First Day of Vacation Productivity

It's day one of vacation, and I've got two projects completed...and there are still more hours left in the day.

First up is my Michael Miller challenge hosted by The Modern Quilt Guild.  The first project went by the wayside as I realized I had cut some of the templates the wrong way.  Since we were only given a fat eighth of each of the six fabrics, I couldn't afford to waste any.  And I didn't enjoy cutting the templates.  I thought it would be a good challenge to try a new technique -- but if it's stressful and causing headache, it's not worth it.  So I changed direction.  The finished project is not what I had envisioned, but I am happy with it nonetheless.  Once I make a sleeve, it will hang in my sewing room.

And yes, that's FMQ in a star motif, although some of the stars are a bit wonky.

Then I decided to give the Aurifil 50wt  thread another try on my commissioned baby quilt.  I tried a few needles sizes and upped the tension on my machine.  My poor Singer didn't know what was going on -- it's never had the tension that high before.  All in all, it was a success, although I am not happy with the large holes in the quilting.  Although the tension problem was fixed, the thread continued to break on a regular basis, both while FMQ and using the walking foot.  I'll keep trying until the spool is done, but I think I'll stick with my trusted Gutermann thread.

Now it's time to sit back and read a book.  Wonder how supper can magically appear and the housework magically get done....

Sew In Day

It was another Sew In with Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.  But first I participated in the Epic Canadian 5K race.  I'm a walker, pretending to be runner, but I achieved a personal best today -- 5K walk/jog in 46:57.  Yeah me!!!!  That's three minutes off my usual 50 minutes.

Then it was off to sew with the ladies.  It was good to finally meet Julia from Jada's Quilting Adventures.  I decided to work on a plus quilt for a commissioned baby quilt.  Once all the blocks were sewn together, I realized that it was far too big for a baby quilt.  So this evening, I cut it half and continued on.  Now to figure out how to quilt it.  Suggestions?

I'll add a border to the other half and make another baby quilt -- a gift that is long overdue.

Thanks to QJ for lending me her Hex N More ruler so I could cut my fabric for some Candy Dish Pillows. 

Next week is going to be an adventure -- a whole week of vacation with no plans.  I've never had a week of vacation without going somewhere.  I hope to get a lot of quilting done and hopefully a sew day with QJ.  Perhaps a trip to the Shore Shore to visit with QD.

Well time for a soak in the tub to soothe the aches muscles from all the walking/running and quilting today.

What a Weekend!

This is my second post in two days.  Who am I???  I never thought that I'd have anything to write about, but this is day two of my quilt ramblings.  It's been a wild and crazy week, and I just had to share.  You can read about the first part of the week here.

Today was all about finishing up projects.  Sandwiched two quilts this morning before church.  I started quilting as soon as I got home from church -- and now realize that I didn't eat lunch.  Then it was off to a Pathfinder meeting.  For those of you new to Guiding, you can learn more at Girl Guides of Canada.  Back home for some more sewing and the pickup of the commissioned quilt.  And then realized once again that I hadn't eaten.  It's been a busy weekend, and I am tired.

The baby quilt is finished.  Quilt label to go on tomorrow and then delivered on Tuesday.

I tried Aurifil 50 wt for this project.  Although my friend Scrapmaster raves about this thread, I was not impressed.  I did not have much success with free-motion quilting.  The thread broke four times, and the bobbin thread broke once.  I admit my FMQ skills are not very good, but this was the worse quilting I've done.  Oh well...it is what it is.  I will play with the Aurifil and hope I begin to like it.

Although the commissioned quilt has not gone to its final destination, I will share as the recipient does not follow my blog and does not know a quilt is being made for her.

Before I fall into bed, here is the fabric I purchased during my fourth adventure this week to my LQS.  I'm going to use these to make Jaybird Quilts Candy Dish pillow pattern.  There are several patterns from Jaybird Quilts that I plan to make.  As you have probably guessed, orange is my favourite colour.  I found the orange and yellow fabrics and started a collection.  QJ and QD had a lot of input (aka peer pressure) into the choices -- but I have to admit that their choices were spot on.

Before I fall asleep onto the laptop, I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles Sunday Stash.

Quilt Top Finishes

The week started out with a F.A.R.T (for you non-quilters, check out the quilting abbreviations at Quarter Inch from the Edge) on Monday with QJ.  We stopped for lunch on the way, and then we put a dent in our shopping lists.  But this was after a trip to my LQS on my own first thing in the morning before meeting up with QJ.  And then after the F.A.R.T., we ended up back at our LQS.  Three fabric purchases in one day...that's an all-time personal best.

