TGIFF - This Earth is Our Dancefloor, This Dancefloor is our World

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finishes from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

Last year, I was offered the opportunity to contribute a quilt to an exhibit at the Dalhousie Art Gallery -- It's About Time:  Dancing Black in Canada.

The curator had ideas of what she wanted the quilt to portray.  I am pleased that I was able to bring her vision to life.  This is:  "This Earth is Our Dancefloor, This Dancefloor is our World."  It is a 36 x 36 inch wall hanging.

On the advice of friends, I quilted a straight-line grid in the diamond-ish areas to represent the dance floor.  In the orange peels, I did big stitch hand quilting to echo the inner curves.

The curator of the exhibit has purchased the quilt, so when the exhibit concludes next month, it will go home with her.

The artist statement was created from the vision and information provided from the curator.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥ 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Stay at Home Round Robin - Round 6

If you have made it this far, it's the last round for Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).  Thanks for sewing along with us.

Gail @ Quilting Gail started the Stay at Home Round Robin in March 2020.  It was a way to stay connected with the quilting community while we were in various stages of isolation due to the pandemic.  In 2021, Gail invited several blogging friends to join her to help host SAHRR.  It was a great way to foster new friendships and to stay connected with one another.

The sixth and final round was chosen by me.  The final theme is:  quilter's choice.  This is your opportunity to unleash your creativity.

• Are you tired of this project and just want to be finished?  You can add a simple border.
• Has your quilt developed a secondary pattern?  Choose a block that will complement the pattern.
• Are you not happy with your project?  This is your chance to add something that you love.
• Do you have a favourite block?  This is your chance to include it.
• Do you want to change the size of your project?  Maybe you want to add only side or top borders to achieve the size you want.

In keeping with the community spirit of a round robin and a nod to my online friendship with Gail and the other bloggers, I made a friendship star block.  I used Kona Natural and Clover.

Don't forget to link up your round 6 on this blog post before midnight (Atlantic) Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to be entered into the prize giveaway.

Here are all my blocks (instead of rounds) pieced together.  I made two blocks for each round.

You  have until March 25 to link up your quilt top or finished quilt for your final entry in the prize giveaway.

*Note:  Jan W: Please contact Gail (quiltinggail@yahoo.ca) about:  1) info we need from you; and 2) your links on the Link Parties.      

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Schedule:

• January 14 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 21 - 1st Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• January 28 - 2nd Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• February 4 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 11 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
• February 18 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 25 - 6th Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• March 25 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing

Logo designed by Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Stay at Home Round Robin - Round 5

It's time for round 5 of the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).  I hope you have been enjoying this year's adventure.

Round 5 was chosen by our host, Gail @ Quilting Gail -- two colours.  Gail says make anything you like using only two colours.  But she's added a caveat -- you can add a neutral to give you three colours.  Stop by her blog to get more information and to see her version of this week's theme.

Here's my block -- a modified nine-patch -- using Kona Natural and Kale.

Don't forget to link up your round 5 on Gail's blog by Tuesday evening to be entered into the prize giveaway.

Schedule:

• January 14 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 21 - 1st Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• January 28 - 2nd Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• February 4 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 11 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
• February 18 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 25 - 6th Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• March 25 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing

Logo designed by Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Stay at Home Round Robin - Round 4

Are you still sewing along with the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR)?  It's time for the fourth round.  After the next two rounds, there will be a month to give you time to catch up and piece your top.  Your quilt top does not need to be quilted to link up for the quilt parade on March 25.

Round 4 was chosen by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts -- curves.  Wendy offers some great suggestions on how to incoporate curves into your project.  Make sure to stop by to see her interpretation of curves.

I used Kona Natural and Enchanted to make orange peel blocks.

I love how the block looks on point.

Don't forget to link up your round 4 on Wendy's blog by Tuesday evening to be entered into the prize giveaway.

Schedule:

• January 14 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 21 - 1st Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• January 28 - 2nd Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• February 4 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 11 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
• February 18 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 25 - 6th Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• March 25 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Logo designed by Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Stay at Home Round Robin - Round 3

We're at the halfway point of the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).

Round 3 was chosen by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood  -- animal kingdom.  Emily says that you can chose a block named after an animal; use an applique of an animal; piece a block that looks like an animal; or use fabric that contains animals.  Stop by her blog to see how she interpreted the theme.

Here's my monkey wrench block.  I used Kona Natural and Kale.

I'm doing an alternate layout of on-point blocks.  So my monkey wrench block will appear this way.

Don't forget to link up your round 3 on Emily's blog by Tuesday evening to be entered into the prize giveaway.

