Anja Quilts

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

WIP Wednesday - Sewcial Bee Sampler

Things are moving slowly, but progress continues on blocks for the Sewcial Bee Sampler. I'm sewing along with Sandra @ Musings of Menopausal Melon, Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland, and Dave @ The Quilt Engineer.

Block #8 - Clay's Choice

Block #9 - Wedding Ring

Block #10 Butterfly Crossing

Block #11 Four Square

The blocks are all 12.5 inches. There were quite a lot of HSTs. It was nice to have a break with Block #11.

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

Friday, April 20, 2018

TGIFF - Fancy Fox

My LQS asked if I would teach a class on Elizabeth Hartman's Fancy Fox pattern. I choose Fancy Fox II because the blocks are larger. I'm not exactly sure when the class will be, but I had to get some samples ready now.

Here is the Gigantic block to make a 30 x 36 baby quilt.

Loopy free motion quilting in variegated thread.

And the 20-inch pillow. I put in a hidden zipper using this tutorial.

Winter won't let go -- the grass looks horrible.

And indoor photo as the green background didn't photograph well outside.

I'm linking up with the following:

Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday @ Dizzy Quilts

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

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

WIP Wednesday - Classic Meets Modern BOM

I've made it to the fourth month of the Classic Meets Modern BOM hosted by Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation. With just two blocks each month, it's easy to stay on track.

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

This is Susannah, a 10.5-inch block.

Rolling Stone is a whopping 18.5 inches. I'm loving the large blocks in this project.

You can follow my progress:

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

Monday, April 16, 2018

Stash Statement Book Blog Hop

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation has a new book, Stash Statement. I was honoured that Kelly asked me to be part of the blog hop to celebrate the release of her book.

There are a lot of great projects in Stash Statement, and each project will be featured over the next few months. I hope you'll join in each week.

I'm still collecting fabric for my project, but luckily, I have until June to finish. 😊

Head over to My Quilt Infatuation for the kickoff and the chance to win a copy of Stash Statement.

Stash Statement Blog Tour Schedule:

4/16- Grand Bazaar Shelley @ Cora's Quilts

Connie @ Freemotion by the River

4/23- Louvered Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts

Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious Jess @ Quilty Habit

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts

5/7- Beach Retreat Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts

Liz @ Savor Every Stitch

5/14- Fire Pit Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts

Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

5/21- Detour Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts

Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

5/28- Murrina Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl

Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

6/4- Scattered Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal

Christine @ Triangles and Squares

6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom Chris @ made by ChrissieD

Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

6/18- Regatta Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

Debbie @ A Quilter's Table

Christa @ Christa Quilts

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

Anja @ Anja Quilts

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

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Finish Along 2018 Q2 Goals

I successfully finished all my Q1 goals for Finish Along 2018, and now it's time to declare my goals for Q2.

1. Banner Year - I tested this pattern for Andrea @ 3rd Story Workshop. Time to decide on a quilting motif and get this finished.

2. Becca Bags - I've decided to use my New Zealand fabric to make some Becca Bags.

3. Maritime Modern Quilt Guild Executive Challenge - A bunch of traditional blocks were put in a bag. I ended up with Churn Dash. The challenge is to make it modern. It has to be a minimum of 200 inches in circumference. I have a plan all drawn out, and I think I have the fabrics chosen.

4. Wonton by Jaybird Quilts - I have a long list of WIPs that need to be finished, but yet yesterday, I decided I wanted to start yet another new project, so went shopping for fabric. In my own defence, my LQS was having 34% off quilting cotton and wide backing. I had to support them in their birthday month. I may have supported them twice yesterday. 😂

It was this print that caught my eye -- I think I prefer the darker version. The collection is Urbanista by Belinda for Studio e Fabrics.

Linking up with Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts.

Friday, April 13, 2018

TGIFF - Fletcher Baby Quilt

My boss has a new grandson, so a quilt needed to be made. I had a great fat quarter bundle, but I couldn't find a pattern that was interesting and that showcased the great prints. I came across an online pattern called Fletcher. Bingo...the baby's name is Fletcher.

I modified the pattern to allow the use of fat quarters. It ended up 37 x 46 inches.

A quick loop quilting motif in matching green thread. The bear prints are so adorable.

I had a little trouble with that pattern, mostly due to operator error because I didn't fully read the pattern and made some assumptions based on the diagrams. 😊 But luckily, it worked out in the end.

I'm linking up with the following:

Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday @ Pretty Piney

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

Friday, April 6, 2018

TGIFF - QCR Table Runner

I finished the last project of my FAL 2018 Q1 goals! This was a kit that included the Quick Curve Ruler Mini by Sew Kind of Wonderful. Procrastination at its best, as I was dreading sewing curves. As it turned it, it wasn't that bad. Although, there was a lot of steam involved. 😊

I had no clue how to quilt this, so I did loops in white thread just to give the piece some texture.

I've discovered I can get decent photos in the living/dining room first thing in the morning. Time to clean up my Singer treadle as it will now be making more appearances in photos.