On the way to quilt club on Thursday, I had to run to the LQS for an item for a commissioned project and ran into QJ.  You'd think we had already purchased enough fabric three days previous.  Enjoyed a great quilting day with three of the four Squares (QJ and QD) today...and of course, we ended up the LQS.  And more fabric was purchased.  I think my credit card is going to start smoking from all the use this week.

I finished a quilt top today for a commissioned project in the QPP (quilt protection plan).  Here is a sneak peek...the beginnings of a pillow from the scraps.

I received the June fat quarter collection from Sew Sisters Quilt Shop.  Since it was novelty prints, it screamed baby quilt.  This will be a gift for one of the Judges I work with -- for his new grandson who was born last month.  Sssh...don't spill the beans.

I bought some Aurifil thread during one of my many fabric shopping expeditions this week.  Several members of Maritime Modern Quilt Guild rave about this thread and how much better free-motion quilting is with it, so I'm going to give it a try.

It was a productive week, and I managed to finish two quilt tops on my Library Project (hosted by Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.  You can read about my projects here.

I'm amazed at how much sewing was done this week when I had so little time.  Tomorrow I hope to finish up the QPP project and the baby quilt.

I hope your week ended as productively and as fun as mine did.  Quilting is a good stress release and makes me happy.

Linking up with Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.

One of These Things is Not Like the Others...

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?


I can laugh about it today, but last night was a different matter.  I was working on another The Library Project (hosted by Chezzetcook Modern Quilts) and realized I made a grave error.  There are five groups of five fat quarters.  Here are the first three groups:

 

 

 

Did you guess which thing was not like the others?

Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this [the middle] one is not like the others,
Then you're absolutely...right!

 

Each group of five fat quarters is to be cut into five sections.  You can read about the Refracted TNT here.  Somehow, I got cut happy and cut the middle group into six sections.  Oh well...nothing to do but sew up the pieces.

 

I used two fat quarter collections with a few other fabrics mixed in.  I decided to mix up the colours, but am now thinking that I should have grouped all the like colours together.  Lesson learned for next time.

 

I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

Claiming my Blog on Bloglovin!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12311845/?claim=rv2fx2u3whw">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>


Who would have thought that I'd have a blog, let alone claim it on Bloglovin.  Guess I need to step up my game and ensure I have good blog posts.

Quilty Fun at MMQG Sew In

Oh what fun we had at the MMQG Sew In yesterday.  There were new members to meet and fabulous projects to look at.  It was a productive day of sewing and fun fellowship.  Hop on over to Maritime Modern Quilt Guild for more information about the guild.

I finished all the blocks for one of my Library Projects (hop over to Chezzetcook Modern Quilts to read more about The Library Project QAL).  It's time to break into the mini bolt of Kona Snow.  It's been so great saying I own a bolt of fabric (granted it's only 2.5 yards), but the time has come for Snow to fulfill its purpose as sashing between these blocks.

This is based on a project by Elizabeth Hartman over at Oh Fransson.  I'll have to start thinking about how to quilt this project.

It's been a great quilting weekend.  I hope to fit in more sewing this week...or perhaps a visit to my LQS..........

The Library Project Fiasco

There hasn't been a lot of sewing going on in this house during the month of May.  I did, however, get together with my quilt bee, Q-Squared, a few weeks ago.  I had pre-cut a few projects, so I grabbed a container and headed out for a sewing day.  I made great progress, but while working on the blocks at home a few days later, it hit me...it was not on the Library Project list.  I felt so dejected for having put so much time into sewing, but then I got over it -- I was making progress with a project!  I'm still linking up with Adrienne over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.  Here are some of the 48 blocks and then four of them arranged.

Hey, Squares.  You were right...I should have followed the pattern instructions and sewn the block to the piece of paper.  In the end, it was needed to square up the block.  argh....I have a few blocks that are off centre because I didn't cut them down accurately.  Oh well...life goes on.  I had fun making the blocks even though there was a lot of fabric wastage.  I'm sure teacher QJ will tell me that wastage is not a word, but the Squares know how much I detest wasting fabric.  Pause....I've gone to the dictionary....wastage is a word!!!   It means:  wasteful use of something valuable : loss of something by using too much of it or using it in a way that is not necessary or effective.  So true, so true!!!!

As I cleaning, okay attempting to clean, my sewing room, I stumbled across a photo of my very first quilt.  I realize that I have been quilting for 10 years.  I made my first quilt for my nephew L in the fall of 2003 for his fourth birthday.  He was so cute back then.  I took a class at my LQS and made a flannel rail fence.  I think the quilt has now gone on to quilt heaven, but nephew L has received many more quilts from me to make up for it.

In the early days, I didn't take photos of my quilts or keep track of the quilts I made.  I need to organize my quilt book and ensure that I have a photo of all my quilts.  It's interesting to look back and see how far I've come along.

I'm off to a Sew In on Saturday with Maritime Modern Quilt Guild so I need to decide on which Library Project to work on.  In an effort to get back to more regular sewing, I'm going to pre-cut several projects over the coming weeks.

Happy sewing everyone.

Happy Easter!

It was a great long weekend of church, relaxation, and sewing.  Sadly, I just spent two hours trying to fix the problem with my computer, so I'm just getting in under the wire with Easter greetings.

I finished a baby quilt using HST's cast-offs from a previous project.  It now has a home as a friend become a grandmother this weekend.

My monthly fat quarter collection from Sew Sisters Quilt Shop arrived in all its purple glory.  It screamed Easter quilt, but I decided to spread my sewing wings and make some pillows using Heather Bostic's book Pillow Pop.  I am very pleased and can't wait to make some more.

Slowly making progress with my HST's using my South African Shweshwe fabric...8 blocks down...24 more to go.  Linking up with Adrienne's The Library Project over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.

I used up some leftover strips from my Girl Scouts of USA fabric to make a strip quilt.

This seems to be the week to stretch my quilting abilities.  I signed up for the Michael Miller challenge hosted by the Modern Quilt Guild.  The project I have chosen uses templates...what was I thinking???  Here are the fabrics we were given:

I think I finally understand the process of creating posts.  Now on to learn how to do other things.  I hope you all have a chance to quilt this week.  I hope to sneak in a bit more sewing tomorrow provided I get all my Girl Guide paperwork done.

Library Project Update

Most of March was spent working on a project in the QPP.  The quilt was delivered today, so I can now share.  Wings of Eagles quilt pattern for CJW for her birthday.  The pattern is based on Isaiah 40:31 -- "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

Although there was limited sewing on the Library Projects during March, I made progress and cut fabric for a couple of the projects.  And finally, this past Saturday, I got together with two of the Squares and started sewing HST's for my Shweshwe quilt.

Here are all 512 HST's (2.5 inches)...

I was quite excited to travel to South Africa in 2012.  QJ had researched Shweshwe fabric and where to purchase, so imagine my surprise when I opened Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting and discovered a pattern using Shweshwe fabric a few months before my trip.  In all my excitement, clearly, I was not paying attention to the fact that there were 512 HST's.  And then when I was cutting the fabric, I CLEARLY did not pay attention once again.  I think I finally clued in when I started sewing that there were many little pieces, and then when I started ironing, I realized just how big of a pile 512 HST's are.

Considering this fabric has been in my stash since July 2012, I am so glad that I am finally making progress.  Therefore, am linking up with Adrienne over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.  Although it's a tad late for the March check in, I think I'm close enough to be considered in the neighbourhood for meeting the deadline.

Thanks to Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge for the assistance and advice for maintaining my blog.  Hoping that I get the hang of things and starting blogging on a regular basis.

The Library Project

It's Friday night, and I'm scrambling to create a blog so I can participate in The Library Project hosted by Adrienne over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.  I heard there is a prize to be had this month.  So here goes.

I had toyed with joining TLP earlier, but I couldn't make up my mind on the projects, and I felt left out not having a blog.  It seems that prize-pressure is a good motivator.

I have chosen four projects that have been on my to-do list for some time:

1.  Ko Ko pattern from May/June 2012 issue of Fons and Porters Love of Quilting.  The pattern uses Shweshwe fabric from South Africa.  I have some lovely Shweshwe fabric that I picked up in Johannesburg.  You can learn more about Shweshwe fabric here.

2.  Broken Herringbone.  I'll be following a tutorial by Play Crafts.

3.  Refracted for TNT.  I'll be following a tutorial by Happy Quilting.

4.  Stamp Collection.  I'll be following a tutorial by Oh Fransson.


Here's my link up for February's check in.  Thanks to Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge for the head's up on the prizes.

Now off to organize some projects to work on tomorrow at the Sew In hosted by Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.  I'm also hoping to get some blog advice from the ladies.