Five Shadows

Leah Day is running a Mystery Block of the Month this year called Machine Quilting Block Party. Each month you get instructions to piece a 12″ block with borders, and  a video link where Leah teaches how she Free Motion Quilts the block. Since one of my goals for this year is to improve on my FMQ, I signed up for Leah’s BOM. Once all the blocks are pieced and quilted, Leah will teach how to attach them all together, quilt-as-you-go style.

March’s block:

April’s Block:

For my taste, these blocks are a bit too heavily quilted, but since the idea is to learn FMQ, I’m sticking with the plan and designs. It has been interesting to try out some of the motifs. I’m actually enjoying the process. I am interested in seeing how all 12 blocks will come together by the end of the year. Stay tuned, as I share each monthly block – and hopefully on time!

King size Bargello under way! After much math & fretting, I have decided on making 6 strip sets in 2 different color sets that once cut and sewn into a Bargello wave with equal an 80″ square for the top of a king size mattress.

Strip set one:

Strip set two:

The sets are ready to be cut in various widths, and repositioned for sewing back together for that famed Bargello wave. Fingers crossed all goes well!

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

1. Recover from what ever this flu-creepy crud is that is currently plaguing me! ✔︎ Yes, thank you Lord!
2. Keep plugging away on the king size Bargello. ✔︎ Strip sets all sewn and ready to cut.
3. Fit in FMQ March’s Block Party BOM. ✔︎ All caught up!

To-Do List for this week:

1. Bargello quilt – cut & position & sew that Bargello wave.

Yesterday was a great day. Today, not so much. I started out today with flu like symptoms. My day turned in to sleeping, coughing, sneezing, aching. Blah blah blah. NOT how I envisioned this week going!

Monday, I hosted my quilting group, Curvy Quilters. We jokingly started calling ourselves that when at one time all of us where working on some curved version of a quilt design. 2 of us love Sew Kind of Wonderful‘s Quick Curve Ruler and patterns. And another gal in the group decided to give the ruler a try, and she loved how easy sewing curves was! The name stuck, and we are the Curvy Quilters!

We had a birthday in our group, so I made a little cake that we shared at lunch time.

Usually when we meet, I work on one of my UFOs and that has proven to be a good way to check several off my list this year. But yesterday, I decided to work on April’s One Block Wonders, Diamond Path. I had a pile of 2 1/2″ scrappy strips left from other quilt projects, and thought they would work great in this month’s design.

Here is my scrappy version of Diamond Path with a cream border, and piano key border with HST in the corners.

At 38″ square it could be used as a wall hanging or a colorful baby quilt.

With all the customer projects I have right now, Diamond Path will join my ever growing pile of Tops to-be quilted.

I did meet up  with a customer at the local quilt shop Friday and now have t-shirts for a hobo bag and for the back of a signature pillow. I have to stop by the local big box store to buy a 24″ pillow form.

Two t-shirts and black, red, & white fabric for the hobo bag and a signature block pillow. We forgot to buy a fun red print to go along with the bag. Sigh. Another trip needed to the LQS. Hard life, isn’t it when you have to visit a quilt shop!?

Yesterday, I inherited a t-shirt quilt to finish piecing. My friend who does them along with her longarm business needed help to finish this one as she cares for her aging mother. She has the t-shirts cut and fused, ready to square up. I’ll do that and sash them, sewing together the top and get it back to her for quilting.

That’s 35 fused t-shirts! Fusing is the worst part in my opinion, so the rest should be a breeze!

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

1. Bargello quilt has to be on the top of the list. ✔︎ Strips are being sewn together. I’m thinking this is a bigger undertaking than I originally thought! One step at a time, I’ll get-er-done!
2. Meeting a customer who wants a signature quilt and hobo bag. ✔︎ I have the t-shirts and fabrics. Customer selected a simple HST design for the signatures.

To-Do List for this week:

1. Recover from what ever this flu-creepy crud is that is currently plaguing me!
2. Keep plugging away on the king size Bargello.
3. Fit in FMQ March’s Block Party BOM.

I’m keeping the list short this week as I recover from these flu type symptoms. My focus will be on the Bargello when I have enough energy and a brain to tackle it! Deadlines for the t-shirt projects are fortunately in May and June, phew! I’ll have time for those later.

How about you? Are your plans going well? Anything new on the horizon?

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

How about that! Sometimes I just surprise myself! I finished the Facets Quilt-Along with Christa Quilts on time!

I completed all 8 steps of the quilt along including gathering fabrics, improv piecing, cutting the improv sections into triangles, piecing top, basting – I spray basted, straight line quilting, FMQ, and binding – I used a flange binding. Christa put each participants name in a drawing for each step they complete. I was a lucky winner of one of her bonus prizes – a jelly roll from her online shop! Thanks Christa, for a great QAL! This was the second QAL of Christa’s that I have played along in. She is having another QAL starting up soon.

Last summer my daughter designed a quilt for her new king size bed. We shopped for fabrics, selecting teals, grays, and yellow in various prints. She pieced the top, and I offered to quilt it for her.

When I got her top, back and batting from her, I thought, “what have I gotten myself into!?” It was way larger than anything I have attempted to quilt on my home sewing machine. A friend who owns a longarm offered the use of her machine to do the straight line quilting my daughter requested. I think it turned pretty well! I had it all quilted and bound for her to pick up while visiting for Easter. She loves it! Phew! It does look pretty nice in her bedroom!

I’m behind on Leah Day’s BOM I signed up for this year. I really want to improve my FMQ and thought her BOM sounded like something I could keep up with, having only one block per month to piece, mark, baste, and quilt.

Above is February’s block. I finished the quilting today. NOT keeping up, am I?

March’s block. I pieced it yesterday, but my fabric markers are running out of ink and pencil is out of refills, so I didn’t get it marked. I’ll have to grab a new pen or refill for the pencil Friday while at the local quilt shop.

April’s block! All pieced – which is this week’s assignment, so I’m kind of on schedule, kind of?? ha ha!

Are you particapating in any Block of the Months or Quilt Along programs this year? I’d love to hear about them!

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

1. Finish the Facets quilt!  ✔︎ Yes yes yes! I’m so very pleased with it!
2. Start on Bargello quilt. ✔︎ Started organizing the strips today! I recalculated, and glad I did! I’m aiming for a king size bargello!
3. Procrastinate even more on the MQBP March block, but go ahead and purchase the April block.  ✗  Ha Ha! I didn’t procrastinate! I pieced 2 blocks, and quilted Feb block!  ✔︎ And I did purchase and piece the April block! All caught up for this week!

To-Do List for this week:

1. Bargello quilt has to be on the top of the list.
2. Meeting a customer who wants a signature quilt and hobo bag.

I’m linking up to Linky Tuesday , To-Do Tuesday and UFO Link Up!  Have a good week!

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.

Thing 1: Saturday, my family was invited to a baby shower. For some reason, I thought the baby was a boy, but nope, tis a girl. That meant a quick look around the studio for girlie fabrics. I usually make a self-binding baby blanket for baby showers, but didn’t have any girlie flannel prints in my stash, but I did find a kit for a baby tag blankie. Phew! Saved! I whipped it up Friday, and ran to the store to pick up a couple other baby items to add to the gift. I bought a chubbie baby book & a rattle/toy. When I was packing up the gifts, I was fearing that the mom might be one of those gals who hates pink! But when she opened it, she said pink is her favorite color! And her husband chimed in saying he has always wanted to learn to quilt. I told them my door is open if they ever want to come over to learn to make a baby quilt. So we will see if anything comes of that. Baby is due mid-April. I think they might be a tad too busy for quilting for a while!

Thing 2: My middle married daughter wanted to make a simple quilt for their new king size bed. We shopped together for the fabric, and I cut out strips according to her design. She took them home and sewed the top together. Then she brought it back to me to quilt. When I saw how huge it was, I was not willing to try to straight line quilt it on my home machine. So it sat for a while, since last Fall! Talking with a friend, who happens to own a longarm, she told me to bring it over and quilt it on her longarm! (which I did in late February) This was my first time to quilt on a longarm, I was thinking straight line quilting on a longarm would be difficult. Turns out I was wrong! My lines are mostly straight, the hard part was setting them up at a 1/4″ from the seams, as my daughter requested. I should have used a ruler to measure each row. Some are 1/2″ from the seams! When my daughter was up last weekend, she said she loved it! Phew! The variety in the stitching coordinates well with the various fabric widths. My daughter selected a dark gray from my stash for the binding. Yesterday I wrestled the quilt into submission to bind on my machine! That was a work out! I’ll ask my daughter to take a photo of it on her bed once she gets it to her home, next weekend. I’m glad to have it completed, but really, too bad winter is over when she and her hubby should have been enjoying it!

So, dear quilters, what have you forgotten about lately? Or are you so well organized you just don’t overlook projects?

On to my planned projects from last week – The t-shirt quilt is complete! I love the geometric design the longarm quilter used for this quilt! Hoping my customer agrees!

My Facets Quilt-Along quilt is finally getting some attention from me! Today I whipped up a back from the left over dark blue and light blue batiks, and had to add two more fabrics to make it large enough. (not photoed) Then I spray basted the sandwich using 505 temporary adhesive.

Using the Dual Feed with the Stitch-in-the-ditch foot, I stitched in the ditch around all the triangles. Next up is stitching 1/4″ from the seams in the light blue background fabric. I’m using Aurifil 2847 in the top and bobbin for the SITD and 1/4″ stitching.

I baked this yesterday and then forgot to post!

Happy Pi Day!

Last week my youngest and I went to visit our east coast relatives during her college spring break. As it worked out, we hit the right week to help my father with downsizing. It was an emotional time for all of us, my sister, my brother & his wife also helped out. Mom has been moved to the dementia unit at the retirement home they have lived in the past 10 years ago. Good thing is she still recognizes all of us and can hold a decent conversation – for a while. Then she slips back about 20 years.

Since this was supposed to be a vacation for my daughter, we did go into Baltimore Harbor for a day, visited the aquarium, walked the Harbor, eat lunch out. And in the evening met up with my sister and her husband for dinner. We had a nice time visiting on the pier at The Point Crab House. (Thank you Russ and Lauren!) The weather was seasonable warm, so the restaurant had opened up all their doors, we ate out-of-doors. Yum! Crab cakes!

Then on Friday, we visited relatives. It is always nice to catch up with everyone! No quilt shop visits this time! LOL

Today I picked up the customer t-shirt from the longarmer.

I hope I have already made the binding. I usually do, so it is just so easy to sit down and stitch it on by machine.

Before leaving for our trip, I did finish piecing the Facets quilt top for Christa’s QAL.

I love how it has turned out! I was using Batik scraps left over from 2 other projects and had enough to make 4 improve pieced rows. Now to find the right fabric for the back and binding. I’m behind, as everyone else in the QAL are already working on the straight line quilting.

How did I do on my last To-Do list?

1. Finish the Facets Quilt-Along top! ✔︎ All finished!
2. FMQ February’s Machine Quilting Block Party block! ✗ I just can’t seem to get to the MQBP blocks! I’m behind by 2 now.
3. Return to sewing on the next UFO on my list which is Metro Hoops by Sew Kind of Wonderful. My plan is to work on it at Thursday’s Curvy Quilters Group. ✔︎ I have been sewing on this one.

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

After a lovely weekend of temperatures  in the 60s, we have 30s today and SNOW! I do love snow, but I’m ready for Spring! Sunny days and warmer weather. Patience, right!? On the up side, our Snowdrops are blooming in the backyard! (I should have taken a picture Sunday.)

