2024 Stay at Home Round Robin - Centre Block

It's the first day of the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR) hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail.

It's time to get your centre block ready.  You can use an orphan block, or make a new block.  You'll want to think about the size of your finished quilt and whether you want a specific colour scheme or a scrappy quilt.

I used Kona Torch and White to make an 8-inch finished square-in-square block.  It's paper pieced to ensure accuracy so I don't lose the points when adding next week's round.

Make sure you link up your centre block with Gail before Sunday night to be entered in the prize giveaway.

In order to qualify for prizes from our sponsors, we need to know who you are and how to contact you.  We also need to know where you live, so please put your name and country in the Caption line (see below) when you link up.  It is best to link up with a blog or Instagram post so we'll have your e-mail address.  If you do not have either, you can send me a photo of your round each week, and I will add it to the link up for you and enter you into the draw.  You can e-mail me at anjaclyke [at] gmail [dot] com.

Schedule:

• January 15 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 22 - 1st Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
• January 29 - 2nd Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts 🠜 This is my round.
• February 5 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 12 - 4th Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• February 19 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 26 - 6th Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• March 18 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Project Quilting 15.1 - Bird House

It's time for Project Quilting -- hosted by Kim @ Persimon Dreams and Trish @ Quilt Chicken.

It's season 15 for Project Quilting -- six themed challenges over 12 weeks.  The theme is announced at 12:00 noon on Sunday, and you have until 12:00 noon the following Sunday to link up a project that you made during the week.

The first theme is:  Bird House.  I had a busy week, so decided to make a small mug rug.  This is a log cabin-ish bird house using Kona scraps.

I decided to practice a few free-motion quilting motifs.

I tried to quilt a bird.  Sufficed to say, more practice is required.  😂

2024 Stay at Home Round Robin

It's time for Quilting Gail's annual Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).  Gail explains:

This is a common activity in many quilt guilds. A round robin (in quilting terms) is where each person makes a centre block. This block is put in a bag or container, maybe with extra fabric, perhaps with a notebook, and the bag is passed onto another quilter in the group. They are given instructions as to what kind of border (or round) they are to add on to the quilt. Sometimes the next person will make a border for each side, or one side or two sides of the block. It’s then passed on to another quilter and it continues on … when the quilt centre and all the borders are completed, it is returned to the original maker of the centre block.

For SAHRR, there is no passing of your project to other people -- you do all your own sewing.  Each week, there will be a theme for the round, and you choose how to interpret and implement that theme.

Schedule:

• January 15 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 22 - 1st Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
• January 29 - 2nd Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts 🠜 This is my round.
• February 5 - 3rd Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• February 12 - 4th Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• February 19 - 5th Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 26 - 6th Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• March 18 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Sponsors - Every time you link up, you will receive one entry to win one of these fabulous prizes:

• Island Batik: 3 fat quarter bundles
• Hobbs batting: Wool Batt
• Quiltery: For the Love of Geese: A pattern of winner’s choice
• Aurifil Thread:
• Prairie Spirit Alpacas 12″ x 18″ Alpaca /Wool pressing mat
• Oliso: Pro Plus Auto Lift Iron
• Fat Quarter Shop $25 gift certificate and 2 charm packs of winner’s choice
• Zipper Valley: $20 gift certificate
• and MORE!!!!

 

If you want to sew along with us, start thinking about your centre block.  It could be an orphan block, or a new block that you make.  Each week, you can visit all six bloggers to see how we've interpreted the theme.

See you on the 15th.

2024 Monthly Colour Challenge - January Block

Jen @ Patterns by Jen is hosting her annual Monthly Colour Challenge.  If you would like to sew along, you can download January's block here.  Don't forget to sign up to receive the monthly blocks by e-mail so you don't miss any blocks.

January's colour is green, and I used Kona Balsam and Cypress.  The square-in-square unit is pieced a bit larger so it can be trimmed down to the right size.

And then some flying geese units made four at a time, also pieced a little larger to allow for trimming.

And the completed 12-inch block.

The featured blogger for January is:

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

TGIFF - Birthday Gift Mug Rugs

I have a small finish this week -- a couple of mug rugs for a birthday gift.

My cousin loved the tiger print, so I just put a solid border around the print.

She loved them, which proves that a good gift doesn't have to be fancy or complicated.

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Fritsch in Stitches

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 - Posh Santa

Welcome to this week's edition of Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

If you would like to host TGIFF in 2024, click here to sign up.

I finally quilted my Posh Santa wall hanging that I pieced in 2021.  Santa finishes 28 x 38 inches.

I needed to practice free-motion quilting on my Babylock Accomplish, so I used several different motifs.  My swirls need a little more practice, but I was pleased with the overall results.

This will go to my mother as a Christmas gift.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

However you celebrate this holiday season, Happy Holidays!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Morris Mist Fabric Blog Hop

Have you seen the new signature Island Batik fabric collection -- Morris Mist -- for Sherry @ Powered by Quilting?  I was honoured to have been asked to participate in the blog hop showcasing the collection.

