2018 Mid Year Review

At the end of 2017, Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl hosted a 2018 Planning Party.  I decided to keep my 2018 goals simple.  It's now time for a mid year review.

My three goals were:

• Organize all my fabric into one space -  ⛝ Epic fail - Have not done a thing to achieve this goal.  Guess I have a lot of work to do in the next six months.
• Continue to sew projects that make me happy - ✔ 
• Continue to have fun -  ✔ 

These are a few of my recent finishes that I had fun making:

Lisa the Unicorn

Star Thistle

I wonder what's in store for the rest of 2018.  Let's keep having fun!

TGIFF - Paper Piecing Might Not Be So Bad...

...but it's still not my go-to technique.  I will not be converted.  I will not be converted.  😊

I've had this pattern printed for many, many months, and I finally got around to making it.  It's Star Thistle created by Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal.  You can get the pattern here.

Out came the Aurifil thread -- #2021 Natural White.  I like Aurifil thread, but it's quite costly here in Canada.  I have a few spools but don't use it often.  I also decided to try Quilter's Newsprint by the Electric Quilt Company.

Sewing went well -- Jack the seam ripper didn't make a single appearance!!  I was so excited on how well it was going, I forgot to take progress photos.  The Quilter's Newsprint was very easy to remove.

I added some borders to increase the size and did some straight-line quilting.

I used Kona Black, White, Ash, and Chinese Red.

For the grey sections, I tried Glide thread.  I was very excited to try this thread, but in the end, I was sadly disappointed.  I couldn't get the tension right, and at the corners where I changed directions, I ended up with a loop (almost like a missed stitch).  In the end, I gave up.  Since this is a pillow, I'm hoping that it won't be washed often and that the quilting will hold up.

And when you think you know something for certain, double check.  I added borders based on the 14-inch pillow forms that I had in my stash.  Ummm...they were 16-inch pillow forms.  So off to my LQS to purchase the correct size.  Sigh.  While I was there, I took a photo in the Kona section.

A front yard photo shoot.

This pillow will be going to charity.  One of our guild members allows us to use her business space for our monthly guild meetings.  As a thank you, members donate items to their yearly charity auction in December.  All funds go to a local charity that provides safe, second-stage housing and supportive counselling for women and children in our province.  I'm happy to be ahead of the game this year.

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Celtic Thistle Stitches

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

WIP Wednesday - Fireburst Mystery Flying Geese

I've been playing along with the mystery QAL being hosted by Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.  You can get the first set of sewing instructions here if you want to join in.

The second set of instructions can be found here -- flying geese using all the fabrics.

And one square-in-a-square unit.

There's still time to join in if you're interested.  Instructions are provided at the beginning of each month.

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 - Plus Playtime

And so ends the wonderful Plus Playtime QAL being hosted by Sandra @ Musings of  Menopausal Melon.  You can get still the pattern by clicking here.

I used the following Kona solids:  Corn Yellow, Curry, Kiwi, Peapod, Water, Celestial, Torch, Bright Peri., Rich Red, Candy Pink, Flame, Dark Violet, and Honeysuckle.

I experimented taking photos at different times of day, at different locations around the yard.  I still need some work on getting great photos.  This photo was taken at my work.

This is from later in the day when the sun was not so bright.  That didn't work so well.

This is a great pattern, that pieces together quickly.  I decided to use the same quilting motif on my first version of Plus Playtime.  But this time, I didn't think through thread colour choice.  Quilting loops in white thread on a background fabric with white swirls...the quilting disappeared.  Oh well.

A mid day photo in the backyard.

I'm trying to use props more often in my photos and not the usual hanging on the clothesline pose.  This is one of the offices at my work.

This was first thing in the morning in the front yard.  I still have lots of experimenting to do.

I'm linking up my finish with Sandra:

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Katie Mae Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

WIP Wednesday - 12 Days of Christmas in July

Once again, Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop.  I participated last year -- click here to see my Christmas tree wall hanging.

Here's a sneak peak of my project.  You'll have to stop by on July 22 to see the finish.

I decided to do some more curved piecing.

Not a perfect curve, but pretty darn good enough.

And a finished block.

