Wednesday, August 9, 2017

WIP Wednesday - Make All The Things

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs is hosting another mystery QAL -- Magnolia Mystery Quilt.  There's still time to join in if you're interested -- July was fabric selection, and August is cutting.  I found all the fabrics in my stash:


The cutting instructions are easy, so I managed to get it all done early in the month.  Now to wait for September's instructions -- let the sewing begin!


There is no shortage of WIP's in my sewing room, but yet I keep starting new projects.  Next up is a skirt QAL with Rae @ Made By Rae.  The Cleo skirt QAL started today and will continue for the next five days.  I found this pink crinkly fabric in my stash.


I had a coupon for my LQS, so picked up some of this African cotton print.  I think I'll use this fabric for my first attempt and then try the pink fabric.



Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network
Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter



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Monday, August 7, 2017

August OMG - Isla Top

I have two goals for August's One Monthly Goal -- make my second Isla Top (one of my FAL Q3 goals) using my new serger and to finish July's OMG goal -- the quilt top is pieced, but it needs to be quilted.

I started with an easy part of the top, as I'm learning how to use my serger at the same time.  I definitey need to take a class at my LQS this fall.



Stay tuned.




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Saturday, August 5, 2017

Show Off Saturday - Fidget Quilt

I've been intrigued by fidget quilts for some time, but never found the time to make one.  A friend's mother is in need of a fidget quilt, so it gave me the motivation to start one.  Fidget quilts are for little children, or people who have Alzheimers or dementia -- it gives the fingers and hands something to do.

There are lots of great ideas on the internet, but I mainly followed this tutorial/video by Rob @ Man Sewing.  I didn't have a plan when I started, so I had to search my various crafts piles to find items.


I tried to use items that had different textures:

  • piece of elastic for texture and to pull
  • piece of minky fabric for texture
  • beads on ribbon to slide
  • various pieces of ribbon
  • fuzzy hair elastic to pull


Some more ribbon for playing and some larger beads.


I also added a pocket; a piece of velcro; a zipper; and some lace.


It finishes 23 inches.  I'm hoping this is a good size for her lap and that I've included enough different items and textures.



 This took about three hours to finish (finding items took the longest).  I'm looking forward to making more fidget quilts.
If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

 Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday @ Kathy's Kwilts and More
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hand Quilts 
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Show Off Saturday @ She Can Sew


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Monday, July 24, 2017

12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop

Christmas came early this year.  Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the 12-days of Christmas Blog Hop.  Now's your chance to think about and start working on gifts for Christmas.  Make sure you head over to read all about the blog hop and the awesome giveaway.

 Rather than create a new project, I chose to use an existing tutorial -- Festive Forest -- by Sarah @ Berry Barn Designs.  It's a tutorial that I've been wanting to try for some months.  You can get the Festive Forest pattern here.  My thanks to Sarah for allowing me to showcase her tutorial.

 You need to cut out seven trees using the template provided in Sarah's pattern.  I went traditional and cut out green trees.  You can use whatever colours you want -- I think an autumn version would be awesome.


Next applique your trees using your preferred method.


I took the easy route and machine stitched my trees to the background.


A quick all-over stipple in white thread for a quick finish.  I debated on what colour to use for the binding -- so glad I went with green.



Ta da -- a quick and easy Christmas wall hanging for yourself or to give as a gift.  I forgot to time myself, but I think this is a project that can be easily done in a couple of hours or less.

 This finishes around 13.5 inches x 23 inches.  But you can make it whatever size you wish.  It's a great tutorial and pattern that allows for creativity.

 Don't forget to head over to Berry Barn Designs to get the pattern -- Festive Forest pattern. 

 And stop by the other bloggers on this wonderful blog hop.  You're sure to find inspiration.


Friday, July 14th


Saturday, July 15th


Sunday, July 16th


Monday, July 17th


Tuesday, July 18th


Wednesday, July 19th


Thursday, July 20th


Friday, July 21st


Saturday, July 22nd



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Saturday, July 15, 2017

Show Off Saturday and Christmas Blog Hop

I can finally share this finish.  I shared the beginnings of the quilt here.  The colours are based on the family tartan:



Three of the fabrics were Kona:  Juniper, Curry, and Grellow.  Unfortunately, my photos don't show the trueness of the colours.


I didn't want the quilting to over-power the pattern design, so I went with an all-over stipple in a matching yellow thread.


The centre is an embroidered celtic knot that forms a heart.  A friend at my LQS was kind enough to do the embroidery.





12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the 12-days of Christmas Blog Hop.  Head over to read all about the blog hop and the awesome giveaway.  Here are the blogs participating -- my day is July 24.

Friday, July 14th


Saturday, July 15th


Sunday, July 16th


Monday, July 17th


Tuesday, July 18th


Wednesday, July 19th


Thursday, July 20th


Friday, July 21st


Saturday, July 22nd



If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hand Quilts 
Show Off Saturday @ She Can Sew


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Friday, July 7, 2017

One Monthly Goal and Finish Along Q3 Goals

It's time to get back on track and get some projects finished.

