Stormy Seas

Pfhew....(wiping my brow...), somehow this project feels like a major accomplishment.  It's weird.  It wasn't really that difficult. I guess it was just a combination of a few techniques that I either didn't feel like I had a good handle on or were relatively new to me.

For example, s-curve piecing...not hard, just a little extra pinning (I almost NEVER pin) and a bit of glueing.  Oh, and let's not forget I had to muster a lot of patience (having to begin sewing from one end of the curve to stop and start again from the other end on each set of s-curves).  I just had to slow myself down a bit and just progress step-by-step.

Also, I steer clear of bias binding.  Why?  Well, because I never really have a need for it.  I generally don't choose projects with curved edges so no bias binding required!  Also, my first, and only other, attempt at bias binding was not very successful. So, for this project, I enlisted the help of my friend (and amazing quilt designer/teacher) Susan Marth of Suzn Quilts to give me a quick lesson on how she uses bias binding.  With her help, I was finally able to finish this table runner/bed runner (whatever it ends up being).  Did I mention that Susan is an amazing teacher?!?!?!!!!!

Speaking of Suzn Quilts, have you heard about Susan Marth's upcoming Quilt Along being hosted on her blog?  It's too cool!  We'll be sewing up a free bonus quilt that Susan has designed using all of the tips, techniques and designs included in her latest book Dresden Quilt Workshop (love this book!).  She's already posted some instructions to help us get started on the right foot.

I hope all of my quilt-y, blogg-y friends come and participate, too.  I can't wait...I'm so excited!

Stormy Seas

Designer:  Judy Niemeyer

Size: 31x78"

Featured Fabrics: Assorted Blue & Neutral Batiks 

Quilting:  Water Wings (Barbara Becker)

Quilting Thread:  Fil-Tec Glide (Ocean)

Batting:  Legacy Wool

For more fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

~ Heather

2018-Q3 FAL Goals

Q3 (July-September 2018) Finish Along Goals: 

1. Game On! Bench Pillow (Kimberbell)
2. Deck The Halls (Doug Leko)
3. Spice Market (blocks from Bobbi Reskusich)
4. Spoolin' Around (Bonnie Hunter)
5. Crazy Quilt Pillow (inspired by Valerie Bothell)
6. QAYG Reversible Quilt
7. Thank You Stars (for Shrimp)
8. Dresden Daisies #2 (Suzn Quilts)
9. Asian Sidelights

...and believe it or not, I got quite a few finished from my Q2 list, 6 to be exact, I just didn't have time to blog about them or link them up.  I'm hoping to make more progress this quarter and become better about blogging the finishes!

Linking up to the 2018 Finish-A-Long hosted by Leanne at her blog She Can Quilt.

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

~ Heather

Q2 FAL Goals

Q2 (April-June 2018) Finish Along Goals: 

1. Home Sweet Home Bench Pillow (Kimberbell)
2. Stormy Seas Tablerunner (Judy Niemeyer)
3. On Ringo Lake (Bonnie Hunter)
4. Bloom (Lori Holt)
5. Cozy Christmas (Lori Holt)
6. Texas Braid (Bonnie Hunter)
7. Swoon (Thimble Blossoms)
8. Spice Market 
9. Thai Rhapsody 
10. Crumb Along (Jo's Country Junction)
11. That 70s Quilt Re-Do (Ellen Meli)
12. Spoolin' Around (Bonnie Hunter)
13. Crazy Quilt Pillow (inspired by Valerie Bothell)
14. Patriotic Stars (charity, Bobbi Reskusich)
15. Tiny Dresden Series July-September (Suzn Quilts)
16. Tiny Dresden Series October-December (Suzn Qults)
17. Land of the Free (Primitive Gatherings)
18. QAYG Reversible Quilt
19. Americana 9-Patch Star
20. Dresden Daisies (Suzn Quilts)

Home Sweet Home
top pieced, needs applique and finishing

Stormy Seas
paper piecing finished, needs arcs pieced and finishing

On Ringo Lake
fabric and supplies ready

Bloom
fabric and supplies ready

Cozy Christmas
fabric and supplies ready

Texas Braid
3 braids complete, many more to go...

