TGIFF - Retreat Bag

Welcome back to Nova Scotia, Canada for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  There are still spots available if you are interested in hosting -- click here to sign up.

I started this project back in August, but then got sidetracked.  😊  This is the Retreat Bag which is a free pattern from Emmaline Bags.

I don't know why I procrastinated...it's an easy pattern...basically a zippered pouch with an added element.

There are two inside pockets.  I haven't decided what I'll use this bag for yet.

There's a wire frame around the top that keeps the bag open and gives it some structure.  I see myself making a few more of these in the future.

Do you have a finish this week?

Link up your blog 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.

An InLinkz Link-up

Here are other ways to share your finish:

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

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

Turnabout Patchwork Blog Hop

Teresa @ Sewn Up, Teresa Down Under has a great new book called Turnabout Patchwork.  Teresa says:

It’s all about playing with blocks – making a block, slicing it up, and turning or repositioning the pieces to make a completely different block (sometimes two smaller blocks) to yield endless quilt tops.

Teresa is hosting a blog hop from January 28 through to February 9.  I'll be showing my project on February 8.

I started with 5-inch blocks in four colours.

The blocks were sewn into 9-patch blocks.

And then the block is cut in half horizontally and vertically, and then each of the four quadrants is cut in half on the diagonal.

You'll have to come back on February 8 to see how the pieces are sewn together.  😉

I'll share the blog hop schedule later in the month.

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

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter

The Grim Ripper

I thought my Freefall quilt was the oldest WIP...I was wrong...so very wrong.  It seems I had a WIP from October 2015.  And the sad thing is....it was a mini.  It got buried under some other projects.

Here is my finished Grim Ripper -- 9 x 10 inches.

 This is a free pattern.

No fancy quilting...just an all-over stipple in the background.

I have no purpose for this mini, but I'm glad it's finished.

OMG - Wire Flower Sew Along

It's time for the first One Monthly Goal of 2019.  OMG is a great opportunity to stay focused on projects...and the bonus is that there are prizes.

I signed up for the Wire Flower Sew Along hosted by Karen @ Karen Lewis Textiles.  Groups are made up of nine people, and everyone makes a Wire Flower for everyone in their group based on their colour preferences.

The first one took me about 2.5 hours.  It's not a hard pattern, but there are several tiny, fiddly pieces.

The second one took a little under 2 hours.  Since I'm using the same background for all my blocks, I was able to pre-cut some fabric to speed up the sewing process.

My goal is to finish the remaining seven blocks.

TGIFF - Fireburst Mystery Quilt

Welcome to the first Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday of 2019.  In case you're visiting for the first time, I am one of four monthly managers for TGIFF.  I live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada.

TGIFF is an opportunity to showcase your finish and to see what others are creating (and to share some quilty love).  If you are interested in hosting, you can click here to sign up.

This is the second quilt (you can see my first one here) I made using the pattern by Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.  The tutorials are still on Tish's blog if you're interested.

A dreary photo....can't wait for spring!!!  This version measures about 64 x 64 inches.

There is no way I could have matched my binding to the piecing no matter how hard I tried.  Of course, it only worked on one of the six triangles.  😊

I used Aurifil #4659 Mango Mist, and just like the first quilt, the thread blended in with the background -- Kona PFD Bleach White.

I had to take photos in my office because it's dark and dreary when I leave for work in the morning...and dark and dreary when I get home.  But it's slowly getting lighter a tiny bit earlier each day.

Do you have a finish this week?

Link up your blog 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.

An InLinkz Link-up

Here are other ways to share your finish:

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

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

WIP Wednesday - Have a Jolly Little Christmas

Back in January 2017, I started the Have a Jolly Little Christmas QAL hosted by Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts.  For some reason, I only completed three blocks. 

All the blocks are 12.5 inches, and the first one was Christmas Stockings.

Winter Mittens was the second block.

And then Christmas Bow.

I had the pieces cut for the Poinsettia block, but I didn't get around to sewing it until this New Year's Eve.

I decided to add some sashing and to piece the four blocks into a mini quilt - about 26 inches square.  So although I didn't finish the QAL, I can say that I participated and made something.  I just need to decide on a quilting plan so I can hopefully finish this in January.

Lorna created some fabulous blocks, and the tutorials are still on her blog.  If you're looking for a fun Christmas project, I'd recommend that you head to her blog.

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

Best of 2018 and Plans for 2019

I can't believe I made it to Day 31 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.  I didn't think I'd have enough content (and time) to blog every day in the month of December.

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs is hosting her annual "Best of" linky party.  It's a great opportunity to look back on what we've accomplished over the past year.

1.  Highest Views - My Wonton quilt had 857 views.  I love the patterns and rulers from Jaybird Quilts.

2.  Second Highest Views - My Ebony Top 751 views.  I've purchased some new patterns and fabric to make more clothing in 2019.

3.  Most Proud - I rarely participate in challenges where you actually submit your project.  But two Michael Miller challenges were due at the same time and used the same fabric -- Modern Guild Challenge and Sewtopia Challenge -- so I created Rainbow Star. 

4.  Challenges - I love being in my comfort zone, but I know we have to challenge ourselves in order to grow and learn.  In 2018, I participated in Project Quilting where you created a project in one week.  There are six challenges, and I did all six of them!  I plan to participate again in 2019.

5.  Book Blog Hops - I was fortunate and grateful to have been asked to participate in two book blog hops in 2018.  I made the Celestial pattern from Modern Plus Sign Quilts book.  And I made Catch a Falling Star from the Stash Statement book.

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl is hosing her annual Planning Party.  Last year, I set these goals -- didn't achieve them all, but I had a fun year.  I didn't get all my fabric organized, but I have made progress by building shelves in the closet in my sewing room.

My plans for 2019 are:

• continue to organize my sewing room
• continue to clear up outstanding WIPs
• continue to challenge myself by trying new things

Here's to a creative 2019 for all of us.  Happy New Year.

Modern Plus Sampler QAL Update

The December instructions for the Modern Plus Sampler QAL were relatively easy.

This is a great QAL, hosted by Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs and Paige @ Quilted Blooms.  I highly recommend the book Modern Plus Sign Quilts (Canadians can purchase at Chapters Indigo).

I decided to use the Crafted Applique method by Lara @ Buzzin Bumble.  Once I prepared my fabric pieces, it didn't take long to sew them in place.  This is Kona Tiger Lily on a white tone-on-tone.  Both blocks are 14 inches.

I had a stupid moment while prepping the second block.  I was about to cut fabric for the circle and for the white plus.  Then I realized that I was supposed to cut the plus from the middle of the circle so the white background would show through.  So much easier.  LOL

Gutermann thread #400 was the perfect match.

Last month, I played catch up and finished all my blocks.  So I'm all up to date and ready for the January instsructions that will be released on Thursday.


✔ Day 30 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.

A Finished Quilt Top

The results of sewing all day long...a finished quilt top.  This is my version of the Freefall Spring QAL hosted by Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon.

I pieced six blocks with the light background.  I pieced the eight blocks on green background back in April 2017.

And then I made six blocks with mixed backgrounds.

I realized that I didn't have enough paper piecing templates, but was too lazy to print more.  So I tried the technique of sewing along the folded line rather than through the paper.  Genius!!!  No paper to remove.  I will definitely try this again.

And I screwed up when I was making the template for the large point.  I was supposed to add seam allowance to the 7.5-inch block, but somehow, I only added a quarter inch, rather than a half inch.  I didn't realize my error until it was pieced.  I didn't want to waste any fabric, so I was creative in piecing the blocks together.

Ta da!  A finished quilt top, around 40 inches square.

I want to cross this off my WIP list, so I think this will get a simple all-over stipple, that I hope to get done over the next couple of days.  I haven't decided on thread colour yet.  I used the remaining batik fabric to make a pieced back, so no scraps to add to my pile.


✔ Day 29 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.

TGIFF - Fireburst Mystery QAL

It took some time, but I finally quilted the two quilt tops for the Fireburst Mystery QAL hosted by Tish @ Tish's Adventure in Wonderland.

This is the smaller version that I made while testing the pattern for Tish.  I used Kona Snow for the background.  The colours didn't come through very well -- the colours are gold and green.

I quilted straight lines radiating out from the centre square.

I used Aurifil #5001 Ocher Yellow for the quilting.  I didn't expect it to blend in so well with the background fabric.

Even with an indoor photo, I couldn't get the colours to show accurately.  Spring and daylight, where are you????

I'll share the larger version I made during the QAL next week.

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

Brag About Your Beauties @ From Bolt to Beauty

✔ Day 28 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.

Freefall Spring QAL Update

I've made it to Day 27 of the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.  Four more blog posts, and I will have made it the entire 31 days!

I had some trouble with paper piecing last night for the Freefall Spring QAL hosted by Sandra @ Musings of a Menopausal Melon.  I was cranky that I sewed the same seam three times and still didn't have it right.  But things happen for a reason...I was using the wrong background colour.  LOL

The first eight blocks have a green background, and the next six blocks have a beige background.  So I focused and managed to piece the leaf tips tonight.

I pieced one of the leaf blocks but decided to call it quits before it got too late and I started making mistakes again.

We're expecting snow, freezing rain, and rain tomorrow, so I intend to sew most of the day.  I'm hoping the roads are not too bad so I can go down and see my nieces.  They are delaying their drive back home until Saturday because of the weather.  If you head over to my Instagram, you'll see photos of the girls.