TGIFF - Sleepy Fox Pillow

Oops...I made another pillow.  😊  I had a Dreami (Drop Everything and Make It) moment this week.  I've been wanting to make the Sleepy Fox pattern by Andrea @ 3rd Story Workshop for some time.  And this was the week I had to make it.  This will be a birthday gift, and a pillow will be more appreciated and used than a wall hanging.

I followed the colour scheme in the pattern:  Kona Creamsicle, Flame, Paprika, White, Black, and Silver.  Here's what he looked like before quilting -- adorable.

Some simple organic wavy lines for a quick finish.  And besides I didn't have any other ides on how to quilt it.

I've been putting bindings on my recent pillows so there are no raw edges inside to become frayed when the cover is washed.

And because he's so darn cute, a few more photos.

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Dizzy 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 - August Blocks of the Classic Meets Modern BOM

We've made it to the eighth month of the Classic Meets Modern BOM hosted by Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation.

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

Dutch Pinwheel is a 10.5-inch block.  Lots of HSTs and a few Flying Geese...a fun block to make.

Chevron Diamonds is also a 10.5-inch block.  This block is made with Flying Geese.

I've been enjoying this leisurely-paced BOM -- it's not too much work each month, and it's been fun making all these new-to-me blocks.

You can follow my progress:

• January blocks  
• February blocks 
• March blocks 
• April blocks 
• May blocks 
• June blocks 
• July 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 - The Last Pillow

...at least for the time being.  😊

This is the last of the three blocks I managed to finish from the EPP Party hosted by Mister Domestic last year.  This was Block 2 -- Equilateral.

Simple diagonal straight-line quilting for a quick finish.

I used Kona Curry for the binding to see how a contrasting colour would look.  The Curry matches some of the Xs in the pink print.

I really like this pillow.  And the design can be created by traditional piecing -- EPP not required.

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Powered by Quilting

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, Block 1

There's still lots of time if you want to play along with the mystery QAL being hosted by Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.  You can get the fabric requirements here.

The August sewing instructions can be found here.

Block 1 is made from the half Flying Geese and HST's previously made.

Add some background pieces, and voilà a 20.5-inch block.  It doesn't take long to make the four blocks.

Now to wait for the September instructions.

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

OMG - August Goal

It's been a few months since I set a One Monthly Goal, but I'm back.

This is one of my FAL 2018 Q3 goals.  It's the Retreat Bag by Emmaline Bags.

It took me some time to decide on fabric, but I figured I might as well go for my favourite colour -- orange.

And some blue for the lining.

Now off to my LQS to get the required interfacing.  My guild mates tell me that the pattern is not hard.

TGIFF - It's All About the Pillows

Welcome once again to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is your opportunity to showcase your finishes from this week.

I am one of the four monthly TGIFF managers.  Each of us is responsible for managing the weekly linkup three months each year.  We host TGIFF once monthly, but are responsible to host when someone else has not signed up.  So if you'd like to host TGIFF, click here to see the schedule and sign up.

Now on to my finish for this week.  As I mentioned last week, I didn't finish sewing along with the EPP Party hosted by Mister Domestic last year.  This is  Block #7 -- Chrysanthemum.

I lost some of the points when I added a border to make this into a 14-inch pillow.

For a quick finish, I stitched in the ditch from the centre out to the edge and all around the middle.

One more pillow to make, and then I need to get back to making quilts.  😊

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 blog in your blog post so your followers can also view all the great finishes.



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 

WIP Wednesday - Stellar Stars BOM

I'm slowly, very slowly, making my way through the Stellar Stars 2018 Block of the Month by Cristy @ Purple Daisies Quilting.

I forgot to show my third March block -- Shadow Blossom, which is a 6.5-inch block.  I had trouble adding seam allowance to turn under for the applique, so I drew my cutting lines.

A little extra work, but I had plenty to iron under the edges.

Machine applique went well, thanks to glue basting.  I didn't think I'd like glue basting, but I think it's my new favourite technique.

And voilà...a finished block.  The petals are not as round as they should be, but I'm happy with it.

Now on to the three April blocks.  First up was the Ohio Star, another 6.5-inch block.  Perfect seam and point matching thanks to glue basting.

And the other two April blocks are paper piecing. There are 16 Flying Geese sashing blocks.  I cut fabric for all the blocks, even though we only make two blocks per month.

These are two of the eight B sections (4.5 x 6.5 inches) that are sewn to the A sections (4.5 x 10.5 inches) to create the sashing blocks.

And we make eight more of the B sections in a different colour scheme.

I love the the Quilter's Newsprint by the Electric Quilt Company.  It's thinner than copy paper, but it's not as see through.  And it tears away a lot easier.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to finish up the rest of the April blocks more quickly now that I have all the fabric cut.

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

You're Invited

In partnership with Anagram Interactive, I was given an opportunity to do a review for Paperless Post.  I was given free coins to play around the site and to provide a review.  Please note that this is my honest review based on my experience.