I played around in EQ8 using the Arrowhead block.  This is a large sized baby quilt at 46 inches.

(It's hard to get photos in the morning before work, and then it's dark after work.  I can't wait for spring.)

I used Aurifil #2309 Silver White thread.  It blended in so well with both the front and the back.

I couldn't decide on a quilting plan, and the quilt was pinned to the frame before I settled on free-motion quilted flowers and loops.

I also added my name in the bottom corner.

I finished piecing the top at Sewtopia Nashville early in November.  The Warm Company generously donated batting.  I'm so glad I took a piece -- cotton batting is sooooooooo very soft.

If you haven't already done so, head over to Sherry's blog to enter her giveaway.

TGIFF - Canvas Pencil Pouches

Welcome to this week's edition of Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

If you would like to host TGIFF in 2024, click here to sign up.

I decided to make the Canvas Pencil Pouch by Noodlehead for my nieces for Christmas (to hold the pencils I bought them).  I paired a fun alphabet print with Kona Magenta and Candy Pink for the exterior.

The tutorial calls for a 10" zipper, which I have never seen in Canada.  So I used a long zipper and cut off the ends.

I used Kona Bellini for the interior of the pouches.  Since I don't know how long a 10" zipper is with the extra tape on each end, I lined up my longer zipper to each end, which resulted in the curved ends.  It doesn't affect the use of the pouch.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

TGIFF - Blue Skies

I have a finish!

I have a long list of quilt tops that need to be pieced.  Blue Skies is a pattern by Sandra @ Musings of  Menopausal Melon.  I also pieced Sunny Days at the same time, but it remains in the laundry basket of unquilted tops.

This was the first quilt I loaded on my new Grace Q'nique 16X longarm.  Thanks to Dena for helping me put it all together.  I'm still learning how to use it and get the tension setting correct.  You will note that I started out quilting wavy lines but then I switched to a stipple.  I had to take out six rows of stitching.

I think this quilt will become a lap quilt for my chairs.  The backing matches the green curtains on my patio doors in the dining room.

I stitched the binding to the back using a big stitch with Wonderfil perle cotton.

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ chrisknitssews

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 

Free Motion Mavericks @ Quilting & Learning - What a Combo!

TGIFF - Flower Pouch Bag by Dena

Welcome back for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

Unfortunately, this week's host was unavailable due to illness.  My friend Dena agreed to showcase her finish from this week, but as she does not have a blog, I'll share her photos.

The Flower Pouch Bag is a free pattern and tutorial.

It really does look like a flower. 

Dena used a great striped print for her bag.

Head over to Instagram to share some quilty love to Dena for her great finish.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

TGIFF - Trip Around the World

Welcome to this week's edition of Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  TGIFF is the opportunity to share your finish from this week.  You can find out who is hosting each week by heading over to the TGIFF blog.

This is the final quilt that I was commissioned to make for The Secret Codes:  African Nova Scotian Quilts exhibition that was on display at the Dalhousie Art Gallery.  You can see the other projects from the exhibition here and here.

The batting is Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20.  I quilted an all-over boxy stipple in a light/medium blue thread.

This quilt finishes 67 x 75 inches and becomes part of the permanent collection of the Black Artists Network of Nova Scotia.

I used Kona: Alegria, Delft, Tomato, Robin Egg, Royal, Spice, Honey, Medium Pink, Red, Navy, and Surf.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please visit a few of the link ups to get some inspiration and to share some quilty love. ♥

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Just Two Charm Pack Quilts Book - Process Flow

Did you see the new book by Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs -- Just Two Charm Pack Quilts?  Cheryl has been hosting a blog hop to showcase the great patterns in the book.

Here is my version of Process Flow.

I used Kona Quicksilver and Black for the two background colours.

The Process Flow pattern also gives instructions for using 2.5-inch strips.  These prints are from Ruby Star Society.  I had purchased a scrap bag from Sewtopia, and the fabric pieces were 5 inches x 20 inches.  So instead of cutting my fabric according to the pattern, I sewed strip sets.

I was then able to subcut the strip sets into the required units to piece the top.

*Giveaway

For a chance to win a digital copy of Cheryl's book, leave a comment on this blog post and indicate which project from the book is your favourite  The giveaway will end at midnight, Saturday, August 5, 2023.  If you are a no-reply commenter, please leave your e-mail address in your comment.  The giveaway is now closed.

Diatom QAL

Did you participate in the Diatom QAL hosted by Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl? I finally have my quilt top pieced.

I used Kona Enchanted and Kale, along with two prints.

The blocks finish at 18 inches -- 54 x 72 inch quilt top.

TGIFF - Mini Mini Swap

There was a mini swap at our guild meeting this week.  The mini had to be 6-inches or smaller.

I chose to fussy cut this cute little tiger.  I choose a simple block so I could practice free-motion quilting on my Babylock Accomplish.

I received this amazing painted fish mini from Deb.

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ By Hilary Jordan

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 

Free Motion Mavericks @ Quilting & Learning - What a Combo!