Love Making Lists. Goals for August.

 And quilting is no exception.  I'm on a list making push and here it is in order of importance:

• Welcome to Hollywood table runner for my husband - that one you have to wait and see.  It's applique, using two sided interface.  It is so old, I don't remember where I got the free pattern from, I have to find out.  But it's a 9 x 20 size so it would be perfect on a wall in the kitchen.
• 4 more paper pieces for the Cozy Holiday Sampler QAL by Apples and Beavers. I bought this last year and only had time to do about 5 of them.  So I gave up.  Now I'm back on track, doing one a week with email prompts from Apples and Beaver.   You can see a sample of one below.   There are 20 paper piece blocks.  Already have 7 of them done so now I want to do 4 of the following this month:
• Teddy Bear
• Snowflake
• Ms. Santa Claus
• Female elf
• Male elf

This is their sampler.

• 3 more cacti from the Cacti quilt.

• Baby quilt that is due to give away at the start of September.  I've had this one for close to 10 years, just sitting in a package, so it's time to get it done.
• 2 blocks from the Summer  Block Party that I never even started but I do have scraps to complete it all.  I've seen a number of other people trying to finish it so I'm starting because I want it on my barn door....  It looks so cute for the summer.  Lets see what happens.  The link is here for what it was all about....
• Cut out Bear-Wildered by Art East Quilting Co.  Just bought it, couldn't resist.  Want to hang it on my wall in the living room.  It's my one start (not a UFO but a kit that I just purchased so I want it done before it becomes a UFO).  I want to cut it all out this month, and sew it the next month.  My hubby is going on vacation with his friend, he's gone for 4 days, so it's 4 days of complete sewing.

Anything else is a bonus....  I'll be happy to get the Hollywood quilt done for the hubby.  He leaves in one week.  He'll have fun and I want the fun to continue when he sees the quilt he's been asking about for the past 4 years.   I think it's time   ;)

That's it, that's my goals, #1 the Hollywood one and the baby quilt which will be due for September.  I need a couple of small ones for this month considering the last month.  Lets hope it goes well.  I'm hooking up to the OMG group at Stories from the Sewing Room.

Good luck to all.

One Monthly Goal Completed for June

 Well, I got it done, the giant Medallion Quilt.  It's made of scrap white/off white background and a number of fat quarter Kaffe fabric bundles I bought from Dinkydoo (a quilting store in Maple Ridge).  Yes it's bright and gorgeous, "YELLING" look at me!!!!  I started it with the Medallion challenge rom --------------- and I did all my rows.  It was a generous lap top then (65" by 65") but now it's 98" by 98".  OMG!!!    It was part of the Stay at Home Round Robin that was on online.  I found it at Kathleen's site, and the link up is at Quilting Gail's site (click on the link here to see the finals)  if you want to see all the finishes.  They're amazing.

It's a king.  I added another row of 15" blocks of more flowers.  The pattern is from the Block Head series, free.   Stacy Iest Hsu made this block in a 12" size and it is just the cutest, but I made all the flowers face the same way, and I put a 1 1/2" divider between, with a 1 1/2" section either on top or at the bottom, to alternate them in placement so they were not all in a row.  You can get the flower pattern here.  It's part of the Block Heads 3 Block 46 rose alternative.

And every garden needs a cat.  I put a heart in it.

After the 14th flower, I was getting tired.  So I decided to add the bee and the bee hive.  This pattern was on sale at one point from Heather Valentine of the Sewing Loft.  She made a very cute group of blocks (size 6 or 12") of the bee hive, the bee and some flowers that I did not use.  You can see them better on her site at this link.  It's so easy to make and I just loved these bee patterns.  

So I made two of the bees to add on the size of 6" and the bee hive at 12".  Then I wanted to try another quilt block free from the Moda Bake Shop, a block that is part of the Summer in the Garden, another quilt on my list of quilts to do.  I just love this coneflower.  It's by Jen Daly.  It comes in 6" or 12" block and of course I made the 12" one.  You can find this free block on this link.   It's at the bottom of the page.   I put two coneflowers, one on each side.  You can't see the pictures well here, but there are two reds in this one) a different red in the middle, and it just pops.  I GOT to make a quilt of all these flower blocks!!

So that's the additions I made to enlarge this quilt.  Really it looks wonder.  The flowers pop with everything else I added.  I added another wheel for the top, then a line of divider that I used around each row.  The first line of flowers was where I ended it, and the addition you can see at the bottom

At the end of the bed quilt I added another row of log cabins with scraps, and then I added the ribbon, just to add some spice (and quite frankly, I was really tired of this quilt).  I used quilt as you go on all of these additions, because I was using my domestic.  Yeah, you got it my little domestic.  I used the border at the end of each row to add the new row.



And in case you forgot the original center piece, this one takes the cake, the colors that just go crazy.  That's it, that's my finish.

Will be hooking up the UFO challenge finish with Sewing from the Sewing Room.

As for the extras I said I would do, I did catch up with the Christmas quilt from Apples and Beavers.  It's all paper piece as you can see.  There are a number of designs, all 12 1/2 by 12 1/2 unflinished.  The skill level goes from beginner to confident in a building skills level.  I love their patterns, all fantasy, and most paper piece.  Some are stitch and flip.  But see for yourself at this link.  Look for the dragon one, that's a pattern I already purchased and can't wait to try.  There are also free patterns here!!!  Look for the sunflower pattern.

In the end it is suppose to look like the below:

Hope mine looks so good.  

I also did what I said I would do, I sewed up three Cacti from the pattern "Oh My Cacti" by Paper and Pen below.  

It's difficult, with small little pieces as well as I'm doing four different colors, so you need to cut out the right amount for each cacti, then make sure they're all together, and you can find them.  Also there are so many pieces, so it's hard to find the pieces, you need a lot of space to place them all out somewhere to find the pieces.  This  one will really really take a lot of time.  If I do three a month, I'll be happy.  It will be an extra thing to complete each month.  I can only do no more than 2 in a sitting, the pattern gives me a headache.  I love love her patterns, but this one is hard.  We'll see.

Happy with what I've completed this month.  Lets see if I can keep it up.

Hot as blazes but cool stretch coming up.

 

Vancouver wasn’t made for heat.  We don’t have triple pane glass windows and most condos don’t have air conditioning, including ours.  We’re a two story condo with a loft and a 28 foot window in the front that lets in beautiful sunshine but tons of heat.  Because of the openness of our loft and the two story setup an air conditioner doesn’t exactly work.  Thankfully, it's cooled down this coming week, so I can survive.

I’m at the age where I have trouble sleeping at night and especially in the heat, so I haven’t slept well for 4 days now.  But the heat wave has broken and hopefully no more sewing in the heat.  I’ve made progress on my medallion quilt, 3 sides done and attached (using the quilt as you go method) and one more to go. Those flowers are so picky, with 1 1/2 inch squares for snowballing, you get really tired quickly doing the same thing over and over again. 4 squares for petals to snowball all corners, for 10 flowers.  Do the math, 160 snowballs to complete.  Then the leaves have two corners snowballed, so that 2 leaves times 2 snowballs times 10 flowers for one side…. Add another 40 to the last total…..  no wonder I started thinking of other blocks….   I added two bee blocks and a beehive to the flower collection on this final side to change things up a bit  You’ll see when I’m finish and I’ll share the free block patterns that I’ve found.  

But to change things a bit, and use up my scraps I made a new table runner signifying this heat wave..  it’s a free pattern from   And all scraps.

I've caught up with the Christmas quilt from Apples and Beavers.  It's all paper piece as you can see.  There are a number of designs, all 12 1/2 by 12 1/2 unflinshed.  The skill level goes from beginner to confident in a building skills level.  I love their patterns, all fantasy, and most paper piece.  Some are stitch and flip.  But see for yourself at this link.  Look for the dragon one, that's a pattern I already purchased and can't wait to try.  There are also free patterns here!!!  Look for the sunflower pattern...

And I’ve been continuing my water color painting.  This past weeks challenge was the desert....

This next week's challenge is dessert....  Yes it's not a typo.  Need to consider that one. 

Still working on that big quilt.  Should finish that one this week in time for the weekend.  I promised to finish the other two quilts I said I would do, but it won't happen, lol.  I'll be lucky if I finish two of the cacti.  That's the MODIFIED goal.  I can cut out two more birds from the quilt pattern below by  Fresh, one of my favorite pattern designers.

