OMG April Finish - Meadowland Quilts and Pillows

My April OMG goal was to quilt my two Meadowland quilts and to make matching pillows.  I started writing this post hours ago but got sidetracked in my sewing room, but the great thing about being on the east coast is that you always have a few hours grace for midnight deadlines.  LOL

These two quilts will be going to my nieces.

They are 48 inches squares.  I wish I had another one of these FQ bundles, True Colours by Joel Dewberry -- it's a great collection.

Quilting is an all-over loopy stipple in light pink thread.  It blended so well with all the prints.  I used Kona Baby Pink for the binding.

Here's the second quilt.

This QAL was fun.

You can get the Meadowland pattern over at Then Came June.

Here are the matching pillows I finished last week.

These are also one of my FAL 2019 Q2 goals.

Slow Stitching Sunday - Hand Pieced QAL

Earlier this month, I finished my blocks (here) for the the Hand Pieced QAL that was co-hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts and Kristin @ Simple Handmade Everyday.

The deadline to link up a finished quilt top is April 30.  I finished with two days to spare!!

It finishes around 33 inches square.

I'm still undecided on whether to hand quilt or machine quilt the top.  Although I'm seriously considering hand quilting, but it's going to have to go into the long queue...maybe a summer time project when I hope to take some time off work.

This is one of my FAL 2019 Q2 goals.

I'm linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts.  It's definitely not a link up I'll use often (LOL), but I would consider a small hand pieced project from time to time.

Winter Stars Baby Quilt

Note:  All products in this post were given to me by Island Batik as part of their Ambassador program.


As I mentioned earlier this month, our April Island Batik Ambassador challenge was to make a baby quilt using the Accuquilt  Ready. Set. Go! Ultimate fabric cutting system.  There are lots of free patterns on the Accuquilt website, and I chose GO! Star Delight pattern.

I used the Icicle Batiks collection from Island Batik for the stars and an Island Batik Neutral in Custard (a light yellow with a light blue print) for the background.  Cutting the fabric was a quick process using the dies.  I never thought I'd enjoy a cutting system, but I'm already trying to scheme figure out how to buy more dies.

I'm trying my best to name my quilts this year, so this is Winter Stars.  I choose this pattern because I wanted to practice my free-motion quilting.  But then when it came to quilting, I had no ideas.  😊  After some suggestions from a few other Ambassadors, I had a plan.  I decided to use a contrasting thread colour -- Aurifil thread #4150 Creme Brule (variegated).  I (attempted) to quilt curves in the triangles and 4-patches -- definitely need some practice.  Some swirls in the background 4-patches, and wishbones in the other background square.

I used Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend batting.  This is the batting that I normally use, and I love it.  There may be several (okay lots...okay many...) packages of batting in my house -- I like to stock up when Michaels has a 50% off coupon.  LOL

My quilting is definitely not perfect, but I enjoyed the practice.

I seem to know a lot of people with a baby on the way, so it won't take long for this quilt to be gifted.

Thank you to Island Batik, Accuquilt, Aurifil, and Hobbs Batting for the supplies.  This was a fun challenge.

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Alycia 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

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty 
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

Show Off Saturday @ Sew Can She

WIP Wednesday - Wire Flowers

Back in January, I shared all the Wire Flower blocks I made for my group in the Sew Along hosted by Karen Lewis Textiles.  But I just realized that I did not share the blocks I received in the swap.  If you're interested, you can purchase the Wire Flower pattern here.

This is the block I made for myself.

And these are the eight blocks I received.

Love that bold orange background! 😊  My friend Dena knows me so well.  We were surprised to find out that we were in the same swap group.

We have to give three colours, so I said orange, blue, and red.

There are some great prints in my blocks.

Blocks were received from Canada (2), United States (4), United Kingdom (1), and Germany (2).

Here's a possible layout.  I like that bold orange being front and centre.

Time to get these blocks sewn together and then decide on a quilting plan.

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

Finally a Finish!

It's been a few weeks since I've had a finish.  It's a small finish today, but a finish nonetheless. 
This is part of my April One Monthly Goal (and one of my FAL Q2 goals).