Swoon
fabric and supplies ready

Spice Market
blocks finished, top ready to assemble

Thai Rhapsody
center medallion finished, needs corner blocks

Crumb Along
carried over from 2017 - still needs more blocks

That 70s Quilt!
carried over from 2017 - needs to be disassembled and blocks repaired

Spoolin' Around
carried over from 2017 - blocks finished, ready to be assembled

Crazy Quilt Pillow
carried over from 2017 - 2 blocks made, 4 more blocks needed

Patriotic Stars

carried over from 2017 - top made, ready to be quilted

Hoping to make some more progress this quarter...

Linking up to the 2018 Finish-A-Long hosted by Leanne at her blog She Can Quilt.

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

~ Heather

Q1 FAL Finishes

In quick summary, here are the 4 UFO projects I managed to complete off of my list:

This...

Dresden Flags
fabric and supplies ready

became this:

And this...

Dresden Buddies - Uncle Sam
fabric and supplies ready

became this:

Then this...

Tutti Frutti for Mishayla
top finished, needs quilting

became this:

Finally, this...

Split 9-Patch
carried over from 2017 - blocks finished, ready to be assembled

became this:

Q1 (January-March 2018) Finish Along Finishes (4 out of 18): 

1. Home Sweet Home Bench Pillow (Kimberbell)
2. Stormy Seas Tablerunner (Judy Niemeyer)
3. On Ringo Lake (Bonnie Hunter)
4. Dresden Flags (Suzn Quilts)
5. Dresden Buddy Uncle Sam (Suzn Quilts)
6. Tutti Frutti for Mishayla (Easy Weekend Quilts)
7. Bloom (Lori Holt)
8. Cozy Christmas (Lori Holt)
9. Texas Braid (Bonnie Hunter)
10. Swoon (Thimble Blossoms)
11. Spice Market 
12. Thai Rhapsody 
13. Crumb Along (Jo's Country Junction)
14. That 70s Quilt Re-Do (Ellen Meli)
15. Spoolin' Around (Bonnie Hunter)
16. Split 9-Patch (Bonnie Hunter)
17. Crazy Quilt Pillow (inspired by Valerie Bothell)
18. Patriotic Stars (charity, Bobbi Reskusich)

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

~ Heather ~

Dresden Flags

I am so happy!  I am so excited to have a pair of quilts finished in time for the upcoming patriotic holidays!  This is the larger option in the Dresden Flags pattern by my friend, Susan Marth of Suzn Quilts (keep reading to see the oh so cute, little one).

The larger of the two Dresden Flags has 12 tiny dresden plate stars machine appliqued onto sweet little 4-patch backgrounds - did you catch that?  Machine appliqued...no handwork, no raw edges!  Even sweeter, this baby is quilted as a QAYG (quilt as you go) project.  By the time you're finished with the piecing, you're also finished with the quilting.  Just attach your walking foot and whip it out - all on your domestic machine...I love that!

Add a label, hanging sleeve and bind...easy peasy!

For a bonus, the Dresden Flags pattern includes a smaller pattern perfect for hanging on a small table stand or gifting as a mug rug.  I had plenty of fabric left over from the supply list to make this, too!

I simply quilted my small flag with a stitch in the ditch, added a hanging sleeve, label and binding to finish.

The small version only uses one tiny dresden plate star on a scrappy background, but can you imagine a whole quilt full of these little babies?  Oooooo....I can!  😍

Dresden Flags

Pattern (Designer):  Dresden Flags (Susan Marth of Suzn Quilts)

Size: 30.25x42" (lg) & 10.25x12.5" (sm)

Featured Fabrics: Assorted Americana

Quilting:  Quilt As You Go (lg) & Stitch In the Ditch (sm)

Quilting Thread:  Aurifil Mako' NE 50/2 (Off-white 2021)

Batting:  Warm & Natural

Disclosure: I received supplies to make this project from Jackman's Fabrics in Fairview Heights, IL.  The quilt will be hung as a shop sample in their store to promote sale of both the pattern and fabric lines.  In exchange, the quilt will be returned to me and becomes my property at the end of the promotion.  They did not require me to write a positive review of any of the products.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dresden Flags is my fourth completion from my 2018 Q1 FAL list!

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

~ Heather