Sunday Success

Riding on the high of yesterday's sew day, I finished a quilt that has been hanging around in my sewing room for far too long.

This is a strip quilt using the tutorial at Quilts + Color.

Strip Quilt

I cut the red accent pieces 2.5-inch square rather than the 2.5 x 4.5 inch rectangle as indicated in the tutorial.  Next time, I'll skip the borders.  I thought the quilt needed to be "framed" -- but the borders were just a nuisance in the quilting process.

When I started this quilt, I considered who the recipient might be.  One name popped into my mind, but I dismissed it.  When I pulled out the quilt last night to have it ready for quilting today, the same name popped into my mind.  Okay...you don't have to hit me over the head.  My friend turns 50 in a few months; however, I've decided to give it to him early, as we have learned first hand this week, that tomorrow is promised to no one.

My goal for this week is to start sandwiching (and hopefully quilting) the five quilt tops taking up space in my sewing room.  I've vowed not to start anything new until these quilts are finished.

What are your sewing goals for this week?

Another Successful Sew Day

Today was sew day with Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.  It's always a dilemma on what projects to take, and I always bring too many. Today was no exception.  I bought several projects with me, but didn't finish them all.  It was so hot today that it was difficult to sew.  It seems that summer is trying to hang on for just a little while longer.  And I'm okay with that!

Here are two commissioned baby quilts that were finished today.

Chevron #1

Chevron #2

I ran into Baby T (not really a baby, but at the time there were two T's, and we had to distinguish them somehow) yesterday and learned that he has a new baby.  Unfortunately, he was two weeks' premature.  So what to do?  A baby quilt of course.  Baby M needs all the love and encouragement he can get.  This quilt will be delivered tomorrow.

Elizabeth Hartman's pattern:  Charm Squares

I enjoyed making this quilt and will likely make it again.  Elizabeth Hartman has some great patterns.  Head over to Oh Fransson to check them out.

Yesterday was the celebration of life for E, who lived life fully every day.  Just a reminder that tomorrow is not promised to anyone.  Enjoy life while you have time.

Show Off Saturday: The Baby Showers Edition

My quilt bee friend QJ, otherwise known as Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge, is expecting twins.  She is also a Girl Guide, so her Guiding friends hosted a baby shower.

It was difficult to decide what to make, but I finally decided on chevron quilts with sea creature fabric.


Quilts for Double Trouble

And then on Thursday, one of our quilt bees hosted another baby shower.  Two showers, two babies....two gifts needed of course.  But what to make?  I remembered I had some PUL fabric, so two changing pads.  Thanks to QB for the pattern.  Waterproof is always a good idea with babies.

Waterproof changing pads

I love these ducks and monsters.  I think a tote bag made with the monsters is next on the project list.

It's that time of the month for The Library Project update.  I finally quilted my postage stamp quilt.  The pattern is from Oh Fransson.

Postage Stamp Pattern

One more quilt to finish, and then I will have completed The Library Project.  I'm off two days next week, so I'm going to tackle this last quilt.  I have been procrastinating on this one because it's 85-inches square, and I'm going to do free motion quilting.  I had been feeling very overwhelmed on the amount of quilting to be done and the size of the quilt, but some encouragement this week from QJ has convinced me to get it done.

Since it's Saturday, showing off about my finishes this week and linking up with Sew Can She.

 What are you showing off about this week?

Sew Day with the Squares

Another great sew day with the Squares today.  Sadly QB couldn't join us.  But I bet she had lots of fun snuggling with her grandson.

QJ over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge made some great fabric storage bins a few weeks ago.  I really liked them and thought it would be a great way to use some of the orange and green fabric I bought in South Africa.  I finished one and then ran out of fusible interfacing.

Our LQS was out of stock of the weight of interfacing I needed (we always go out for lunch and a trip to our LQS on sew day), so a quick stop at another fabric store on my way home.  And then finished storage bin #2.

I also finished the two baby quilts tonight that had been in the QPP.  Just under the wire, as the baby shower is tomorrow....at my place.  Stay tuned for the reveal. 

The September meeting of the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild was this past week, and we had a zippered pouch exchange. Make and bring a pouch, receive a pouch.  I forgot to take a photo of the pouch I made with laminated fabric, but here is the great pouch I received from Scrapmaster.

Thanks, Linda.  I love it!

Decisions, decisions, decisions...do I stay up late to do the housework I didn't do tonight because I was sewing?  Or do I get up early and clean like a crazy lady before everyone arrives?  Maybe a little tidying up and then a hot bubble bath.  If I do housework tonight, then I'll feel like I can sew in the morning, and then there will be thread and bits of fabric everywhere, and then I'll have to clean again.

