Wednesday, February 25, 2015

A Lovely Year of Finishes - February Finish!

Oh yeah! Who met their monthly goal for a second month in a row? Yup. That's right. Me! I set the goal of piecing and quilting the last 3 blocks of my 2014 Skill Builder BOM. I was post #37 on the link-up.
I started with September's iron block. So many tiny strips...
 
I followed the quilting directions and did a variety of patterns in each of the background areas.
 
Next up, October's sewing machine... I put it together wrong at least once. Can you spot the trouble with this machine?
The quilting instructions called for a variety of lines... I really enjoyed FMQing this one. Lines are my thing!
 And the final block of the quilt... November's triangle quilt
I had a lots of fun with this one and deviated just a little from the instructions. Instead of doing a random collection of FMQ patterns, I opted to do the same pattern in each colour. Emerald got pebbling, Capri got cross-hatching, etc. 
To say I'm happy with how these turned out would be an understatement... this entire Skill Builder course has been an exercise in pushing my limits. So much FMQ! All that remains is to attach the blocks together into a finished quilt. This is my first foray into QAYG... taking this from blocks to full on quilt is a scary step! 

I'm linking up today with the monthly Finishes Party. Who knows? Maybe I'll even win a prize like I did last month. ☺
My Button

And since it's Wednesday, I'm also linking up with the lovely Lorna's linky (say that 5 times fast).....
Sew Fresh Quilts

J

Sunday, February 22, 2015

4x7 Challenge - Week 3

Ahh... another week of forced sewing. It's like hard labour, people. Just kidding! Making time for 30 minutes of sewing each day (14 hours of sewing total) is not such a hardship!
Berry Barn Designs 
So here's the day by day blow by blow....
Day 15 - Finished this Haphazard Chevron pillow that's been hanging out on the design wall for a few weeks. Pillows are so danged satisfying!
Day 16 -Quilted the iron & sewing machine blocks from 2014 Skill Builder
Just showing you sneaky peeks on these ones... big reveal to come in the next few days when I link up with ALYOF 2015

Day 17 -Quilted the triangle quilt block from 2014 Skill Builder. Again, just a sneaky peak for you!
Day 18 - I'm enacting rollover minutes... I sewed way more than 30 minutes on previous days!
Day 19 - Got around to ironing all that fabric I've been buying!
 
Day 20 -Whipped up an iPad case for Himself!

Day 21 - Sewed up some HSTs for a project in the QPPP (Quilting Project Protection Program). I'd tell you more, but well.... it's secret!

I get a little down on myself when I commit to a challenge like this and don't get in the 30 minutes of sewing each and every day. And then I remember that it's not about beating yourself up, but celebrating what you did accomplish! A lovely pillow, an iPad case, some blocks that have been staring me down for months. You know, that's not too shabby! I'm linking up today with Barn Berry Designs. Pop on over and see what others accomplished this week - or jump on the bandwagon for our final week, Week 4. It's not too late!

J

Friday, February 20, 2015

Friday Finish - A quickie!

Sometimes the stars align. Sometimes the babies sleep for three hours. Allowing me to turn this...

Into this...
 
Himself is taking off to the Canada Winter Games in Prince George for Week 2 competition and needed a little something to protect his iPad. Thank goodness for the tutorial from Fresh Lemons. I made a case like this for my own iPad, but the colours aren't quite his style. These greys work a lot better for him - Robert Kaufman's Spot On played nicely with some Alison Glass SunPrint Bike Path.  There's even some Kona Steel hiding on the inside in case you were worried I'd forgotten my lovely Konas!

Speaking of Konas, thanks so much to everyone who joined in on my first ever link-up where they showed just how much they ♥ Kona! It went so well that I might even be plotting some more Kona love link-up action... stay tuned!
And for those of you waiting with bated breath to find out if you're the lucky winner...


That's Anita from How My Time Flies with her lovely sunflower palette.

And even though it's a small finish, I'm still linking up to Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts  and TGIFF @ The Carpenter's Daughter who Quilts... because this week, I'll take a win wherever I can get it! 

J

P.S. Thank you to Sarah from Barn Berry Designs for telling me how to get the Random Number Generator off their website and onto my blog. Bloggy friends are the best!


Sunday, February 15, 2015

4x7 Challenge - Week 2

Pssstt... if you're looking for the Kona link-up, it's here!

Ahh... another week of forced sewing. It's like hard labour, people. Just kidding! Making time for 30 minutes of sewing each day (14 hours of sewing total) is not such a hardship! Though it has looked a bit like Siberia outside my studio window this week...
Berry Barn Designs 

So here's the day by day blow by blow....
Day  8 - Got down to business on that last paper pieced block for my Skill Builder 2014. Half done!

Day 9 - So close to done that sewing machine! If only I didn't have to tear bits out...
Day 10 - Success! Finished and layered!

Day 11 - No sewing... just blogging about it. Oh well.

Day 12 - It's not sewing, but I went to the February meeting of MMQG. Sometimes just talking about sewing is enough for me! And I bought fabric at two LQS. Lucky me!
Day 13 - Spent time in the studio playing with fabric for my Kona ♥ link-up!

And I whipped up this infinity scarf for my hot date with Himself!
Day 14 - Finally got organized and made the prize for my 200th post giveaway. It'll be heading to Maine to live with Kitty @ Night Quilter!

This week wasn't quite as successful as Week 1. Some days I spent a lot more than 30 minutes.. other days I manage no actual sewing at all. Aiming higher for Week 3! I'm linking up today with Barn Berry Designs. I guess I should uncross my fingers and give someone else a chance - I won the prize for last week!

J

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Do you heart Kona?

Happy Valentine's Day! Today's the day to show some love... for Kona! A couple weeks ago, Lynn @ Buttons Quilts and I challenged you to create your very own curated FQ bundle of Kona solids. Once I got started, I just couldn't stop!

 Cheerful summertime combo - Sunny, Tangerine, Peacock, & Peapod
 Inspired by the latest Cotton & Steel print to join my stash - Emerald, Storm, Magenta, & Coral.
I must be dreaming of springtime with this one - Buttercup, Limelight, Lime & Grasshopper

And then there's that pesky Play Crafts Palette Builder... so addictive!



Now it's your turn! Add your link before the Link-Up closes next Thursday at midnight (AST) to win a one of a kind Kona charm pack curated by yours truly! Lynn @ Buttons Quilts is offering up a prize as well, so link on up!



P.S. Don't worry if you ♥ another solids line... everyone's welcome!

Friday, February 13, 2015

What? No Friday Finish?!

Yup... my four week streak is broken! No finish to share with you this Friday. On a happier note, there's just one more sleep until you can show off how much you ♥ Kona in my first ever link-up. Okay... I'm a little excited!

Hope you've had a chance to play around with your Kona stash and make a pretty curated bundle to share. Who knows? Your little creation might inspire another Kona lover's next project! Here's one of the piles I pulled together...
I must be dreaming of places I'd rather be than Nova Scotia on a snowy February day. That's Pacific, Lagoon, Caribbean, and Malibu. I can almost taste the blender drinks...

If you don't have a big 'ole Kona stash, no worries. You can link up solids from whatever line you ♥. Or pop over to...
Play Crafts Palette Builder

And make yourself one of these...

Careful... it's addictive! (In case you're wondering, that's Cape Breton's amazing Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site on a sunny summer's day)

Hope to see you tomorrow!

J

P.S. Did I mention there's a prize? Hmm... what would a self-professed Kona addict give as a prize? ☺

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

WIP Wednesday - A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

 
Yup. The design wall about sums up what's going on in the studio this week. A little quilting ADD anyone?

In the top left, there's my Underwater quilt. Thanks to this tutorial helpfully offered by Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts, I've decided to do a pieced matching binding. Sadly, I haven't managed to find the brain space to get to work on it. Maybe next week...

Then there's a little Kona strip quilt...  it started out as this lovely pile of Konas. There's Breakers, Pool, Teal Blue, Caribbean, Azure, Ultra Marine, Bahama Blue, Aqua, Capri and Robin Egg. Let's just say there's not much teal/blue left in the scrap bin! 
The lower right is a little pillow I've been playing with... just needs trimming and to have the backing sewn on. If I'm lucky, I'll get out of the house tomorrow to visit my LQS and buy a pillow form!

And last, but certainly not least, the final blocks of Skill Builder 2014. So much paper piecing... so many itty bitty pieces. The iron has 48 separate bits. The sewing machine - 46! And the quilt block has 52. Go ahead... do the mental math. I'll wait.

Yup. 146 pieces in 3 blocks!!! But they're finally finished, layered, and ready to quilt!

All that fiddly paper piecing made me crave some improv. I also happen to owe a lucky reader (Kitty from Night Quilter) a giveaway prize. Off I went to my stash to find a print... then a root through my Kona scrap to match those lovely little dots.

More Konas... I know you're shocked. There's Cardinal, Kumquat, Wasabi, Peacock, Oasis and Violet.
Aren't you glad I didn't make you read 5000 words? ☺

I'm linking up with Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts and WIP Wednesday @ Freshly Pieced. Pop on over and see what the gang's working on this week!

J

Sunday, February 08, 2015

4x7 Challenge - Week 1

This month, I'm taking on the 4 by 7 Sewing Challenge hosted by Sarah @ Berry Barn Designs. I've decided to do it as a birthday present to myself. Making time for 30 minutes of sewing each day gives me 14 hours of sewing in the month of February. Not too shabby!
Berry Barn Designs 
They also say that it takes 21 days to make a new habit. With DT being the main focus of my life these days, it's important to make time for myself. Who needs a shower when you can sit and sew? ☺ For me, whenever I sew, I sew for myself.  I don't have to be making a project for myself... the me-time is enough.

So here's the day by day blow by blow....
Day 1 - Continued paper piecing the December block of my Skill Builder BOM
Day 2 - Starched some Silver & finished the Triangle Quilt block. Yay!
Day 3 - Made a serious dent in the Iron block. Fiddly paperpiecing...
Day 4 - Spent part of my errand running time at my LQS, but opted to go to bed instead of sewing late into the night. Sometimes sleep wins...

Day 5 - Finished the Iron block. Might need to take it apart so that one section lines up better! ☺
Day 6 - Had an afternoon stay-cation in my studio courtesy of Himself and spent it cutting into my teal-y Kona scraps for a future project.
Day 7 - Spent some quality time with my new Kona Colour Card and my Kona stash! Sometimes I get a little behind on labeling. Yes, I label them all. ☺
And that's Week 1! In Week 2, I hope to finish the last block of my Skill Builder and treat myself to making something not on The List! I'm linking up with Barn Berry Designs. Here's hoping she doesn't boot me out for my Day 4 fail. I sewed more than ½ an hour the other days!Off to get in my 30 minutes for Day 8!

J
P.S. Don't forget about next Saturday's link up! Show everyone how much you ♥ Kona (or another solid line... we won't judge you if you have another love!)