Monday, July 24, 2017

12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop

Christmas came early this year.  Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the 12-days of Christmas Blog Hop.  Now's your chance to think about and start working on gifts for Christmas.  Make sure you head over to read all about the blog hop and the awesome giveaway.

Rather than create a new project, I chose to use an existing tutorial -- Festive Forest -- by Sarah @ Berry Barn Designs.  It's a tutorial that I've been wanting to try for some months.  You can get the Festive Forest pattern here.  My thanks to Sarah for allowing me to showcase her tutorial.

You need to cut out seven trees using the template provided in Sarah's pattern.  I went traditional and cut out green trees.  You can use whatever colours you want -- I think an autumn version would be awesome.


Next applique your trees using your preferred method.


I took the easy route and machine stitched my trees to the background.


A quick all-over stipple in white thread for a quick finish.  I debated on what colour to use for the binding -- so glad I went with green.



Ta da -- a quick and easy Christmas wall hanging for yourself or to give as a gift.  I forgot to time myself, but I think this is a project that can be easily done in a couple of hours or less.

This finishes around 13.5 inches x 23 inches.  But you can make it whatever size you wish.  It's a great tutorial and pattern that allows for creativity.

Don't forget to head over to Berry Barn Designs to get the pattern -- Festive Forest pattern

And stop by the other bloggers on this wonderful blog hop.  You're sure to find inspiration.


Friday, July 14th


Saturday, July 15th


Sunday, July 16th


Monday, July 17th


Tuesday, July 18th


Wednesday, July 19th


Thursday, July 20th


Friday, July 21st


Saturday, July 22nd



Saturday, July 15, 2017

Show Off Saturday and Christmas Blog Hop

I can finally share this finish.  I shared the beginnings of the quilt here.  The colours are based on the family tartan:



Three of the fabrics were Kona:  Juniper, Curry, and Grellow.  Unfortunately, my photos don't show the trueness of the colours.


I didn't want the quilting to over-power the pattern design, so I went with an all-over stipple in a matching yellow thread.


The centre is an embroidered celtic knot that forms a heart.  A friend at my LQS was kind enough to do the embroidery.





12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the 12-days of Christmas Blog Hop.  Head over to read all about the blog hop and the awesome giveaway.  Here are the blogs participating -- my day is July 24.

Friday, July 14th


Saturday, July 15th


Sunday, July 16th


Monday, July 17th


Tuesday, July 18th


Wednesday, July 19th


Thursday, July 20th


Friday, July 21st


Saturday, July 22nd



If you have a finish this week, consider linking up with:

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hand Quilts 
Show Off Saturday @ She Can Sew


Friday, July 7, 2017

One Monthly Goal and Finish Along Q3 Goals

It's time to get back on track and get some projects finished.

My July One Monthly Goal is to piece and quilt my Postcard from Sweden -- I fell behind in the QAL hosted by Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts back in March.  I got all the HSTs made, but I need to piece them together.





I missed Q2 for Finish Along 2017.  My Finish Along 2017 Q3 Goals are:

Postcard from Sweden - see above

Kona Strips Quilt - I started this project back in March, but then I forgot all about it.  Oops.  My goal is to finish piecing and then quilt it.



Isla Top - I'm going to make another Isla top using the fabric below.  I love the first one I made.



Washi Dress - Now that I have the confidence from having made the Isla top, I'm finally going to make my Washi dress.  I bought some teal fabric (the colour didn't come through well in the photo below).






I'm hoping that these goals will get me back on track and sewing on a regular basis.  Good bye crazy busy spring!!



The Great Quilting Adventure (and a Giveaway)

I can't believe I haven't shared my great quilting adventure with you.  Two weeks ago, my friend Dena @ No Frickin' Blog Yet and I left home at 4:00 a.m. to drive five hours to buy fabric, not including the 1.5 hours Dena had to drive to get to my house.  And buy fabric we did!!  Mardens in Calais, Maine, had a fabric clearance sale -- $2/yard.  Factor in a 5-hour drive each way, the exchange to Canadian funds, paying 15% tax to Canadian Customs, and the sheer craziness of it...it was so worth it.  I fabric.


Yes, there were some orange purchases.  😊


I may have purchased 65 yards of fabric.  But what makes the story even better...the clerk was generous with her cuts, so I actually received 65 metres of fabric -- 39/40 inches rather than 36 inches.


More orange...no surprise here.


I'm going to be an Auntie again in September, so a little pink.




Tired of looking at fabric yet?  I had two huge bags that were hard to carry because they were so heavy.




The many, many bolts of fabric were so overwhelming.  Dena and I were the only two in the fabric department, but we kept the two clerks busy cutting fabric.  LOL  I picked up some Michael Miller, Henry Glass, Riley Blake, Robert Kaufmann, and RJR Fabrics.




And if that wasn't enough, we stopped at quilt shops in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on the way home.  I never need to buy fabric ever again....but we all know that I will.  😊

Part 1 of the great quilting adventure started a few days before -- I bought a used serger.  I've been wanting one, but didn't want to spend a lot of money as I wasn't sure how much I would use it.  Thanks to Brenda for facilitating the sale since she lived closer to the seller.  Here's my new $60 toy.


You'd think that was enough spending and fun for one week....but you might as well go big or stay home.  I got up early the next morning (I couldn't convince Dena to come with me -- we still had a full-day Sew In with our guild) and went to an estate sale and bought a Singer Featherweight 221 for $200.   ♥ 


She's off for a cleaning and tune-up.  I'm looking forward to testing her out.


Unfortunately, she didn't come with a case, but I did get the original feet and manual.




**Giveaway**

I need help naming my Featherweight.  Comment with your suggestions for a chance to win two patterns:  Candy Dish by Jaybird Patterns and Sweetpea Pods by Lazy Girl Designs.  The giveaway will be open until midnight Tuesday, July 11, 2017, and is open internationally.

Time to start washing fabric and making room in my sewing room...where am I going to put all this fabric???