These are the pillows I made using the two extra blocks from the Meadowland QAL hosted by Then Came June.  I tried FMQ on my domestic Singer.  Nothing fancy as I know the pillows will be subject to lots of baby drool and spit up. LOL

I also attempted quilting my nieces' names.  I definitely need lots of practice writing words.  It's a good thing the girls are too young to read.  😉

Aliyah loves throwing a pillow on the floor and then flopping down on it.  So these pillows will serve that purpose.

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Quilting Gail

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

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Show Off Saturday @ Sew Can She

Medallion Magic QAL

Have you seen the QAL being hosted by Leanne @ Devoted Quilter for her Medallion Magic pattern?  There's still time to join in -- the second set of sewing instructions was just released this week.

I realized that I forgot to link up my centre star block...oops.  But I had it done on time.  Here it is.

I'm using Kona Nightfall for the background (it sometimes looks black in  my photos).  I'm also using Royal, Tangerine, Torch, Orange, School Bus, and Tiger Lily.

I hope to get the next step done this weekend.

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

Finish Along 2019 Q2 Goals

And just like that... it's time to set goals for Q2 for Finish Along 2019.  I finished all my Q1 goals!!

You can find out more about Finish Along 2019 and link up your goals and finishes at any one of the following hosts:

• Sandra – Studio Sew of Course
• Marci – Marci Girl Designs
• Leanne – She Can Quilt  *Canadian 
• Izzy – Dizzy Quilts *Canadian
• Ella – Throw a Wench in the Works
• Karen – Capitola Quilter
• Lynne – Tinking Along
• Sarah G – Sarah Goer Quilts
• Sarah Z – Cedar Fork Stitches
• Julie – That’s Sew Julie
• Sharla – Thistle Thicket Studio
• Nicole – Handwrought Quilts *Canadian

*A little shout out to my fellow Canadian bloggers. 😉

1.  Meadowland Quilts - I participated in the QAL hosted by Then Came June.  I need to quilt both tops.

And I plan to make two pillows from the leftover blocks.

2.  Hand Pieced QAL - I finished all nine blocks for the QAL hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts.  I need to get the sashing and the corner blocks sewn on.  The QAL link up is April 30.  I hope I can get the top finished by the deadline.

3.  Blooming Wallflowers - I kept up with this QAL hosted by Christa @ Christa Quilts, but then I fell behind when I couldn't figure out a quilting plan yet.  My goal is to get this quilted.

4.  Everyone's Got an X - This is the second baby quilt I've made using this pattern by Andrea @ 3rd Story Workshop.  And of course, I've fallen behind in the QAL as I debate/procrastinate about a quilting plan.

I like linking up with Finish Along as it helps me finish projects -- a little bit of accountability to help keep me focused.  Now if only I didn't get sidetracked by new projects.  😄

Accuquilt Ready. Set. GO! Baby Quilt Challenge

Note:  All products in this post were given to me by Island Batik as part of their Ambassador program.

Accuquilt was generous and provided the Island Batik Ambassadors with a Ready. Set. GO! Ultimate fabric cutting system.  This month's challenge is to make a baby quilt using the cutting system.  I finally made a decision on what to make -- GO! Star Delight pattern -- so I started cutting fabric tonight.

I did a few practice cuts to make sure I was comfortable using the cutter.

In my package from Island Batik, I received a 10-inch square bundle of Icicle Batiks.

Here are some of my triangles.

And my squares.  It didn't take too long to get these all cut.

Stay tuned for further updates.  I can't wait to start sewing.

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 April Goal - Meadowland Quilts

And with a blink of an eye...it's time to set an April One Monthly Goal.  OMG is hosted by Patty @ Elm Street Quilts.

I played along with the Meadowland QAL hosted by Then Came June.  I used a FQ bundle True Colours by Joel Dewberry.

I was a week behind in the QAL, but I managed to catch up.

The blocks were easy to make, but they were time consuming.

And then there were two 48 x 48 inch quilt tops.

I have two leftover blocks that I will turn into pillows to go along with the quilts.

My April OMG goal is to quilt both quilts and get the two pillows made.  I think I can manage with a four-day Easter weekend coming up.