The table runner is 14.5 x 35 inches. The next two photos were taken in one of the offices at my work. Good to know the lighting is decent for photos.

Patting myself on the back -- these curves look pretty darn good.

I'm linking up with the following:

Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday @ Celtic Thistle Stitches

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

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

OMG - Becca Bags

Time to get back on track with One Monthly Goal hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts.

A friend in New Zealand sent me some fabulous fat quarters. I've been hoarding them as I didn't want to cut up the great prints. I think they would work well with the Becca Bag pattern by Lazy Girl Designs. I'm pleased with this one I made last month.

Look at those kiwis.

Time to search the stash for some coordinating Kona solids.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Triangle Mini Quilt Challenge

Curated Quilts put out a call for Triangle mini quilts for an upcoming issue. It totally slipped my mind until first thing this morning. My plans for a quiet weekend, with sleeping in, were foiled by my nephew working 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. for two days in a row. So when one is up at the crack of dawn, might as well sew.

My brain wasn't working and I couldn't figure out the math, so I had to simplify my design. It finishes 10.25-inches square.

The requirements were: a square 10 x 10 inches (up to 16 x 16 inches) using pool blue, lime green, orange, light pink, berry pink, and/or plum purple.

I used Kona School Bus, Limelight, and Geranium. I matched the thread in the orange triangles and and reversed the colours in the four corners.

I have no expectation of my project being selected, but I wanted to play along with the challenge. It's nothing fancy, but I'm happy with what I accomplished in a couple of hours.

I am not a fan of hand sewing, but I have to say that I really like a faced binding on small projects. This is the tutorial that I use.

Friday, March 30, 2018

TGIFF - Digital Wave

I finally decided on a quilting motif for my Digital Wave quilt top -- a pattern by Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl.

This is one of my FAL 2018 Q1 goals.

A boxy stipple in cream thread.

I struggle with finding different ways to take photos of my quilts. I was home during the day and was able to catch the daylight, so I tried posing the quilt on my Singer treadle.

I really like this pattern and may try to downsize it next time.

If you have a finish this week, here's your chance to share it with everyone:

Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday @ Cheeky Cognoscenti

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

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Project Quilting 9.6 - Scraptastic

The sixth and final theme of Project Quilting hosted by Kim @ Persimon Dreams was: Scraptastic.

This was my first year participating in Project Quilting. Thanks to Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts for encouraging me to play along. I thought it would be extremely difficult to both come up with an idea for a project and make that project within one week. I wouldn't say it was easy, but it definitely was do-able, and I would participate again.

I've been collecting selvedges for years but never did anything with them. But what to make?? The quickest and easiest was a simple 9-patch of rainbow colours. I used 55 different selvedges to create this 14-inch wall hanging.

Of course, my favourite orange had to be at the top.

The quilting is organic wavy lines in both directions.

There are a lot of great selvedges...some from my own fabric and some collected from friends.

I did a faced binding, using this tutorial. I ended up doing the binding twice, because I sewed the strips to the back of the quilt rather than to the front. Thank goodness it was a small project.

Thanks to Kim and Trish for organizing and hosting Project Quilting. I'm happy to say that I tried something new and survived.

You can vote for your favourite project here.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Modern Plus Sign Quilts Blog Hop - Celestial

It's my turn on the Modern Plus Sign Quilts blog hop hosted by Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs and Paige @ Quilted Blooms. Both Cheryl and Paige have signed copies of their book available on their Etsy shops, and Amazon has the physical and digital versions of the book.

I made the Celestial pattern. It's made with 24-inch blocks, for a total size of 96 x 96 inches. I decided to make a smaller version, with just four blocks, and it measures 48 x 48 inches.

The fabrics are a turquoise polka dot and Kona Cactus. Both fabrics were chosen after I chose the binding fabric, an awesome plus print. I've never planned a quilt around the binding fabric. It was quite fun.

I decided to try a new quilting motif. I should have stayed with tried and true. I definitely need practice with curves. The curves got a little better once I drew lines as a guide.

I wanted to make a plus on the back, but I ran out of fabric, so it ended up being a 9-patch.

Since the background was a bit busy, I quilted it with all-over loops in a matching turquoise thread. It blends with the background, but it gives the quilt some texture.

If you don't look close up, my curves don't look too bad. 😉 I used the same turquoise thread.

A few more photos just for fun.

I hope you find time to stop by all the blogs participating to see all the quilts that are in the book. If you're visiting Anja Quilts for the first time, I hope you take some time to look around and perhaps follow me if you like what you see.

Blog Hop Schedule:

Tuesday, March 13th

Signature Plus

Soma @ Whims and Fancies

Ann @ Brown Paws Quilting

Kitty @ Night Quilter

Tribal Plus

Sophie @ Luna Lovequilts

Afton @ Quilting Mod

Shelley @ The Carpenters Daughter Who Quilts

Wednesday, March 14th

Plus Surround

Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal