Blogger's Quilt Festival - Large Quilt Category

Amy at Amy's Creative Side is once again hosting Blogger's Quilt Festival.  It's a great opportunity for bloggers to share their work and to be inspired by others.

I am going to enter my Gravity quilt in the Large Quilt Category (for quilts measuring 241 inches or more all around).  Measuring approximately 388 inches, she's the biggest quilt I've ever made.  It was a great way to end 2015.

I made Gravity by following a QAL hosted by Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts.  You can read about my journey of making Gravity here.

I tried a new quilting motif.  My curves are not perfect, but I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Gravity makes me happy and lives on my bed.

I made matching pillows:

I encourage you to head over to Blogger's Quilt Festival to see all the wonderful quilts and to vote.

Best of 2015

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a Best of 2015 linky party.  It's a chance to reflect back on 2015.

2015 was the year of trying new things.

1.  Improv Piecing

In March, my guild, Maritime Modern Quilt Guild, hosted a workshop on improv piecing.  I was a bit reluctant to participate, but decided to step outside of my comfort zone.  I am very pleased with these two projects that are now on the wall in my sewing room.

2.  Longarm

In April, I purchased a used longarm machine from Val @ Purple Boots and Pigtails because she upgraded to the Robot.  It was partly an impulse purchase, but it's something that I secretly wanted to have but never thought I'd have the money or the opportunity.  It's been fun working on my FMQ skills, and I look forward to learning more in 2016.


3.  Gravity Quilt

2015 was the the year of using lots of Kona and Jaybird Quilt patterns.  And so when Val told me she was participating in a Gravity QAL, it was an easy decision to jump on board with her.

4.  Quilt Block Design

I stepped out of my comfort zone and joined the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop.  Part of that adventure afford me the opportunity to design a quilt block.  My block is Floored.   Thanks to my bee-mate Dena for helping with the dimensions and to Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal for the block name.

5.  The Quilter's Planner

I was still riding the high of having designed a quilt block.  And then Stephanie @ Late Night Quilter took it to a whole new level.  She had been designing a quilter's planner, and it was finally coming to fruition.  And my Floored block was going to be featured in the planner.  Pick me up off the floor.  Not only was I able to design a block, but it was actually going to be in print.  I would never have imagined this in a million years.  I can't wait to get my hands on my planner.

What were your highlights of 2015?

Finish Friday - Gravity Pillows

It's been seven months since I began the Gravity quilt journey.  Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts hosted the QAL, and you may recall my finished Gravity posted last month.

Myra added one more linkup:  the Gravity pillow.  Since I put so much work into making Gravity, I decided I needed matching pillows.

I tried a new tutorial for a hidden zippered back:  S.O.T.A.K. Handmade.  It's a great tutorial, and I think I'll be doing this from now on, instead of an envelope back.  Thanks to Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts for pointing me in the right direction.

I carried the quilting from Gravity over to the pillows.

Backing fabric is Flight Patterns by Tamara Kate for Michael Miller Fabrics.

Thanks to Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts for hosting this QAL.

If you have a finish this week, link up with:

TGIFF hosted by M-R @ Quilt Matters
Finish it up Friday hosted by Crazy Mom Quilts

Whoomp There It Is! hosted by A Quilted Passion

TGIFF - Whoomp There It Is!!!

"There's a party over here, a party over there.  Wave your hands in the air."  I'm waving my hands and doing a happy dance.  Gravity is finished!!!

I had some doubt that I would be able to quilt this 97-inch square quilt.  There were a few frantic late nights of sewing earlier this week.  I had to fold the edges over to fit it on the longarm, and then I did the background sections on my little Singer.

I present Gravity:

Gravity will be taking up permanent residence on my bed.

114 Kona colours were used in the making of this quilt -- 108 colours for the blocks and 6 colours for the background.  Woo hoo...lots of colours to cross off my list.

A closeup of the quilting.  I need to practice my skills in quilting curves.  It's not perfect, but I'm happy with it...because she's finished!!

I followed the quilting plan for the background sections from Tamarack Shack.

Thanks to Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts for hosting this QAL.  It was fun to sew along with others, and the timelines were very manageable.  Stop by to say hello and to see the other Gravity finishes.

The backing is wide back Prisms by Studio E Fabrics.

You can read about my adventures making Gravity here:

Block 1 - Horizon

Block 2 - Constellation

Block 3 - Orbit
Block 4 - Intergalactic
Block 5 - Celestial
Block 6 - Ultraviolet

Block 7 - Cosmic

Block 8 - Eclipse

Block 9 - Voyage

Background Blocks

Now it's time for your finishes.  Post your finished project using the linkup below.  Don't forget to visit some of the other finishes and share some love and encouragement.  Please include a link and/or the TGIFF button in your blog post so your readers can also view all the great finishes.

An InLinkz Link-up

TGIFF - It's Done!

It's TGIFF!!

I know it's just a finished quilt top at this point (and not a fully finished quilt), but I'm so pleased with my efforts.  With all the work that has gone into this almost 100-inch square quilt, I deserve some Friday Finish love.

My Gravity quilt top:

The Gravity QAL was a great success.  Again many thanks to Myra @ Busy Hand Quilts for hosting.

Now the hard part -- deciding how to quilt this gigantic quilt.  The link up for finished quilts runs from September 18 to November 20.

You can read about my journey of piecing the blocks here:

Block 1 - Horizon

Block 2 - Constellation

Block 3 - Orbit
Block 4 - Intergalactic
Block 5 - Celestial
Block 6 - Ultraviolet

Block 7 - Cosmic

Block 8 - Eclipse

Block 9 - Voyage

Background Blocks

Proudly linking up with:

TGIFF hosted by Laura @ Quokka Quilts

Finish it up Friday hosted by Crazy Mom Quilts

WIP - Gravity Background Blocks

The Gravity QAL is coming to an end.  Quilt tops will be showcased the first week of September.  The link up for finished quilts runs from September 18 to November 20.

Here are the background sections which will be pieced with the 18 blocks (two colour ways of each block).  Not very colourful, but these are integral to piecing the top together.

The Tail

The Wing

The Diamonds

I seem to be missing a photo of the Triangle pieces.

The next post you read about Gravity will be a finished quilt top.  It's been a fun adventure!

You can read about my journey of piecing the nine blocks here:

Block 1 - Horizon

Block 2 - Constellation

Block 3 - Orbit
Block 4 - Intergalactic
Block 5 - Celestial
Block 6 - Ultraviolet

Block 7 - Cosmic

Block 8 - Eclipse

Block 9 - Voyage

Linking up with:

         

WIP Wednesday - Gravity Pillows

The recent Gravity madness continued during a Q-Squared sew day.  I love getting together with the Squares for a day of sewing and good conversation.  And of course going out for lunch and taking a trip to the LQS.

Matching pillows for my Gravity quilt.

I need to square these up and decide how to quilt them.

Also have to decide what to use for backing fabric -- as well as backing fabric for the Gravity quilt.


Linking up with:

         

WIP Wednesday - The Final Gravity Block

The end is in sight.  It's hard to believe it's only been three months since my Gravity adventure began.

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts did a great job organizing and hosting this QAL.  The schedule of two weeks to complete each block was the right amount of time.  Not too long of a period that I'd procrastinate, and not too short that I was scrambling to get the blocks done.

Here's Block 9 - Voyage.

Kona:  Nightfall, Surf, Water, Ocean, Pacific, and Malibu

Kona:  Tangerine, Mango, Permission, Orange, Carrot, and Torch

You can read about Blocks 1 to 8:

Block 1 - Horizon

Block 2 - Constellation

Block 3 - Orbit
Block 4 - Intergalactic
Block 5 - Celestial
Block 6 - Ultraviolet

Block 7 - Cosmic

Block 8 - Eclipse

Linking up with:

         

WIP Wednesday - Gravity Madness Continues

As if I didn't already have my hands full using 108 Kona colours (plus 6 background colours) to complete the Gravity quilt...I decided to make two matching pillows.  The instructions for the pillow are included with the pattern, and the triangles are cut from the scraps from cutting the blocks.

Myra over at Busy Hands Quilts has been doing an awesome job hosting the Gravity QAL.  I'm so glad that I joined the fun.

108 Kona triangles

I thought it would be easy and quick to cut the triangles...ha ha ha...it took several nights to cut all those little triangles.  Hoping that it doesn't take as long to piece together.

If you have a WIP to show off, you should also link up with: