2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop

Welcome to Week 2 of the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop!!  I'm part of the Sew Fabulous Hive.

I began quilting in 2003 when I took a class at my LQS to make a flannel rail fence quilt for my nephew.

Nephew has received a lot of quilts over the years, but none recently, as he is now 6-feet tall, and I can't imagine making a quilt long enough to fit him.  He starts grade 10 in September, so maybe I'll plan for a grade 12 graduation quilt.

I use fabrics and patterns that interest me, but recently, I have been leaning toward all things modern.  Orange is my favourite colour.

I belong to two quilt bees:  Do-Bees which I joined shortly after I started quilting.  We are varied in age, quilting styles, and quilting abilities.  My second bee is Q-Squared which is a group of four Girl Guide leaders who quilt, including my friend Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge.  I also belong to the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.

Being a part of a quilting group helps me move outside of my comfort zone.  Although I admit that more often than not, I have had to be pushed out while kicking and screaming.  But I always learn something and am happy about the experience.

You can read about my improv adventures here and here.

One of my quilting goals is to design.  I am a follower of patterns, but want to get to the point of creating without a pattern.  I feel that I am creative because I can make something by following a pattern, but I'd love to create just from a thought in my head.  Once I saw  a photo of a quilt that I wanted to make but couldn't find a pattern, so QD from my quilt bee did some math (a lot of her quilts are designed in Excel), and this was the result.

Blogging Tip:
Although I don't do it (yet), I think the key is to pre-write blog posts.  I'm always scrambling to write a post so I can link up with a linky party.  My goal is to get caught up on my WIP's (ha ha ha ha) and to have some posts pre-written.  I have learned a lot by participating in this blog hop and plan to make changes to my blog over the summer as a result.

Quilting Tip:
If something doesn't seem to be working, double check and then double check again, even if you think you're doing everything correctly.  I recently purchased a longarm.  In my practice attempts, I have had issues with the thread breaking.  Fast forward to this past Saturday morning as I was trying to quilt two baby quilts that had to be in the mail by the end of the day.  The thread kept breaking, and after three broken needles, I sent a panicked text to Val over at Purple Boots and Pigtails (I purchased the longarm from Val).  Luckily, Val was nearby and dropped by to provide assistance.  It was such a small thing but had big implications -- I was winding one of the rollers the wrong way.  Duh!!

Quilting Question:
Do you finish one project before starting another one?  My favourite part of quilting is piecing (and quilting is my least favourite), so I always have many projects on the go at the same time.  And then I have to face the reality of having to quilt the tops.

About Me:
Home is Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (east coast), Canada.  I'm 46 years old (oh drat...that means I'll be 47 next month...) and single.  Reading and quilting are my current hobbies.  I do a bit of knitting and crocheting from time to time.  I like to participate in 5K walks.  I wanted to improve my walking time by incorporating some running, so I recently took a learn-to-run class.  Although I'm not very good at running, I have been enjoying myself and have committed to run a quarter marathon (10.5K) in October, 2016.  Oh my...

Dream Vacation Spot:  South Africa and India.  Plans are underway to visit Sangam (Girl Guide World Centre in Pune, India) in 2018 as my 50th birthday present to myself.  I will have then visited all four World Centres.

Favourite Book:  Alex Cross series and Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson, In Death series by J.D. Robb, and Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanowich.

Favourite TV Show:  The Big Bang Theory

Random Fun Fact:  Girl Guides of Canada member for 28 years (8 years as a girl member and 20 years as an adult member)


Thanks for visiting.  Drop by and show some blog love to my fellow Hive mates:

Erin @ Twin Mom Quilts

Carrie B. @ Chopping Block Quilts

Adrian @ Quilting Fabulous

The 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop is being hosted by Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, and Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination.  Stop by to meet the other participants.

Monday Finish and 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop

Monday Finish doesn't flow as well as Friday Finish, but this poor little quilt has been floating around my sewing room for far too long.  So it needs some special attention.  The Giant Starburst pattern is quick and easy to piece, but I wanted to quilt the arrows with straight lines, which involved marking the lines and a lot of turning of the quilt.

I was a Frixion pen convert for marking lines.  But, I just discovered that the pen marks have re-appeared on my own Giant Starburst.  You can only imagine the dismay, horror, and panic I felt.  I still haven't dealt with the issue because I'm afraid I can't fix it.  So the Frixion pen has been banned from my sewing room.  Time to find another method of marking.  If you have a great marking tool or suggestion, I'd love to hear about it.

So after some eye-balling (not a success) and marking with a quilter's pencil and a blue ink water pen, I finally finished.

Kona:  Torch, Deep Blue, Red, Lime, and Shadow

It will be delivered in the morning.

Still some decent light in the backyard at 7:30 p.m. as the sun goes down.  Love summer!!!

I hope little J likes it.  He picked the colours, and his bedroom has been painted in these colours.

Not much quilting in the centre, just some stitch-in-the-ditch.

As I previously mentioned, I joined the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop.  It's been great getting to know some great bloggers and to learn some helpful blog tips.  I belong to the Sew Fabulous Hive, and today is the first week of the blog hop.

I encourage you to stop by and visit all the great blogs.  My turn on the blog hop will be next Monday.  There are about 70 participants this year, so there is lots to see.  And there are giveaways.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have a great week filled with lots of quilty fun.

WIP Wednesday - I Love Gravity!

I have been having so much fun with the Gravity Quilt Along hosted by Busy Hands Quilts.  If you haven't jumped on board yet, there's still time.

Here is Block 5 - Celestial:

Kona:  Parrot, Kiwi, Sour Apple, Leprechaun, Grasshopper, and Jungle

Kona:  Bright Pink, Azalea, Punch, Salmon, Melon, and Candy Pink

I'm hoping to win a prize for the Block 4 linkup.  One of the prizes is Skip the Borders book by Jaybird Quilts -- I have been wanting it for some time.

Checking off so many Kona colours.  I just might achieve my goal of using all 303 colours.

Block 1 - Horizon

Block 2 - Constellation

Block 3 - Orbit
Block 4 - Intergalactic

The 2015 New Quilt Bloggers is being hosted by Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, and Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination.  I decided to participate so I could meet some new friends and learn new things.

Linking up with:

                          

New (to me) Tuesday Link Up - Show and Tell Tuesday

I just discovered a Tuesday link up through Katy Quilts.   It's Show and Tell Tuesday hosted by:   I Have to Say...

Some months ago, the Modern Quilt Guild (aka the Mother Ship as it's lovingly referred to by the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild) put out a challenge using fabric from The Cottage Garden collection by Riley Blake Designs.  Anyone participating received six fat eighths from The Cottage Garden collection.  Free fabric -- who could resist that.

I had a bit of a vision and looked forward to the opportunity to design something.  I have been struggling with the fact that I only create from patterns, and I want to learn to design.  But...then life got in the way.   MMQG decided to host a viewer's choice award amongst our members, and the deadline to submit was yesterday (but we were given a grace period of today).  Thankfully, I work well under pressure, so last night, I was sewing like a mad woman.

This is not my original vision...nor my second...nor my third...I just couldn't get the ideas to paper to create something.  It's not my vision, but I'm happy with the outcome, and now I have another wall hanging for my sewing room.  Guess it's time to clean it up and re-arrange it...sigh....

The blocks on the back are from my original vision -- couldn't let good fabric/blocks go to waste.

I'm still working on my FMQ skills.  The thread kept breaking on the Wee Wiggler, so finally at 10:00 p.m., I had to finish on my trusty Singer.

I encourage you to hop over to Show and Tell Tuesday to see what others are showing off today.  Visit with Katy Quilts as well.  She has some awesome projects, including Quilts of Valor.

TGIFF in Nova Scotia

It's Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday!  Being hosted here in Nova Scotia, Canada.  If you are visiting via the TGIFF link and have never visited before, welcome.  If you have been here before, welcome back.


To get to know me, please visit my post from the recent Meet Maritime Modern Blog Hop and my post from Blogathon Canada.

Let the fun begin!!

Here is a commissioned Transformer quilt finish:

I used my new long arm to do some FMQ stippling.

I am pleased with my FMQ efforts, and the customer was very happy.

Now it's time for your finishes.  Post your finish 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 post so your readers can also view all the great finishes.

An InLinkz Link-up

WIP Wednesday - Intergalactic

Saturday was Sew In!!  Maritime Modern Quilt Guild hosts the best Sew Ins.  Plenty of sewing, plenty of socializing, and so much FUN.

I decided to take advantage of the dedicated time and get caught up on my Gravity Quilt Along blocks.  I joined the QAL at Blocks 2 and 3, so had to go back and complete Block 1.  Piecing of Block 4 Intergalactic was easy.

Kona:  Berry, Geranium, Gumdrop, Cerise, Hibiscus, and Bordeaux

 So many wonderful Kona colours to cross off my list!

Kona:  Zucchini, Cactus, Wasabi, Lime, Peapod, and Chartruese

My blocks decided to play with the blocks @ Purple Boots and Pigtails.  Val is doing the QAL as well.  You should stop by to see how her blocks are progressing.

Play time.

And then Block 5 felt lonely and wanted to play as well.

I'm anxious to get all these blocks pieced together.  They are going to be so awesome together.

Block 1 - Horizon

Block 2 - Constellation

Block 3 - Orbit

Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced

I encourage you to visit so you can see what everyone has been up to this week.

*Don't forget to come back on Friday -- I'm hosting TGIFF.

Gravity Quilt Along - Horizon

It's an amazing feeling to get caught up in a quilt along.  I backtracked and completed Block 1 - Horizon in the Gravity Quilt Along hosted by Busy Hands Quilts.

Block 1 - Horizon

These were fun blocks to make -- easy to piece.

Kona:  Bluegrass, Ultra Marine, Glacier, Jade Green, Kale, and Cypress

I love being able to check off so many Kona colours!  My goal is to use all 303 colours.

Kona:  Nectarine, Flame, Coral, Watermelon, Creamsicle, and Peach

Here are links to the previous two blocks:

Block 2 - Constellation

Block 3 - Orbit

I'm feeling a bit excited and nervous all at the same time -- I'm hosting TGIFF on Friday.

Please stop by on Friday to see what everyone has been working on this week.  It's so motivating and inspiring to see all the fabulous completed projects.

TGIFF - Rock Candy

It's Friday!  And I have a finish!

It appears I have been on a Kona and Jaybird Quilts kick lately.  Rocky Candy is a fun, quick table topper.

Kona:  Sour Apple, Rich Red, Torch, Tulip, Amethyst, Magneta,
Camellia, Niagara, Lagoon, Tangerine, Papaya, Kiwi, and Black.

Needed some FMQ practice -- athough FMQ was probably not the best quilting choice for this project.

I love my new quilt labels.  You can order them over at Sew Fresh Quilts.

Linking up with:

TGIFF @ Slostudio

Finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

WIP Wednesday - Gravity's Orbit

Block 3 of the Gravity Quilt Along was easy to piece.  And it's been fun to play with so many Kona colours!

Each block is made in two colourways.  Here is Orbit:

Kona:  Pomegranate, Sangria, Wine, Blush Pink, Deep Rose, Garnet

Kona:  Cyan, Turquoise, Capri, Breakers, Pool, Azure

I have discovered recently that my camera is not picking up colours correctly.  It think it's time to admit that a new camera is in order.  Sigh....

I love patterns by Jaybird Quilts.  The patterns look complicated to piece, but once you actually start piecing, it's so very easy.

Stop by Busy Hands Quilts to see the progress of the Quilt Along.

It's WIP Wednesday -- time to link up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced

TGIFF - A Pillow and a Winner

The Maritime Modern Quilt Guild is participating in a pillow swap with the Edmonton Modern Quilt Guild.  Good reason to try something new.  Found the Sassy Lattice Pillow pattern over at Moda Bake Shop.

Practicing my free motion quilting.

I went with a darker pink backing so I could use the selvage as the finished edge.  This an awesome technique used by Linda aka Scrapmaster, and this was the first time I had the opportunity to do it.

The Winner!

Congratulations to #10 Andrea R who is the winner of my Meet Maritime Modern Blog Hop giveaway.  Looking forward to see what you create from the fat quarters.

Today's TGIFF is being hosted by my friend Jenn over at A Quarter Inch from the Edge.  Pop over to say hello and to see what everyone else has been working on this week.

Also linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday.

Here's to some great sewing this long weekend.

WIP Wednesday - The Transformer

A few years ago, I attended a workshop hosted by Mariners Quilt Guild.  The teacher works at our LQS, and the Transformer pattern is one of his designs.

Basically, make a quilt block, cut it in half (diagonally or vertically), and then sew two halves together to get the final block.  My blocks are cut in half on the diagonal.

Chevron layout:

Managed to catch the last of the daylight.

The layout possibilities are endless.

This is my Transformer quilt from the workshop.

I. Love. Orange.

Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced

WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network

The Gravity Pull

So it seems that it doesn't take much to get me to start another project...especially when there are many WIP's still yet to be completed.  But I couldn't resist the pull of another Jaybird Quilts pattern and the chance to use 114 Kona solids in one project.

Busy Hands Quilts is hosting a Quilt Along.  I need to catch up and complete Block 1, but I managed to get on board in time for Block 2 - Constellation, so I'm not that far behind.

Block 2 - Constellation

Kona:  Curry, Mustard, Ochre, Grellow, Yarrow, and Butterscotch

Kona:  Midnight, Amethyst, Regal, Indigo, Lavendar, Bright Periwinkle

Thanks to Val @ Purple Boots and Pigtails for the encouragement to start this project.  Is peer pressure a good thing?  She's coerced taught me to do improv piecing and convinced supported me to purchase her long arm quilting machine.  I'm afraid of what's next.  But luckily, we share a birthday, so I trust her not to lead me down the wrong path.  But I'll happily follow her to our LQS.  Thanks for helping me move outside of my comfort zone, Val!

If you haven't entered my giveaway for the Meet Maritime Modern Blog Hop, you have one more day to enter.