How did I do on last week’s To-Do list? I made a short list, as I thought that would help me accomplish everything this past week. Nope. It was just one of those weeks. Now that March is here, I’m hoping for a better month!

1. Finish piecing the T-shirt quilt top & back. Take to longarm quilter. ✔️
2. Piece Facets Quilt Along top. ✖︎ Still work’n on it.
3. FMQ February’s Machine Quilting Block Party block. ✖︎ Does printing off the directions count for anything?

This week’s To-Do List:

1. Finish the Facets Quilt-Along top!
2. FMQ February’s Machine Quilting Block Party block!
3. Return to sewing on the next UFO on my list which is Metro Hoops by Sew Kind of Wonderful. My plan is to work on it at Thursday’s Curvy Quilters Group.

I’m linking up with To-Do Tuesday 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’m so pleased to have this quilt top completed! I had parts of the border pieced, and took it along to my sewing day with the Curvy Quilters. I got the border all pieced and attached!

This is Sew Kind of Wonderful’s Curve It Up pattern. I used Moda’s Sphere by Zen Chic for the pieced blocks and Moda Grunge for the border. Moda solid white for the background.

The Grunge border just makes me happy! I think it plays well with Sphere. This quilt is going into the ‘to be quilted’ pile. Sorry dear quilt top, you are once again a UFO.

Here are a few of the triangles cut from the improv piecing for the Facets Quilt-Along I’m doing with Christa of Christa Quilts.

I’m using all Batik scraps from previous projects. I bought a pale blue batik with random splattered dots for the background fabric. I’m enjoying the process of this Quilt-Along. I like how Christa has broken the pattern down into weekly steps, with 8 weeks for the quilt-along. That includes machine quilting and binding, so I hope I can keep up!

How about you, are you particapating in any quilt-alongs or Block of the Months this year? If so, are you keeping up with the monthly schedule?

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

1. Wait patiently for fabrics for the Bargello quilt. (With Lots of praying!) Still waiting.
2. Work on T-shirt quilt while waiting for the Bargello fabric. Have to go shopping for the sashing, border, etc. ✔️Bought & washed fabrics, cutting sashing strips.
3. Cut triangles for Facets quilt. ✔️Triangles cut from the improv piecing. Background fabric purchased.
4. Back to next UFO – Sew border for Curve-It-Up quilt/Sew Kind of Wonderful pattern. ✔️ Another UFO top completed!

This 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.
2. Work on t-shirt quilt.
3. Cut background fabric for Facets Quilt-Along and start sewing top together.
4. FMQ February’s block for the Machine Quilting Block Party with Leah Day.

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

That was fun!

Batik scraps sewn together for the Facets Quilt-Along.

I have sewn together several improv sections using odd shaped Batik scraps. These will be cut into 2-4 triangles each, which is the next step in the Quilt-along.

Next up – Batik Strip Sets for a Bargello quilt.

I have 4 identical strip sets of 24 fabrics each, but need one more to be able to make a King size Bargello. The quilt shop & I have been on the phone and emailing to figure out how to match one more set! Sure hope it works out!

Have you ever had your plans foiled by not having enough fabric? I’m formulating Plan B in case I need one for the Bargello quilt.

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

1. Start a new customer quilt, it’s a Bargello with appliqué. King size! ✔️Started! But no sewing yet. I calculated out the yardage, and it appears I don’t have enough to make the quilt as wide as needed. Bummer. I have contacted the quilt shop, and they do still have the fabric needed. Waiting for it to be confirmed & shipped!
2. Start piecing the improv fabric for the Facets quilt. ✔️All pieced and ready for next step.

This week’s To-Do List:

1. Wait patiently for fabrics for the Bargello quilt. (With Lots of praying!)
2. Get back to the T-shirt quilt while waiting for the Bargello fabric. Have to go shopping for the sashing, border, etc.
3. Cut triangles for Facets quilt.
4. Back to next UFO – Sew border for Curve-It-Up quilt/Sew Kind of Wonderful pattern.

Linking to Linky Tuesday and To-Do Tuesday.