TGIFF - Freefall Finish

I recently shared my (late) progress on the Freefall Spring QAL hosted by Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon.  I was able to finish the quilt top over three days at the end of December -- here, here, and here.

And now it's finally finished!!  Just under the two-year old mark.  Whew.  And it was a dreary, gray day, which doesn't work well for decent photos.

Just a quick all-over stipple in variegated thread for a quick finish.

And in my efforts to reduce my scraps, I used the leftover fabric to piece the backing.

This is my first finish of my Finish Along Q1 goals.

If you have a finish this week, consider sharing it at:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Kathy's Kwilts and More

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict 
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Show Off Saturday @ Sew Can She

WIP Wednesday - Temperature Quilt

I've been wanting to make a temperature quilt for a few years, but I never actually put action into my thoughts.  Until now.  I've been following the quilt Patty @ Elm Street Quilts has been making, and she shared a tutorial.

I'm going to use 1-inch hexies.  I've decided to record the temperature at 12:00 noon each day, and these are the Kona colours I'm going to use.

-16 and colder - Storm
**We generally don't have temperatures this cold (unless you consider the windchill factor).

-15 to -13 - Nightfall

-12 to -10 - Marine

-9 to -7 - Regatta

-6 to -4 - Copen

-3 to -1 - Candy Blue

0 - Cloud

1 to 3 - Lemon

4 to 6 - Citrus

7 to 9 - Sunny

10 to 12 - School Bus

13 to 15 - Torch

16 to 18 - Tangerine

19 to 21 - Flame

22 to 24 - Tomato

25 to 27 - Cardinal

28 to 30 - Rich Red

31 and above - Crimson
**Generally we don't have temperatures over 30.

It took a few drafts to get the colours right.  Thanks to Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet (get a blog already!!) for her suggestions.

I've been recording temperatures all month.  At the end of the month, I'll start making the hexies.  I think I'll make hexies on a weekly (or maybe biweekly basis), and then piece them together at the end of each month.

I thought I'd use EPP so I could have a little project to work on when I don't feel like sitting at my machine, or if I'm out and about with time to pass.

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

Finish Along 2019 - Q1 Goals

It's time to set goals for Q1 for Finish Along 2019.

I'm trying to get some old projects completed, so here's my list.

1.  Freefall Spring QAL - needs to be quilted.

2.  Classic Meets Modern QAL - needs to be quilted.

3.  Triangle EPP Project - I've decided on how to finish the edges, and then it needs to be quilted.

4.  Modern Plus Sampler QAL - finish piecing blocks and piece quilt top.

5.  Yin and Yang Quilts - piece the blocks for the second quilt and quilt both quilts.

Are you playing along with FAL 2019?  Or are you all caught up on all your projects?  😊

Project Quilting 10.1 - Hope Springs Eternal

Project Quilting is an annual challenge hosted by Kim @ Persimon Dreams.  The first theme is Hope Springs Eternal.  I struggled for a few days trying to come up with an idea.  I kept thinking about new flowers growing, wishing well, etc.

After playing around on the computer, I finally decided on the dove from Noah's ark.  Noah had hope (and faith) that God would save them and that they would find land.  I ran out of time, so my piece is very simple -- the dove and the corner of Noah's Ark.

 The dove returned with an olive branch, evidence of land.

I was having trouble with my machine, so organic wavy lines instead of waves and clouds.

This piece finishes at 13 x 18 inches and uses Kona White, Chocolate, Black, and Holly.

I used the Crafted Applique method created by Lara @ Buzz in Bumble.

Are you playing along with Project Quilting this season?

TGIFF - Retreat Bag

Welcome back to Nova Scotia, Canada for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  There are still spots available if you are interested in hosting -- click here to sign up.

I started this project back in August, but then got sidetracked.  😊  This is the Retreat Bag which is a free pattern from Emmaline Bags.

I don't know why I procrastinated...it's an easy pattern...basically a zippered pouch with an added element.

There are two inside pockets.  I haven't decided what I'll use this bag for yet.

There's a wire frame around the top that keeps the bag open and gives it some structure.  I see myself making a few more of these in the future.

Do you have a finish this week?

Link up your blog post showing your finish by using the linkup below.  Don't forget to visit a few blogs to spread some quilty love and encouragement.  Please include the TGIFF button or a link to the TGIFF blog in your blog post so your followers can also view all the great finishes.

An InLinkz Link-up

Here are other ways to share your finish:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict 
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts 
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Turnabout Patchwork Blog Hop

Teresa @ Sewn Up, Teresa Down Under has a great new book called Turnabout Patchwork.  Teresa says:

It’s all about playing with blocks – making a block, slicing it up, and turning or repositioning the pieces to make a completely different block (sometimes two smaller blocks) to yield endless quilt tops.

Teresa is hosting a blog hop from January 28 through to February 9.  I'll be showing my project on February 8.

I started with 5-inch blocks in four colours.

The blocks were sewn into 9-patch blocks.

