August is usually red hot in our part of the world

So it is a good thing that Jen picked red/orange for this month's rainbow colour challenge. Last month with the green's I had a little difficulty with my value selections so I tried the black/white edit button on my iPad to see if I hit the mark a little better this month. These are my four pieces dark, two medium's and a light. I believe I am getting closer.

And here are my blocks in all their  summer glory.

I have continued to make a 12" and a 6" block each month. And for a wee spoiler alert, Jen has a few setting options that will crop up towards the end of this event that are different, interesting and manageable for all levels of quilters. 

Make certain to visit Jen's blog (here) for the free instructions for this month. And while you are there have a look around if you have not done so already. She offered a series of free Mug Rugs last year and those patterns are still available. 

In September she is launching The Border Quilt Quilt Along. You will need to purchase the pattern to participate in this quilt along. The introductory post is up on her blog already. The Quilt Along was to start earlier but there was a shipping delay for the fabric so you have an extra month to get ready. I tested the pattern for this one for her a while ago. I pretty much hate adding borders but this one is interesting. Each round is a different border style. So nice to have someone else work out all the Math so all you have to do is cut and sew. I highly recommend you consider participating.

Remember to visit the blogs of the other participants for the Rainbow Colour Challenge. If you have been following along you know that several of the other members of the group are offering free patterns on their blogs. 

Piecefully, Joanne

Here is Sherry's list of participating bloggers. I have difficulty understanding the html information. I hope you don't mind that I "borrowed" your set of links. 

Jen Shaffer of Patterns By Jen
Jen Strauser of Dizzy Quilter
Sherry Shish of Powered By Quilting 
Jen Rosin of A Dream and A Stitch
Nancy Scott of Masterpiece Quilting
Dione Gardner-Stephen of Clever Chameleon Quilting
Joanne Harris of Quilts by Joanne

Using my scraps for pattern testing

This table topper made hardly a dint in the blues. The logs are cut much smaller than I normally cut for scrap storage. My normal cuts are 5", 2 1/2" and 1 1/2". I leave those in strips and box similar colours together. I had to use untrimmed chunks for this assignment. The pattern is called Log cabin Twist and this is just one of a few variations illustrated in the pattern.
Over this past month I have been trying to tidy up a little as the sewing room has managed to get out of control. I am inching closer to some level of organization. But it is an ongoing battle.
Piecefully, Joanne
Linking with Cynthia for Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More fun than Housework (here)

Looking forward to Quilt Guild today

Today is Quilt Guild in Kincardine and since the roads were bad last month and we didn't get there I am really looking forward to today. It is the anniversary meeting. I did not live in this part of the province when the guild was formed so do not know many of the people who started the group but I am certainly glad they did.
As part of the program today there is going to be a flimsy parade. Now that is something I could buy into. I have decided to take the flimsy shown here. It is a hexagon sampler I did as a test for Teresa Down Under back in the fall. she has it for sale now as a pattern. It was a lot of fun to put together and totally done from my scrap buckets. Over the summer we did some organizing and the purples and the greens did not get finished so they are each in a bucket. They seem to fluff up when you use something from the bucket as the total amount of fabric does not appear to be reduced.
Piecefully, Joanne


Linking up with Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts for  Let's Be Sewcial (here)

A New Year a New Quilt Pattern Test

After a short little break over the Christmas holidays I have started back testing. Lisa over at Counted Quilts has asked me to test a few of her patterns. I asked for "boy" ones so I could beef up my boy donations. She has all kinds of interesting quilts on her web site (here). She has tested all her patterns herself and wanted a new set of eyes to review them. The patterns come in three sizes; a wall hanging, a nap size quilt and a twin quilt. I have done a couple in the nap size and they turn out exactly as described. That of course is always nice for the tester. It is also nice to have a test that you can show.
We have been "stuck" in the house due to blowing snow and a closed highway so it has been doubly good to have new things to work with. Piecefully, Joanne

And yet more testing, but this time there is something different

Diane at Fromblankpages recently expanded her tester pool and I had the good fortune to be included. Almost right away there was a block for testing. What made this call different and I thought rather brilliant was she asked that people make the 12" block and mail it to a central location and that one person would then assemble this into a charity quilt. I have dozens if not hundreds of orphan testing blocks. But I was a little late to the party and sending blocks across the border can take unexpected amounts of time. So I volunteered to test the 9" block. For her designs she uses templates that you precut and then use when you are paper piecing. Certainly cuts down on fabric waste and makes for more efficient sewing time. The pattern is now available (here). Most of the "modern" quilters have put a rainbow spin on their blocks. I opted for a two colour block and I feel that it works. Take some time to visit her blog and view her designs. she is a very talented designer. Piecefully, Joanne

