WIP Wednesday - Beothuk Star QAL

I'm making progress with the Beothuk Star QAL hosted by Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon.  I didn't fall behind!!  😊

We had to make eight of the blocks.  Once you've made the 96 HSTs, everything else is quick and easy.  LOL

I've laid out my eight blocks following the pattern.

The next step is to make the remaining eight blocks.  I can't wait to get the top pieced to see how it looks.  I guess it's time to start thinking about a quilting plan. That part of the process is my least favourite.

What are you working on this week?

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

TGIFF - Hands2Help Comfort Quilt

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday is being hosted here once again.  As one of the four monthly managers for TGIFF, I host when there isn't someone signed up on the schedule.

If you are interested in hosting, you can click here to sign up.

I'm once again participating in the Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge hosted by Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

My quilt started out with 2.5-inch strips, sewn together on the long edge.  I cut the strip set into three sections:  19.5 inches, 8 inches, and 12 inches.

I followed a Rockin' Rectangles tutorial shared by Sarah.  I think next time, I'll cut the strips into sections before sewing them together.  I think it would be a little easier to manage.  I used Kona Sky for the accent pieces, which are 8 inches wide.

My quilt will be going to Victoria's Quilts Canada.  The organization gives quilts to Canadians living with Canada.  They request quilt tops only, so my top is technically "finished" even though it's not quilted.

Do you have a finish this week?

Link up your blog or Instagram 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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

WIP Wednesday - Yonder Quilt Along

I'm participating in the Yonder Quilt Along hosted by Briar Hill Designs.

The fabrics I'm using are all from my stash:

• Kona Snow and Waterfall
• Botanique by Joel Dewberry
• Atrium by Joel Dewberry
• Clementine by Heather Bailey

We were given a sheet of labels -- so very helpful in keeping all the pieces straight.

These are 18.5-inch blocks.  I love big blocks...I cannot lie.  ha ha ha

I'm making the bassinet size -- 36 x 36 inches.

I'm going to end up with an extra block, so I'll likely make it into a pillow.

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

Broken Panes Quilt Along

Have you seen news of the Broken Panes Quilt Along hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen?  I will be one of the bloggers sewing along with Jen.

Jen will be sharing some tips in advance of the quilt along.  She has a post about fabric preparation.  There is lots of time to join in.  Cutting will begin June 4.

I searched my stash for some fabric, and I was able to pull all but one fabric.  I seem to be lacking in red fabrics.  But look at the great red print I found at my LQS.

But even better...look at the squirrels on the selvedge.  ♥

If you're interested in sewing along with us, head over to purchase the pattern and start pulling fabric.

TGIFF - A Friday (almost) Finish

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  If 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.

I have to confess that I don't have a "finish" to share with you this week.  My nieces were in town unexpectedly this week.  Since they live in another province, I only see them every couple of months when the oldest has an doctor's appointment.  So I cancel all my commitments to spend as much time with the girls as possible, so there was no sewing this week.  If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen their adorable little faces. ♥

I do have a finished quilt top to share.  I pieced together all my Trinket blocks.

Sorry I don't have more to say, but I'm rushing out the door to get to my quilt guild meeting on time (which is not going to happen).

Do you have a finish this week?

Link up your blog/Instagram 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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

WIP Wednesday - Medallion Magic QAL Update

I completed the next step in the Medallion Magic QAL hosted by Leanne @ Devoted Quilter.

You can see my centre star block here.   Kona Nightfall, Royal, Tangerine, Torch, Orange, School Bus, and Tiger Lily all look great together.

The April instructions were to add two borders:  a simple solid border and then a not-so-simple border.  it started with sewing skinny strips together.  The strip set was cut into another skinny strip to be sewn between two background pieces.

And then we had to make 1.5-inch HSTs.  😢  

Those tiny HSTs were turned into a 4.5-inch pinwheel.  After the first one, I was tempted to ditch the other three and do something different for the corners.  But I continued on.....

It turned out great...if I do say so myself.  😊

If you're interested, there's still time to join in.  Head over to Devoted Quilter to get the pattern and the details.

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

May One Monthly Goal

Do you need some motivation to finish up some WIPs?  Head over to Elm Street Quilts -- Patty hosts a monthly goal setting link up.  It helps me stay focused on projects.  And there's the bonus of prizes.

I participated in the recent QAL hosted by Andrea @ 3rd Story Workshop for her Everyone's Got an X pattern. But I got derailed when I couldn't decide on a quilting plan.

Here is my fabric pull, which includes Kona Pond, Glacier, and Candy Green.

The quilt top is pieced and basted.  I think I've finally decided on a quilting plan.  Now to see if I have the right thread colour in my stash.

My goal is to get this quilted by the end of the month.

Beothuk Star Quilt Along

Have you seen the Beothuk Star QAL hosted by Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon?

I'm in!  And all the fabrics are from my stash.

Sandra shared a tip to mark the line for HSTs with a Hera marker.  I currently use the Clover Hera Marker Slim.  You can mark two squares at the same time, so you're saving both time and ink/pencil.

Even though the "line" is less noticeable on the bottom square, it is easily seen.

Let the chain piecing begin.

I use Bloc Loc rulers to trim my HSTs.  I love these rulers.  The "channel" keeps the fabric from slipping, so you get perfect squares every time.

All 96 HSTs finished.

I'm all ready for the next set of instructions.  There's still time to join in.  Head over to Musings of a Menopausal Melon to get all the details.

OMG April Finish - Meadowland Quilts and Pillows

My April OMG goal was to quilt my two Meadowland quilts and to make matching pillows.  I started writing this post hours ago but got sidetracked in my sewing room, but the great thing about being on the east coast is that you always have a few hours grace for midnight deadlines.  LOL

These two quilts will be going to my nieces.

They are 48 inches squares.  I wish I had another one of these FQ bundles, True Colours by Joel Dewberry -- it's a great collection.

Quilting is an all-over loopy stipple in light pink thread.  It blended so well with all the prints.  I used Kona Baby Pink for the binding.

Here's the second quilt.

This QAL was fun.

You can get the Meadowland pattern over at Then Came June.

Here are the matching pillows I finished last week.

These are also one of my FAL 2019 Q2 goals.

Slow Stitching Sunday - Hand Pieced QAL

Earlier this month, I finished my blocks (here) for the the Hand Pieced QAL that was co-hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts and Kristin @ Simple Handmade Everyday.

The deadline to link up a finished quilt top is April 30.  I finished with two days to spare!!

It finishes around 33 inches square.

I'm still undecided on whether to hand quilt or machine quilt the top.  Although I'm seriously considering hand quilting, but it's going to have to go into the long queue...maybe a summer time project when I hope to take some time off work.

This is one of my FAL 2019 Q2 goals.

I'm linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts.  It's definitely not a link up I'll use often (LOL), but I would consider a small hand pieced project from time to time.

Winter Stars Baby Quilt

Note:  All products in this post were given to me by Island Batik as part of their Ambassador program.


As I mentioned earlier this month, our April Island Batik Ambassador challenge was to make a baby quilt using the Accuquilt  Ready. Set. Go! Ultimate fabric cutting system.  There are lots of free patterns on the Accuquilt website, and I chose GO! Star Delight pattern.

I used the Icicle Batiks collection from Island Batik for the stars and an Island Batik Neutral in Custard (a light yellow with a light blue print) for the background.  Cutting the fabric was a quick process using the dies.  I never thought I'd enjoy a cutting system, but I'm already trying to scheme figure out how to buy more dies.

I'm trying my best to name my quilts this year, so this is Winter Stars.  I choose this pattern because I wanted to practice my free-motion quilting.  But then when it came to quilting, I had no ideas.  😊  After some suggestions from a few other Ambassadors, I had a plan.  I decided to use a contrasting thread colour -- Aurifil thread #4150 Creme Brule (variegated).  I (attempted) to quilt curves in the triangles and 4-patches -- definitely need some practice.  Some swirls in the background 4-patches, and wishbones in the other background square.

I used Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend batting.  This is the batting that I normally use, and I love it.  There may be several (okay lots...okay many...) packages of batting in my house -- I like to stock up when Michaels has a 50% off coupon.  LOL

My quilting is definitely not perfect, but I enjoyed the practice.

I seem to know a lot of people with a baby on the way, so it won't take long for this quilt to be gifted.

Thank you to Island Batik, Accuquilt, Aurifil, and Hobbs Batting for the supplies.  This was a fun challenge.

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Alycia Quilts

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 
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

Show Off Saturday @ Sew Can She

WIP Wednesday - Wire Flowers

Back in January, I shared all the Wire Flower blocks I made for my group in the Sew Along hosted by Karen Lewis Textiles.  But I just realized that I did not share the blocks I received in the swap.  If you're interested, you can purchase the Wire Flower pattern here.

This is the block I made for myself.

And these are the eight blocks I received.

Love that bold orange background! 😊  My friend Dena knows me so well.  We were surprised to find out that we were in the same swap group.

We have to give three colours, so I said orange, blue, and red.

There are some great prints in my blocks.

Blocks were received from Canada (2), United States (4), United Kingdom (1), and Germany (2).

Here's a possible layout.  I like that bold orange being front and centre.

Time to get these blocks sewn together and then decide on a quilting plan.

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