And then the block is cut in half horizontally and vertically, and then each of the four quadrants is cut in half on the diagonal.

You'll have to come back on February 8 to see how the pieces are sewn together.  😉

I'll share the blog hop schedule later in the month.

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

The Grim Ripper

I thought my Freefall quilt was the oldest WIP...I was wrong...so very wrong.  It seems I had a WIP from October 2015.  And the sad thing is....it was a mini.  It got buried under some other projects.

Here is my finished Grim Ripper -- 9 x 10 inches.

 This is a free pattern.

No fancy quilting...just an all-over stipple in the background.

I have no purpose for this mini, but I'm glad it's finished.

OMG - Wire Flower Sew Along

It's time for the first One Monthly Goal of 2019.  OMG is a great opportunity to stay focused on projects...and the bonus is that there are prizes.

I signed up for the Wire Flower Sew Along hosted by Karen @ Karen Lewis Textiles.  Groups are made up of nine people, and everyone makes a Wire Flower for everyone in their group based on their colour preferences.

The first one took me about 2.5 hours.  It's not a hard pattern, but there are several tiny, fiddly pieces.

The second one took a little under 2 hours.  Since I'm using the same background for all my blocks, I was able to pre-cut some fabric to speed up the sewing process.

My goal is to finish the remaining seven blocks.

TGIFF - Fireburst Mystery Quilt

Welcome to the first Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday of 2019.  In case you're visiting for the first time, I am one of four monthly managers for TGIFF.  I live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

TGIFF is an opportunity to showcase your finish and to see what others are creating (and to share some quilty love).  If you are interested in hosting, you can click here to sign up.

This is the second quilt (you can see my first one here) I made using the pattern by Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.  The tutorials are still on Tish's blog if you're interested.

A dreary photo....can't wait for spring!!!  This version measures about 64 x 64 inches.

There is no way I could have matched my binding to the piecing no matter how hard I tried.  Of course, it only worked on one of the six triangles.  😊

I used Aurifil #4659 Mango Mist, and just like the first quilt, the thread blended in with the background -- Kona PFD Bleach White.

I had to take photos in my office because it's dark and dreary when I leave for work in the morning...and dark and dreary when I get home.  But it's slowly getting lighter a tiny bit earlier each day.

Do you have a finish this week?

Link up your blog post showing your finish by using the linkup below.  Don't forget to visit a few blogs to spread some quilty love and encouragement.  Please include the TGIFF button or a link to the TGIFF blog in your blog post so your followers can also view all the great finishes.

An InLinkz Link-up

Here are other ways to share your finish:

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict 
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts 
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

WIP Wednesday - Have a Jolly Little Christmas

Back in January 2017, I started the Have a Jolly Little Christmas QAL hosted by Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts.  For some reason, I only completed three blocks. 

All the blocks are 12.5 inches, and the first one was Christmas Stockings.

Winter Mittens was the second block.

And then Christmas Bow.

I had the pieces cut for the Poinsettia block, but I didn't get around to sewing it until this New Year's Eve.

I decided to add some sashing and to piece the four blocks into a mini quilt - about 26 inches square.  So although I didn't finish the QAL, I can say that I participated and made something.  I just need to decide on a quilting plan so I can hopefully finish this in January.

Lorna created some fabulous blocks, and the tutorials are still on her blog.  If you're looking for a fun Christmas project, I'd recommend that you head to her blog.

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

Best of 2018 and Plans for 2019

I can't believe I made it to Day 31 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.  I didn't think I'd have enough content (and time) to blog every day in the month of December.

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs is hosting her annual "Best of" linky party.  It's a great opportunity to look back on what we've accomplished over the past year.

1.  Highest Views - My Wonton quilt had 857 views.  I love the patterns and rulers from Jaybird Quilts.

2.  Second Highest Views - My Ebony Top 751 views.  I've purchased some new patterns and fabric to make more clothing in 2019.

3.  Most Proud - I rarely participate in challenges where you actually submit your project.  But two Michael Miller challenges were due at the same time and used the same fabric -- Modern Guild Challenge and Sewtopia Challenge -- so I created Rainbow Star. 

4.  Challenges - I love being in my comfort zone, but I know we have to challenge ourselves in order to grow and learn.  In 2018, I participated in Project Quilting where you created a project in one week.  There are six challenges, and I did all six of them!  I plan to participate again in 2019.

5.  Book Blog Hops - I was fortunate and grateful to have been asked to participate in two book blog hops in 2018.  I made the Celestial pattern from Modern Plus Sign Quilts book.  And I made Catch a Falling Star from the Stash Statement book.

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl is hosing her annual Planning Party.  Last year, I set these goals -- didn't achieve them all, but I had a fun year.  I didn't get all my fabric organized, but I have made progress by building shelves in the closet in my sewing room.

My plans for 2019 are:

• continue to organize my sewing room
• continue to clear up outstanding WIPs
• continue to challenge myself by trying new things

Here's to a creative 2019 for all of us.  Happy New Year.