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.

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

TGIFF - Lisa the Unicorn

I decided to take a break from working on in-progress WIPs to make a project on my wish list.  Lisa the Unicorn by Elizabeth Hartman has been sitting around, and I thought it would a fairly quick project.

I decided to go with the 26-inch pillow version in the pattern.  These are the Kona colours used:  Silver for background, White, Gotham Grey, Quicksilver, Foxglove, Sassy Pink, Orangeade, Cantaloupe, Mac & Cheese, Duckling, Bright Idea, Acid Lime, Key Lime, Parakeet, Aruba, Waterfall, Paris Blue, and Blueprint.

The first step in the pattern turned those fabrics into about a fourth of the unicorn.

A couple of nights of sewing, and there was a finished top.  I realized at this point that Kona Silver for the background was too light.  Oh well...too late to turn back.

Was feeling pretty good about my accomplishment, and then there was stress....how to quilt it.  I consulted with Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet (start a blog already will ya), and she suggested the motif that Elizabeth Hartman used in the pattern.  Sure why not...it's only 26-inches if I doesn't work out.

Surprisingly, it didn't take long to quilt this.  I do like the motif, but some practice is required.  I had trouble being consistent with sizing, and I kept quilting myself into a corner.  It's basically a boxy stipple, but without making the boxes.  I will definitely use this motif again.

I had to buy a 26-inch pillow form -- who knew they made them that large.

I'm loving it!!

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Slice of Pi 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

WIP Wednesday - Plus Playtime QAL

It's been fun playing along with the Plus Playtime QAL being hosted by Sandra@ Musings of  Menopausal Melon?  Click here to get the fabric requirements -- the pattern is free!!  Even if you don't participate in the QAL, it's a great pattern.

Here are couple of the blocks from Row 3.

I used the same background fabric for all nine blocks -- so there is no shadow plus in the background.

A finished Row 3.

And a finished quilt top!  Now to make a decision on thread colour and quilting motif.

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

Plus Playtime Quilt Along

Have you seen the fabulous QAL being hosted by Sandra@ Musings of  Menopausal Melon?  There's lots of time to join in.  Click here to get the fabric requirements -- the pattern is free!!

Here are a couple of my blocks from the first two rows.  The blocks are 18.5 inches.

I decided to go with a printed background, and pluses made with Kona solids.  My first version of Plus Playtime, I used Kona for the background and prints for the pluses.  You can see it here.

Here is Row #1.

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.

And this is Row #2.

Head over to Musings of  a Menopausal Melon -- there's lot of inspiration.  I now want to make a black, grey, white, and red version like Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.

TGIFF - Ebony Top

One of my Bee Christmas gifts was a gift certificate to one of my LQS.  I splurged and bought the Ebony top pattern by Closet Case.

I hate having my photo taken, but it's really the only way to show the top, so here goes.

It flares out a little at the sides.

The back is longer than the front.

I purchased an inexpensive lightweight knit for my first attempt.  It's an easy pattern, but I do need to learn how to use my serger.

The longer back kept billowing up in the wind.

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Devoted Quilted

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom 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

OMG Success - Stellar Stars

My May goal for One Monthly Goal was to finish the January and February blocks for the Stellar Stars 2018 Block of the Month by Cristy @ Purple Daisies Quilting.

✔ Done.  I even finished two of the March blocks.

This is Limelight -- a 12.5-inch block from January.  January's fabrics were red and pink.

As well as a 6.5-inch Ohio Star.

February's fabrics were orange and red.  This is Friends Forever -- another 12.5-inch block.

And another 6.5-inch Ohio Star.

Yellow fabrics made an appearance in March.  Another 12.5-inch block -- Fire Flower.

And...another 6.5-inch Ohio Star.

I gave up on the third block for March -- was having some difficulties with the applique.  I'll try again -- think I need to re-start and not try to fix what I have.

I received my May fabric today.  I think next month's OMG will be the April and May blocks.

If you need some encouragement to finish projects, head over to Patty @ Elm Street Quilts to learn more about the One Monthly Goal.  Did I mention there are prizes to be won!

NOTE:  I'm not receiving e-mail notifications of your comments on my blog.  This is an issue with Blogger.  I can't easily reply to your comments, so don't take it personally if I'm delayed in responding.

TGIFF - Wonton

Welcome once again to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday, being hosted here in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

TGIFF is your opportunity to showcase your finishes from this week and to see what other great projects have been created.

This is my version of the Wonton pattern by Jaybird Quilts.

I couldn't find backing fabric in my stash that worked, so I used mint green minky.  It's soooo very soft.

Because the prints were busy, I did a simple all-over loop quilting motif in yellow thread.

I had trouble squaring the sides, and my version ended up being 49 x 61 inches.  The pattern said it should have been 54 x 63 inches.  Still haven't figured out how I lost 2 inches in the length, but assuming the quilting shrunk it.

There was no plan for this quilt, but it may be my new sofa quilt.

This is one of my FAL 2018 Q2 goals.

Now it's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Link up your blog post showing your finished project 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 link in your blog post so your followers can also view all the great finishes.

An InLinkz Link-up

Here are other ways you can share your finish:

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 

TGIFF - Hands2Help Quilt Along

For the past few years, I have participated in a charity quilt drive.  Hands2Help is hosted by Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  This is the eighth year Sarah has coordinated this project.

I didn't have a pattern in mind or any fabric pulled.  And then before you knew it, time was almost up.  So I scrambled to find a quick and easy pattern and discovered Strip Tango by Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation.  You can find the tutorial here.

I had a bunch of fat quarters that I thought would look good together.  It doesn't look as I had envisioned, but I think it's okay.

A quick all-over stipple in grey thread for a quick finish.

The size wasn't large enough for the charity's requirements, so I added two orange horizontal sashing strips.

I would definitely use Kelly's tutorial again.  But I would make a plan and have a more coordinated collection of fat quarters.

I'm linking up with the following:

Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday @ Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

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 

WIP Wednesday - Classic Meets Modern BOM

It's the fifth month of the Classic Meets Modern BOM hosted by Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation.  If you want to play along, there's lots of time to join the fun.

Crossroads is a 6.5-inch block.  There were two blocks to make this month.

Double Arrow is a 12.5-inch block.

I've been using these Kona colours for my blocks:  White, Steel, Turquoise, Berry, Pool, Parrot, and Royal.


You can follow my progress:

• January blocks
• February blocks
• March blocks
• April 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