Working towards some finishes

This top has been languishing for some time now. Small rails, 1 1/2" x 3 1/2". The centre's a constant blue with a few reds thrown in, the side rails were shirting samples our Scrapbag group was given. I tidied them up and did this as a Leader and Ender project. Hubby has 4 more quilts pinned and ready for me to quilt so my work is cut out for me.
Of course now that we are in December one does start to look ahead at the coming year. Not certain yet where it will take me but I am signed up for the Fat Quarter Shop's Block of the Month. This is a fund raiser for St. Jude's Hospital. And Jen of Patterns by Jen is doing a colour block of the month. Each month will be different block featuring the colour of the month. It will happen on her blog (here). Piecefully, Joanne
Linking with Cynthia at Oh Scrap! (here)

I made it

Last night I finished book number 50 for this year. It was a meandering tale of the history of apples. A non-fiction title, not my usual fare. This is the fifth year I have accomplished the goal and that pleases me. I am up to my neck again in pattern testing and much of it is "secret" or "top secret" sewing. So you will have to take my word for it I am sewing. Using my new machine while my regular one is at the spa for it's annual treatment. Getting a new 1/4" seam organized. etc. etc. etc.
Boys were here for the weekend and I can now say I have seen Thor, Ragnarok. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Better than Bad Mom's 2 that I saw earlier this week with my neighbour. We seem to have recovered from our 16 hours without hydro. Piecefully, Joanne

Mini Charm Chocolates QAL my project

I am slowly learning a few more things. I guess as we get older it takes longer. This post was supposed to be up last night but Old Man Winter decided that was not happening and we enjoyed a 16 hour power outage. We had the "good fortune" to be a very small pocket of town out of power and it did not matter as much to us as it did to the Tim Horton's or the only gas station in town. So now on to the quilty content.
I was able to ask for whatever mini charms I wanted to make this quilt. I love the Me and My Sisters designs and since it was for a small quilt I picked Red Dot...Green Dash. Here is where I made my first error. I should have selected something totally different for my background fabric. The overall design of the project gets lost when the background is similar to or matches a couple of your charms.

On the left are my fabric choices. The scale of the design was perfect it was just the too matching background that made the final project lack punch. On the right the first step was really fast stitching your charms together in three's. I had never worked with mini charms before so I can only speak for these but they were spot on 2 1/2" square and a delight to work with.






Once the background pieces are cut the assembly is even faster. Because of my fabric choices I have a lovely quilt but I also have a quilt that does not show the design. This has been washed and is ready to donate. It will go to Project Linus, through my quilt guild, the Kincardine Sunset Quilters Guild. To see other examples of this quilt pattern hop on over to the Fat Quarter Shop's Blog (here). You will find complete instructions for a couple of different sizes for this project as well as a video to enhance the instructions and photos of some other fabric combinations that my fellow Quilt Along participants have used for their quilts. Piecefully, Joanne

Mini Charm Chocolates Quilt

The Cobblestone Quilt, a Fat Quarter Shop, Shortcut Pattern

This is my second project as a member of the Fat Quarter Shop's Quilt Along group. I had the good fortune to work with the Rainy Day fabric line by Me and My Sister Designs. It is beautiful fabric to work with. The instructions for this quilt were very simple and the quilt goes together very quickly. At approximately 63" x 80" it finishes somewhat larger than the  quilts I normally work on. I quilted it on a grid pattern using my new Janome Horizon sewing machine and a walking foot. I am still a little intimidated by the machine.
For instructions to complete your own Cobblestone Quilt be certain to visit the Fat Quarter Shop  (here)and while you are there take a look at their Clementine Charity Quilt Along for 2018. They have posted the blocks (here). This is a charity focused Quilt along where participants are asked for a voluntary donation per block with proceeds going to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

There are some subtle colour differences in the blocks. You can some differences here.



While the weather was still good we set up my pinning table in the garage. The table is going back to the basement this weekend when we have company here to help with the lifting.

I used one of the striped fabrics from the fabric line for my binding. I do love a striped binding.



I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend has a wonderful time with food, family and some fun. Our grandson's will be here so that will keep us on our toes.

The quilt will be donated to Project Linus. Piecefully, Joanne

A Classic, Lady of the Lake Reveal

My first four Lady of the Lake blocks. As one might suspect I am going scrappy and using Kona cottons for my colours. I live on the shores of Lake Huron. This block has always called to me but with all those Half Square Triangles I was worried. I must say, my accuracy has improved with age and the "make it a tiny bit bigger" and use your Bloc_Loc ruler to square it up works really well for me. More blocks are in the works. If you are on Instagram check out the hashtag #ladyofthelakequilt to see how other quilts have interpreted this block. Thank you Fat Quarter Shop for picking this block for your Classic and Vintage series. Piecefully, Joanne

Fat Quarter shop-Classic and Vintage Series

Earlier this summer the Fat Quarter shop opened up their Quilt Along roster to new applicants. I decided to apply and was included in the new (and returning) group.
Our first assignment was to create a block for their Classic and Vintage Series. We were to post a few sneak peaks to whet your appetite. So this is sneak peek number 1. My fabric selection. Some wonderful Kona Cottons bought as a fat quarter bundle from Mad About Patchwork a great Canadian online source for fabric.
Sneak peek number 2 is below. A few of the block components. The big reveal is now set for this Friday, September 8th. Be sure to drop by their blog (here) to learn more on Friday. Piecefully, Joanne

ChristaQuilts-Piece and Quilt with Precuts Day 2-Gridwork

Here she is. Gridwork from Christa Quilts brand new book Piece and Quilt with Precuts. Earlier this year Christa opened the blog hop to participants. As you follow the hop you will note that there is a nice mix of quilters, some you may know and some who might be new to you. This mix shows that this book can be used by everyone.

When I had the blocks stitched I laid them out first to mix up the colours and secondly to turn them every whichway. A design wall would have been helpful but the design floor worked too. In the photo on the left are all the blocks marching in the same direction. You can see from that photo that not all the blocks are constructed exactly the same.









Each design comes fully illustrated including a page with a quilting suggestion. I will admit I was worried I wouldn't be successful with the selected design so reverted to my straight lines with the walking foot design. I stitched on either side of the seams in all directions and then once on the diagonal through everything.

The quilt has now been through the wash and is ready to use.
Don't have any precuts, don't worry. I did not have a layer cake and a pack of charm squares to make this design. I used a few fat quarters and some scraps and made my own. Putting this quilt together was a lot of fun and I was happy to have an excuse to dive into my black and grey and yellow collection.
Be certain to visit ChristaQuilts (here) to see how other quilters interpreted this design. The hop has just started there will be lots of eye candy and several bloggers are offering prizes so take the time to visit them all and leave a comment if you are able. Piecefully, Joanne