There are a lot of bloggers participating, so you're sure to find inspiration for a Christmas project...or two.  The blog hop runs July 14 to July 25.

Stash Statement Book Blog Hop - Catch a Falling Star

I'm sure you've heard by now that Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation has a great new book, Stash Statement.  I was surprised and honoured that Kelly asked me to be part of the blog hop to celebrate the release of her book.

The patterns in Stash Statement are about using fabric scraps, sewing them together in a structured improv process.

Catch a Falling Star is the pattern I choose to make.  Now I have to be honest...I didn't realize that the patterns were improv.  I am not a fan of improv and don't do it well.  It was quite a shock when I received the e-book and discovered it was improv.

My first attempt was chain piecing some scraps together and then trying to piece them together.  It didn't work out so well, but I ended up with my first block.

I struggled with making the improv slabs.  The instructions in the book are great, but I like structure and a pattern, and I find improv difficult.  I finally got into a bit of a rhythm, and the improv slabs came together quickly.

Before I knew the pattern was improv, I had decided to make a baby quilt.  What a relief...I don't think I would have had it in me to make enough improv slabs for a full size version.

I'm pleased with how it turned out.  I can do improv!

Stars and loops free motion quilting in blue thread.  It gives the quilt lots of texture.

If you're looking for a great way to use your scraps, you need to get Stash Statement.

Here are the rest of the stops on the blog hop:

                                                          

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework 

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (bonus digital pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                                 Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

TGIFF - Town Square Block

Today's finish is a result of the squirrels.  I saw a quilt block online and decided I had to make it.  This is Town Square by the Missouri Star Quilt Company, and you can get the tutorial here.

It's an easy block using 2.5-inch strips and 6.5-inch blocks.  A great way to use up scraps in your stash.

The block finishes at 18 inches.  I used a variegated thread for the quilting.

A quick pillow that can be used for a gift or to brighten a room.

Next week, I'll be linking up with Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon for her monthly DREAMI (Drop Everything and Make It) link up.

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Chev Vies

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

WIP Wednesday - Classic Meets Modern BOM

We've reached the halfway point in the Classic Meets Modern BOM hosted by Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation.  It's been fun making new blocks.

I'm using the following Kona colours;  White, Steel, Turquoise, Berry, Pool, Parrot, and Royal.

X-Plus is a 10.5-inch block.

Ribbon Star is also a 10.5-inch block.

I can't wait to get all the blocks pieced together.

You can follow my progress:

• January blocks  
• February blocks 
• March blocks 
• April blocks 
• May blocks 

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 - Guild Executive Challenge

My guild, Maritime Modern Quilt Guild, hosts an Executive Challenge each year.  This year's theme was Modern Traditionalism.  Anyone wishing to participate choose a traditional block from a bag and then had to create something that was a minimum of 200 inches in circumference.

I picked the Churn Dash block.  I have far too many WIPs on the go so I didn't want to put too much effort into this challenge.  And I have far too many quilts in my house already without a home.  So I decided to enlarge the block.  My friend Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet suggested I turn the block on point.  Wow...what a difference that made -- it looks like a totally different block.

I decided to only use fabrics in my stash, so the background fabric is a bit wild.

A rotated photo so you can see the traditional orientation of the Churn Dash block.

I put a smaller Churn Dash block in the centre of the larger block.  I did a quick all-over stipple in pink thread for a quick finish.  You can see how wild the background fabric is.

And to make it a little more modern, I put minky on the back.

This is one of my FAL 2018 Q2 goals.

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Lisa in Port Hope

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

WIP Wednesday - Fireburst Mystery QAL

Have you seen the mystery QAL being hosted by Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland?  It's not too late to join in.  You can get the first set of sewing instructions here.

First up were HSTs using Fabrics 1 and 2 and the Background fabric.  You need to make two sizes.  These are the 4.5-inch HSTs.

And the 8.5-inch HSTs -- you can't see the different in the two photos.  LOL

And then some Half Flying Geese, again using Fabrics 1 and 2 and the Background fabric.

This is a slow-paced QAL, with instructions being released each month.  Tish is offering two quilt sizes -- baby and lap.  If you're intrigued, you can get the fabric requirements here.

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