I 

and instead of cutting out two more cacti I plan on sewing the three that are already cut from my Oh My Cacti by Pan and Paper Patterns.  

Those are the extras.  Along with one my husband has been demanding that I do.  It has something to do with LA.  So you'll have to wait to see.  Truthfully, I have to wait and see as well.  

Have a great day/night. 

July's Goals for the Month.

 Well, I have a quilt that was completed for a Medallion BOM, the only thing missing (it's all quilted) was the binding.  But my husband liked it so much he asked for it to be made into a queen size quilt for our bed.  And I liked the idea. 

Quilt Stats:

• Size: 65" - 65"
• Fabric:
  • Kaffe Fabric, an assortment of different types.
  • Unknown from an older collection
• Hobbs Batting:  Heirloom 90/10
• Aurifil Thread: 50 weight
  • Piecing & Quilting: #2600 (Dove Grey)
• Silly Moon Rulers:  Aztec
• Schmetz Needles: Universal 80/12

I plan on adding another divider like the ones in the picture above.  The bottom row will have two more cabin style blocks.  Then the sides will have a flower garden.  The top has another fan block,  with just white for the rest, so everything stands out.  That's the goal for July's month.

As for extras, I need to catch up on the summer bloc party.

I have three to complete, a bathing suit, sunglasses, and beach chairs in the sand.  Loving the look of it.  Can't wait to see it done.  You can join anytime.  Instructions on how to join are in my previous post.  You've missed 3 but you can still keep on going with the others.  

I'm looking at cutting out two more birds from the quilt pattern below but I want to place it like the picture below by SewFresh, one of my favorite pattern designers.

I 

 I want to cut out two more cacti but I have already cut out 3 so I plan on sewing those from my Oh My Cacti by Pan and Paper Patterns.  

Those are the extras.  Along with one my husband has been demanding that I do.  It has something to do with LA.  So you'll have to wait to see.

Linking up to Stories from the Sewing Room for One Monthly Goal for the medallion quilt..  Wish me luck and good luck to others.  

How do you sew on a domestique machine?

 I do a lot of quilts, you can see them all on the top tabs, how many I've done over the years.  I even told my husband that I don't know where a lot of my quilts are at this point.  Some that I've made, I've given out, some to friends that are gone, and a couple that have ended up in Paris France and in England somewhere (friends I give a quilt to then they give it to someone overseas). 

Like many of you I've given them out as gifts:  weddings, birthdays, even retirement gifts.  It's funny how people don't know the cost both financially and time wise of a quilt.  But one thing for sure, the cost would be astronomical, if I didn't do the quilting myself.  I use a Janome Memory Craft 6600, and I love it.  I had to do repairs to it a while back and was offered for a trade in.  I asked the price of a new one and I couldn't believe the price. 

So I quilt my own quilts.  I love Silly Moon Rulers.  I can't believe how many rulers I have, and taking her classes are fantastic.  But doing some intrinsic pattern do take time and as they say "Time is Money".  She has videos that you can refer to again if you need a reminder (gosh I sure do some times).  And there are numerous rules, some that do a complete style on their own (like the Astec one)  I keep all my rules in a  bag I got from The Dollar Store so I can see them through the mesh, and know which ones I have.

But I do have a question.  Why is it that everyone wants the quilt and they want it free?  This year alone I've had three people ask me if I can make them a quilt.  They didn't say they would pay me, they just found out how much it would be to make a quilt and they want me to make it now.  Then there's the added pressure of I want this design or this way it is.  It's funny how that is.

In case you're wondering I said no to the one that was in another country (I'm from Canada and she is a good friend from Anaheim).  I told her it would cost me a fortune to get two quilts there in the mail.  I said OK to a work colleague who's husband died and she wanted a quilt of t-shirts for her son, but I made it clear she would have to pay me for the fabric and batting, my time would be free.  But she hasn't called me back when I said that.  I told her it might be at least $150 for just the material alone.  The third  I gave a quilt to and they took it but didn't offer to give me money for it or anything, just a thank you, and truthfully I was fine with that.

