Friday Finish - Go your own way...

 And it's done! My contribution to the MQG's Michael Miller Challenge! I call it Go Your Own Way (insert Fleetwood Mac soundtrack here). I've blogged about it already a few times (here, and here), but I've only shown sneaky peeks so far! The Challenge fabrics were from the Petal Pinwheels line. I added Kona White and a turquoise and grey print from the Mini Mikes line. 

This is my first quilt quilted with Aurifil. I used the oh-so exciting white and quilted triangles to make my wonky stitch n' flip triangles look a little more like classic flying geese.

I wasn't sure what the rules were for the quilt back (everything on the top had to be a Michael Miller print or a solid), so I headed back to my LQS to buy some more Mini Mikes. And not just because the selvage is super cute.

I didn't have much challenge fabric left in the end to do borders, so I combined it with more of the Kona White.

This is my second project using the challenge fabrics. The first one way pretty, but I didn't feel like it was my own creation (I used a pattern from Pillow Pop).  There's something about improv piecing that makes me feel like I'm really creating. And having the wonky geese going every which way just felt... like my own little something!

The Deets

Title: Go Your Own Way

Size: 35" by 38"

Quilting: Straight line triangles using Aurifil 50wt (white)

Binding: Michael Miller scraps and Kona White, Hand stitched with Gutterman (white)

Backing: Michael Miller Baby Boxes in Aqua

Favourite Part(s): That I tried a new technique (stitch n' flip triangles) and that it's my own little creation! 

I'm linking up today with Quokka Quilts for another TGIFF as well as Crazy Mom Quilts!

J

WIP Wednesday - Chuggin' along on the productivity train!

Oh, how I love having time (and the energy!) to sew again! With vacation days last week and a Sew Day with the Squares on Saturday, there's been a lot of work done since my last WIP Wednesday update!

Since I finished up the top of my Michael Miller MQG Challenge last week, it was time to get quilting. With all those stitch n'flip triangles, things were more than a little improv-y. The quilting is more than a little unusual too (at least for me!) but I opted not to make it too wonky. One can have too much of a good thing!

All quilted and ready to be bound. For those of you who wanted to see a little more on last week's post, you won't have to wait too long for a Friday to see the finished product! ☺

Next up, a new project! Another Hex n' More project from JayBird Quilts. I picked this up last week on Q-A and I's FART to Avonport Discount Fabrics. If you're intrigued by this pattern, there's a Hexagon QAL on the Jaybird website. It's not exactly like these pillows, but gives you a good idea of the technique!

Off I went to my Christmas stash again to pull these lovelies... I used the tree print (Winter from the Anne Kelle's Jingle line) to select the other colours. Don't you just love Anne Kelle prints? Christmas prints are also a great way to demo new patterns, especially pilows. If they don't turn out perfectly, you only have to look at them for a month or so!

I love how Julie of JayBird Quilts breaks down complex shapes into triangles and simple row construction. When you look at the photo on the package, you figure there will be a pile of partial seams to deal with. Nope... not a one. I've said it before and I'll likely say it again, you can make these patterns without the Hex n'More ruler (templates are provided with each pattern), but the ruler makes it so easy!

I think I'm getting the hang of pressing these seams open. I hardly burnt my fingers with the steam at all! Please don't be too horrified by my use of steam... I just can't do without it!

I loved how the first one looked, so I whipped up a second right away! I haven't squared them up yet... I need to do some re-con on pillow forms first!

And that's not all! I quilted my Cool Stash Strips. The top's been done since March, so it really was time to do it up! I wanted to soften the hard lines of the strips, but didn't want to take on a large FMQ project with J-Boy's Good Old Hockey Game also ready to quilt. We'll call these organic lines, okay?

I raided my strip stash for binding. I save all those leftover end-y bits. They're great when you're making a scrappy quilt. All pressed and virtually ready to go!

And I finished quilting it yesterday! Stay tuned for a Friday Finish on this one too!

Errands and aching shoulders kept me from the machine yesterday, but I'm sure I'll be back at it in no time! I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced as well as The Needle and Thread Network.

J

WiP Wednesday - The Behmoth!!!

Summer vacation has officially begun! Report cards are done and I don't have to go back to work for... well, a while! I've been making the most of my time and sewing a lot!

I've been working away on J-Boy's Good Old Hockey Game and the appliqué on the top is done. There might be a few speed wobbles present, but it's by far the happiest I've ever been with machine appliqué of mine.  I don't know how I managed such a dull pic on a sunny day! Q-A and I went on a F.A.R.T (check Alphabet Soup if you're scratching your head on this one!) and I've got the batting and some snazzy backing all washed and ready to go.

And here's a blast from the past - Toes in the Sand! I can't believe I haven't worked on this one since January! On the week-end, I cut all the setting triangles and now the top's sewn together. And I have backing and batting ready to go for this one too! It was just starting to rain as this pic was snapped... oh the silly things we do for quilts!

 

I even pressed the seams open as directed. What a time consuming process! Don't you just love that Sun Print Text fabric? It cost me an arm and a leg by the time I got it here, but I just couldn't see a solid as those setting triangles.

Finally, inspiration struck in the Michael Miller MQG Challenge department! I made a fun pillow a while back, but used so little challenge fabric that it seemed ridiculous! But this second project - this feels so much more... challenge-y! Here are a few progress pics to whet your appetite.

 Those are stitch and flip triangles you're seeing.

 And yes, those are my new spools of Aurifil lurking in the background. More to come on this quilt in a future post... the top is done and ready to be layered!

It's been a great week of sewing! I hardly wait to get away from the computer and back to the machine! I'm so excited about the progress I've made this week that I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and The Needle and Thread Network.

J

P.S. Speaking of link-ups, for all you Library Project-ers out there, don't forget that this Friday is the start of the monthly link-up!