Rope Bowl Finishes

I took a rope bowl workshop with Jeanette @ Stamp Stitch Create.  Jeanette shared helpful tricks and hints from her experience making bowls.

I realize that my past attempts were not successful because I wasn't using the right rope.  Jeanette suggested Rope Shop, which is a Canadian company.  What a difference using the right materials makes in the final product.

I started with a 6.5-inch base.  And then I used my new rivet press to finish off the end.  I don't have a purpose for this bowl yet, but I have it displayed in my living room at the moment.

We were working with 100 feet of rope at the workshop.  I didn't use all my rope on my large bowl, so I used the rest to make a smaller bowl.  This has a 4.5-inch base.  I've already gifted this to a co-worker who is being transferred to another department.

I "may" have gone in on a group order and purchased 1,500 feet of rope. 😀

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Kathleen McMusing

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

WIP Wednesday - Effervescence QAL

Are you sewing along with Quilting Jetgirl's Effervescence QAL?  Yvonne always has great QALs and patterns.  There's still time to join in.

I was slow in choosing fabrics because I wanted to use what I had in my stash.  But I'm now back on track.

Here are my first four blocks.  I didn't take any in-progress photos because the blocks pieced together very quickly, which I wasn't expecting.  Before I knew it, the blocks were finished.

The cutting was quite a production and took two full evenings.

I can't wait for the next set of blocks to be released next week.

I'm linking up with:

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

2025 Stay at Home Round Robin - Round 2

Are you ready for round 2 for the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR)?

Round 2 was chosen by me -- half-square triangles (HST).  HSTs are versatile, and there are many choices you can make.  I generally make them the traditional 2-at-a-time way.  Blossom Heart Quilts has a great HST tutorial and math formula.  If you need some inspiration, check out Patchwork Square.

For this simple 12.5-inch HST block, I used Kona Meringue, Lapis, Pink Flamingo, Black, Corn Yellow, Magenta, Kumquat, Chartreuse, and Red.

I use Bloc Loc rulers to trim my HSTs.

As you can now see, I'm not following the traditional medallion/round robin layout.

Make sure you link up this week's round before Sunday night to be entered in the prize giveaway.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Schedule:

• January 13 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 20 - 1st Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• January 27 - 2nd Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• February 3 - 3rd Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 10 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
• February 17 - 5th Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• February 24 - 6th Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• March 24 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Project Quilting 16.2 - Ombre

It's time for Project Quilting Season 16 -- hosted by Kim @ Persimon Dreams and Trish @ Quilt Chicken.

Project Quilting is 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.

This week's theme was Ombre.  I've been wanting to try a tutorial by Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts for some time, so this was the perfect opportunity.

I always use my Bloc Loc rulers to trim my HSTs.  I cut 4.5-inch squares as I didn't have enough fabric to cut 5-inch squares as suggested in the tutorial.

I've been using Wonderfil DecoBob 80wt thread for piecing.  I thought I'd try it for free-motion quilting on my Babylock Accomplish.  I used Dove Grey, and it melted into the fabric.  I will definitely use it again.

I found a green/teal print in my stash for the back and made a scrappy binding.

Kona colours:  Sea Mist, Ice Frappe, Julep, Aloe, Cypress, Kale, Enchanted, and Spruce.

Pattern: Ombre HST tutorial by Sarah Goer Quilts
Size: 28 x 36 inches
Started: January 22, 2025
Completed: January 25, 2025
Techniques: machine piecing, HSTs
Quilting: free-motion quilting on Baby Lock Accomplish
Fabric: Kona Sea Mist, Ice Frappe, Julep, Aloe, Cypress, Kale, Enchanted, Spruce

Binding: Kona Ice Frappe, Aloe, Cypress, Kale, Spruce

Thread: Wonderfil DecoBob DB113 Dove Grey
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20 Cotton

2025 Stay at Home Round Robin - Round 1

Did you get your centre block made?  If not, there's still time.  Today is the reveal for the first theme for the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR) hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail.

Round 1 was chosen by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing - King's Cross block or choose a block that starts with the initial of your first name.

I decided to choose a block that started with the letter A.  I choose Auntie's Puzzle block as my nephew and nieces call me Auntie.  I used Kona Meringue, Kumquat, and Pacific to make this 12.5-inch block.

The block is made from squares, rectangles, and HSTs.  I was so focused on chain piecing that I ended up having to do a partial seam because I wasn't paying attention.

I decided to do something different with my layout this year.  Fingers crossed that my plan works out. 

Make sure you link up this week's round with Kathleen before Sunday night to be entered in the prize giveaway.

Schedule:

• January 13 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 20 - 1st Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• January 27 - 2nd Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• February 3 - 3rd Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 10 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
• February 17 - 5th Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• February 24 - 6th Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• March 24 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

2025 Stay at Home Round Robin - Centre Block

It's the first day of the 2025 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.  Think about what size you want your finished quilt to be and whether you want a specific colour scheme or a scrappy quilt.

I decided to use an orphan block for my centre.  This is the Corona block by Quilting Latinas -- one of several new bilingual quilt patterns.  I made this 12.5-inch block from Kona Black, Meringue, Chartreuse, and Lapis for the pattern release on October 30.  Life got the better of me, and I didn't get any more blocks made for a quilt.

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 13 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 20 - 1st Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• January 27 - 2nd Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• February 3 - 3rd Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 10 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
• February 17 - 5th Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• February 24 - 6th Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• March 24 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gai

2025 Stay at Home Round Robin

It's time for Quilting Gail's annual Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR).  Gail began SAHRR in 2020.  Starting in 2021, she invited several friends to join.  2025 marks the sixth year of 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.  You can check out the FAQs on Gail's blog.

Schedule:

• January 13 - Centre block - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• January 20 - 1st Round - hosted by Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
• January 27 - 2nd Round - hosted by Anja @ Anja Quilts
• February 3 - 3rd Round - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail
• February 10 - 4th Round - hosted by Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
• February 17 - 5th Round - hosted by Brenda @ Songbird Designs
• February 24 - 6th Round - hosted by Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
• March 24 - Quilt/Quilt Top Parade - hosted by Gail @ Quilting Gail

Sponsors - Every time you link up, you will receive one entry to win one prize.  Stay tuned for more details on the sponsors and the prizes available.

 

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 January 13 for the centre block reveal.

First Finish of 2025

Hello 2025.  I have my first finish of the year!!

I started Quilting Jetgirl's Star Pulse QAL on January 2, 2024.  This is the bonus quilt that is made from the extra HSTs created during the process.

As the quilt is small, I decided to use it for free-motion quilting practice using my domestic Baby Lock Accomplish.

I definitely need more practice, but I'm okay with the result.

I decided to use a light lime green thread as the backing fabric is green.

I created a scrappy binding to match the general areas of four of the colours in the quilt.

I'm linking up with:

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Devoted Quilter

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Pattern: Bonus HST quilt from Star Pulse quilt pattern
Size: 32.5 x 40.5 inches
Started: January 2, 2024
Completed: January 2, 2025
Techniques: machine piecing, HSTs
Quilting: free-motion quilting on Baby Lock Accomplish
Fabric: Kona Black, Meringue, Cactus, Chartreuse, Bluegrass, Bahama Blue, Lagoon, Lapis

Binding: Kona Cactus, Bluegrass, Lapis, Bahama Blue

Thread: Connecting Threads Lucid Pear #21240
Batting: Warm and Natural

Maritime Modern Quilt Guild 2024 Block of Month

For three years, Dena and I have hosted a block of the month for our guild -- Maritime Modern Quilt Guild.

This year's version was based on the Communique Quilt by Mouse in my Pocket.  We used the throw size, breaking it up into 9 sections.

