Where did April go? (and a link party)

Very busy this week preparing things I cannot share... but some progress on few shareable things as well!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - Ready to share May block on Monday!
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) no progress
3. Minion QAL - Kevin (Minion block) done (see below)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - partners' emails will be sent out today!
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - waiting to hear from the quilter
6. Splendid Sampler - 3 blocks done (see below)
7. Challenge quilt - I don't know... still thinking if joining or not...
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - waiting to hear about the blocks sent before making more
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

--
--
I am working on charity quilts to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 
No progress this week... but I received a wonderful donation from Emily! A completed queen size (probably) quilt top! It is beautiful! Scrappy and colorful!
I will cut it up since the donations require smaller quilts, but basically it is another top (or two) that are pretty much ready to be assembled!!! :)

--
I am participating to the fun Minion QAL over at Fandom in Stitches.

Each of these blocks takes me at least two weeks to complete: one week to cut the pieces and hunt in my stash for the perfect background fabric... 5 to 6 days to think "did I choose the right fabric? maybe I should try this other one, or may that other one"... and one day to put the block together :) they are extra fun!

Block 3, Henry (pattern by Jennifer Rowles, available at Fandom in Stitches)

--

Have you heard about Ello? It is basically Instagram without ads, no weird algorithm to show you only what they want you to see, no selling data, and it is for creative artists! :)

I never joined IG because I felt the goal was more about "showing off" than focusing on creativity, so even if I know there is a good quilting community there (which is creative and inspiring) I never felt it was the right place for me. Ello sounds much more fun!

It is a relatively new platform, so it has some issues (not too fast because it is still in beta but it's getting better, the signup is easy but if you don't pay attention the default groups that you are "following" may not be the ones you want, etc). If you want to join, it is free and there is a fast-growing quilting community. For helpful tips and finding your quilting tribe, you can read what the coordinator of the account @elloquilt says!

My handle is @alida-tweloq and to bring the community together I decided to coordinate a Block Swap!

You don't need to have an Ello account to join! Just fill this form http://goo.gl/forms/upr4FSDW6x to leave me your contact if you are interested. I am still collecting general info to see who is interested in what. I highly recommend to have an account, as I plan to post reminders, pictures of blocks, etc over there!

--

And last but not least...

I am back with some block for the Splendid Sampler!!

Block 11, 20, 21 

See all my blocks on My Splendid Journey page!

As usual, because of my use of two colors (black and selvages) I had to simplify a little bit the block.

Tracing embroidery designs on black fabric is a nightmare for me, and since I don't have fancy soluble things I used a very cheap method: tissue paper. Of course it is so fragile that it tears apart while I was stitching, but it holds up for the main part of the design, so I eyeballed all the other details!

I also simplified the framing around block 20 because it would have been too busy with the big triangle corners in the original design.

Last fun fact: by chance, the text in the candy on block 21 reads "Countdown to Christmas required"... is it a message from the universe? :) :)

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

A double horror story (and a link party)

I guess that I need to trust what others say... :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - April block has been released... it's technically free, so if you want to check it out and get back in the free QAL group, that's your chance!
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) 3 blocks done, 4th bocks with the double horror story (see below)
3. Minion QAL - Hula Minion done (see below)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - made my blocks (see below)
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - waiting to hear from the quilter
6. Splendid Sampler - preparing the next few embroidery blocks
7. SECRET quilt 2 for exhibit - dropped (thinking about joining a different challenge instead)
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - waiting to hear about the blocks sent before making more
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

--
Let's start with the double horror story.

