Hi and welcome. I missed the second quarter (Q2) check-in but since I found writing up a first quarter (Q1) check-in post so useful, I'm going to put both Q2 and Q3 here. I hope that you'll indulge me - it is a long post.
Second Quarter Check-in
Although I worked on a few larger projects, most of my finishes in the second quarter were smaller pieces.
Spring Tulips was an ambitious 3D art piece. The background was quilted while the vase and tulips in the vase were created with Solvy water soluble stabilizer. You can find all of the details in this post.
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| Spring Tulips, a 3D art piece |
I also made a number of Cathedral windows hot pads using a layer cake package and a wonderful tutorial. These made great gifts.
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| Cathedral windows hot pads |
As usual, I participated in the Table Scraps Challenge. This is a cute yellow cuddle quilt. I was able to practice my FMQ and quilting with rulers. I finally figured out how to properly use my universal darning foot. More practice is required but it was a lot of fun.
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| Yellow cuddle quilt |
In May, I participated in a workshop taught by Alice Vander Vennen. I really like the mini that I made during the Nature Narrative workshop. I'm still working through the design of my larger piece.
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| Mini made during the Nature Narrative workshop |
In June, I learned Kawandi style quilting from Jen Strauser during Making Zen. I finished it during our Alaskan cruise. It was a great stitching project for the trip.
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| Kawandi style quilting |
From March to April I started the 2 Colour Mystery Quilt hosted by Joanne of Canuck Quilter design. It consisted of only two colours and worked my accuracy challenged brain. I sewed six of the twelve blocks, which is in week 7 but didn't post on it. This is now a WIP, unless it becomes a UFO. 😁
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| Half of the blocks sewn together - at least all of the fabrics and blocks are in one place! |
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| See the Parade of Quilts on Canuck Quilter's site |
Third Quarter Check-in
July, August and September
The end of June was an incredibly busy time as I tried to finish up my pieces for the Impermanence - Éphémère Outdoor Fibre Art Exhibit at the Arbor Gallery in Vankleek Hill. We set up the exhibition in early July with a vernissage on July 5th.
For the first time ever, I used my blog as a way of keeping track of what I still needed to do to get the 5 pieces ready. In fact, there were 5 pieces, but two of these consisted of 5 and 4 art pieces. I'm not going to repeat everything in this post. If you're interested, I created a page "My pieces in the Impermanence - Éphémère Outdoor Fibre Art Exhibit". It has lots of details and links to the original posts.
The outdoor exhibit was very well received and there is a possibility of participating again next summer.
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| Three seasonal garden fence art pieces |
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| In the Sky, an Outdoor Hanging Sculpture |
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| A series of Prayer Flags |
I am very happy to say that all of these outdoor pieces are now in my yard.
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| In the Sky is now hanging in my poplar |
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| The series of Prayer Flags |
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| Raining Pink Petals and Essence of Leaves |
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| Squirrel! is the only one that was changed by being outdoors. Someone (probably a squirrel) stole the nut that the squirrel was getting ready to eat😂 |
At the end of September I learned to make twine with fabric strips. This is my latest yard art piece.
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| Yard Art piece made with twined fabric |
In mid-July I mosquito proofed my swing. I am so happy with it and spent many hours, mostly in the evening, enjoying the back yard without being eaten alive!
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| Mosquito proofed swing |
After the intense productivity of June, it was wonderful just playing around and making small projects. This is my second finished Kawandi style quilt. It was bigger than the first piece and I would love to make an even larger one eventually.
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| Second Kawandi style quilt |
After quilting the yellow cuddle quilt using rulers, I decided to make a scrappy blue butterfly table topper. I quilted it using FMQ and rulers. Practice does make it easier!
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| Scrappy blue butterfly table topper |
During our Alaska cruise, I started on a mini landscape quilt based on one of the pictures that I took. Enjoying Alaska was finished after re-doing the gray mountains using FMQ instead of embroidery. Textile art can be so forgiving. Don't like a section? Just cover it up!
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| Enjoying Alaska mini landscape quilt |
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| Tibetan appliqué piece in progress (WIP) |
I had a few playdates with my friend Connie to create journals. With her encouragement I did some eco printing on paper. This was the first one that I stitched on.
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| Embroidering on eco printed paper |
I continued to make scrappy pieces for the 2024 Table Scraps Challenge. This is my orange scraps piece. I started using orphan blocks and adding to them. I also used the pillowcase method to finish these off. It's so much easier than binding small pieces.
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| Orange scraps piece made around an orphan block |
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| Second scrappy mat |
For International dog day I made this lovely scrappy mat for Poppy's water dish. It has doggy prints as well as fabric picturing her friends (birds, rabbits, squirrels, etc.) 😀
Finally these are the last scrappy mug rugs that I finished for my son's niece to play with. I only used scraps, most of which I had just gotten at our quilt guild meeting.
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| Scrappy Play mug rugs |
As part of the pre courses for the 2024 Sketchbook Revival, I made a journal for hubby to use at work as well as one for me. This was a new technique by a new-to-me teacher.
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| Lay-flat Notebook with French Link Stitches |
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| 5 hole pamphlet stitch journal |
I treated myself to a course, Joyful Embroidery with Fleur Woods through Fibre Arts Take Two. To get ready, I made a Joyful Journal for my notes.
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| My Joyful Journal |
As if these projects weren't enough to keep me busy, I started the Floral Fusion Sew Along presented by fellow blogger Denise of The Quiltery. I am presently a couple of weeks behind but should be able to get caught up on the weekend (my famous last words!)
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| Floral Fusion blocks so far |
I have a couple of ongoing embroidery projects but the one that I've stitched on the most in the last quarter is the Almost Daily Stitching project of 2024. I love trying out new embroidery stitches, thread and designs. It's coming along nicely and is still a stress-free project done whenever I feel like it.
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| Almost Daily Stitching project |
Well, it looks like I've had a very productive second and third quarter this year. Thanks so much to Quilting Jetgirl for hosting this great event. Again, I'm so glad that I've taken the time to do this.
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Linking parties
I'll be linking this post to many fun linking parties, particularly the #2024QuiltingQ3CheckIn. Sew & Tell, Midweek Makers, Put your foot down, Needle & Thread Thursday, Off The Wall Friday, Beauties Pageant, TGIFF, Patchwork & Quilts,
Free Motion Mavericks
Welcome to week 501 of Free Motion Mavericks! Thanks for linking up. Here are the projects from last week that included FMQ, ruler work or walking foot quilting.
Kat of Scrapbox Quilts used an all over design to quilt up her Sulky Village quilt, started in 2004! She quilted wavy lines using Superior Bottom Line thread, perfect for such a busy top.
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| Sulky Village quilt by Kat |
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| Details of the Sulky Village quilt |
Vivian, the Bronx Quilter custom quilted her lovely "Apple Crisp" quilt. She wasn't sure how to quilt it but then went literal - using an apple core template as a ruler to quilt the inside of her blocks and borders. She used her clam shell ruler to stitch the sides of her triple four patch blocks.
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| Vivian's "Apple Crisp" quilt stitched with rulers |
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| Apple Core template used as a ruler in the centre of the blocks and the borders |
It's now your turn 😉