Frequency Quilt Pattern: A Slightly Goofed up Test

Jessica over at Desert Bloom Quilting (here) released her new pattern Frequency today so now I can show my test version and apologize once more for my goof in working on the design. Jessica has a tester group and for this round she had three specialty rulers to give away to the testers to use with the assignment. The pattern includes paper templates for those who do not own a Lazy Angle ruler but for this test I was fortunate enough to get one of the rulers. Learning how a new ruler works can sometimes be a challenge but there are all kinds of YouTube videos out there to help you.
My goof was in laying out the final blocks. The big diamond in the centre is not supposed to be in one long row. It should alternate between the outside edges where it is on mine and the centre. The pattern is layer cake friendly and comes in several different sizes.
Piecefully, Joanne

More testing and finding the silver lining

Funny Bunny Blocks

These two blocks were tested for Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts (here). She has done many nature based designs. Last week she had this block and three others up for testing. The big one is 10" x 12" finished and the little one is 5" x 6" finished. Her finished pattern has directions for several different sizes of quilts. These were just fun to do.
Now for the silver lining part of the post. Yesterday I went to the local pharmacy to pick up some eye drops. I had phoned ahead to renew my prescription and it was to be ready at a certain time. I went 45 minutes after that time to allow for whatevers to happen. Well of course there was a big line up so I did the rest of my shopping and came back and there was still a line up so I got in line and waited. After I had been waiting for about 10 minutes a female person walked her shopping cart in through the groups that was waiting and when the "can I help who is next?" was called she just waltzed up to the counter. I will admit I pointed out to her that there was a line and we were all waiting our turn. There were still two people in front of me. So I got to wait some more. The silver lining you ask??? Three months ago I could not have stood at the counter as I did for a few moments short of half an hour so I am gaining my strength and stability back tiny bit by tiny bit. Enough negativity. I am heading back to my sewing room. Piecefully, Joanne

Test Pattern Reveal

I am so excited to be able to reveal this particular test pattern. It is called Ellipse and the pattern can be found in Gudrun Erla's newly released booked called Stripology Squared. On the final two pages of the book she shows one test quilt for each quilt in the book and mine was picked for this particular pattern. The patterns in the book are all designed to use layer cakes. I used scraps to make a layer cake and then put together the design. Each of the ten designs in the book come in multiple sizes, so if you like her modern geometric style you will likely love this book. She started shipping the book Monday so watch for it at your local quilt shop or check out Gudrun's Etsy store.
I continue to make tiny steps of progress with my knee and have a return visit with the surgeon coming up next week. Piecefully, Joanne



Linking with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Lets Bee Sewcial (here)

A test project I can now show

Jen, over at Patterns by Jen (PBJ) (here) is launching her Star Light, Star Bright sampler today. I made the small size it is approximately 30" square. She has a larger quilt and a couple of table runners in the pattern also. As one might expect I made mine scrappy. A friend had given me a baggie with many of the pieces of used for this little project. I put a nice soft flannel on the back and it is now ready to donate.
I am so happy to be back sewing again and am back to pattern testing also.
Physio is progressing reasonably well. Knee is bending, just not as far as it is supposed to. I see the doctor again in early July.
My main sewing machine has had a trip to the spa and it isn't the same sewing on the back up but I imagine there are many thousands of people who either don't have a machine or for sure don't have a back up.
It is starting to look like a fairly busy summer. The boys are going to spend a big chuck of July with their other Grandma and then they will spend three weeks (every other week) here in August. Piecefully, Joanne
Linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict (here) and Michelle at Michelle's Romantic Tangle (here)

A little more testing fun

This lovely 12" paper pieced block was designed by Kristy at Quiet Play. She had a few out for testing and I was able to snag this one. As I have come to expect from her designs it went together beautifully. The one mistake I have spotted is mine and not hers. The other designs she had out were a mermaid, a cat  looking out a window and of all things a pig. I don't know where the other designs are in the testing process but eventually they will be available through her store.
I have done a couple of "I cannot talk about it" tests this month too. Enough said.
On the home front we continue to have our lesser moments. I would show my wrist from the attempted insertion of an IV drip but I might lose the limited readership I already have. I had not planned on a three day stay at the local hospital but that was what happened last weekend. They do look after you well there but I am happy to be home and on the mend.
I taught a strings workshop for my Guild this month and also had my turn for the Scrapbag group project. So a lot of preparation. Both events went well.
Bill and I got away for a shortened trip to Stratford. We went on the light side for this year's entertainment and saw Carousel and Sound of Music. The only down part was that our friend Ray was not well enough to travel from Cincinnati to enjoy the shows. He is hoping for next year. It is the first year he has missed in the 40 since he started driving up here.
I am hoping October brings some finishes. I have 2 three day get a ways with different sewing buddies so maybe there is hope. Piecefully, Joanne

A little leader and ender fun

The little blocks for this project were assembled leader and ender style. I was gifted with a bag of 1" strips of varying lengths. Corey Yoder (Little Miss Shabby) had a tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop using the 2 1/2" candy squares. So I rummaged through my 2 1/2" squares for all manner of pink ones and made these little blocks that were then assembled into a top. Current size is 18" by 21" but it needs to grow. If it doesn't then it will be a doll quilt for the Salvation Army toy drive next November.
Other than that I have been doing more testing. We have been assigned about half of the blocks for the next Quiltmaker's 100 blocks magazine and I have a couple of paper piecing projects I am testing. For me the only real downside to the testing is that for the most part you can't talk about it. A couple of the designers I test for are happy to have the pre-release buzz happening but most (90+percent) prefer total secrecy prior to the pattern release.
Have also been working on samples for the store (Shoreline Quilts Port Elgin, ON) and taught a bag class last week. So one way and another I am keeping busy. Piecefully, Joanne

Edited to add Linking up with Cynthia's  Oh Scrap! Linky party at Quilting is more fun than Housework here (Oh Scrap!)

A chorus line..... pattern coming soon

 

Juliet at the Tartankiwi  (www.thetartankiwi.com)  has done it again. This time it is a chorus line with lovely ladies kicking high. The pattern will come with ladies kicking to the right and ladies kicking to the left. There are also several sizes. I tested the 12" by 18" size. There are a couple of very minor tweaks to the printed pattern before the pattern release in the next week or so. And yes it is a paper pieced pattern but everything is so clearly laid out it is really quite easy to construct.
Now for my high kicking chorus line story. About 50 years ago my Dad took our whole family to New York City for a week. It was our first plane ride and we stayed at a downtown hotel. Each day we went into a different area of the city and saw as many of the highlights as we could. One day we went to see the Rockettes at the Radio City Music Hall. I can still remember the precision. Oh my! Sometimes now you can see them doing a little spot on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and when I see that I am taken back to that trip. We packed a whole lot into those five days.
I am off on an extended weekend retreat starting this afternoon. We are focusing on UFO's on this retreat as opposed to creating more UFO's. I had a hard time deciding just what I would take. I think I have enough for a month but who knows. They are calling for rain on Saturday so that should be a good day for sewing. Piecefully, Joanne

Finally something gets finished

This wee little quilt was a paper piecing test for Janeen at Quilt Art Designs (here). I finished it up with a couple of borders and it is now a good enough size for a small Project Linus donation. I was disappointed in my central yellow star because it rather disappears so I stitched around it with a dark orange and it shows up a little more. The border was a scrap piece donated to the Scrap Bag Quilters that I thought was perfect...oranges, limes and lemons.
The daughter of one of the Kincardine Sunset Quilters is quite technically talented and she made labels for us to use on our donation quilts. All we have to do is add the year.
My two other finishes this week will have to wait. One is a pattern that will debut in the Timeless Treasures booth at the spring Quilt Market and the other project will debut as part of the Stripology2 book that is coming out at Spring Market. I merely tested the patterns for the designers. Piecefully, Joanne
Edited to Link up with Cynthia at Oh Scrap!http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.ca/
Edited again to link up with Janeen at Quilt Art Designs http://quiltartdesigns.blogspot.ca/

Smile on Me a tested quilt

This lovely quilt top is called Smile on Me. It was designed by Raija of Quilters Treasure Chest in Arkansas. I don't exactly recall how I ended up testing for her but when I saw the draft design photo I loved the geometry of the design. I actually went out and bought fabric to make this quilt. The pattern makes use of two Deb Tucker rulers, the Corner Beam Tool and the Square 2 Tool. But there are paper templates with the pattern so if you do not have those rulers you can still make the design. I used the paper templates because no one had even heard of the rulers around here and I was on a time crunch to get this done so did not want to go online to purchase them. I did go online to watch the YouTube videos of them and may purchase them in the future. I think Deb Tucker does an amazing job with her specialty rulers and the education that goes with them.
While testing the pattern Raija and I had a few social email exchanges. She is originally from Finland and I had visited there on two different occasions so we were both able to reminisce.
The pattern is now available as a digital download and will be available soon as a paper pattern. Visit Quilters Treasure Chest (here)to see this and Raija's other interesting designs. Piecefully, Joanne

