TGIFF - Blue Skies

I have a finish!

I have a long list of quilt tops that need to be pieced.  Blue Skies is a pattern by Sandra @ Musings of  Menopausal Melon.  I also pieced Sunny Days at the same time, but it remains in the laundry basket of unquilted tops.

This was the first quilt I loaded on my new Grace Q'nique 16X longarm.  Thanks to Dena for helping me put it all together.  I'm still learning how to use it and get the tension setting correct.  You will note that I started out quilting wavy lines but then I switched to a stipple.  I had to take out six rows of stitching.

I think this quilt will become a lap quilt for my chairs.  The backing matches the green curtains on my patio doors in the dining room.

I stitched the binding to the back using a big stitch with Wonderfil perle cotton.

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ chrisknitssews

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 

Free Motion Mavericks @ Quilting & Learning - What a Combo!

TGIFF - Flower Pouch Bag by Dena

Welcome back for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

Unfortunately, this week's host was unavailable due to illness.  My friend Dena agreed to showcase her finish from this week, but as she does not have a blog, I'll share her photos.

The Flower Pouch Bag is a free pattern and tutorial.

It really does look like a flower. 

Dena used a great striped print for her bag.

Head over to Instagram to share some quilty love to Dena for her great finish.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

TGIFF - Trip Around the World

Welcome to this week's edition of Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

This is the final quilt that I was commissioned to make for The Secret Codes:  African Nova Scotian Quilts exhibition that was on display at the Dalhousie Art Gallery.  You can see the other projects from the exhibition here and here.

The batting is Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20.  I quilted an all-over boxy stipple in a light/medium blue thread.

This quilt finishes 67 x 75 inches and becomes part of the permanent collection of the Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia.

I used Kona: Alegria, Delft, Tomato, Robin Egg, Royal, Spice, Honey, Medium Pink, Red, Navy, and Surf.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Just Two Charm Pack Quilts Book - Process Flow

Did you see the new book by Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs -- Just Two Charm Pack Quilts?  Cheryl has been hosting a blog hop to showcase the great patterns in the book.

Here is my version of Process Flow.

I used Kona Quicksilver and Black for the two background colours.

The Process Flow pattern also gives instructions for using 2.5-inch strips.  These prints are from Ruby Star Society.  I had purchased a scrap bag from Sewtopia, and the fabric pieces were 5 inches x 20 inches.  So instead of cutting my fabric according to the pattern, I sewed strip sets.

I was then able to subcut the strip sets into the required units to piece the top.

*Giveaway

For a chance to win a digital copy of Cheryl's book, leave a comment on this blog post and indicate which project from the book is your favourite  The giveaway will end at midnight, Saturday, August 5, 2023.  If you are a no-reply commenter, please leave your e-mail address in your comment.  The giveaway is now closed.

Diatom QAL

Did you participate in the Diatom QAL hosted by Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl? I finally have my quilt top pieced.

I used Kona Enchanted and Kale, along with two prints.

The blocks finish at 18 inches -- 54 x 72 inch quilt top.

TGIFF - Mini Mini Swap

There was a mini swap at our guild meeting this week.  The mini had to be 6-inches or smaller.

I chose to fussy cut this cute little tiger.  I choose a simple block so I could practice free-motion quilting on my Babylock Accomplish.

I received this amazing painted fish mini from Deb.

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ By Hilary Jordan

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 

Free Motion Mavericks @ Quilting & Learning - What a Combo!

TGIFF - Lone Star

Welcome to this week's edition of Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

This is a another quilt that I was commissioned to make for The Secret Codes:  African Nova Scotian Quilts exhibition currently on display at the Dalhousie Art Gallery. 

I was asked to replicate a quilt from a photograph as the original quilter was deceased.  I followed the same colour scheme but choose brighter colours.  I used Kona Meringue (background), Lipstick, Water, Lemon, Chocolate, and Red.

The batting is my go-to Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20.  I quilted an all-over motif of stars and loops in a light yellow thread.

This quilt finishes 68-inches square and becomes part of the permanent collection of the Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  We encourage you to visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs Blog Hop

Have you seen the new book by Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation?  Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs showcases some great ways to piece backings.  I used to piece my backings but then discovered wide backing.  I need to get back to piecing backs because I have enough yardage and because it's a great way to use up leftover fabric from projects.

I made a pieced back for my Turning Wheels quilt, which I realize I have never shared.  Oops.  I tested this pattern for Jen @ Patterns by Jen.

The book shows 30 ways to piece a backing, using either leftover fabric or yardage.  I used leftover fabric from piecing the top (including Kona Tangerine and Clementine) and a piece of teal fabric.