I hope you had some fun sewing today.

The Week of Non-Productivity

Not much quilting in this house the past week.  I just wasn't feeling it, so I took a break.  I figured the fabric and WIP's wouldn't go bad and would be waiting for me when I was ready.  Instead, I read, watched some TV, maybe had a nap or two, some Girl Guide stuff....it didn't take long for the week to go by.

And back in the sewing room tonight finishing the piecing on the Gray Square Scramble pattern.

Gray Square Scramble

I am quite pleased with the results.  It finishes 55 x 72 inches.  I would make this pattern again.  I'm undecided on how to quilt it.  Luckily, Maritime Modern Quilt Guild meets on Thursday, so I'll get some advice.

All my WIP's are now finished quilt tops waiting to be quilted -- my least favourite part of the process.  So it's time to buckle down and start quilting.  Other than a few skirts for my goddaughter and maybe a few fabric baskets, I will not be starting any new quilts until I get this tops quilted.

What are you excited about this week?  Any new projects you want to start?

Around the World Blog Hop

It's my turn on the Around the World Blog Hop.  Thanks to Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge for inviting me along on this journey.  As a participant of the blog hop, each blogger is asked to share a little about herself (or himself).

I'm new to the blogging world, just having started back in February, but I have been quilting for ten years.  I have recently been moving out of my comfort zone and trying new things, like free motion quilting and improv piecing.

 

What am I working on?

 

I always have a few things (okay, a lot of things) on the go at any given time.  I enjoy piecing the most, the quilting the least, so I'm always starting new projects.  I'm currently working on a pattern from the Spring 2014 issue of Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts -- Gray Square Scramble.



Blocks for Gray Square Scramble Pattern

 
I just finished piecing Candy Scraps -- a pattern over at Moda Bake Shop.


Candy Scraps Pattern

 

 

I'm also working on some things that are in the QPP (quilt protection plan).  As you may have already read about over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge, my friend Jenn is expecting twins in a few months.  Do you know how hard it is to make something for something who can make her own stuff????

I have a few new ideas that I want to work on, but I need to get all my quilt tops quilted before I start anything new.  Oh boy....what am I saying????  I've put out it there in the universe, so now I have to follow through.

 

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I don't know how my work differs -- and quite frankly, I don't care.  I just make what interests me and what makes me happy.  Sometimes that's something modern, sometimes it's something traditional.  I like to make things, and most of my quilts are gifts, either for family and friends or donations to our local children's hospital.  I don't want to be painted inside a tiny little box of being labelled as a modern quilter, or a traditional quilter, or whatever the term of the day is.  I. Am. A. Quilter.

I love orange and finally made myself an orange quilt.

Brandon Mably likes my quilt.

 

Why do I write/create what I do?

To be honest, I started my blog in order to enter a contest.  Yes, the possibility of a free gift is a great motivator.  Jenn is a bee mate of mine, who has been blogging for some time and who has always encouraged us each to start a blog.  I have found that it's a great way to keep track of the projects you're working on, and a great way to share with family and friends.  Life sometimes gets in the way, and then quilting comes in second, or third, or even fourth.  My goal is to make quilting part of my regular routine, rather than finding time to quilt.  Having a blog makes you accountable to make things, as you need to write about something.

 

How does my writing/creating process work?

My creative process begins with me seeing something I like.  And then I make it.  I need a pattern, but I'd love to be able to design a quilt.  I'm not quite there yet, but I'm hoping that as I read more blogs and try more new things, I'll eventually get there.  My bee mate QD can look at a photo and them come up with a pattern.  That's a great talent.  But I admit I have been known to make jokes at her expense when she pulls up her Excel spreadsheet to work on a quilt.  I use my talent as best I can, with the hope that I can improve on it as times goes by.

I recently bought some fabric that intrigued me, although I have no idea what to do with it.  Guess I need to put on my design hat -- or fascinator as the case may be since I own more fascinators than I do hats -- and come up with a plan.

Word Fabric:  Dream - Serenity - Tranquility - Relax - Believe - Peace - Imagine

Thanks for stopping by.  I've also invited a few friends along for this journey.

 

Quilt Matters - I recently met M-R when she attended a Maritime Modern Quilt Guild meeting while on vacation.  M-R provided some great tips for improving my blog.  Check out her blog to see what she's been up to, including being featured with her son Daniel in the fall issue of The Canadian Quilter.

