Five Shadows

This is Week 8 and the last week of the Facets Quilt Along hosted by Christa Watson of Christa Quilts.

I’m currently quilting in the blue triangles, and then there are swirls to do in the improv pieced triangles. Then the home stretch for the binding! Friday is the deadline for completing, if you want your name entered in Christa’s prize drawing. Participants get one chance per week completed, for a total of 8 chances. My goal is to complete the quilting and binding this Friday.

Above is the back of Facets, and you can see the quilting lines completed so far in the blue triangles. I’m using a ruler and ruler foot on my domestic Janome. (psst! I’m taking Amy Johnson’s Craftsy Class – Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine) Facets is a learning process! Not perfect, but I’m happy with it!

I should be farther along on the Facets but this got in the way! Just kidding! Not in the way, but it called my name loud and clear and I just had to make it! Sandy is hosting the One Block Wonder BOM. She provides a pattern for one block each month that she has created, and participants use the pattern to create at least one block or any size quilt they desire. I downloaded the pattern for March early on, and then never got to it. Last week I saw Sandy’s post of her lovely quilt using March’s block, and decided Monday (yesterday) I would work on the block. I love it!

Here is my quilt top so far.

Monday I hosted my little quilting group, and this is what I worked on. I finished it up today. Still need to decide about borders. I was gifted a Fat Quarter pack of Raindrops by Andover Fabrics for my birthday. When I saw Sandy’s quilt I knew Raindrops would be perfect for this pattern! I used Kona Snow for the white. 25 Blocks set 5 x 5 measuring 60″ square so far. Thank you Sandy, for the great pattern!

While working on the One Block Wonder yesterday, of course the gals asked what I was up to. I explained about the One Block Wonder BOM, and they laughed and said, “So you are starting 12 unfinished projects this year!”  I laughed and said, “Yes, I guess so! I have been making mostly table toppers or runners with the monthly pattern, but none of them are completed. I’ll have to put them on next year’s ‘to be quilted’ list!” I actually thought by just making a table topper, I’d be able to get each one pieced, quilted, and bound in a month’s time. I’m still hoping to finish at least some of these projects monthly!

How did I do on last week’s To-Do List:

1. Continue quilting the Facets quilt. ✔︎ It is coming along! Hope to bind it Friday.
2. Shop and prepare my part for our family Easter Dinner. ✔︎ We had a wonderful day and hope you did too!
3. Maybe work on the Machine Quilting Block Party Feb block??? At least get it marked for quilting! ✗ Nope. Because I decide to make the One Block Wonder quilt instead of working on the MQBP block.

This week’s To-Do List:

1. Finish the Facets quilt!
2. Start on Bargello quilt.
3. Procrastinate even more on the MQBP March block, but go ahead and purchase the April block.

I’m linking to To-Do List and Linky Tuesday.

Social media can be so distracting. I’m enjoying all the Splendid Sampler photos popping up on Facebook. Tempting to join in, but I won’t as I have too many of my own ideas to keep me busy. If you are interested in making 6 inch finished blocks – 100 of them, with free patterns, 2 a week, check out the Splendid Sampler hosted by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson.

Have you seen posts from QuiltCon 2106 held this past weekend in CA? Photos are popping up on blogs and Facebook. QuiltCon 2017 planning is well underway and will be held in Georgia. Wouldn’t that be fun to attend!?

After spending too much time photo gazing, I didn’t get much sewing done. I ended up pulling out the One Block Wonder February pattern and pieced four blocks for a little table topper.

This is a 9″ block, repeated 4 times, for an 18″ square table topper, I used Soft Dreams by P & B Textiles.

How did I do on last week’s To-Do list?

1. Call quilt shop again, about fabric for the Bargello quilt. I’ve come up with a Plan B, that I hope they can accommodate.✔️Plan B should be in the mail. I hope the package arrives later this week!
2. Work on t-shirt quilt. ✔️ I made progress, but not as far along as I would like to be.
3. Cut background fabric for Facets Quilt-Along and start sewing top together. ✔️ Pieces all cut, and some sewing completed.
4. FMQ February’s block for the Machine Quilting Block Party with Leah Day. ✖︎ It’s sitting here, still not marked or quilted.

