Common Ground Pattern Release

I am a regular pattern tester for Andrea @ 3rd Story Workshop.  She has great patterns, and I'm not just saying that because we're friends.  😊  Her Common Ground pattern was released today.  Make sure to head over this weekend as the pattern is on sale until Monday.

Earlier this week, Andrea picked up my quilt for a photo shoot.  Now my other quilts are going to be jealous.  LOL  My version includes Essex yarn-dyed cotton/line blends and Kona cotton solids.

I took some time to think about a quilting plan.  Then the pandemic was upon us.  And then in the blink of an eye, two months had passed, and I only had a few days to get it quilted.  So a quick all-over stipple in a cream thread that matched the background fabric.

There are a lot of HRTs in this pattern, but Andrea gives great guidance.  I did a blog post on whether to glue baste or pin the triangles to make the HRTs.

I'm linking up with:

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 @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

Half Hexagons for a Quick Finish

I was attempting to catch up on blog reading and discovered a cute baby quilt made by Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun than Housework.  I was too tired to sew when I got home from work on Friday, so I pulled out my Accuquilt Go and starting cutting half hexagons.

I cut into a piece of Island Batik Mermaid Cove.  And before too long, there was a baby quilt.

An all-over stipple for a quick finish.  I even quilted my name.

I also used the Mermaid Cove for the binding.

I have a lot of WIPs that need to be finished, but this pieced together so quickly and was a mindless project, so I kept going until it was finished.


I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Chris Knits Sews

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

TGIFF - Tiny Quilt Quilt Along

I have a finish!  It's only 14 inches, but it's a finish. 🙌

Last year, I participated in a QAL hosted by Teresa @ Sewn Up -- Tiny Quilt QAL.  Although I finished the 4-inch paper piecing blocks, the quilt top had a time-out in my ever-growing pile of quilt tops needing to be quilted.  I enjoyed the high contrast hand quilting class I took at QuiltCon.

I played with various thread types and colours.

I found some of the blocks/sections too small, so my stitch length was not consistent.  I thought I had basted my sandwich quilt well, but clearly I did not because I had some fabric puckering.  This was a good practice piece, and I look forward to another project.

This was one of my projects for PHD in 2020 hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail.  I'm a little (okay a lot) behind, but I have high hopes of catching up.

I am hoping to get a lot of sewing done this long four-day weekend.  Happy Easter.

I'm linking up with:

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 @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

2020 Temperature Quilt

2020 started out productively...and then it went downhill.  February was busy as I prepared to go to QuiltCon.  There was class preparation and packing to do and a lot of work so I could be away for a week.  And when I got back, there was even more work.

Here is my 2019 Temperature Quilt...still unfinished.  Each hexie represents the temperature at 12:00 noon each day.  The hexies are all made, but I still need to piece October, November, and December and then piece all the months together.

And then March happened...unprecedented and chaotic.  I worked 26 days in a row, so sewing took a backseat.  Things have slowed down.  I didn't work this past weekend, so I squeezed in some sewing.

I'm now caught up with my 2020 Temperature Quilt.  This year, I'm making 2.5-inch HSTs -- the top represents the highest temperature of the day, with the bottom representing the lowest.  I used my Accuquilt Go to cut the triangles so there is no trimming of the HSTs.

I'm using the same Kona colours that I used in 2019.  It will be interesting to compare the two years.

I have high hopes for more sewing and blog reading this week.

Push-Pull Quilt Along

Are you sewing along with Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl for the Push-Pull Quilt Along?  I started out strong, but then got behind.  I'm using Kona Red, Morning Glory, and Surf.

Trimming the 2.5-inch HSTs were easier with Bloc Loc rulers.

And then there were more 2.5-inch blocks.  😲

It took me 30 minutes to lay out the blocks in the right order.  After that, I didn't have the brain power to sew them together.

But it's now all sewn together!  That was a lot of work for a 22-inch block.

Back on track...just in time for the next step of instructions to be released tomorrow.

2020 Monthly Color Challenge - April

It's time for the April block for the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen.  There's still lots of time to join in -- get all the details over at Jen's blog.

This month's colour is purple.  I've been making my blocks from my scrap bag, so my fabric decisions are based on which ones I have sufficient fabric.  😊

Make sure you head over to Jen's blog to download this month's pattern.

Here are my blocks for January, February, and March:

Make sure to check out the blocks made by the April bloggers:

Mona - Ky Whittaker Creations

Kathy - Kathy's Kwilts and More

Terri - Purple Moose Designs

Jen - Faith and Fabric

Roseanne - Home Sewn By Us

Joanne - Everyone Deserves A Quilt

Don't forget to watch for the April link up at the end of the month for finished blocks.