Paperless Post is a great site to create invitations, birthday cards, etc.  There are lots of free options, and there are lots of great options to customize your card.

The Post Box lists all your invitations, including your drafts.  From here, you can see who has responded to your invitation.

Once you have chosen your template, you can customize the text, the font, the background colour -- the possibilities are endless.

Here's the draft of my 50th birthday party.  I had to postpone my party and details are not yet finalized.

It's easy to upload or copy and paste the e-mail addresses for your invitees.  You can also update your guest list and send out additional invitations.

You can preview your invitation before sending, but I love that you can send yourself a test invitation.  This gives you the opportunity to see exactly what your guests will receive.

You can even customize the inside of the envelope, if you choose to include an envelope.  I think the envelope is a nice touch.

I encourage you to head over to Paperless Post to take a look.  There are also greeting cards, thank you cards, and stationery.  It's a great way to save on printing and postage costs.

TGIFF - More Pillow Fun

Okay...I may never make another quilt again.  😊  Pillows are so quick and easy -- instant gratification.

Last year, I attempted to play along with the EPP Party hosted by Mister Domestic.  I did not succeed and only managed three blocks -- this is Block #5, Vibrant Star.

I am not going to get around to finishing these blocks, so I added a border -- voilà, a 14-inch pillow.

I attempted free motion quilting on my domestic Singer.  It's not bad, but I'm not totally happy.  My Singer is a workhorse, but she doesn't like free motion quilting much.

It's easier to get photos of pillows because they're small.

Now to make pillows out of the other two blocks.  And then another WIP crossed off the list!!


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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Sarah Goer 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

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's my turn on the 12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop hosted by Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  This is my second year participating, and I extend my thanks to Sarah for all the work that she puts into organizing and hosting this blog hop.

I recently had some success with a table runner using the Quick Curve Ruler Mini by Sew Kind of Wonderful.  So I thought I'd give it a try again, using the same pattern that came with the ruler.

This is the block, which is actually half of the larger block.  Curved piecing is not as hard as you imagine it to be.

I thought I would make Christmas "ornaments" -- but I wasn't thinking when I was cutting the red and green fabrics.  I followed the pattern thinking that I needed an even number of each colour. But I forgot that there were five "ornaments" and that I need 8 squares of one colour and 12 of the other.  And I didn't realize my error until I started piecing the blocks together.

Although the plan is for this to be a table runner, I do like it hanging on the wall.  Maybe I'll add a hanging sleeve.

I felt the fabric called for free motion quilting of stars and loops.  I even hand sewed the binding to the back.

If you're making Christmas gifts this year, I hope you were able to find some new projects during this blog hop, or at least some inspiration.

Giveaway
I have two patterns by Jaybird Quilts to give away:  Mini Northern Lights and Seaside.  Leave a comment for a chance to win both patterns.  The giveaway is open internationally and ends at midnight on Wednesday, July 25, when the blog hop ends.

       

Here is the complete list of all the blogs participating:

Saturday, July 14th

Joy @ Days Filled With Joy

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Sunday, July 15th

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic

Monday, July 16th

Carole @ From My Carolina Home

Jamie @ L'Fair Quilts

Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels & Eats

Tuesday, July 17th

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts

Mary @ Made by Marney

Wednesday, July 18th

Cindy @ Stitchin' At Home

Karrin @ Karrin's Crazy World

Thursday, July 19th

Christina @ Christina's Handicrafts

Sherry @ Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.

Danice @ Homespun Hannah

Friday, July 20th

Kristi @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict

Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts

Saturday, July 21st

Marian @ Seams To Be Sew

Meloney @ Mel's Quilting Blog

Sunday, July 22nd

Anja @ Anja Quilts

Moira @ Quilted Snail

Monday, July 23rd

Brenda @ Songbird Designs

Amy @ Sea of Estrogen

Bonnie @ In Stitches With Bonnie

Tuesday, July 24th

Kathy @ Kathy's Kwilts and More

Summer @ Summer Lee Quilts

Wednesday, July 25th

Susan @ Quilt Fabrication

Brandy @ Pampered Pettit

Jean @ All Points of the Compass

TGIFF - Dresden Plate Pillow

I tried something new -- Dresden plate.  I keep seeing Dresden plate projects, specifically over at Musings of a Menopausal Melon and at Patchwork n Play.

I purchased a generic Dresden plate ruler at our guild yard sale.  There were no instructions on the packaging, but I think I did a good job figuring it out.  It didn't lie perfectly flat, but a bit of steamy pressing did the trick.  😊

Aren't those foxes adorable.  I don't know the fabric -- they were a gift from a friend.

I decided to make a 16-inch pillow for a quick finish.  I used Kona White and Curry.  After I put the binding on, I realized I should have added more quilting.

I decided to give the front yard another try for photos, as I seem to be getting good photos there lately.

And since pillows are easier to photograph, a photo beside another bush in the front yard.

Pillows may be my new to-go project -- they are easier and quicker to make than quilts.

I think this pillow will go to the charity I talked about last week.

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

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Quilting and Learning

Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation