WIP Wednesday - 12 Days of Christmas in July

Once again, Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop.  I participated last year -- click here to see my Christmas tree wall hanging.

Here's a sneak peak of my project.  You'll have to stop by on July 22 to see the finish.

I decided to do some more curved piecing.

Not a perfect curve, but pretty darn good enough.

And a finished block.

There are a lot of bloggers participating, so you're sure to find inspiration for a Christmas project...or two.  The blog hop runs July 14 to July 25.

Stash Statement Book Blog Hop - Catch a Falling Star

I'm sure you've heard by now that Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation has a great new book, Stash Statement.  I was surprised and honoured that Kelly asked me to be part of the blog hop to celebrate the release of her book.

The patterns in Stash Statement are about using fabric scraps, sewing them together in a structured improv process.

Catch a Falling Star is the pattern I choose to make.  Now I have to be honest...I didn't realize that the patterns were improv.  I am not a fan of improv and don't do it well.  It was quite a shock when I received the e-book and discovered it was improv.

My first attempt was chain piecing some scraps together and then trying to piece them together.  It didn't work out so well, but I ended up with my first block.

I struggled with making the improv slabs.  The instructions in the book are great, but I like structure and a pattern, and I find improv difficult.  I finally got into a bit of a rhythm, and the improv slabs came together quickly.

Before I knew the pattern was improv, I had decided to make a baby quilt.  What a relief...I don't think I would have had it in me to make enough improv slabs for a full size version.

I'm pleased with how it turned out.  I can do improv!

Stars and loops free motion quilting in blue thread.  It gives the quilt lots of texture.

If you're looking for a great way to use your scraps, you need to get Stash Statement.

Here are the rest of the stops on the blog hop:

                                                          

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework 

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (bonus digital pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                                 Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

TGIFF - Town Square Block

Today's finish is a result of the squirrels.  I saw a quilt block online and decided I had to make it.  This is Town Square by the Missouri Star Quilt Company, and you can get the tutorial here.

It's an easy block using 2.5-inch strips and 6.5-inch blocks.  A great way to use up scraps in your stash.

The block finishes at 18 inches.  I used a variegated thread for the quilting.

A quick pillow that can be used for a gift or to brighten a room.

Next week, I'll be linking up with Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon for her monthly DREAMI (Drop Everything and Make It) link up.

If you have a finish this week, consider sharing it at:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Chev Vies

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

WIP Wednesday - Classic Meets Modern BOM

We've reached the halfway point in the Classic Meets Modern BOM hosted by Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation.  It's been fun making new blocks.

I'm using the following Kona colours;  White, Steel, Turquoise, Berry, Pool, Parrot, and Royal.

X-Plus is a 10.5-inch block.

Ribbon Star is also a 10.5-inch block.

I can't wait to get all the blocks pieced together.

You can follow my progress:

• January blocks  
• February blocks 
• March blocks 
• April blocks 
• May blocks 

Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

TGIFF - Guild Executive Challenge

My guild, Maritime Modern Quilt Guild, hosts an Executive Challenge each year.  This year's theme was Modern Traditionalism.  Anyone wishing to participate choose a traditional block from a bag and then had to create something that was a minimum of 200 inches in circumference.

I picked the Churn Dash block.  I have far too many WIPs on the go so I didn't want to put too much effort into this challenge.  And I have far too many quilts in my house already without a home.  So I decided to enlarge the block.  My friend Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet suggested I turn the block on point.  Wow...what a difference that made -- it looks like a totally different block.

I decided to only use fabrics in my stash, so the background fabric is a bit wild.

A rotated photo so you can see the traditional orientation of the Churn Dash block.

I put a smaller Churn Dash block in the centre of the larger block.  I did a quick all-over stipple in pink thread for a quick finish.  You can see how wild the background fabric is.

And to make it a little more modern, I put minky on the back.

This is one of my FAL 2018 Q2 goals.

If you have a finish this week, consider sharing it at:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Lisa in Port Hope

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

WIP Wednesday - Fireburst Mystery QAL

Have you seen the mystery QAL being hosted by Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland?  It's not too late to join in.  You can get the first set of sewing instructions here.

First up were HSTs using Fabrics 1 and 2 and the Background fabric.  You need to make two sizes.  These are the 4.5-inch HSTs.

And the 8.5-inch HSTs -- you can't see the different in the two photos.  LOL

And then some Half Flying Geese, again using Fabrics 1 and 2 and the Background fabric.

This is a slow-paced QAL, with instructions being released each month.  Tish is offering two quilt sizes -- baby and lap.  If you're intrigued, you can get the fabric requirements here.

Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

TGIFF - Lisa the Unicorn

I decided to take a break from working on in-progress WIPs to make a project on my wish list.  Lisa the Unicorn by Elizabeth Hartman has been sitting around, and I thought it would a fairly quick project.

I decided to go with the 26-inch pillow version in the pattern.  These are the Kona colours used:  Silver for background, White, Gotham Grey, Quicksilver, Foxglove, Sassy Pink, Orangeade, Cantaloupe, Mac & Cheese, Duckling, Bright Idea, Acid Lime, Key Lime, Parakeet, Aruba, Waterfall, Paris Blue, and Blueprint.

The first step in the pattern turned those fabrics into about a fourth of the unicorn.

A couple of nights of sewing, and there was a finished top.  I realized at this point that Kona Silver for the background was too light.  Oh well...too late to turn back.

Was feeling pretty good about my accomplishment, and then there was stress....how to quilt it.  I consulted with Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet (start a blog already will ya), and she suggested the motif that Elizabeth Hartman used in the pattern.  Sure why not...it's only 26-inches if I doesn't work out.

Surprisingly, it didn't take long to quilt this.  I do like the motif, but some practice is required.  I had trouble being consistent with sizing, and I kept quilting myself into a corner.  It's basically a boxy stipple, but without making the boxes.  I will definitely use this motif again.

I had to buy a 26-inch pillow form -- who knew they made them that large.

I'm loving it!!

If you have a finish this week, consider sharing it at:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Slice of Pi Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

WIP Wednesday - Plus Playtime QAL

It's been fun playing along with the Plus Playtime QAL being hosted by Sandra@ Musings of  Menopausal Melon?  Click here to get the fabric requirements -- the pattern is free!!  Even if you don't participate in the QAL, it's a great pattern.

Here are couple of the blocks from Row 3.

I used the same background fabric for all nine blocks -- so there is no shadow plus in the background.

A finished Row 3.

And a finished quilt top!  Now to make a decision on thread colour and quilting motif.

Linking up with:

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts

WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

Plus Playtime Quilt Along

Have you seen the fabulous QAL being hosted by Sandra@ Musings of  Menopausal Melon?  There's lots of time to join in.  Click here to get the fabric requirements -- the pattern is free!!

Here are a couple of my blocks from the first two rows.  The blocks are 18.5 inches.

I decided to go with a printed background, and pluses made with Kona solids.  My first version of Plus Playtime, I used Kona for the background and prints for the pluses.  You can see it here.

Here is Row #1.

I used the following Kona solids:  Corn Yellow, Curry, Kiwi, Peapod, Water, Celestial, Torch, Bright Peri., Rich Red, Candy Pink, Flame, Dark Violet, and Honeysuckle.

And this is Row #2.

Head over to Musings of  a Menopausal Melon -- there's lot of inspiration.  I now want to make a black, grey, white, and red version like Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.

TGIFF - Ebony Top

One of my Bee Christmas gifts was a gift certificate to one of my LQS.  I splurged and bought the Ebony top pattern by Closet Case.

I hate having my photo taken, but it's really the only way to show the top, so here goes.

It flares out a little at the sides.

The back is longer than the front.

I purchased an inexpensive lightweight knit for my first attempt.  It's an easy pattern, but I do need to learn how to use my serger.

The longer back kept billowing up in the wind.

If you have a finish this week, consider sharing it at:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Devoted Quilted

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation