cutting mat) of Bonnie Hunter’s En Provence mystery. Also shown are some of Part 1, 2 & 3 … none of the clues are completed!

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To see what others in the quilty world are working on wander over to these blogs:

Happy Quilting!

Gail