Goals for 2016!

To help keep myself motivated and on track for various WIPs and projects to be done, I want to make a goal list for the coming year. My sewing room has become more than a bit disorganized in the last six months. I've decided that I need to focus this year on completing my WIPs pile and on quilts that I have fabrics picked out for. And also some baby quilts and toddler quilts thrown in the mix as well.

So here is my quilt list goals....

1) FQS 2015 Mystery Quilt
2) Maple Leaf Quilt
3) Whispering Lake Quilt
4) Meadow Mist Designs Mystery Quilt A Long
5) Mosaic Tiles Quilt
6) Baby Quilt for a friend
7) Charity Quilt for Relay for Life
8) Blueberry Ice Quilt

Other Goals....

9) I've also joined a Skills Building workshop called the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club that is run by Lucky Spool. Every month there is a new challenge to do.

10) I've also joined the Fundy Tide Quilters Guild which is a hour away from where I live. I'm hoping to be able to attend meetings and events that they have. Hopefully the weather will be good to be able to drive there once a month. I am very excited to attend the first meeting in the New Year :)

11) I would also like to attend meetings in the summertime for the Maritime Modern Quilting Guild. It's so difficult to attend those meetings because they are a 3.5 hour drive away and requires me to take at least one day off work. But I figure if I plan it in the summertime, I don't have to worry about the weather causing travel difficulties. 

12) I also want to dust off my embroidery machine. I haven't been using it nearly enough to justify owning it. I've purchased different products for it and haven't even taken them out of the packaging! 

So there it is! My goals for 2016. I'm linking up with Yvonne @ Quilting JetGirl who's hosting a 2016 Planning Linky Party to help keep myself on track!

Do you have any goals for 2016? I'd love to hear them :)

Julia

What a month!

I realize I haven't written a post in almost a month. Even though I haven't been posting on here, I have been busy in my sewing space. Christmas gifts needed to be done. In the rush of finishing one Christmas quilt, I forgot to take a picture of the completed quilt. Some days I wonder about my mental state hehe. So I only have a picture of the quilt top.

This quilt was quilted a couple of days before Christmas. It was a bit of a rush to have it done but I did manage. Even if I forgot to take photos. Maybe in the New Year, I'll be able to get a few pictures of it.

Another work in progress is another quilt pattern that I designed. This is also a secret project so I can only show a sneak peek....

I'm hoping to have this one finished in the next couple of weeks. Ambitious I know, but I am on vacation all next week and plan on sewing a fair bit. And also organize my sewing space to accommodate my latest addition to my sewing room.....more on that later ;)

I also want to say a great big Thank You to Anja @ Anja's Quilts for testing out my Additions pattern. If you have a spare moment (or two) go check out the beautiful quilt top she's done. The fabrics she picked are absolutely beautiful.

Now about the pattern. There's some corrections to be made but I'm hoping to publish that pattern for FREE on my blog in the coming months. I'll keep you posted!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays to all!

Home Sweet Home

There definitely is something sweet about being home. I had been away for almost three weeks for work and finally came home on Friday. It was such a blissful home coming. I also had a few packages waiting for me when I arrived home. I'll give a little glimpse into some of them today :)

First up is a package from Sew Sisters.

The Bargain Lover's Club is on the top left. Pink Sand Beach Designs Huntington Hobo pattern on the top right followed by some pretty cute lions on the bottom. I have another pattern by Pink Sand Beach Designs and love it!

This Timeless Treasures Mini Lions print is absolutely adorable! It was also in the Clearance section!

Next up is my stop at Avonport Discount Fabrics. My favourite fabric store :)

From top left to the bottom left:

1) In From The Cold by Kate Spain for moda
2) ABC Menagerie by Abi Hall for moda
3) Persimmon by Basic Grey for moda
4) Holiday Cheer Tote Pattern
5) Splash by Alex Anderson for RJR Fabrics
6) Hothouse Flowers by Mo Bedell for Andover Fabrics
7) Max & Bunny for Andover Fabrics
8) Dog Park by studio.k for Clothworks

I also picked up a can of 505 Spray but that's a necessity purchase, not a stash purchase :)

I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash since it has been far too long since I've added to my stash! Have you added anything to your stash lately?

Birthday Bonus Club Sign-Up

It's been a while since I've been able to write a blog post. I am currently away for my work but I have an exciting new adventure to tell you about. Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge and I have decided to coordinate a year long event called the "Birthday Bonus Club"!

What's the Birthday Bonus Club you ask?! It is a year long commitment to send each member of the club 50 mini charms on their birthday. Simple as that and incredible fun! Imagine getting so many packages in the mail (or hand delivered) to you during the month of your birthday! Imagine all you have to do is send 50 mini charms to each member of the Birthday Bonus Club during the month of their birthday. This club is a year long commitment. So if you cannot commit to the full year, please do not join.

Here are the rules of the Birthday Bonus Club:

Participants:

• should be Canadian
• should be Facebook users (a Closed group has been set up so participants can communicate with each other)
• must commit to participating for the full year (January to December 2016)
• should keep a list of packages received during their birthday month (a list will be provided on the closed Facebook group)
• should be prepared to buy fabric if they do not have requested colour/style/motif in their stash 

Fabric:

• Each Birthday Queen receives 50 mini charm (2½ inch) squares from the other participants
• Squares may be the same fabric or a variety 

• Does not need to be pre-washed, but can be

• Should be quilt shop quality fabric

Requests:

• May be for a particular colour (i.e. Purple), motif (i.e dots), or style (i.e. low volume)

• May not be for a particular brand or designer

• May include one "Please no" (i.e. "Please no batiks") 

The Birthday Bonus Club starts January 1st! You can sign up for this club by heading over to Facebook and asking to join the Birthday Bonus Club :) If you have any issues, please contact me or Jenn by our blogs, email or FaceBook :)

Mercury Pillow

Well I had busy weekend working so I didn't get to sew as much as I would have liked. However, I did manage to finish my Mercury pillow.

I am quite happy with how this turned out. It was a bit time consuming to do the echo quilting but well worth the effort!

The fabric for the backing is a text print called Garden Party by Tea and Sympathy for Studio e fabrics. Here's a close-up of the fabric.

I love this fabric. I only have small scraps of it left now. I love "Home is Where You Are" and all the tea related comments. I am an avid tea drinker!

So I'm not sure where this pillow will wind up in our house but I'm sure I will find a home for it. Now onto another project....

Slow & Steady

Well I've been sick with a cold this week so I haven't been able to accomplish much on the sewing side of things. However I did manage to complete the quilting on my Mercury Block.

I decided to echo quilt the outer part of this paper pieced block. I'm loving how the quilting turned out. 

Still have some threads to bury. Just ignore those :)

And a picture showing all the quilting. 

So excited to get this one finished!

Too Many...

Ever have that feeling where you feel like you're sewing a lot but not having anything to show for it? I'm in that mode right now. I've been jumping between so many projects that I've been feeling like I haven't been doing much sewing at all. I did make the next three blocks for my block exchange with my sister. I can't share those yet though. But here is something that I can share....

I decided to turn my first paper pieced block into a pillow cover. I purchased more of the Northcott solid to add a border to make this pillow cover for a 20" pillow form. 

So then came the part of figuring out how to quilt it....

I flipped through my copy of Free Motion Quilting with Angela Walters and decided to try out some pebbles. I decided that I would put pebbles in the background around the star.

I practiced on paper first.

And then on some fabric.

Then I started on my pillow cover. I was completely terrified. I put on Matchbox Twenty and started making pebbles....

It's far from perfect but the overall effect is grand :)

Here's a picture of the back which will not be visible when the pillow cover is complete.

I am pretty happy with this, even with all the mistakes ;)

Sunday Stash - Relationship Blooming :)

I have a small Sunday Stash post to share today. I received the Paper Pieced Modern book by Amy Garro that I ordered last week. It was a bit late since it was sent to the wrong town :( I could not hide my disappointment when I seen it on the tracking shipment information. But I was so happy when I saw it in my mailbox on Friday :)

I also picked up some Grey Dot fabric and some Striped orange fabric :) Sorry dear readers, I don't have any info on the fabrics.

I am very excited about the quilts in this book. I've recently started a very happy relationship with Foundation Paper Piecing. You can see my first block on this post, I'm Crazy bout A Mercury. 

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash #148

Go check it out! Looks like Molli had a similar shopping vacation like mine back in August :) 

Fabricolics Unite!

Geese are A-Flying!

Well I've been busy cutting and piecing for a Stash Star quilt. I pre-washed all the Fat Quarters and background fabric.....I know what you're thinking....I never pre-wash.....ever! This is my first time. Let's call it an experiment....

Lots and lots of chain piecing and trimming today.

Check out the stack of Flying Geese Blocks

If I can finish these Star blocks today, that will be half of the blocks needed for this quilt...ah.

After these star blocks are done, I'm going to have to take a break and do something else....I'm losing the motivation for making this quilt (sigh). 

How do you get out of a quilty rut?

I'm crazy bout a Mercury....

Oh Alan Jackson has definitely went through my mind more than a couple of times when I started making the Mercury block. Such a catchy song! I finished up the last four pieces that I needed to do while humming to myself.....

And here it is!

I'm happy to say I'm all finished :)

My seams aren't perfect but I do love the effect.....I believe this is the start of a beautiful relationship!

Now to figure out what I will do with this block.....suggestions?

1st Attempt at Paper Piecing.....

Well I decided to try Paper Piecing this weekend. This is something that I've never done and never seen anyone do. I missed a workshop back in June that a MMQG member was teaching due to circumstances beyond my control. I was looking online for some inspiration and came across the "Mercury" block by Julie Hirt.

When I first seen the picture, I didn't realize it was paper pieced. Then I browsed more on Julie Hirt's Six Two Seven Handworks website and located this Paper Piecing Tutorial she wrote for Online Quilt Magazine.com

After reading the tutorial, I printed off the Mercury templates and started putting together the block.

So this is before I trimmed the block. To be noted, her tutorial is wonderful. I really had an easy and fun time making this block. Here's a picture of the back.

And then after the trimming....

So after this one turning out alright, I made three more...

So I'm half way finished for the block. I am totally in love with paper piecing! I will definitely be doing more of this. I also ordered Paper Pieced Modern by Amy Garro this morning. I've been in love with that cover quilt forever. And now that I realize how easy Paper Piecing is, I'm going to definitely be making that cover quilt.

Well I'm off to finish the rest of this block :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mystery Block #11

I dug out my second last Mystery Block package to do this week. I've been working on some secret projects lately so I wanted to do something that I could share. I also realize I am a bit out of practice for reading the directions properly.....

I made four of these lovely Flying Geese blocks....turn the page in the pattern to realize that I needed two like the ones on my iPad and two more with the navy blue triangles reversed.....At that point, I turned off my light, sewing machine and went to bed.

The next day, I was lucky enough that I could seam rip those triangles and swap them. Saved me from having to do those Flying Geese pieces again. This block came together so quickly after that, that I only managed to remember to take a picture when it was finished. So here it is :)

"Sister Mary" is this block's name. Designed by Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobson of Me and My Sister Designs.

Only 1 Block left to go!

Sunday Stash....

Well I have a few more fabrics to add to my busting at the seams stash! I know I shouldn't have gotten any fabrics but I couldn't help myself....first off, I discovered a new online Canadian fabric store. Have to support local! I received these pretties from For the Love of Fabric.

Check out Robert Kaufman's Valori Wells print.

"Adventure" in the Ashton Road Collection. Love those bicycles!

Then I dropped this Alison Glass Sun Print Fat Quarter in my cart. Love this Ink Denim Blue!

This is just one of the Downton Abbey fabrics that I just couldn't resist! I'm not sure what I'll make with these but they will be added to "my precious" stash.

And I couldn't resist this compass print.....I am a sucker for nautical items that remind me of my work and the sea.

Compass from the World Maps collection by Sue Schlabach.

Then I had a chance to stop by a not-so-local quilt shop on Friday. And I ended up with a few more additions to my stash....

Moda's Crackle in Gray by Kathy Schmitz and Teal Henna Pop by Beth Studley for Makower UK.

Then I picked up this curated bundle for the Quilt Shop's FQ challenge.

Not sure what I'm going to make with it yet. The challenge is open until Dec 1. So I'll have to see if I can come up with something or I'll just have more FQs to add to my pile :)

Hope you enjoyed my post for Sunday Stash. Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash #146!

Throwback Thursday Vol.3

The quilt I'm going to share for Throwback Thursday Vol.3 is my Whispering Love quilt.

This quilt was made for a very special woman who was battling Ovarian Cancer. I made this for her hoping it would provide her a bit of comfort during the chemo treatments and her surgery. I'm happy to say that she is doing well now :) And still loving the quilt :)

This quilt was a labour of love and what I feel as one of the prettiest quilts I have ever made.

The fabrics all have their unique beauty just like her :)

Linking up with Jenn over @ Quarter Inch from the Edge.

Lost: Blogging Mojo

So two weeks has slipped by quickly as I noticed that is the last time I put a post up. I haven't been sewing much in the last couple of weeks. I did do some shopping though....it's not that I need more fabric.....I just can't help myself to pretty fabrics. Here's my latest haul :)

There's some Kona Pewter, Riley Blake Dots, Bumbleberries in Green, Grey and Orange, Mixology and a Teal Ribbon Fat Quarter. When I went into the quilt shop, I just needed 1.25 m of Kona Pewter.....I walked out with much, much more....All the dot prints are for a future quilt.