Reflecting on 2014, Looking forward to 2015, Focusing on a glass half full

As I rev my engines (slowly) for a new year I like to reflect back on the year just finishing. I completed 42 quilts, most of them have found new homes with the local Scrapbag group of through Project Linus. I am still enjoying doing that type of sewing and certainly plan to continue that. DH really wants me to reduce the stash so it can be a win-win. Several other projects of the "secret" variety were done and they are not included in my total. I have found that I really enjoy testing quilt patterns for other designers. I know I will never be a designer but I can follow directions and proof read well.
I met and then exceeded my target of 50 books for the 50 book pledge. The next question is which book did I like the best. That is almost the impossible question. I enjoyed The Pearl That Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi and In the Shadow of the Banyon by Vaddey Ratner. Both these books give the reader insides into another culture.
The photo for today's post is some of my Christmas break sewing. Grandson #1 brought his new "stuffie" with him when he came for the holidays. First he wanted a sleeping bag for his stuffie, then a pillow, then a stuffie for his stuffie and then a suitcase so his stuffie could carry his stuffie. Are you still with me? I drew the line at a hat for the stuffie. So a little piece of minkee made a little fish for the cat and scraps of cotton came in handy for the rest of the items.
As to the glass half full. I was thinking that as I stitched a new binding onto a quilt sized quilt. This poor quilt had been loved to bits over the last 15 years and was literally falling apart. I repaired it as best I could and then spent most of a day sewing the binding in place. It isn't perfect but it has a few more years to give some warmth. The glass half empty person would say throw it out, the glass half full person would be happy the quilt is still in use and the owner does not want to part with it just yet.
Wishing all the best for my followers and anyone else who stumbles across my blog.  Piecefully, Joanne

Crazy Busy, how does it happen?

I completed these test blocks earlier this week. They are for Juliet at The Tartan Kiwi (here). The pattern is now available in her Craftsy shop and the link is available on her home page. The blocks are 7" x 14" finished. If you have a chess player in the family these would make a portion of a lovely gift. I asked if she would be doing any more of the players and she indicated it would depend on whether there was any demand.
I finished the test for a mystery quilt that will be featured over four issues in The Quilt Pattern Magazine. That one I cannot show you but I will say that DH thought it was spectacular. I used a colourway that I don't normally use and find it is a challenge to get outside my comfort zone but I too was happy with the result.
After more than 10 years of regular use DS's bed quilt wore out. He asked his Dad if there was any chance his Mom (me) would be making him a new quilt for his birthday. So you now know what is up next on my list. It is queen size and I am working on pinning it for quilting.
Scrapbag quilters have finished for this calendar year. I am on for the January project. I have picked the pattern just need to fine tune my instructions and make the kits. That doesn't have to be done until the end of January so it is definitely on the back burner.
As the expression goes I need to Stay Calm and Quilt On. Piecefully, Joanne

Fandom in Stitches

Fandom in Stitches is a web site with all kinds of fan related patterns. They are mostly paper pieced or stitcheries. There are some amazing designers out there who make designs of popular characters and make them available for free. You are not to make and sell items from the patterns. One of the designers, Lynne Schwarz is working on a series of Disney villains and I tested a couple of her patterns for her. These still need a little embrtoidery detail to finish them off but I will do that after I remove the paper. Piecefully, Joanne

Introducing Diana, a new quilt pattern from Cora's Quilts

Shelley from Cora's Quilts (here) put out a call for testers last month. Since I am not a designer and have no aspirations to be one but I am reasonably good at proof reading and following directions I signed on. The table runner I made is from the first pattern I tested for her. The pattern is called Diana and is due for release today. Be sure to visit her site later today as she has a launch post ready to go. With everything that has been happening around here I did not get this quilted, although it is pinned and ready to quilt.

Shelley described the technique she used as pinless and I figured I better follow the directions exactly since I was testing.  I can honestly say this table runner was totally sewn and assembled without the use of pins. The pattern instructions are clearly written with good illustrations and laid out in simple easy to follow steps. I like her writing style and hope to test for her again. Piecefully, Joanne

Hands to Help, check in number two

This is my second Hands to Help. It is all bound and labelled and ready to donate at the next Scrapbag Quilters meeting. It's final dimensions were 41" by 49". It was originally done as a mystery quilt using nickels.
I have been busy with my Quiltmaker testing and one for Kristy at Quiet Play. The Quiltmaker testing is for their 100 Blocks magazine Volume 10. It delights and amazes me how many talented designers there are and this publication gives many of them an opportunity to shine.  Piecefully, Joanne

I love a good mystery whether it is a book or a quilt

This is a mystery quilt pattern I tested for The Quilt Pattern Magazine (TQPM) an on-line quilting magazine. the designer is a Canadian, Janet Barker from Calgary. I gave the quilt to my sister this past weekend. Only a little late for a milestone birthday she had this year.
Not certain how this photo is working. The little blue patches on the border are turtles. I have a thing for turtles so thought Linda could think of me when she used the quilt.  Piecefully, Joanne