This week’s To-Do List:

1. Finish piecing the T-shirt quilt top & back. Take to longarm quilter.
2. Piece Facets Quilt Along top.
3. FMQ February’s Machine Quilting Block Party block.

I’ve allowed myself to be distracted by Facebook and blogs this week. Is there anything that easily distracts you from your well laid plans?

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday List, and Linky Tuesday.

I started off February by making this month’s block in Leah Day’s Machine Quilting Block Party, Mystery Quilt Block #2.

For the star points, I used the Lazy Girl No-Math Ruler technique. I’m using scraps from my stash for this BOM. I love the orange Grunge in the corners, which was leftover from another project. There might not be enough left to show up in another block. I’m challenging myself to NOT buy fabric for this quilt along, other than white for the background.  I’ll be replenishing whites from the LQS at their next sale. I’m amazingly low right now on whites and creams.

Below is January’s Block pieced and quilted.

Leah’s Machine Quilting Block Party uses a Quilt-As-You-Go Technique. I have only made one quilt in this style, and Leah’s technique for joining the blocks is different from what I learned years ago. I’m looking forward to learning her process this year.

Next are the two blocks I made for January’s One Block Wonders BOM.

I have cut enough pieces to make a small quilt, but only got 2 blocks made. They will have to go into the WIP pile!

Next are the fabrics I will be using to piece the improv part of Christa Watson’s Facets Quilt Along.

I had leftover Batiks from another project, and since they are scraps, I thought they would be perfect for improv piecing.

Next up are T-shirts prepped with Pellon fusible interfacing (P44F) and squared up at 16 1/2″.

Using 16 shirts, I’m placing them in a 4 x 4 configuration. I need to shop for fabric for the sashing, corner stones, border, backing & binding. I’m waiting for the LQS sale that starts Feb 8th.

How about you? Are you trying any new-to-you techniques this year? I’d love to hear about them!

How did I do on last week’s To-Do List?

1. GOT to get to the January One Block Wonders, deadline Friday! ✔️Got 2 blocks made, and enough pieces cut for a quilt top.
2. Finish FMQ Machine Quilting Block Party January Block ✔️ I’m pretty happy with how this block turned out!
3. Prep those t-shirts! ✔️ The least fun part in the process of making a t-shirt quilt!

This week’s To-Do List:

1. Start a new customer quilt, it’s a Bargello with appliqué. King size!
2. Start piecing the improv fabric for the Facets quilt.

I’m linking to Linky Tuesday and To-Do Tuesday.

As posted earlier, I’m trying my hand at several Quilt-Alongs and Block of the Months this year.

Here is my January block for One Block Wonders hosted by Upstairs Hobby Room.

I love this design! I cut out pieces to make a small quilt top, but alas, life kind of got in the way and I only stitched up one block. Guess it will be added to my Works In Progress (WIP) pile. If I don’t get to it in my free time, it will go with me on my quilting club days.

And here is the first block all pieced and quilted for Leah Day’s Machine Quilting Block Party.

Leah is teaching a Quilt-As-You-Go technique, so I’m looking forward to learning how she joins the already quilted blocks.  I used Superior Threads King Tut 40 weight, variegated yellow, color 985 for the top thread. And Aurifil 50 weight, yellow, color 1135 for the bobbin thread. My skills need to improve in the Free Motion Quilting (FMQ), but the threads and tension worked beautifully in my Janome.

I’m playing long with Sandy and her One Block Wonder BOM. December’s block was a fun paper pieced design. Here is my little table topper quilt made from the block:

Back in October, I won a Fat Quarter bundle for particapating in the One Block Wonders, Soft Dreams by P&B Textiles. There are prizes each month, your name is put into the draw for participating by making at least one block. I used part of that FQ bundle for December’s block – making the table topper and back. I still need to sandwich, quilt and bind the little quilt.

I also finished piecing a t-shirt quilt and delivered it to the longarm quilter.

Family fun included a birthday party for my grand daughter. Oh boy! Did she ever love ripping the paper off of her packages!

And eating cake!