At this point of my life (I've been quilting for over 30 years) I'm OK with giving some of my quilts away.  Gave two to my nephew this year, and one to a really nice gentleman in the complex who is in a wheelchair.  There's a third person, a friend of my husband, who just announced she's pregnant so I want to give her one for the baby.  

I'm still pumping them out, just not at a fast pace anymore and luckily I'm really enjoying the quilting process still.  I'm 60 something now, but with more retirement time, so lets see if I can finish all my UFOs (I doubt it) and lets see what quilting designs I can do.  Here's a video of some edge to edge quilting by Quilting Nerds and this link takes you to Silly Moons Channel on you Tube.

Wish me luck.

Have a great week, and to the Americans seeing my blog, Happy Forth of July!!

Going great on the Strippy Spools Quilt Sewalong.

I'm loving this!!!!  Fat Quarter Shop put on a sewalong with a pattern by ItsSewEmma.com.  It's cute and quick to make with a jelly roll, but I have to tell you, measure, measure, measure (which is in the pattern instructions) to get the right sizes. The Strippy Spools quilt is a fun quilt project for confident beginners and seasoned quilters alike. The pattern offers two size options:

• Lap Size: 53.5″ x 66.5″
• Twin Size: 70.5″ x 82.5″

You can find the Strippy Spools Quilt Pattern at Fat Quarter Shop.

Each Monday, Fat Quarter Shop shared a new part of the pattern, and people following along are encouraged to share their progress using the hashtag #FQSStrippySpoolsQuilt and tag @fatquartershop on social media. 

I went on a trip before hand so I purchased the pattern and started early.  It came together quickly, and although I talked about making it larger, I decided the laptop was good for me.  The finished large spoon was 8 1/2 x 14 1/2 in size, so to make it bigger you're going longer and only 8 1/2 inches wider.  The spools are 6 1/2 by 14 1/2.  I added a border of close to matching fabric so it made it slightly larger.  

The pattern uses a jelly roll.  The fabric is Boundless Fabrics by Craftsy, something I picked up ages ago when Craftsy was selling everything at ridiculously low prices years and years ago.  It's beautiful, but although so rich, I don't think it's the right colors for this pattern.  It would of been better in brighter colors or the background should not be white, it should of been maybe yellow.  But I still like it. The backing is Magnificent Blooms by Jackie Robinson of Animas for Bernartex.  I used a wandering quilting stitch with veragrated colors of pink, blue, yellow and green.  That brightened the entire quilt up.  I used 2 different kinds of threads giving it color.  I love the effects.

Here's the finished item. It's on the back of my couch now.

The backing

the full quilt.  It pops in this picture.  I like a border around the entire thing.  The pattern doesn't have this.  I just added one.

the quilting and thread colors.  That's what really made it pop.  The thread is from Aurifill, their silk line.  Wow, it makes a difference.

I'm hooking up to TGIFF (thank goodness it's finished Friday) on Katheen McMusing's site.  I worked hard to complete this for showing it off  :) 

and to I'm linking up to A Quilting Girl 

As for the Medallion quilt, I also managed to make another 8 flowers this month to add to the quilt and another 1/2 driesdon block for the top.  I figure I'll have that one done by next month along with a surprise quilt that my husband has been asking to get for the last two months.  

As for any additives (yes there's always more to do!!!) I've joined the following:

• Aurifill's BOM Coffee Break 

There's wool or paper piecing (I'm doing the paper piecing) .  You can catch up with the ones already out here....  at this link.  

• Signed up for the Summer Fun Block Party..  You've missed three blocks already but there's more coming so start soon.  