Schedule:

• January 14 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 21 - 1st Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• January 28 - 2nd Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• February 4 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 11 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
• February 18 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 25 - 6th Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• March 25 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Logo designed by Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Stay at Home Round Robin 2026 - Round 2

It's time for the second round for the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).  If you're having second thoughts about not joining earlier, there's still time to join.  You can work at your own pace, and you have until March 25 to reveal your finished quilt top.

Round 2 was chosen by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing -- a double block.  Head over to Kathleen's blog to see some options for "Make it a Double."

I made a double sawtooth star block.  Here's my 6.5-inch centre using Kona Everglade and Bluegrass.

I pieced my flying geese units by pairing two HST blocks.  I used Kona Natural and Everglade for the outer star.

Don't forget to link up your round 2 on Kathleen's blog by Tuesday evening to be entered into the prize giveaway.

Schedule:

• January 14 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 21 - 1st Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• January 28 - 2nd Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• February 4 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 11 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
• February 18 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 25 - 6th Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• March 25 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Logo designed by Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Stay at Home Round Robin 2026 - Round 1

Did you get your centre block pieced last week?  It's time for the first round for the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).

Round 1 was chosen by Brenda @ Songbird Designs -- the hourglass block.  There are many ways to make an hourglass block, so head over to Brenda's blog to get more information.

I decided to make my hourglass block by pairing two HST blocks.  I used my Bloc Loc ruler to trim the blocks.  I used Kona Natural and Everglade.

I'm going with an alternate layout this year instead of the traditional medallion layout.  I combined four hourglass units into a 12.5-inch block.

Don't forget to link up your round 1 with Brenda to be entered into the prize giveaway.

Schedule:

• January 14 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 21 - 1st Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• January 28 - 2nd Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• February 4 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 11 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
• February 18 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 25 - 6th Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• March 25 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Logo designed by Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Stay at Home Round Robin 2026 - Centre block

It's time for Quilting Gail's annual Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).  Gail began SAHRR in 2020. Starting in 2021, she invited several friends to join. 2026 marks the seventh year of SAHRR.

A round robin is a common activity in many quilt guilds, whereby each person makes a centre block.  The centre block is then passed onto another quilter in the group.  They are given instructions as to what kind of border (or round) they are to add on to the centre block.  The project is then passed on to another quilter, and it continues on until all the various borders (or rounds) are completed, and then it is returned to the original maker of the centre block.  It's a fun way to engage with other quilters.

For SAHRR, there is no passing of your project to other quilters -- you do all your own sewing.  Each week, there will be a theme for the round, and you choose how to interpret and implement that theme.  You can be as creative as you wish.

Today is the first day of the 2026 edition. It's time to get your centre block ready. You can use an orphan block, or make a new block. Think about what size you want your finished quilt to be and whether you want a specific colour scheme or a scrappy quilt.

My centre is a 12.5 inch sawtooth star block.  I used Kona Natural, Cypress, and Balsam.

Make sure you link up your centre block with Gail before midnight (Pacific) on Tuesday, January 20 to be entered in the prize giveaway.  I will share details of the prizes and our wonderful sponsors in a later post.

In order to qualify for prizes from our sponsors, we need to know who you are and how to contact you. We also need to know where you live, so please put your name and country in the Caption line (see below) when you link up.  It is best to link up with a blog or Instagram post so we'll have your e-mail address.  If you do not have either, you can send me a photo of your round each week, and I will add it to the link up for you and enter you into the draw.  You can e-mail me at anjaclyke [at] gmail [dot] com.

Schedule:

• January 14 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 21 - 1st Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• January 28 - 2nd Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• February 4 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 11 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts
• February 18 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 25 - 6th Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• March 25 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Logo designed by Brenda @ Songbird Designs

TGIFF - Nightingale Zipper Pouch

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finishes from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

I made the Nightingale Zipper Pouch by Center Street Quilts during the QAL earlier this month.

I used batting instead of foam.  I wanted to make my first one as a test.

There are lots of inside pockets, including the attached zippered pouch.

I am happy with how it turned out, but I will definitely use foam next time instead of batting.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥ 

Merry Christmas and all the best for 2026.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

TGIFF - Follow Your Own Path

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finishes from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon hosts an annual free QAL.  Follow Your Own Path was the 2021 QAL.  I can't believe it took me four years to quilt the top.

I used Kona Rich Red, Tiger Lily, Duckling, Clover, and Storm for the background and binding.  The print fabrics were from my scrap bin.

I did an all-over stipple in the background using Connecting Threads #21144 Persian Blue.  I stitched in the ditch for the shadow arrows.  I started echoing inside the arrows but that became cumbersome, so I switched to free-motion quilting.  I used thread #21553 Leprechaun, #21170 Lemon, #20863 Red, and #21172 Orange.