To-Do List:

1. This week I plan on working on the quilt my daughter started and needs help squaring it up.
2. I have an order for a pillow to match the t-shirt quilt.
3. And I will take one of my WIP  to my sewing day, either Dot-to-Dot or Curve it Up.

How is your New Year going? Hope you have started off with successes!

I enjoyed a blessed time with family over Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day. Hope you did too!

November is month number 2 in Sandy’s One Block Wonder BOM Sandy blogs at Upstairs Hobby Room. Here is November’s block:

I was surprised today by seeing a familiar photo on Connie’s Linky Tuesday post. Connie featured my photo of making Flying Geese using Jodi Barrow’s Square in a Square Ruler. Thank you for the feature, Connie!

This week I set up my sewing machine for some ‘ruler play’ using the 1/4″ ruler foot for my Janome and rulers originally designed for Longarm quilters. I’m taking Amy Johnson’s Craftsy Class Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine. I decided to give the rulers a try on the Flying Geese table runner. Now don’t go judging! This is my first time to quilt using rulers on something other than a practice piece!

It’s not finished yet, but it is a start. The block design is from Sandy’s One Block Wonder BOM she is hosting, October being the first month.

Close up of the straight line quilting, above. I used a varigated 30 wt. thread for the top.

Stitching on the back, using Superior Threads  Bottom Line 60 wt. thread, color no. 637 ‘Blush’ in the bobbin.

I have more ideas for how to quilt this piece, so I just might make up more Flying Geese table runners to use to practice the ideas.

My busy weekend went well with all the cooking, Fall party, and having our adult kids in for visits and meals.

I made this Cranberry Cobbler twice and it was a hit both times. It disappeared at the Fall Party before I could even get a taste! And it also disappeared at our family gathering Saturday night! Family has requested I make it again, but double the recipe next time. It might be showing up on our Thanksgiving table next month!

This week’s To-Do list:  I hope to finish up Metro Hoops designs by Sew Kind of Wonderful. Maybe make up a few more table runners for quilting practice. Also pick up the t-shirt quilt from the longarmer and finish it with a flange binding.

I’m linking to Linky Tuesday and To-Do Tuesday.

Thing One: I’m playing along with a BOM (block of the month) hosted by Up Stairs Hobby Room that just started this month. It is called One Block Wonders BOM but does not make a sampler quilt. Each month the block presented will be a stand alone block to make mini quilts, pillows, table runners, quilt tops, or whatever else you want to do with your block. I’m using this month’s block to make an Autumn Table runner.

Thing Two:  The block this month uses Flying Geese units. I decided to use a new-to-me ruler, Jodi Barrows’ Square in a Square Ruler. I actually bought the ruler and a book a while back, and later in August attend a lecture by Jodi. This is only my second time to pick it up and give it a try.

On the right is the Square in the Square unit that Jodi bases her method of piecing on. The bottom left is the Square in a Square unit trimmed for the Flying Geese units. Top left are the two Flying Geese you get from one Square in a Square unit.

In the above photo I am using the 90 degree lines to trim the unit. The opposite corner is trimmed the same way, each with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Above, showing the 1/4″ seam allowance.

The remaining to sides are trimmed right at the corner of the inner square.

Above, see how the unit was trimmed just to the corner edge of the inner square.

Next, the Square in a Square is cut into two Flying Geese. And yes, there is some waste, that really bugs some people. The triangles trimmed off this size of the Square in a Square (6″ x 3″) are actually large enough to save for another project. Or … if you make doggy rescue beds as a friend of mine does, save your scraps to stuff the beds.  :-)

Two Flying Geese units and the Square in the Square Ruler.

Above is one block of Flying Geese units, not yet sewn together. I’ll be adding more fall colors to complete my table runner. I was hoping to finish it today, but hey! I got to show this process to you instead.

Are you familiar with Jodi Barrows? She has been sharing her techniques for years and has up to 30 some units all made by starting with the Square in the Square. She will be at the Fall Quilt Market this weekend.

My To-Do Tuesday List: 1. Finish the One Block Wonder table runner. 2. Host my quilting group Thursday, bake a dessert to share. 3. Church Fall Party – cook for that. 4. Daughter and SIL coming in from out of town, more cooking!

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday and Linky Tuesday.