The Running Thimble - Dominique is a fellow member of the MMQG.  As we have gotten to know each other, I discovered that she works with a cousin of mine.  Small world.  Dominique is great at making pillows and luggage tags.

 

 

10 Quilty Little Secrets

After reading Molli Sparkles and 13 Spools, I decided to make my own list of 10 Quilty Little Secrets.

1.   My favourite part of quilting is piecing the quilt.  If I had the money, I'd leave the quilting to someone else.

2.   I sew over pins.  If I take the time and put them in correctly, no problem.  Other days, I'm lazy, and I bend a pin...or two.

3.   Although I love the convenience of basting spray, I will often pin a quilt.  I find I get puckers in the backing when I use spray, no matter how much effort I put into smoothing.

4.   I need a pattern.  I'd love to be able to create something in my head, but I'm not there yet.

5.   I never hand sew my binding.  Machine binding all the way.  Who has the time?  Or the patience?

6.   I. Hate. Paper. Piecing!

7.   I have far too many UFO's/WIP's.  See #1, and I always see something new I want to make.  I need to stop looking at magazines and on the internet.

8.   I pre-wash all my fabric.  It's a chore, but I'd rather the fabric shrink at the beginning of the process rather than at the end.  I don't like to wash a finished quilt -- I like the crisp look.  The crinkled look makes it feel used.

9.   I forget to change the needle in my machine.  Thank goodness I break needles from running over pins (see #2) from time to time; otherwise, the needle would never get changed.

10.  What is the big deal with Aurifil thread?  I have recently tried Aurifil, and although it's a decent thread, it didn't impress me much.  And since it costs a lot more than Gutermann, I won't be using it unless I can find it on sale.  I use Gutermann thread because one of my LQS often has 50% off notions, so I stock up.  I have also recently tried the Essential thread from Connecting Threads.  I do like this thread, and at about $3 for 1,200 yards, we have a winner!!


What are your quilty secrets?

Sunday Stash - Bargain Lover Fat Quarter Club

I love when fabric arrives in the mail!  This week it was my Bargain Lover Fat Quarter Club collection from Sew Sisters Quilt Shop.

I love chevrons, but I'm not sure what to do with these.  Some of the colour combinations are not ones that I would choose.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but the yellow and orange at the top are both paired with green.

As I was working on my blocks today that I started at yesterday's Maritime Modern Quilt Guild Sew In (more on those in a later post), I had a brainstorm.  I've been struggling with what to make for two baby gifts that are needed in the next several weeks.  The vision requires me to think outside the box as I'm trying to re-create something I saw online, but trying a different technique as I don't want to make HST's.  I don't know if I can make the vision come to fruition.  It's time to get out the paper and pencil to do some calculations.

Here are the fabrics I'm going to use.  These were a previous fat quarter collection from Sew Sisters.

Don't you just love that smiling octopus.  And the whale.  And the starfish.  How cute are all those wonderful water creatures.

My camera didn't seem to pick up the colours very well, but those are Kona Ash, Cyan, Citrus, and Kiwi.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.

I'm on vacation this week so hoping to get some finished tops quilted and off my WIP list.  There are lots more projects I want to start.



Finish Friday...the Fabric Bowl

At our last Maritime Modern Quilt Guild meeting, Jo over at Explorations in Stitch did a demo on making fabric bowls.  So I decided to give it a try.  Those who know me, know I don't do well without a pattern.  But I decided to give it a try anyway from memory.

I decided to stay small for my first attempt, and I am pleased with the finished product.  The sides are a little more angled out than I had planned.  I was so focused on ensuring I was sewing it so that the thread was catching both pieces of the cord that I often forgot to keep the bowl angled up.  Oh well...I'm still pleased with my first attempt.

Aerial view

I will use it tomorrow as a thread catcher at MMQG's Sew In.

Since I enjoyed making this, I will investigate a book purchase so I can learn more.

Since it's Friday, I'm linking up with TGIFF.  Leanne @ the Devoted Quilter is hosting this week.

Off to find a project to work on tomorrow at the Sew In.

Sunday Stash -- I'm a Winner!!!

At last week's Maritime Modern Quilt Guild meeting, I won the door prize!!  I never win and was very pleased with these seven fabulous fat quarters.

I don't know what I'm going to do with them.  Guess I need to starting searching the internet for some inspiration.

My friend Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge was recently Queen Bee in her online bee.  I really liked the block so thought I'd make her one even though I'm not in the bee.  The block is called Converging Corners.

I realize now that the colour in each section didn't end up being longer than the colour in the previous section.  Hopefully it won't be too noticeable once all the blocks are put together.