I may have another quilt top (or maybe two) from Sandra's QALs that need to be quilted.  I'm slowly making my way through my list of UFOs.  Slow progress is still progress. 😊

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥ 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Pattern:  Follow Your Own Path by Musings of a Menopausal Melon

Size:  38.5 x 42 inches

Started:  April 28, 2021

Completed:  July 1, 2025
Techniques:  machine piecing
Quilting:  free-motion quilting

Fabric: Kona Rich Red, Tiger Lily, Duckling, Clover, and Storm and various fabric scraps

Binding:  Kona Coal

Thread:  Connecting Threads 
Batting:  Hobbs Batting

WIP Wednesday - New Quilt Block

I designed a quilt block!  I took a block design class with Tara @ Taralee Quiltery at Sewtopia San Antonio in April.

I have to decide on a name for the block/quilt, but here it is.  I used HSTs, HRTs, and squares.

The block is 18 inches finished, so you only need four blocks to make a baby quilt.  I love the secondary pattern created once the blocks are sewn together.

Now to decide on a quilting plan and make a decision on a name.

I'm linking up with:

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

Effervescence QAL

Did you sew along with Quilting Jetgirl's Effervescence QAL?  I stayed on top of the biweekly piecing until the last two sets of instructions.

I blogged about the first set of blocks, but then it appears that all future updates were only shared on Instagram.

I used Kona Black, Steel, Overcast, Quicksilver, Snow, Chartreuse, Sand, Tan, Straw, Honey, Khaki, Earth, Coffee, Chocolate, and Charcoal.

Now to decide on a quilting plan.

WIP Wednesday - Exploding Heart

I started the Exploding Heart QAL hosted by Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts back in 2021.  Four year later, I have a finished quilt top. ☺

I used Kona Quicksilver for the background and a FQ bundle from Moda Fabrics -- Sunnyside Up by Corey Yoder.

These are the 15 prints I used from the bundle.

  I used my Accquilt Go cutter to cut the many, many, many triangles needed.

I finished piecing the blocks in 2022.

This month, I started piecing the rows.  It's finally pieced!!  It's wrinkly because it was too hot to turn on the iron.

I was worried that I'd make a piecing mistake, but there's a heart.

I'm linking up with:

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

TGIFF - Ornamental

I'm working my way through a long list of unquilted tops that need to be finished.

I started Ornamental by Beaquilter in 2022.  This was one of the projects I worked on at Sewtopia Palm Springs.  It's now quilted!

I used Island Batik fabrics that I had in my stash, along with Kona Coal.

I used Connecting Threads #21169 Custard to do an all-over stipple.  When in doubt, go with a light yellow thread.  Custard is my favourite yellow from Connecting Threads.

It feels good to save a quilt top from the overflowing UFO laundry basket.  LOL

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Sew Preeti

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Pattern:  Ornamental by Beaquilter

Size:  42.5 x 54 inches

Started:  October 29, 2022

Completed:  June 16, 2025
Techniques:  machine piecing
Quilting:  free-motion quilting

Fabric:  Island Batik fabrics and Kona Coal

Binding:  Kona Coal

Thread:  Connecting Threads #21169 Custard
Batting:  Warm and Natural

TGIFF - 2022 Block of the Month

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finishes from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

I finished a UFO from 2022!!!

In 2022, my friend Dena and I created a Block of the Month for our quilt guild.  The quilt consisted of 12 blocks, all finishing at 12 inches each.  The instructions called for cutting the sashing at 2.5 inches, but everyone had the flexibility to increase or decrease the size of the sashing, or eliminate the sashing.

I chosed Kona White, Black, Steel, and Chartreuse for my blocks.  A little pop of colour in the binding because I didn't want to cut a full WOF for a few inches -- I lost at binding chicken.  And also lost at thread chicken while attaching the binding. 

My top was finished shortly after we started the Block of the Month, but sadly, it did not get quilted until recently.  In an effort to clear up some UFOs, I decided to do an all-over stipple using green thread for a quick finish.  I thought the thread would appear brighter than it did.  But I'm still happy with the result.

I found the perfect backing!

Part of me wants to keep this quilt, but I am making efforts to release quilts into the world so they get some love being used by someone.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥ 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Pattern:  Common quilt blocks - layout designed by Dena and Anja

Size:  45 x 59.5 inches

Started:  January 2022

Completed:  June 14, 2025
Techniques:  machine piecing
Quilting:  free-motion quilting

Fabric:  Kona White, Black, Steel, and Chartreuse

Binding:  Kona Steel

Thread:  The Grace Company Finesse #3022 Eucalyptus Green
Batting:  Warm and Natural