If the book wasn't great enough, there is a bonus -- 18 free patterns.  Free patterns!

I needed some free-motion quilting practice on my Baby Lock Accomplish so tried a few different motifs.

You can get Kelly's book at the usual places:

• Amazon USA
• Amazon Canada
• Barnes and Noble
• Connecting Threads
• Missouri Star Quilt Company
• If you want a signed copy, you can order directly from Kelly.

The quilting is more visible from the back.  I made the Coin Strip pattern.  It's a great way to add some interest and to increase the width of your back if you don't have enough fabric.

Visit the following bloggers to see what pieced back they made:

• Sandra @ mmm quilts
• Rose @ Something Rosemade
• Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts
• Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
• Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal
• Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
• Vasudha @ Storied Quilts
• Kris @ Sew Sunshine
• Leanne @ Devoted Quilter
• Rebecca @ Rebecca Grace Quilting
• Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts
• Susan @ Quilt Fabrication
• Kate @ Katie Mae Quilts
• Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts
• Linda @ Flourishing Palms
• Anne-Marie @ Stories From the Sewing Room
• Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
• Gail @ Quilting Gail
• Kat @ Scrapbox Quilts
• Julie @ Julie's Quilts and Costumes
• Jan @ The Colorful Fabriholic

2023 Monthly Colour Challenge - February, March, and April Blocks

I forgot to share my February, March, and April blocks for the Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen.

February - Kona Ice Frappe and Pool

Wonky flying geese blocks.

March - Kona Canada Red and Rich Red

I decided to make regular flying geese instead of wonky ones.

April - Kona Spring and Grass Green

If you want to sew along, make sure to sign up to receive the monthly blocks by e-mail.

TGIFF - Nova Scotia Sea

Welcome to this week's edition of Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

My finish this week is a quilt top I finished in December 2021.  I made the Storm at Sea pattern using a signature fabric line by Sherry @ Powered by Quilting -- Calm Lagoon from Island Batik.

As this quilt will be hanging in a concurrent quilt show at Quilt Canada 2023 being held in my city next week, I have named it Nova Scotia Sea.  Naming quilts is hard, but this one was easy.

Quilts for the show had to be delivered to my friend Brenda so I took advantage of a photo shoot at her house as she has many canoes on her property.

I quilted wavy organic lines using a blue variegated thread by Connecting Threads.  The batting is Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20.

I'm hoping this will give me some motivation to finish up my ever-growing pile of quilt tops.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  We encourage you to visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Block of the Week Quilt Along - Part 1

Dena and I have created another Block of the Month quilt along for our quilt guild, but it's actually a Block of the Week.  There are 100 blocks over 11 months -- 8-inch blocks and 4 x 8 inch blocks. Dena is the creative side designing all the blocks, and I'm tech support, formatting the instructions and creating the blocks in EQ8.

Here are my first 10 blocks.  I'm using bright colours from my scrap pile.

We started the BOW on January 1.  I sewed several blocks, but then I fell behind because I was focused on getting the files ready for the weekly release.

Dena loves tiny piecing, especially HSTs.

And of course, she loves paper piecing, but the flying geese were easy to make.

The paper pieced pineapple almost put me over the edge.  I limited it to two colours so I wouldn't mess it up.

I've been sewing all weekend trying to catch up -- we're on block 42.  I'm working on two pieced blocks.  I also have two paper pieced blocks to make.  And I need to make an alternate 8-inch block and an alternate 4 x 8 inch block because I don't want to make two of the blocks, one of which is paper pieced with tiny, tiny piecing.  No thank you.

TGIFF - Sailboat Quilt

I upsized this sailboat block into a 24-inch quilt.  I used Kona Natural, Red, Chocolate, and Royal.  I quilted organic wavy lines in matching threads.

This quilt joins others that I was commissioned to make for The Secret Codes:  African Nova Scotian Quilts exhibition currently on display at the Dalhousie Art Gallery. 

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Sew Cute and Quirky

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting 

TGIFF - Abstract Landscape

My guild hosted a workshop with Andrea @ 3rd Story Workshop.  Andrea taught us bias tape applique using her Abstract Landscape pattern.

I used Kona Terracotta, Pimento, Cedar, and Blue.

We used a twin needle to stitch down the bias tape.

I tried some free motion quilting on my Babylock Accomplish.  This is 18.5 x 19.5 inches.

This was our guild's first in-person workshop since the pandemic, and we had a great time learning from Andrea and socializing with each other.  Andrea has some great patterns and workshops.