Morris Mist Fabric Blog Hop

Have you seen the new signature Island Batik fabric collection -- Morris Mist -- for Sherry @ Powered by Quilting?  I was honoured to have been asked to participate in the blog hop showcasing the collection.

I played around in EQ8 using the Arrowhead block.  This is a large sized baby quilt at 46 inches.

(It's hard to get photos in the morning before work, and then it's dark after work.  I can't wait for spring.)

I used Aurifil #2309 Silver White thread.  It blended in so well with both the front and the back.

I couldn't decide on a quilting plan, and the quilt was pinned to the frame before I settled on free-motion quilted flowers and loops.

I also added my name in the bottom corner.

I finished piecing the top at Sewtopia Nashville early in November.  The Warm Company generously donated batting.  I'm so glad I took a piece -- cotton batting is sooooooooo very soft.

If you haven't already done so, head over to Sherry's blog to enter her giveaway.

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 

Heading North - Sandra's Pattern Release

Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon launched a new pattern last week -- Heading North.  My blog post was scheduled to post on November 3 while I was on vacation, but when copying the permalink on my phone, I somehow deleted the entire post.

The pattern has two sizes, each with a different layout.  The block is in EQ8, so I played around with colours before choosing my fabrics.  I mixed two Island Batik fabrics with other prints.

I made the throw size, but I added an 8-inch border on the top and bottom rather than the 3-inch border in the pattern.  I prefer rectangle quilts over square ones.

My friend Dena suggested orange for the background.  You all know I ♥ orange, so I was easily swayed.  LOL

Now comes the hard part of deciding on a quilting plan.  There's a lot of negative space to consider.

You can purchase Sandra's pattern here. 

If you are looking for inspiration, here are some other versions.

Wendy - Pieceful Thoughts of my Quilting Life

Carol - Quilt Schmilt

Rose - Something Rosemade

Michelle - @peetmichelle

TGIFF - Fly This Way

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday is once again being hosted here on the east coast of Canada.  If you are new to TGIFF, this is an opportunity to share your finish from the week, either through a blog post or an Instagram photo.

If you would like to host TGIFF, there are lots of dates available for the remainder of 2020.  You can sign up here.

You may remember from a previous blog post that I took an EQ8 workshop at QuiltCon Austin.  I designed something simple to practice the techniques I learned and then actually make the design.

This piece finishes at 28 inches, using Kona Nightfall and Tangerine.  If you start at the top left-hand corner, the path follows the direction of each flying geese block.

This was another opportunity to practice big stitch hand quilting (which I also learned at QuiltCon Austin).  I tried a new-to-me perle cotton -- Presencia perle cotton size 12 #7567 Medium Orange Spice that I purchased from Mad About Patchwork.

My friend Dena thought it would be interesting to put a triangle in the binding.  I must stop consulting with her, but she always has great ideas.  😉  I could have added a triangle the full width of the binding, but then it wouldn't look like a triangle.  But how to add a tiny triangle????  I was intrigued, so I played around with some scraps.  Even after I thought I had it correct on the good binding, I still had to make an adjustment.  It worked!!

I don't have a specific plan for this quilt, but I'm thinking it may make an appearance on a wall in my house.

Another photo of the binding triangle because it's so darn cute.  😊

Now it's time to link up your blog post or Instagram photo showing your finish by using the linkup below.  Don't forget to visit a few blogs -- it's a great way to discover new quilters and to get some quilty inspiration.  Please include the TGIFF button or a link to the TGIFF blog in your blog post so your followers can also view all the great finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Here are some other linky parties where you can share your finish:

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 

UFO Busting @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland

QuiltCon Austin - The Workshops

I finally attended my first QuiltCon, and it did not disappoint!!  I hope to attend QuiltCon 2021 in Atlanta and QuiltCon 2022 in Phoenix.  Time to start saving money.  😉

Today's post is about the workshops I attended.

EQ8 for Beginners - Cheryl Brickey (Meadow Mist Designs)

I have had EQ8 for over a year, but really didn't have an idea how to use it correctly.  Cheryl was an awesome instructor, and I learned a lot.  If you want to learn EQ8, I highly recommend her workshop.

I've already designed a small quilt.  I wanted to try something simple to practice using the features I learned from Cheryl.  I've printed off both rotary cutting instructions and paper piecing templates.

1 Curve, 100s of Ideas - Jen Carlton Bailey (Betty Crocker Ass)

I purchased Jen's curve template set, and they are a great tool.  We learned both a single and double curve.

We also learned a double curve (but not following the path of the previous curve) and a half circle.

And then Jen showed us how to make a full circle.  Another workshop I highly recommend.

Block Printing on Fabric - Pantera Saint-Montaigne (Brooklyn Mojo)

The hardest part of this workshop was creating a design.  I love block printing!!

I sacrificed my pencil (sorry eraser) to add a centre to my flowers.  And yet another workshop that I recommend.

High Contrast Hand Quilting - Riane Menardi Morrison (Riane Elise)

I think I'm starting to like hand piecing/quilting.  Oh my...did I say that??  LOL  This was another great workshop.

I have finished all the lines I marked, but I'm going to add something extra between the lines.

With the exception of my laptop for the EQ8 workshop, I didn't need to bring a lot of supplies for my workshops.  When travelling a long distance with only one checked bag, it was a relief not to have to bring a lot of stuff.  I will definitely keep this in mind when selecting workshops in the future.

Thanks to the Modern Quilt Guild for hosting such a great event.  Also great thanks to the many volunteers who make this event happen.