Monday’s Design Wall- Mar. 6 ’17

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My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 

It’s being quilted …

“Fall” table runner: 

Is sandwiched and still waiting for inspiration on how to quilt it.

BBQG Baby Quilt

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Last week I went a guild charity baby quilt making day!  What a lot of fun!  And, I managed to get this quilt top together … I had thought I would add a border, but if I do that the backing will be too narrow.  Sew … all I will do is add binding – after I quilt it.

 

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report Mar 5’17

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Stash Report

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

I bought 3 meters of fabric to make some zipper bags … ones that can be coloured  unknown-jpg   It will be a fun, fast project.  (Once I get them started …)

Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 18.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 3.2 yards 
Fabric Added Year to Date: 13.3 yards
Net Fabric used for 2017: 4.8 yards (I’ve still used more than I bought, but it’s getting close!)

UFO tally

Started the year with 38 UFO’s
Completed UFO’s:     Total to complete in 2017:
Jan:   2                                    36
Feb: 0                                     36

Happy Quilting
Gail

Friday … a little progress, a solved mystery

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Shakespeare in the Park  

img_0518I’ve started quilting this beast.  And a beast it is!

After I quilted about 3 blocks, I was totally unhappy with what I had done.  So, hours and hours later, I finally had those tiny, tiny stitches ripped out.  I then decided to quilt in the ditch … a huge undertaking when quilting with a free-motion quilt foot … There are 41 large blocks (snail tail & large stars) and I think I have about 6 of them done.  I have no idea how many small stars are on the outside.   Needless to say, I’ve got a long way to go!  Sigh … I will be glad when this quilt is finished.

 

A Mystery Solved

People often ask me about thread. (Ha!  As if I know much!)  I’ve always felt that it’s OK to use polyester thread.  The rumour that it cuts cotton fabric just never made sense to me. Nor have I seen any evidence of it.

Today, on Bonnie Hunter’s blog, (scroll down, down, down), she discusses thread and then goes on to talk about how polyester batting is what shreds fabric.  I had an ah-ha moment.  Yes, I’ve seen this. Even in my older quilts … I knew it wasn’t the thread when the fabric is shredded within the piece, not near the seam.  Bonnie goes on to say that she never uses polyester batting.

Link-ups

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall

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image

I went to a fantastic workshop this weekend. It was called “Zendoodling” with Wilma Brock.  It was a lot of fun and I learned tons!   Here is a picture of what I did at the workshop.  I did find it hard to quilt “small” … I’m so used to quilting big quilts, quilting ‘small’ is not an option for me!

My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 

Is sandwiched and I’ve quilted 2 snail trail blocks … only 23 left, 16 large star blocks and all the little star blocks and border … it won’t be done in the next few days!

“Fall” table runner: 

Is sandwiched and waiting for inspiration on how to quilt it.

Orca Bay:

No progress.

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report – Feb 26, ’17

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Stash Report

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

Went shopping with the hubby … looking for a binding for Shakespeare in the Park.  But alas – did I take the quilt sandwich with me? No.  Did I take fabric samples with me? No. We had pics on his phone … who knows how accurate the colour is.  Probably pretty good, but it’s hard to say when you’re in a store and all you have is a tiny picture.  He ended up buying 5 meters of fabric – 4 of them “just in case” and one meter was because He liked it!  I’m starting to think that I should keep my fabric and his fabric separate!!!  Most of the additions to the stash this year have been his! unknown-jpg

Fabric Used this Week:        0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date:    18.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week:      4.4  yards (for backing)
Fabric Added Year to Date:  10.1  yards
Net Fabric used for 2017:        8 yards

UFO tally

Started the year with 38 UFO’s
This week I gave away a UFO to a friend.  But alas, I found another UFO. It was a kit from Heart and Soul Quilt Shop in Grand Forks. (Sorry, I couldn’t find a website, just a Facebook link).  All of this to say that my UFO totals remain the same!

Completed UFO’s:     Total to complete in 2017:
Jan:   2                                    36
Feb:  nothing finished yet …

Happy Quilting
Gail

Friday: I have a sandwich!

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Shakespeare in the Park  

Is now sandwiched!  It is HUGE! I couldn’t get a full picture of it on my living room floor. img_0486

I find that when I use Hobbs 80/20,  the spray basting doesn’t stick as well as when I use Warm and Natural.  And the backing will sometimes shift. So once this was spray basted (with 505) I pinned it.  I know I will be cursing all the pins when I go to quilt it, but at least it will not shift.

My machine is packed up – ready for a “Zendoodling” class tomorrow, so I won’t start quilting this until Sunday at the earliest.

Here’s a Helpful Hint:  If you look on the lower right corner of the picture, you will see that the corner is pinned to the front.  This seems to help prevent the extra backing from folding under and being sewn onto the back.

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

Monday’s Design Wall, Feb 20 ’17

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My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 
img_0465-2

The back got pieced together today!!

I didn’t take a picture because it is HUGE and is put away until I sandwich the quilt later this week.

 

“Fall” table runner: 

Sorry, no pictures because the result is a secret.  The table runner is for an exchange at a retreat at Over the Rainbow Lodge in April.  Once the exchange has happened, I will post a picture of the runner.

Orca Bay:

No progress.

 

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report Feb. 21 ’17

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Stash Report

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

I did buy some fabric for the backing for Shakespeare in the Park … I wanted to use stash & figured I had enough … but alas, I was short about 3 meters and nothing, absolutely nothing in the stash would work.  So, my hubby and I went shopping.  He has a good eye for colour and we found the perfect fabrics to go on the back.

Nothing is finished, but as soon as Shakespeare in the Park is done – I will have used 23 yards!  And that’s just using the amounts given in the pattern.  I know I used more since I made it bigger!  However, the quilt is not quilted yet!

Fabric Used this Week:       0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date:   18.5 yards
Fabric Added this Week:     3. 5  yards (for backing)
Fabric Added Year to Date: 5.6  yards
Net Fabric for 2017:              12.4  yards  (I’ve still 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

Friday … nothing totally finished

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img_0465-2

Shakespeare in the Park:  

The top is a flimsy!!  YEAH!  I think the blocks are all oriented correctly.  Will check it thoroughly when I go to sandwich it.  In the meantime, this is the layout for the back … it needs to be pieced together …

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 – Feb 13’17

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My Current Works in Progress:

Shakespeare in the Park: 

I am piecing all the blocks together.  img_0462-1This is NOT a fun quilt to do.  Since I used green and cream/white, there seems to not be a ton of contrast (which is weird, to me).  Thus, it’s super easy to get blocks turned around.  And I see that two star blocks  are switched in this picture .  Hopefully it gets fixed prior to being sewn in the quilt.  Sigh … there is no way to rush this quilt!!

Orca Bay:
img_0463-1

Very little progress since last week. I’ve been concentrating on Shakespeare in the Park.

 

 

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

Happy Quilting
Gail

Stash Report: Feb. 13 ’17

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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!!

A lot of sewing happening, but nothing is finished – so my numbers aren’t changing from last week.

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

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