I had an idea to use the same block throughout the quilt.  I used a star fabric in the centre of each block and a variety of Kona solids for the star points. 

I decided to use Kona Natural for the background, the long 2-inch strips, and the 2-inch units.  I was crazy enough to make 4-inch sawtooth stars, but not crazy enough to make 2-inch ones. 😬

A few months in, I was regretting making the 4-inch stars, but I kept going because I had a vision.

It was worth it in the end!

This quilt top will be sent to be professionally quilted as I won a longarming prize from Sandra @ Musings of Menopausal Melon for her annual QAL earlier this year.  Now that the Canada Post strike is over, I'll be able to ship it.

2024 Monthly Colour Challenge

I fell behind in the Monthly Colour Challenge hosted by Patterns by Jen for the last couple of years.

I decided to combine blocks from several years.  These 30 blocks will make a 60 x 72 inch quilt.

And now this quilt top joins the ever-growing pile of tops that need some quilting love.  LOL  I hoping to make a dent in the pile in 2025.

TGIFF - Sandhill Sling

It's time once again for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  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.

Sign up here if you are interested in hosting TGIFF in 2025.

My swap partner at Sewtopia Nashville gifted me a beautiful orange Sandhill Sling (by Noodlehead).  I tweaked it to convert it to a cross-body bag.  I love it even more!!  A co-worker who I exchange Christmas gifts with has been commenting about it all year, so I asked her if she wanted one for Christmas. 😊  She choose the fabric from my stash, and here is the finish.

I used a fun butterfly print for the lining, and I found butterfly zipper charms at Michaels.

It has been gifted, and she loved it.  I need to start looking for some orange canvas fabric to have in my stash so I can replace my Sandhill once I wear it out.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also 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 - Zippered Pouches

Welcome back to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  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.

Sign up here if you are interested in hosting TGIFF in 2025.

You may have seen that I completed a Redwood Tote last week.  I had some leftover fabrics, so decided to make matching zippered pouches to be gifted with the Redwood.  If you follow me regularly, you know that I love the Open Wide Zippered Pouch by Noodlehead.

And there was even enough of the lining fabric for both pouches.

It's time for you to link up your finishes from this week.  Please also 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 - Redwood Tote

Welcome to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF).  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 are interested in hosting TGIFF in 2025, you can sign up here.

While attending Sewtopia Anaheim last month, I finally made a Redwood Tote from a kit I purchased at Sewtopia Milwaukee.

I made a Redwood Tote a few years ago using waxed canvas.  This version using cotton fabric has a different feel to it.

A fun print for the lining.  I was going to keep this for myself, but I've decided to gift it for Christmas.

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

Bags, Bags, and More Bags

Maritime Modern Quilt Guild held a retreat last weekend, and we did a secret swap partner.

I forgot to take photos of the projects I made, so I borrowed photos from my partner.  Oops.  I converted a Sandhill Sling into a cross-body bag and made an open wide zippered pouch.

Photo from @nested_seams_studio

I added a fun zipper pull.

Photo from @nested_seams_studio

I received gifts from Becky, and I am thrilled with the goodies I received.  A wonderful zippered pouch.

And then a matching Buckthorn tote.  ♥

This was our first time doing a secret swap at retreat, and we can't wait to do it again.

I'm linking up with:

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

Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

TGIFF - Halloween Bags

I have a finish!!!  I've been starting a lot of projects, but I haven't been finishing many things. 😊

While looking for something else, I found a free pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop -- Trick or Treat Carry Along Bag.  I had to go to my LQS for fabric to finish a project and found some awesome Halloween prints.  So I had to make two bags for my nieces.

I love the black print from Patrick Lose Studios.  But I really, really love the glow-in-the-dark orange print from Henry Glass

I wish the mummy print from Moda was glow-in-the-dark.

These have already been shipped to my nieces with a bunch of glow sticks.

Happy Halloween!