The Summer Block Party is a free sew along hosted by your favorite pattern designers! For the second summer in a row, we will be sharing the cutest Summer-Inspired quilt blocks for you to sew along with, along with a quilt finishing layout to put all the blocks together. These blocks will be free until August 15 so make sure to save the patterns each day! Here is the schedule and list of designers: 

•  Block 1 - June 23 • Jen Belnap - Jen Belnap Design House - @jenbelnapdesignhouse 
•  Block 2 - June 25 • Amanda Castor - Material Girl Quilts - @materialgirlquilts 
•  Block 3 - June 27 • Amy Chappell - Ameroonie Designs - @amerooniedesigns 
•  Block 4 - June 30 • Andy Knowlton - A Bright Corner - @abrightcorner 
•  Block 5 - July 2 • Gracey Larson - Burlap and Blossom Patterns - @burlapandblossompatterns 
•  Block 6 - July 4 • Jennifer Long - Sew A Story - @sewastory_jenniferlong 
•  Block 7 - July 7 • Beverly McCullough - Flamingo Toes - @flamingotoes 
•  Block 8 - July 9 • Melissa Mortenson - Polkadot Chair - @polkadotchair 
•  Block 9 - July 11 • Amanda Niederhauser - Jedi Craft Girl - @jedicraftgirl 
•  Finishing Instructions - July 14 • Quilt size in finishing instructions is 69” x 69

That's a great size quilt and the first 3 blocks are amazing, a bathing suit, sun glasses and chairs on the beach.  Well done Amy Chappell!!!!  Love that one.  There are nine designers joining in but you only need to sign up once with one designer, to get the blocks. Signing up will subscribe you to all of the designers newsletters, which are free - you can unsubscribe easily anytime.  Come on and try it.

That's it, that's what I've been doing for two weeks this month.  I'm proud of what I have accomplished.  Will add the new BOMs to the list I do every month.  Take care, and happy Canada Day or 4th of July!!

Busy, busy, busy....

 I've been retired now for over a year and a half, and I can honestly tell you I am semi retired.  I work about 2 days a week, randomly, approximately 6 - 9 days a month, so I don't exactly have a lot of time to get into the retirement groove.  I have completed some quilts.  One of them was the wedding quilt, and another was the medallion quilt, which turned out really lovely.  But I can't resist these BOMs, and these quilt alongs, so I've joined two more.

This is where you can find the list of fabric.  They use Camille Roskelley's Summertime line.  It's gorgeous.  Here's the start of the quilt, round one and now round two, 3, and 4 just came out, so you can finish the quilt.  The pattern is free, but they're asking for you to donate to Make a Wish society, which I did but in Canada.

The quilt turns out to be 54 1/2, a perfect square, and it truly looks lovely.  See their example below:

I'm slow, I'm just starting, but I love Camille Roskelley's pattern, and can't wait to try it out.  

But I have to finish my medallion quilt.  I did finish it for the rounds, but I was going to just leave it as a lap quilt, but my husband said, I want to see it on our bed, so I'm adding another row of the followers which are about 12" each.  Take another look at my quilt....

Those flowers are from another BOM that had the design.  From Riley Blake block challenge.  Their challenges go back to 2021, so take a look at this link and have yourself some fun.

I've done two of them, and I am now working on a 3rd....  I use most of my scraps when doing them, so that's fund stuff.

Another Quilt a long that I've just cut out and I am ready to start sewing is the Spools Quilt Along also from the Fat Quilter's shop.

this is the link for the fabric needed:  it needs a jelly roll and the pattern come in 3 sizes.  I'm making a large lap, so I can turn it into a barn door for my sewing room, or maybe just keep it  :) for myself.

See the image above to see the design and all the rest.  I'm excited, it's all cut up and ready for me to sew.  

I can't stand to do the same block over and over again, and both the medallion quilt flowers and this one have repetition in it so this way I can change from one to the other, and get two quilts done.  As for the Stardust one, well, I'm a sucker for any Fat Quarter Shop quilt top.  I've done enough of them.

Finally, there's my cacti quilt, which is another one that is repetitive.  I have about 5 cacti blocks cut out, so I'll see how it feels.  It's from Pen and Paper Patterns.  See the pattern below and here's a link to her blog, where she talks about it and shows you different looks.  I've already made the snake pillow, my husband loved it, so now the continuation of it.  :) 

That's it, my TO DO list.  It's long and in order

1. Spools Quilt Along  (10 blocks)
2. Flowers for Medallion - need 20 - do another 7
3. Daisy flowers for Medallion top - need 2 of them
4. StarDust - cut all the rows
5. StarDust -  get 3 rows done
6. Cacti - make 3 of them

Lets see what happens this month.  I do have one trip to Anaheim coming up for about 10 days but I'll try to get some of it done before I go.  Wish me luck....