The Winning Continues!

I won one of the giveaways from the Kona 30 Quilts for 30 Years blog hop!

I won the Jaybird Quilts giveaway (which I really wanted to win):  Kona Sunset Charm Square pack, Mini Lotus pattern from Jaybird Quilts, and a mini Hex N More ruler from Jaybird Quilts.  And if that wasn't enough to make me extremely happy, they included a Kona 30th anniversary tote bag.

THANK YOU Jaybird Quilts and Robert Kaufman

Have to decide what to make with the charm squares...and it will be for me.

I have been coveting QD's clear OLFA 6 x 12 ruler for some time.  If it ever goes missing, I know I will be suspect number one.  Thank you Michaels 50% off coupon -- new ruler added to the collection.

Well time to get into the sewing room to pack up some projects to work on tomorrow at the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild's Sew In.  I love having a day dedicated just to quilting.  It's a time to be productive, to be social, and to have a laugh.  I get a whole lot more done that if I sewed at home by myself.

Here's to lots of quilty fun in all our weekend plans.

Sunday Stash - This Fabric Makes Me Happy!

This past Tuesday, I was having an extremely bad day.  I came home and found my Sew Sisters Bargain Lovers' Club fat quarter collection in the mailbox.



Love the bright colours

Bad mood averted.  This fabric makes me happy!  It is a combination of Stonehenge Kids Rainbow and Monster Truck Madness from Northcott.  What awesome zippered pouches this fabric is going to make.

Not a lot of sewing going on this week.  I was busy doing paperwork to wrap up some volunteer positions that have ended, but I made these small storage bins.



The pattern is from Haberdashery Fun and is quick and easy.

Now with only one small volunteer position, more time for quilting!  Guess I can't procrastinate any longer on the tasks of organizing my fabric and my sewing room.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash.

Blogathon Canada: Atlantic Canada Day

It's Atlantic Canada Day on Blogathon Canada!  Sew Sisters Quilt Shop is once again hosting Blogathon Canada, which showcases bloggers across Canada.  My friend Linda over at Scrapmaster is one of today's featured bloggers.  I encourage you to check out what Linda has been up to and to visit other bloggers across the country.

So a little bit about myself.  I started quilting in 2003 when I took a class at my LQS to make a quilt for my nephew.  It was a flannel rail fence.  And it was tied, not quilted.  A project never to be repeated.  Sadly, that quilt has gone on to quilt heaven.  But don't worry, nephew has received many, many quilts over the years to make up for it.

Adrienne over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts started The Library Project at the beginning of the year.  I wanted to win a prize, so I started my blog so I could participate.  You can read about my project choices here.

Who knew I'd have so much fun with the blog and that I would meet so many nice people.  Bloggers are so friendly and are always willing to provide advice and information.  I now have some new ideas for my blog.

I finished my fourth and final Library Project back in October.  So what to do?  I still wanted to participate (and to win a prize, of course) so I added another project to my list.

Jenn over A Quarter Inch From the Edge has been into English Paper Piecing hexies.  I am not a fan of hand quilting, but Jenn raves about EPP, so I thought I'd give it a try.  Here is my finished pillow.

It's a small pillow at 14 inches, but I'm happy with my first adventure with EPP.

I hope you enjoy visiting Atlantic Canada today.  Whatever you are working on this week, I hope you are having fun.

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me.

Sunday Stash - Free Fabric!

Each month, Sew Sisters Quilt Shop has a Kona Club Challenge.  Bloggers create a tutorial for a project using the previous month's Kona Club fabric.  I won October's giveaway!!!  I enter so many online contests and never win.  My prize arrived this week.

Raffia, Straw, Mushroom, Cappuccino

I'm not sure what to make, but I think it's time to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.

And then as if that weren't enough, I won a door prize at Maritime Modern Quilt Guild's one-year anniversary meeting Thursday night.  Thanks to Patch Halifax for the donation.  Patch graciously hosts the MMQG monthly meetings.

What to do with this delicious fabric?

Since I spent all day yesterday and this afternoon sewing, it's time to get some housework done.  It can only be avoided for so long.

Playing with the Owls

I have a list of things that need to be done around the house this weekend, but I ignored the list and decided to quilt today instead.  And I'm so glad I did!!

Here is a commissioned baby quilt that is finished two weeks early.

The cutest owls!

I managed to get some photos before it got dark.  And there are snow flurries out there.  I am not ready for winter.

An over calculation of needed fabric resulted in a bonus small quilt that can be used for the car seat and/or stroller.

I'm "showing off" with Sew Can She for Show Off Saturday.

If I get takeout for supper, then I don't have to cook or clean up, leaving more time to do more quilting...hmmm...what are you avoiding this weekend so you can quilt?

The Kona Horror

Arrived back last night from my annual shopping expedition to the United States.  Bangor, Freeport, Portland, Kittery, and Portsmouth -- a lot of driving and shopping in three jam-packed days.  Good thing day four is for driving home.  This year, we added a trip to the Merrimack Premium Outlets.  Well worth the extra hour of driving.  But I sure was tired when I finally pulled into the driveway last night.  I was too tired to even unpack and play with my new fabric.

I bought five pairs of shoes, clothes, fabric, and quilting supplies.  But imagine my surprise and horror to find that Kona cotton costs $8.99 a yard.  Really???  I'll never complain about the $7.97 a metre we pay here in Canada.  My goal was to purchase an entire bolt of Kona White.  But I was not paying $8.99 at Joanns, and Hobby Lobby only had four metres.  I used my 40% off coupon to get those four yards.  Guess I'm still on a mission to get a bolt of White.

Today's photos come to you courtesy of my front step.  Today was a beautiful sunny day, around 12 degrees -- the fabric definitely needed to be outside.  Quite a change from the chilly temperatures in the US.



Purple collection



Orange collection



Green collection



Blue collection 



Minky fleece and Kona White

I purchased fabric at several different stores, but didn't realize until I got home that I purchased basically only four colours.  Clearly, my mind was on these colours.

I had to stop buying fabric as I was running out of money and reaching the $800 Customs limit.  Why does the tax man have to ruin all my fun????

I also bought three cans of basting spray and a new Olfa cutter and blades.  QJ and QB both have an Olfa cutter and rave about it.  Since they were on sale for $10, I thought I deserved a treat...as if all the fabric wasn't treat enough.

Now comes the chore of washing, drying, and ironing.  But that gets me closer to playing with it.

I'm home just 24 hours, and I'm already thinking ahead to next year's trip.  Perhaps two trips are in order...time to start saving my pennies nickels.

 

Finish Friday: Another Baby Quilt

Riding on the high of the baby quilt productivity, I made another one last night.  This one is a little bigger, as it's for a toddler.  Completing small projects is so motivating.  More baby quilts are definitely on the horizon.  I haven't made any quilts for our local children's hospital lately, so I think I will be digging through my stash this weekend.

And it was still light out when I got home from work today, so was able to get a few photos.

Linking up with TGIFF being hosted by Aylin and with Can I get a Whoop Whoop hosted by Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

 

 

WIP Wednesday: Baby Quilts Edition

Last night was a great night.  I made a baby quilt in two hours!  Disclaimer:  The squares were already pre-cut and laid out on the design wall.  But I pieced, sandwiched, quilted, and sewed the binding on -- all in one night.

hanging from my filing cabinet

I had to bring the quilt to work because it was too dark last night to take a photo, and sadly, it's too dark in the mornings as well.  I don't like fall/winter because of the cold and the snow, but now it's interfering with my ability to take photos, so even more unhappy.

I managed to get better lighting in the Chief Judge's Office while she was out:

Chair in the Chief Judge's office

My productivity was motivating, so baby (toddler) quilt number two on the design wall:

Hoping to get a start on this tomorrow night.  Darn computer class tonight is interfering with my quilting plans.

Since it's WIP Wednesday, linking up with Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts and WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced.

Help Me...

...my name is Anja, and I have an addiction...to zippered pouches.

Instead of organizing my fabric stash, I made more zippered pouches.  These two will be Christmas gifts:

And another one for me:

I. Must. Stop!

Fabric Organization

Although I spent a lot of time in my sewing room today, there wasn't a great deal of sewing going on.

I love the Open Wide Zippered Pouch that I made yesterday, so I decided to make the medium size.  I think I see an addiction in my future.  I then went searching through my stash to find some coordinating fabrics to make two pouches for Christmas stocking stuffers.  Definitely on the road to addiction.