This is the second improv block I've done.  Could it be that Jenn is starting to have an influence on me???

I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.

WIP...that Became a Finished Project(s)

I decided to make a skirt for my goddaughter T while she was visiting.  I found a pattern for making a reversible skirt at Blissful Sewing.  So I decided to give it a try.

It's not as easy as you'd think to photograph a skirt.

The pattern calls for the waistband to be one of the fabrics used, but I decided to use black as it's featured in both prints.

T has seen and tried on the skirt because I needed to make sure that the elastic was adjusted accurately for her.  And I didn't make the skirt as full as the pattern called for.  Good call on reducing the amount of fabric.  And the pattern called it spot on for the length of elastic -- waist measurement less 2 inches.

If you are looking for a skirt pattern, I recommend this one from Blissful Sewing.  The instructions are clear, and there are lots of photos.  I recommend you read the pattern from beginning to end first and make note of the measurements before you cut and sew fabric.

But then I wanted to make more skirts.  I didn't realize how easy and fun they'd be to make.  This skirt is not reversible as I didn't have a print to go with it.

I also found a skirt pattern that had leggings attached to the waistband.  But I didn't end up making it because the pattern called for cutting off the waistband of the leggings, sewing the leggings to the skirt, but then sewing the leggings waistband back to the skirt.  It just seemed like a whole lot of extra work.  I had already purchased the knit fabric, so I just made the skirt following the pattern above.  T can just wear leggings underneath the skirt if she chooses.

I made the knit skirt a little fuller than the other ones.  We'll see how that works out.  I hope it's not too much fabric.

So now I'm itching to go fabric shopping to buy skirt fabric.  Like I need another project to work on, with all UFO's sitting in my sewing room.  But the skirts are so fun and whip up quickly -- instant gratification.

Last night's plan was to close up the waistband on the purple skirt and to make a start on the second skirt.  But I was having so much fun that I ended up staying up late to make two skirts.  And now my WIP post has become a finished project post.

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

Show Off Saturday!!

The quilting momentum continued today.  Two quilt finishes!!!

First up is the Broken Herringbone pattern I found over at Play Crafts.  Spiral free motion quilting.  Talk about moving outside of my comfort zone.



I used Essential thread from Connecting Threads, size 50.  At $3 for 1,200 yards, it was worth a try.  I was very happy with both piecing and FMQ.  Will definitely purchase this thread again.

At a Q-Squared bee sew day last weekend, Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge was doing FMQ spirals so I stood over her shoulder to watch.  I think I like spirals!!  The key is remembering to leave enough room to get back out.  Hey, Scrapmaster, I'm starting to like FMQ.

Since I was in the groove with FMQ, next up was the Shattered Glass Block from the Undercover Crafter -- all over meandering.

I quilted in the white space to make the coloured strips pop.  I am very happy with the outcome.

Proud of today's accomplishments, so linking up with Show Off Saturday over at Sew Can She.

Shweshwe Adventure...Friday Finish

The plan was to have two Friday Finishes today, but my vacation day was temporarily hijacked by a work emergency.  But I am so very happy that my Shweshwe quilt is finally finished.  It's been two years since I bought the fabric in South Africa.

I wanted the focus to be on the fabric, so just simple stitch-in-the ditch quilting.  Every time I look at the quilt, I see a different pattern, so didn't want to take away from that.

Shweshwe Adventure

As I began to sew on the binding, the weather turned to thunder and lightning, and then the rain started.  A Friday Finish was in the home stretch, but I wouldn't be able to take a photo and share.  But I powered through and finished the binding.  As I was clipping threads, the rain stopped and the sun started to came back.  Grab shoes and camera and hit the backyard as fast as possible.  I wanted to get a few photos before the rain came back.

Shweshwe Adventure

I stressed on what name to give this quilt and finally settled on:  Shweshwe Adventure.  Shweshwe is the name of the fabric, and you can read all about it here.  And it was both an adventure to purchase the fabric and to complete the quilt.

My friend T and I were in South Africa for the wedding of another friend.  Picture this:  driving in a right-hand drive car, on the left side of the road, with no GPS, trying to find streets in Johannesburg which don't have street signs.  My apologies...some streets were labelled....embossed in the curb.  So very (un)helpful.  It was quite an adventure to find the store.  I think we drove around the same block three times.  But we finally found it...after having taken the scenic route to get there.  Thanks T for being patient.

Shweshwe Adventure

 
Now that it's finished, I want more Shweshwe fabric.  I wish I had purchased more and wish I had purchased some of the blue and the red fabric lines.

