TGIFF - Meadow Mystery Finish

The Meadow Mystery QAL hosted by Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs has come to an end.  Tomorrow is the deadline to submit a finished quilt (or quilt top) to be included in the parade of quilts.

And here is my finished quilt.

Sadly snow made another appearance.  😢

I spent a lot of time considering quilting options, but no ideas came to mind.  So when all else fails, an all-over stipple in white thread.  The white thread blended in so well with all the colours -- it gives the quilt some texture.

I found an awesome print for the back.  And now I'm regretting not buying more, especially since it was on sale for $5 a metre.

It was so windy, the snow kept getting all over the quilt.

You can read about the making of this quilt:

• Fabric Selection
• Cutting
• HST Blocks
• Hourglass/Flying Geese/Square-in-Square Blocks
• Piecing Blocks
• Piecing More Blocks
• Quilt Top

If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

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 

TGIFF - Isla Top

I made my Isla top (created by Made by Rae), and I am so pleased with it.  ♥  I made a top!!  I was afraid to try it, and it was so easy to make.  So easy that I can't wait to buy some more knit fabric to make another one....maybe more than one.  I think I'm ready now to make my Washi dress that I've been avoiding for at least a year.

This project was my March OMG and my final goal for Q1 of Finish Along 2017.

I hate having my photo taken, but I knew it was the only way for you to get a good look at the top...so here goes.  I finished it on Sunday and then wore it to work on Monday.

Donna was trying to get me to pose, while trying to make me laugh at the same time.

Here's a close up of the top.

If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finish Friday @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who 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 

And a new link up to showcase your efforts at trying something new:

New to Me @ Celtic Thistle Stitches

WIP Wednesday - Postcard from Sweden QAL

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts is hosting a Postcard from Sweden QAL.  You can get the free pattern by Jeli Quilts here.

I started this project in 2016.  And by started, I mean that I cut squares and didn't do anything else.  Due to poor planning, I missed the first link up for the QAL.  Here is my pile of 5-inch squares.

I got down to business and cut all the squares on the diagonal.  And then realized quickly that I'm going to have to piece all the HST's before working on any other project.  All the 36 colours are paired with a variety of other colours, and I couldn't figure out the best way to stay organized other than to leave them out on my cutting table.

I've pieced the HST's for rows 1 and 2.

Rows 3 and 4 at the ready to be sewn.  I hoping to find some time this weekend for more sewing.

There's still time to join in on the fun.

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

WIP Wednesday - More Pattern Testing

Not a lot of sewing happening lately.  I've been working overtime on some projects at the office, and I had a minor eye procedure.  As an FYI, having your eyes frozen is an odd sensation and not one that I'm interested in repeating.  But the worst part is now having to put drops in my eyes four times a day for two weeks.  I'm starting to think that the clogged tear ducts would have been better to deal with than these drops.

But I did manage a little of bit sewing -- pattern testing for Tish @ Tish's Adventures in Wonderland and Dave @ Dave the Quilt Engineer.  Here are the fabrics I started with.

The pattern is still under wraps -- due to be revealed and released in April -- so just a little sneak peek of the sewing.

I'm excited to finish the piecing and work out a quilting plan.

Stay tuned for the big reveal next 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

Quilters Laundry Day Blog Hop

Janice @ Color, Creating, and Quilting and Jen @ A Dream and a Stitch are hosting a blog hop today and tomorrow, showcasing Jenn's pattern Quilters Laundry Day, which you can download here.

Because the pattern is a house block, I decided to deviate a little bit from the blog hop.  (I'm hoping the hosts will forgive me since it's for a good cause.)  You may have heard in the news back in January that a gunman made an attack on a Quebec City (Canada) mosque.  The Montreal Modern Quilt Guild put out a call for house blocks to make quilts for each of the families of the victims.  You can read about it here.

So my block is not quilted, and I downsized it to 12.5 inches.

I had a little trouble modifying the size of the block (rushing does not pay), so instead of "making" a quilt block to hang on the clothesline, I used a fabric that reminded me of a quilt.

I also had another house block from an improv workshop I took, and both blocks are now on their way to Montreal to be sewn into a quilt.

There are many bloggers playing along with the blog hop.  I encourage you to go and visit.  And if you have time, consider sending a block to the Montreal Modern Quilt Guild.

March 10 Reveal Day

Jen Rosin  A Dream and a Stitch
Kate Heads at Smiles From Kate
Jennifer Fulton at Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels and Eats
Melva Nolan at Melva Loves Scraps
Vicki at Vicki's Crafts & Quilting
Julie Stocker at Pink Doxies
Diann at Little Penguin Quilts
Jayne at Twiggy & Opal
Susan Arnold at Quilt Fabrication
Leanne Milsom at Lizzie the Quilter
Sandra Walker at Mmm! Quilts!

March 11 Reveal Day

Janice Holton at Color Creating & Quilting

Sola at Alice Samuels Quilt Co

Jennifer Strauser at Dizzy Quilter

Amy Gerlich at Amy Scrap Spot

Sharon Denney Parcel at Yellow Cat Quilt Designs

Tami at Sew Much for Free Time

Suzy Webster at Adventurous Applique & Quilting

Tish Stemple at Tish's Adventures in Wonderland

Susan Gordon at Sevenoaks Street Quilts

Anne Boundy at Said With Love

Barbara Wootie at The Flashing Scissors
Jan Welander at Making Scraps

Mary Marcotte at Fleur de Lis Quilts

WIP Wednesday - Kona Love

I spent Saturday night cutting some Kona 2.5-inch strips for a commissioned quilt.  Ooooh...such wonderful colours.  And then I sub-cut the strips into sections of 8 inches, 16 inches, and 32 inches.

I've pieced the 8-inch sections.  I had to take my time to make sure I sewed them in the right colour order.  It's now a 64-inch strip.

It's been busy (aka overtime) at work, so haven't had a chance to sew all week.  The 16-inch sections are next up for sewing.

Happy International Women's Day!

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

March's One Monthly Goal

My March OMG is to make my Isla top, which is my last Finish Along 2017 Q1 goal.

I found this knit fabric, and although it's quite bold, there is something about it that intrigues me.  We'll see how well it looks made into this pattern.

The pattern pieces are all cut out, and I have the right machine needles.

Here's what the top is supposed to look like.  Time will tell if mine bears any resemblance.

[photo from Made by Rae website]

Now to summons the courage to start cutting fabric and begin sewing.

TGIFF - Bee Charity Quilt

This week's finish is not totally finished, but my part of the project is finished.  My Bee pieced a quilt to be donated to charity.  I quilted it, and now it's gone to someone else for binding.

I don't know what the block is called.  And before you ask...no, I did not choose the colours.  Although you all know that orange makes me happy.  ♥

These photos were taken last weekend before the snow all disappeared.

This is a large quilt -- 80 x 90 inches.  So an easy all-over stipple in cream thread for a quick finish.

I wonder what our next group project will be.

If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

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 

WIP Wednesday - Scrap Quilt

Saturday was the monthly Sew In for Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.  I didn't have a project to work on that was easily portable, so I madly searched my stash first thing in the morning (yes, I waited until the last minute to prepare ☺) for something to piece together.  And then I remembered a tutorial from Confessions of a Fabric Addict that I wanted to try.

I pulled out my box of 2.5-inch strips that I received from a strip exchange from my previous guild and cut some 2.5-inch strips of Kona Shell (formerly known as Pale Flesh).  Here is the start of the piecing.

I continued sewing on Sunday (yes, I ignored the laundry and housework), and voilà, a quilt top.  This finishes around 54 x 62 inches.  As you can see in the tutorial here, you're supposed to lay out the strips and make a plan before cutting the white sections. Well...I decided to be a smart-ass and just randomly cut.  Which resulted in a little bit of white at the top and lots of white at the bottom.

I think I'm going to quilt this with wavy organic lines up and down the strips.  Not sure what colour thread though.

You may recall all my recent snow-laden photos.  It's all gone!!  Here are a few photos.  What a difference a week of mild weather, fog, and rain makes.

It's hard to get good photos in the fog and rain.

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