TGIFF - Do Good Things

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday here on the east coast of Canada.  TGIFF is an opportunity to showcase your finish from this week and to see what others are creating (and to share some quilty love).

It has been an interesting week around the world.  Now is the time for us to do good things and to look out for our neighbours.

One of my goals this year is to sew my stash and to make little gifts for friends.  You may recall that I love the Open Wide Zippered Pouch tutorial by Noodlehead.  I've made another one using Toronto Raptors fabric.

I don't know when I'll be able to get the post office to send this off, along with all the lined drawstring bags I've recently made.

I've been working all week, with little time for sewing.  But I know there were many people at home sewing this week.  What did you finish this week?

Link up your blog or Instagram post showing your finish by using the linkup below.  Don't forget to visit a few blogs to spread some quilty love and encouragement.  Please include the TGIFF button or a link to the TGIFF blog in your blog post so your followers can also view all the great finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Project Quilting 11.6 - Vibrant and Vivacious

And so comes the end of this season's Project Quilting hosted by Kim @ Persimon Dreams.  This week's theme is Vibrant and Vivacious.

It has been quite the week.  I work for an essential service, so a good part of my weekend was spent working.  Move aside stapler, these are now my new office supplies.

There is no hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, masks, etc. to be found.  I decided to try making a mask using a tutorial by Button Counter.  I used different widths of elastic -- what I had on hand.

I don't recommend the wider elastic -- it doesn't stay snug around your ears.  But in the absence of another option, it's better than nothing.

Last night, I needed some sewing therapy, so at 11:00 p.m., I made a quick needle book.

It didn't take long to make, but it was enough to keep my mind occupied on happy things.

I don't know if I'll find more time to sew this week.  Stay safe and healthy friends.  #FlattenTheCurve

TGIFF - High Constrast Hand Quilted PIllow

I finished one of the projects I started at QuiltCon Austin.  Last night I needed some quiet, slow creativity, so I pulled out the pillow I started in the High Contrast Hand Quilting workshop.  It was a great workshop by Riane Menardi Morrison (Riane Elise), and I can't wait to make another project.

The straight lines were stitched in a cream Sashiko thread, and I did the Xs in a light grey.

This pillow is a bit full as I had to use a 16-inch pillow form  -- my LQS has been sold out of 14-inch ones for months.

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Saroy

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty
Friday Foto Fun @ Powered by Quilting

Quilter's Planner 2020 Block of the Month

Are you playing along with the Quilter's Planner 2020 Block of the Month Sampler Sew Along?

I'm using Kona colours for the Fresh colourway:  Breakers, Sea Glass, Creamsicle, Wasabi, Nectarine, and Aruba.  I've been sewing the blocks on my Singer Featherweight, and this is my January 14.5-inch block.

The blocks are easy to piece and don't take long to sew.  Here's the February block.

I've finished the March block only a few days into March.  😊

Linking up with:

WIP Wednesday @ The Needle and Thread Network

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

Dust Off an Old Book Blog Hop

This week, Bea @ Beaquilter is hosting the Dust Off an Old Book blog hop.

For my turn on the blog hop, I choose a project that required free-motion quilting.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to practice.

I choose The Modern Quilt Workshop by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr.

The authors indicated that the pattern Redwork was an "homage to the redwork of our quiltmaking ancestors." 

The white background is technically the "front" but is the back on my quilt.  I prefer the teal side over the front.  Probably because it hides most of my free-motion issues.  😉

I didn't keep the size of my stipple consistent, and I should have done it much smaller.

I used Kona Bleached White and Teal.  It makes for a great table topper.

Make sure to visit Bea's blog as she's hosting a giveaway.

March 2

Pieceful Thought of my Quilting Life

Quilting Gail

Highroad Quilter

March 3

Cynthia’s Ark

Lemontree Snippets

Anja Quilts

March 4

The Darling Dogwood

A Quilting Reader’s Garden

Becky’s Adventures

March 5

Quilting Jeanne

Karrin’s Crazy World

March 6

Quilting at the Farm

Kathy’s Kwilts and more

Quilting Patchwork Applique

Beaquilter

2020 Monthly Color Challenge - March

It's time for the March block for the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen @ Patterns by Jen.  Head over to Jen's blog for details.

I decided to use my favourite colour -- orange -- for this month's block.  Trimming the HSTs was made easier by using my Bloc Loc ruler.

This was a fun block to make.  Make sure you head over to Jen's blog to download the pattern.

You can check out the blocks made by the other March bloggers:

Catherine of Ali & CC
Kathryn of Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio
Pamela of Pamela Quilts
Carolyn of Sweet Boater Chick

Don't forget to watch for the March link up for finished blocks.