Linking up with Quilt Matters for TGIFF.  Check out her fabulous Modern Totems quilt.

WIP...The Last of the Library Projects.

It's been a tad warm in the evenings for sewing (but I'm not complaining -- just commenting).  Combine the warm weather with my newly acquired hot flashes...it doesn't make for a pleasant sewing experience.  But it's time to get some sewing done!!

I finished the quilt top for my fourth and final The Library Project hosted by Adrienne over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.  I wanted to try the Broken Herringbone tutorial posted by Play Crafts.

Broken Herringbone

I've been attempting to try new things to get out of my comfort zone.  I'm glad I tried this block, but it's not for me.  I didn't enjoy making it, and there is a lot of wasted fabric.  The horror!!  Now I have to find something to do with the scraps.  The tutorial was great in that the instructions were very detailed and clear, with lots of photos.

I was so very much done at six blocks.  The Squares (one of my quilt bees is called Q-Squared) had to convince me to make three more blocks so that I could actually make something useable.  It finishes about 40-inches square.

The purples in the photo don't show very well, but I guess that's the price of taking photos in the house.  One of the (many) downfalls of working full-time is that by the time I get any sewing done in the evening, it's too dark outside to take photos.

I've been hesitant to try improv piecing as I'm a girl that needs a pattern.  But I liked a block posted by Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge, so I decided to give it a try.  I did 8-inch blocks as indicated in the tutorial by The Undercover Crafter.

Shattered Glass Block

I did enjoy making these blocks, although it was difficult not to try to line up all the strips.  I did attempt to line them up in a few blocks...couldn't resist the temptation.

Now the dilemma...how to quilt???  Any suggestions?

Now that I have a collection of quilt tops, it's time to get focused and get them all sandwiched and quilted.  And then come up with some names for them.

Since it's Wednesday, I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced.

Fabric, fabric, more fabric, and even more fabric.

I haven't been very productive this week as it's been too hot to sew.  However, I have more than made up for the lack of sewing in fabric purchases.  I got a tad bit carried away, but...it was my birthday, and I deserved a treat, or two, or three....that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

First up is my first purchase from Connecting Threads.  A friend said there is no Canadian duty to pay.  And you if order $50 US or more online, shipping is only $7.99.

Of course, there had to be some orange.  I thought I'd try titanium needles as recommended by Scrapmaster -- I wanted to see what she loves about them.  I was disappointed with the brown fabric on the bottom.  It looked black online, but I was so very mistaken.  Oh well, lesson learned from ordering online.  The thread is $2.79 for 1,200 metres.  I've tried piecing with it this week, and I like it.  If it works as well with free-motion quilting, it may be my new thread choice.

If you look in the background, you'll see a quilt top on the design wall.  Stay tuned for the reveal.

Then I was playing around on Joann's website.  Why?  I don't know.  They don't ship to Canada so I didn't have a reason to be looking. But it was meant to be.  They were having a 50% sale on notions.  So a quick Facebook message to cousin A in Detroit to inquire if they were coming home to visit this summer.  As luck would have it, they were.  And so I quickly placed an order to be shipped to Detroit, and my gracious cousin brought my goodies when she came this week.

Basting spray is a minimum $16.99 for a small can here.  It was regular $12.99 at Joann's, so it was only $6.49 a can.  So four cans later.  And a new rotary cutter.

Happy Birthday to me!!

And then I remembered that my LQS gives 15% discount if you shop on your birthday.  So off to the store I go.

These lovely Kona half metres will be paired with some Kona pieces from my stash.  That's Papaya, Purple (although it does look blue), Kiwi, Cyan, Citrus, and Pewter.  I just keep adding to the list of things to make.  Think it's time to update my WIP list.

And my first purchase of Art Gallery fabric.  Oh...it is so very soft.  A quilt along I discovered at Fat Quarter Shop.  I wanted to try some new blocks.

And it continued to be a great birthday with a gift certificate from my boss.  LQS, here I come again!!

These will turn into Night Sky by Jaybird Quilts.  And to show QJ I'm learning my Kona names:  Leprechaun, Kiwi, Peapod, Sprout, Kumquat, Orange, Flame, Lipstick, Lilac, Crocus, Tulip, Surf, Water, Peacock, Pomegranate, Candy Pink, Carnation, Canary, Lemon, Sunny, and Papaya.  Sadly, they did not have Wisteria, Riviera, Bright Pink, or Black.  But one of the friendly clerks (who sadly knows me by name...okay, they all know me by name) is checking with their other locations to find the colours for me.  Thanks!!

No. More. Shopping.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.