I am working on an exhibition quilt... I decided to use a jelly roll I received in a Quilty Box: black and white Kona Solid. I have heard that it frays a lot but while I was working on it I didn't really see that (I didn't have to manipulate the pieces too much).
Since the block has curves, I traced the lines with my washable crayola marker (black... the color that fades the best).
I pieced my block and then I used the Flatter spray (starch alternative) to press it flat...
HORROR 1: the black crayola marker start bleeding... but the terrifying part was that was bleeding blue!!! O_O ... I thought the block was ruined... then I took a deep breath and I thought: maybe if I soak it in cold water as usual everything will fade away.
I did that for several hours... when I went back to check, the water was colored and the block was clear... HORROR 1 recovered... only to discover HORROR 2: the fabric was suuuuper fraying!!! I've never seen anything like that! I have soaked tons of blocks: they shrink a little bit but never frayed so much! I lost between 1/4 and 1/2 inch around the entire block... and considering that it was 5 inches to begin with, you can understand why I cannot recover from HORROR 2 :( :( :( :(
I was very surprised because I didn't really move the block or anything... just static soaking made it happen!
Oh, well... I guess I have a nice label for the finished quilt piece :)

--
This is this month pattern: Go board (done with embroidery).

If you want details on how to get the pattern

visit this link!

We have about 50 people playing along, it is so fun!!

If you didn't join, it's not too late!

Visit the QAL page for more details.

--

I am working on charity quilts to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 
No progress this week... I need to just measure one of the top and get it basted (I have all the material, just need to find some time)

--
I am participating to the fun Minion QAL over at Fandom in Stitches.

Each of these blocks takes me at least two weeks to complete: one week to cut the pieces and hunt in my stash for the perfect background fabric... 5 to 6 days to think "did I choose the right fabric? maybe I should try this other one, or may that other one"... and one day to put the block together smile emoticon they are extra fun!

Block 2, Hula Minion (pattern by Jennifer Rowles, available at Fandom in Stitches)

--

Have you heard about Ello? It is basically Instagram without ads, no weird algorithm to show you only what they want you to see, no selling data, and it is for creative artists! :)

I never joined IG because I felt the goal was more about "showing off" than focusing on creativity, so even if I know there is a good quilting community there (which is creative and inspiring) I never felt it was the right place for me. Ello sounds much more fun!

It is a relatively new platform, so it has some issues (not too fast because it is still in beta but it's getting better, the signup is easy but if you don't pay attention the default groups that you are "following" may not be the ones you want, etc). If you want to join, it is free and there is a fast-growing quilting community. For helpful tips and finding your quilting tribe, you can read what the coordinator of the account @elloquilt says!

My handle is @alida-tweloq and to bring the community together I decided to coordinate a Block Swap!

You don't need to have an Ello account to join! Just fill this form http://goo.gl/forms/upr4FSDW6x to leave me your contact if you are interested. I am still collecting general info to see who is interested in what. I highly recommend to have an account, as I plan to post reminders, pictures of blocks, etc over there!

I decided to encourage everybody to test the blocks they ask to their partner. Not many did this until now, but this is my set:

Curved log cabin, Drunkard's path and Quarter Dresden

I will link to short instruction files for these blocks soon! They are so fun and scrappy! I hope my partners will enjoy making them!!

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Little to show (and a link party)

This week, I was so busy and tired because of work, that I had little progress... but something is better than nothing!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - April block has been released... it's technically free, so if you want to check it out and get back in the free QAL group, that's your chance!
2. WGACA projects
1. Jane T - no progress
2. The SK project - no progress
3. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap -  designed my block, I need to make my samples!
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - quilt top 100% done (see below)
6. Splendid Sampler - no progress
7. SECRET quilt 1 for exhibit - (FDJ) started pulling fabric for first block
8. SECRET quilt 2 for exhibit - (Breaking free) no progress
9. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress
10. Art with Fabric Blog Hop - finished my top! (cannot share)
11. Minion QAL - 1 block done... because I had to join another QAL! :) (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
2. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
3. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
4. As You Wish -  no progress
5. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
6. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
7. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress
8. 70273 Project - no progress

---
This is this month pattern for my Play with Me QAL: Go board (done with embroidery).

If you want details on how to get the pattern

visit this link!

We have about 50 people playing along, it is so fun!!

If you didn't join, it's not too late!

Visit the QAL page for more details.

--

This is my American Quilt top done! I am waiting to hear back from the quilter to see how to proceed, but my part is done!

Center: Americana QAL block made by me

Border: Snail Trails block received in my Block Swap Adventure

Left/right border: scrappy red piano border

--

Since I am hosting and participating in a dozen QAL, swaps and hops, why not joining another one, right?? :) :)

Well, I couldn't pass on this... it's a Minion QAL!! :)

Block 1, Bee Do (pattern by Jennifer Rowles, available at Fandom in Stitches)

--

I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,

and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

No progress on this. But I have 2 or 3 quilt tops done... I just need to take them out of the box and get them quilted!

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Planning and progress (and a link party)

My "ten days of finishing project" are over and I am back into new blocks new projects mode!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - April block has been released... it's technically free, so if you want to check it out and get back in the free QAL group, that's your chance!
2. WGACA projects
1. Jane T - no progress
2. The SK project - no progress
3. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - quilted and bound! (see below)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Block Swap Adventure -  dropped out, group with too little  interactions. I will replace this with the Hello Block Swap! :)
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - quilt top 90% done (see below)
6. Splendid Sampler - 2 blocks done, I am back! (see below)
7. SECRET quilt 1 for exhibit - (FDJ) started pulling fabric for first block
8. SECRET quilt 2 for exhibit - (Breaking free) no progress
9. Road Home Row-A-Long - designed the entire row (cannot share yet)
10. 70273 Project - 2 blocks done (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
2. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
3. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
4. As You Wish -  no progress
5. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
6. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
7. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

---
Let me start by setting the goals for the Finish-ALong Q2:

1. FDJ quilt for exhibit - current state: designed and fabric selected
2. Breaking free for exhibit - current state: designed, no idea about fabric yet
3. Table runner for Art with Fabric Blog Hop - current state: designed, have fabric, need to start
4. Bargello/Cathedral window charity quilt - current state: done quilting and binding yesterday but label and washing is missing
5. American Quilt - current state: quilt top 90% done, need extra border and quilting/binding
6. Play with me QAL - current state: 6 QAYG blocks done, three to finish the design, then I just need to join and bind
7. Charity quilt 1, flowers - current state: top done, maybe need extra border?
8. Charity quilt 2, Allietare - current state: top done, need quilting and finishing
9. Charity quilt 3, baby quilt - current state: pieces for the top cut, need assembly and everything else

I think this list is long enough :)

--
This is this month pattern: Go board (done with embroidery).

If you want details on how to get the pattern

visit this link!

We have about 50 people playing along, it is so fun!!

If you didn't join, it's not too late!

Visit the QAL page for more details.

--

Finally my American Quilt top is done (almost)

Center: Americana QAL block made by me

Border: Snail Trails block received in my Block Swap Adventure

Quilt top inspected and approved by my sewing helper :) :) :)

I realized it a little bit too narrow for my tastes... so I will add a red scrappy piano border and then I will probably send it off to quilt because I won a gift certificate so why not take advantage of that and explore quilting services? It would be my first time, I am a little nervous, but I am sure it will be great!

--

Back in the Splendid Sampler journey. I made the April blocks and I will catch up on the missed one this week.

Block 15 and 16

--

This will be my contribution 70273 Project. For now just two blocks, but I designed the paper piecing pattern, so I can print and make more with my scraps!

If you want the pattern, please get in touch with me and I will send it to you. I will share it soon for download but if you want it directly in your mailbox, just email me! :)

I hope you will join this project! 

Jeanne is trying to collect 70273 blocks so she needs all the help she can get!!

--

I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

Cathedral window+donated block (front 1, left), Bargello Elm Street Quilt (front 2, right)

Size: 39'' x 41''

Still missing label and washing

--

Have you heard about Ello? It is basically Instagram without ads, no weird algorithm to show you only what they want you to see, no selling data, and it is for creative artists! :)

I never joined IG because I felt the goal was more about "showing off" than focusing on creativity, so even if I know there is a good quilting community there (which is creative and inspiring) I never felt it was the right place for me. Ello sounds much more fun!

It is a relatively new platform, so it has some issues (not too fast because it is still in beta but it's getting better, the signup is easy but if you don't pay attention the default groups that you are "following" may not be the ones you want, etc). If you want to join, it is free and there is a fast-growing quilting community. For helpful tips and finding your quilting tribe, you can read what the coordinator of the account @elloquilt says!