So after talking myself out of buying fabric for a little while, I was on the road for work. So while looking for a public washroom where I was, I ended up having to stop in at a fabric store. I tried two other places before stopping there including buying my lunch at one of them. I had to buy fabric in order to use the facilities. Working on boats has it's pitfalls.....so I ended up with these Fat Quarters....

Lots of dots! I need lots of dots so I've been collecting feverishly to have enough for that quilt.

Then I also received a squishy package in the mail from Sew Sisters :)

Ah :) I've been so happy with their Bargain Lover bundles lately...sadly I may have to leave this club soon due to the fact that I have an INSANE amount of Fat Quarters.....I must be reaching around 400 Fat Quarters right now....my sewing room is bursting at the seams! I can't possibly sew as fast as fabric keeps coming in! I am so addicted to this club due to the monthly surprise :)

So in Sewing Projects, I can finally share the first 3 Mosaic Tiles blocks that I made for my sister over @ Jill's Quilting and Appliqué

These are so easy and fun!

I'll need to start the next set in a couple of weeks. 

Have you ever done a swap before?

Weekend Production

This weekend started off with the determination to finish my 26" Pillow Cover. I had originally planned on putting in a zipper. Then I changed my mind and decided to do something I had never done before on a pillow cover.....make an envelope back with buttons. I went through my stash of buttons on hand. And decided on some wooden ones that make me think traditional but down to earth. In my determination to get this project done, I forgot to take pictures of the buttons....so here is the finished pillow cover with a close-up of one of the buttons.

Pillow front. I love how the texture of the quilting feels!

The envelope back with three buttons.

And a close-up of one of the buttons. I love how tiny sections are cut out of these wooden buttons.

I'm extremely happy at how this project turned out...and I think my hubby is happy that everything came from my stash and one of those huge 26" pillows are no longer laying on the floor. I only have 2 more to go! 

Then I started working on the blocks for my Mosaic Tiles quilt. I cannot start on my sister's Mosaic Tiles quilt until I obtain some Kona Pewter for the background fabric. I searched all the LQSs here but none have Konas. I'm going to have to visit some other fabric stores that do have Kona fabrics in the next couple of days. I called one of them who said they have a pretty big bolt....so here's to hoping there's some Pewter left when I get there :)

I chopped all my blocks in four quadrants and then laid out the first block.

After sewing that one together, I started on a second block then a third and now have 3 of 13 blocks complete.

These blocks are so fun and quick to make! Loving how they are coming together :)

So what did your weekend look like? Full of sewing? Enjoying the last few weeks of summer? Preparing for hibernation for winter? Would love to hear from you :)

Final Post Vacation Sunday Stash

Here it is! Post Vacation Sunday Stash #5! The final one. This was day #1 at the quilt shop nearby the cottage....the first of many trips to the fabric store. I realize I may have went a little overboard on vacation....I'll have to try to keep that in check next year :)

From Top Left to Bottom Right:

• "Family Tree" in Aqua by Deb Strain for moda
• "April Showers" in Teal by Bonnie & Camille for moda
• "Water Lily" by Maria Kalinowski for Kanvas Studios
• "April Showers" in Aqua by Bonnie & Camille for moda
• "Waterfront Park" Bridgetown by Violet Craft for Michael Miller 
• "Wish" by Malori Wells for Free Spirit
• "Comma" in Lime Chalk by Brigitte Heitland for Zen Chic for moda
• "Home Essentials" by Robyn Pandolph for RJR Fabrics
• "Adorable Dot" for Michael Miller
• "Comma" in Lime by Brigitte Heitland for Zen Chic for moda
•  "Sphere" in Grey by Brigitte Heitland for Zen Chic for moda
• "Singin' the Blues" Medallions in Mint by JACK!E for Camelot Fabrics (I made a purse with some of this fabric)
• "Apple of My Eye" Herringbone by The Quilted Fish for Riley Blake
• "Felicity" Large Medallions in Light Grey by Cynthia Coulter for Wilmington Prints
• Some Kona Blue colour I needed. I know I can hear some quilty friends gasping that I don't know the name :) 
• "Water Garden" by Jane Dixon for Andover Fabrics
• "Welcome to My World" by Sue Marsh for RJR Fabrics

Whew! That tired me out! Hope you enjoyed the Post Vacation Sunday Stash Posts. You can view the other Post Vacation Sunday stash posts by clicking on Vol.1, Vol.2, Vol.3, and Vol.4.

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash over @ Blossom Heart Quilts due to Molli building castles and forts ;)