My July One Monthly Goal is to piece and quilt my Postcard from Sweden -- I fell behind in the QAL hosted by Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts back in March.  I got all the HSTs made, but I need to piece them together.





I missed Q2 for Finish Along 2017.  My Finish Along 2017 Q3 Goals are:

Postcard from Sweden - see above

Kona Strips Quilt - I started this project back in March, but then I forgot all about it.  Oops.  My goal is to finish piecing and then quilt it.



Isla Top - I'm going to make another Isla top using the fabric below.  I love the first one I made.



Washi Dress - Now that I have the confidence from having made the Isla top, I'm finally going to make my Washi dress.  I bought some teal fabric (the colour didn't come through well in the photo below).






I'm hoping that these goals will get me back on track and sewing on a regular basis.  Good bye crazy busy spring!!



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The Great Quilting Adventure (and a Giveaway)

I can't believe I haven't shared my great quilting adventure with you.  Two weeks ago, my friend Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet and I left home at 4:00 a.m. to drive five hours to buy fabric, not including the 1.5 hours Dena had to drive to get to my house.  And buy fabric we did!!  Mardens in Calais, Maine, had a fabric clearance sale -- $2/yard.  Factor in a 5-hour drive each way, the exchange to Canadian funds, paying 15% tax to Canadian Customs, and the sheer craziness of it...it was so worth it.  I ♥ fabric.


Yes, there were some orange purchases.  😊


I may have purchased 65 yards of fabric.  But what makes the story even better...the clerk was generous with her cuts, so I actually received 65 metres of fabric -- 39/40 inches rather than 36 inches.


More orange...no surprise here.


I'm going to be an Auntie again in September, so a little pink.




Tired of looking at fabric yet?  I had two huge bags that were hard to carry because they were so heavy.




The many, many bolts of fabric were so overwhelming.  Dena and I were the only two in the fabric department, but we kept the two clerks busy cutting fabric.  LOL  I picked up some Michael Miller, Henry Glass, Riley Blake, Robert Kaufmann, and RJR Fabrics.




And if that wasn't enough, we stopped at quilt shops in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on the way home.  I never need to buy fabric ever again....but we all know that I will.  😊

Part 1 of the great quilting adventure started a few days before -- I bought a used serger.  I've been wanting one, but didn't want to spend a lot of money as I wasn't sure how much I would use it.  Thanks to Brenda for facilitating the sale since she lived closer to the seller.  Here's my new $60 toy.


You'd think that was enough spending and fun for one week....but you might as well go big or stay home.  I got up early the next morning (I couldn't convince Dena to come with me -- we still had a full-day Sew In with our guild) and went to an estate sale and bought a Singer Featherweight 221 for $200.  ♥ ♥ ♥


She's off for a cleaning and tune-up.  I'm looking forward to testing her out.


Unfortunately, she didn't come with a case, but I did get the original feet and manual.




**Giveaway**

I need help naming my Featherweight.  Comment with your suggestions for a chance to win two patterns:  Candy Dish by Jaybird Patterns and Sweetpea Pods by Lazy Girl Designs.  The giveaway will be open until midnight Tuesday, July 11, 2017, and is open internationally.

Time to start washing fabric and making room in my sewing room...where am I going to put all this fabric???




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Thursday, June 29, 2017

TGIFF - Double Star Quilts

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday being hosted here again on the East Coast of Canada.



If you've been following me on Instagram these past few months, you would have seen the beginnings of these two quilts.  I was commissioned to make quilts for two adorable little girls in South Africa.  It was difficult to find just the right quilt pattern, but I finally found a photo over at Patchwork and Play.  So I sent an e-mail to find out more information, and Susan kindly provided me with some information on the quilt she designed.

Here is the purple quilt.  I ♥ these quilts.


Star and loop free motion quilting in purple variegated thread.


Because the girls are twin sisters, I put a green star (and small piece of green binding) in the purple quilt.



And here is the green quilt -- with a small purple star and piece of purple binding.


More star and loop free motion quilting with green variegated thread.


The quilts arrived in South Africa today.  I was holding breath hoping that they would love the quilts.

The quilts finish at 72 x 84 inches (12-inch blocks with a 6 x 7 block layout).


I under-estimated how much time it would take to cut the fabric and piece all the stars.  I cut it very close to my deadline.  But I had a lot of fun making these quilts, and I hope the girls will use them for many years to come.  Someday, I hope the meet the girls in person, but until then, I will watch them grow up through Instagram.


Now it's time for you to link up your finishes.  Link up your blog post showing off your finished project using the linkup below.  Don't forget to visit a few blogs to spread some quilty love and encouragement.  Please include a link and/or the TGIFF button in your blog post so your followers can also view all the great finishes.



Also consider linking up your finish with:

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hand Quilts 
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation 


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