My handle is @alida-tweloq and to bring the community together I decided to coordinate a Block Swap!

You don't need to have an Ello account to join! Just fill this form http://goo.gl/forms/upr4FSDW6x to leave me your contact if you are interested. I am still collecting general info to see who is interested in what. I highly recommend to have an account, as I plan to post reminders, pictures of blocks, etc over there!

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Getting things done (and a link party)

My "ten days of finishing project" are technically expired, but I am still finishing up few things, so I keep it going for few more days :)!
I had a lot of progress in project that went untouched for too long.

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - 100% done with all patterns/posts for April, starting with the ones for May! Cannot share those, but I released the third block of the QAL, the Backgammon board!
2. WGACA projects
1. Jane T - no progress
2. The SK project - no progress
3. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - basted and half quilted! Will be done by next week!
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Block Swap Adventure -  paused until April
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - no progress
6. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
8. SECRET quilt 1 for exhibit - (FDJ) no progress
9. SECRET quilt 2 for exhibit - (Processing) no progress
10. Tablet tote - done (see below)
11. Road Home Row-A-Long - planned what to make
12. 70273 Project - decided to join

The EverythingElse List:

1. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
2. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
3. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
4. As You Wish -  no progress
5. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
6. Memory quilt 2 - no progress

----
My plan was is that that until the end of the month I WON'T make a single new block, a single new crochet block, nothing "new".
I am only allowed to make "finishing" steps: either joining blocks I already have, basting quilt tops I have, finishing backings, etc. I will pause my Splendid Sampler, my Mirror Mirror Afghan, Jane T, SK, everything that is far away from being finished and I will focus on project that I can complete or move to completion by the end of the month.

Because of this, I finished 2 future boards for my Play with Me QAL and almost completed a third one! I cannot share those, but I can share the beautiful backgammon board everyone else is sharing!

We have about 50 people playing along, it is so fun!!

If you didn't join, it's not too late!

Visit the QAL page for more details.

--

Then I finished my Strings of Pi piece: the only missing thing was the hanging sleeve, but now it is done done piece!

--

I also completed a little tablet carrier for my mom!

Adapted from Heidi's Mosaic Bag

I really struggle making bags... I don't enjoy the process at all... but I love the final result!

--

And last, but not least, I want to remind you that I am working on charity quilts,
and I would love your help!! 

Quilts are for a quilt drive to help the kids in the DC General Homeless Shelter. 

And you can help me by donating orphan blocks, partial blocks, or fabric (scraps, strips, leftover, uglies, whatever). 

If you are willing to mail them to me, I could use them to make more quilts for these kids!!! 

If you are up for a loving donation, please send me an email at tweloq[_at_]gmail[dot_com] or leave a comment here with your email address so I could give you my mailing address. I promise that your donation will be used to make some kids happy and feel more loved!! 

I quilted 60% of the baby quilt... it is going to be ready next week! so excited to get this project out of my UFO list!!!

--

Have you heard about Ello? It is basically Instagram without ads, no weird algorithm to show you only what they want you to see, no selling data, and it is for creative artists! :)

I never joined IG because I felt the goal was more about "showing off" than focusing on creativity, so even if I know there is a good quilting community there (which is creative and inspiring) I never felt it was the right place for me. Ello sounds much more fun!

It is a relatively new platform, so it has some issues (not too fast because it is still in beta but it's getting better, the signup is easy but if you don't pay attention the default groups that you are "following" may not be the ones you want, etc). If you want to join, it is free and there is a fast-growing quilting community. For helpful tips and finding your quilting tribe, you can read what the coordinator of the account @elloquilt says!

My handle is @alida-tweloq and to bring the community together I decided to coordinate a Block Swap!

You don't need to have an Ello account to join! Just fill this form http://goo.gl/forms/upr4FSDW6x to leave me your contact if you are interested. I am still collecting general info to see who is interested in what. I highly recommend to have an account, as I plan to post reminders, pictures of blocks, etc over there!

--

How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up