To reinforce said addiction, I decided I needed one of the zippered pouches I made for the swap with the Victoria Modern Quilt Guild.  Check it out here.  So back to the stash to find more fabric.  Then on to cutting up the fusible interfacing that was purchased to make fabric storage bins (check them out here) -- I didn't want to buy more if there was enough in the house.

Two plus pillows have been sitting on the design wall all week long.  They coordinate with the quilt that was finished yesterday, so time to get those finished as well.

Back yet again to the fabric stash to put together two baby quilts.  Fabric is now all cut and one quilt is on the design wall.

After all the searching for fabric, I decided I didn't want to use the fabric I had chosen for the zippered pouch.  So back to the stash tomorrow.

As I was searching through the fabric (and there really isn't a great deal of it), I sadly realized just how disorganized it is.  I knew it wasn't organized the best it could be, but didn't realize just how bad it was.  Task for the week:  organize the fabric.  And maybe make some more pouches....

Successful Sew In

Today was Sew In with the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.  I always debate on how many projects to take.  Take too many, and you don't finish them all so you feel like you didn't accomplish anything. Take too little, and you finish them all early and then don't have anything to work on.

First up on the list was to finish the binding on my Candy Scraps from Moda Bake Shop...because I ran out of thread on the last side and wasn't able to finish it before heading out to Sew In.  Project one...done.

Next up was a zippered pouch.  I've been wanting to try the Open Wide Zippered Pouch from Noodlehead ever since I eyed the ones made by Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge.  You can check out her recent creations here.  Project two...done.

At the September meeting of MMQG, we had a zippered pouch exchange -- bring a pouch, receive a pouch.  I received a great bag made by Linda over at Scrapmaster.  Linda shared her pattern, and I decided to make it for the zippered pouch exchange MMQG is doing with the Victoria Modern Quilt Guild.  I had to read some sections of the pattern more than once and had to consult with QD as I had no idea what the instructions meant.  But once it was finished, all the directions did make sense.  Project three...done.

The last on the list was the Seaside Table Runner from Jaybird Quilts.  The pieces are diamond shaped, and I was having trouble lining them up properly.  So I thought I'd give it another try today.  Sadly, still no luck.  But then Dominique over at The Running Thimble gave me a very helpful hint.  It creates more work as you have to mark all the pieces, but...success!!   Perfect alignment.  Thanks Dominique.  I managed to get some of the pieces marked.  Project four...in progress.

 

Linking up with Sew Can She for Show Off Saturday.  What do you have to show off this weekend?

 

 

 

 



Sunday Finish...The Library Project Finale!

Sunday Finish doesn't have the same musical ring as Friday Finish...but I finished a huge quilt...with free motion quilting!!!  Show Off Sunday!!!

This was the fourth and last of my projects for The Library Project hosted by Adrienne over at Chezzetcook Modern Quilts.  Thanks Adrienne.  It has been fun, and it was a good motivator not to lose sight of projects.

The tutorial is found over at Happy Quilting.  It was a great tutorial and a fun quilt to make...I just didn't realize how large the quilt would finish.

The plan was to quilt this afternoon, but I'm second-guessing my choice of quilting.  Need some more time to ponder.  The sun is out this afternoon, so I think perhaps an outdoor adventure is in order.

I hope you found some quilt happiness this weekend.  I did!!

Long Overdue Finish Friday

I can't believe it's been three weeks since I've quilted and posted to my blog.  In my mind, I thought it was two weeks.  Oh my...  But I enjoyed the quilting break to catch up on some reading and to take it easy....okay...I was really procrastinating about some quilt tops that needed to be quilted.

But success!!  I finished a crazy nine-patch that has been hanging around far too long.  I decided to do some "crazy" straight line quilting.



I see now that there are some sections that have a lot of quilting, and other sections, not as much.  I guess that adds to its character.

I have been spray basting several of my quilts lately thanks to the suggestion by QJ.  I was only doing smaller quilts, but I was still having issues with the fabric puckering.  QJ suggested this week to lay down the batting, spray it, and then put the backing on top of the batting.   Genius!!!  What a difference.  Instead of the hardwood floor in the living room, I basted on the carpet in the basement.  The batting is so much easier to smooth out, and it sticks to the carpet.  So I stepped out in faith and attempted to spray baste a 85-inch square quilt.  Success!!!  It's like a whole new world has opened up.  Bye bye pins!!!

Linking up with TGIFF over at Simply Pieced.

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.