Started another QAL (and a link party)

So many projects in my mind, very few down on fabric :) 

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - August pattern ready to share (cannot share)
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - jumped in with the HST (will donate this quilt) (see below)
4. Minion QAL - 3 more blocks quilted, 2 missing
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - paused until next month 
7. Splendid Sampler - two blocks done (see below)
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
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

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Especially in the middle of the summer I feel usually creatively tired. The projects started early during the year look boring, no energy to dedicate to create new projects (even if there are many in my head right now), so what is the best strategy? Join one of Melissa's (HappyQuilting) QAL!

I love love love her QAL for a ton of reasons:

1. the designs are usually very simple but not boring (check out all the ones she designed over the years)
2. the time given between each step is usually about 2-3 weeks. I love this because there are QALs that ask you to make a gazillion of HST in 1 week.. and while you don't have to complete them all, I always feel behind with those timeline! More than 2 weeks for simple steps make me lose interest... so I think 2 weeks is the perfect timeframe
3. she uses very simple shapes, so that's refreshing for me since I usually make complicated paper piecing blocks
4. her tutorials are amazing! step by step pictures, with tips and great advices. Even if by now I know how to make HST, I always read everything through, because every time there is something that I may have missed before
5. she offers always many size options! many designers simply say "do you want to make it bigger? make more blocks! Do you want it smaller? make less blocks" :) ehm... ok... I have no problem with that... however usually I want to make it smaller by resizing the blocks because I want the overall design to be the same! That's where Melissa is amazing! She always have very simple tables that shows you the size of a finished block (multiple sizes) and how you many you want to have (1x1, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4). So the only thing I have to do is decide the general design I want and then find the cutting and assembly instruction for that. Easy peasy!

I jumped in the QAL a little late, but I will make the flying geese after she releases the next instructions (that's also where the 2-3 weeks time is great: to catch up!!)

This week was HST

I used fabric donated, and I will make this to a baby quilt (2x2 layout).

Colors are terrible in the picture because it was night and I didn't want to wait to take the picture :)

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The only other thing I made are two more blocks for the Splendid Sampler

Block 42

Bonus block

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

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Fancy pot holders (and a linky party)

Not much to share but a couple of small finishes are better than nothing!! 

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - August completed (cannot share)
2. WGACA projects (abandoned the idea... the strategy didn't work, oh well, it was good to test it)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. Minion QAL - quilted around all characters. 6 blocks quilted, 5 missing
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - paused until next month 
5. Splendid Sampler - two blocks done (see below)
6. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece
7. Folded star pot holder - two, done (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
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

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I also finished a couple of blocks for the Splendid Sampler project.

Block 31

Block 41

Current total: 29... you can see them all on my Sampler page!

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The only other thing I made are these two fancy pot holders

10''x10''

Tutorial available on the modabakeshop

I used several pieces that I received in various Quilty Box. I tend to really like the fabric but I never used them with the project/pattern they come with :) I guess it's my rebel nature.

Well, I hope to have a more productive week ahead!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

The LIST (review)

Back in December, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl hosted the #2016Planning Party, and I linked up (she reminded me of this because I completely forgot of course ;) )

She published a post to reflect on her the goals and she welcomed us to take this opportunity to look back and reflect on our year as well. She is offering a #2016MidYearReview link up, and there are great giveaways available to those who link up.

This the previous list, with updated status on the different projects (these are my goals for the year... so if I am at least half done, I will say I am on a good track :) )

1. Play with Me QAL - this is a QAL I am hosting, so I don't just plan to finish it, but I plan to cheer everybody along, offer giveaways, inspire and get inspired!
   STATUS: 6 blocks made, quilted and joined. 2 blocks completed. 1 board missing.
   
2. "Jane Tiger, the Nearly Insane Wife of a Farmer" - I want to complete my version of the Dear Jane, Nearly Insane and Farmer's Wife quilt. I already started it and it looks fun!!
   STATUS: I lost momentum on this...  23 blocks done, many many more missing :)
   
3. Block Swap Adventure quilt - I have been swapping blocks for about 2 years now, so I should have enough to put together a quilt!
   STATUS: I completed a quilt with last year Snail Trail blocks. Unfortunately the swap was closed because of lack of participants. But now I am running the Hello Block Swap so I am still collecting blocks and turning them into quilts!
   
4. Charity quilts for Fran and the Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - I plan to have 12 quilts done for her... let's see if I can make (or pass) that goal!!
   STATUS: again, I lost momentum on this. I have 2 quilts completed + 3 matching pillow cases. I also have 4 quilt tops ready to be quilted... maybe this review will encourage me to get back on track with this
   
5. Americana QAL - finish my version of this quilt and gift it to my dad probably for Xmas
   STATUS: completed! and I am using it because it's sad to leave a quilt waiting to be gifted. I will wash it and send it out later this year, but in the meantime I am enjoying it!!
   
6. Play with Me 2016 QAL (secret) - all January posts are ready!!
   STATUS: this is a duplicate of 1. :) I was distracted when I wrote the original list
   
7. Allietare QAL - I plan to complete this quilt, and probably donate it for charity
   STATUS: no change. This is one of the 4 quilt tops of point 4.
   
8. Pantone Color of the Year 2016 - my traditional wall hanging has already been designed!
   STATUS: completed!
   
9. The SK project - here I need real progress as I wanted to have it done by 2017... it's a big quilt done in very small blocks so I need to get this rolling!!
   STATUS: I lost momentum for several months. Last month I got the ball rolling again, and now I have a few "side" projects that are going to help me give this project a real push forward, stay tuned!!
   
10. the 31000 Xs project - a cross stitch project that I started and I would love to get done... eventually :)
    STATUS: where did I put this project??? :) I moved things around my sewing corner and I have no idea where this ended up being stored. :) so the status is Missing In Action :)
    
11. Spirit cross stitch project - this is supposed to be a Valentine present... well... not sure if I will be able to pull it off, but I will try!
    STATUS: ah ah ah, same as 10. where did I put this project??? :) well... Valentine comes every year, so eventually I will get this done
    
12. Mirror Mirror Afghan - a tapestry crochet afghan, I was very passionate about... and then I was not :) crochet is like that for me, ups and downs! :)
    STATUS: I lost momentum on this... I made several more blocks at the beginning of the year but now I am stuck again
    
13. Alice in Wonderland quilt - I have several blocks done, just need to find some motivation to finish up some more
14. As You Wish -  same comment as 13.
15. Crazy optical illusion - same comment as 13. :)
16. Memory quilt 2 - same comment as 13. :)
    STATUS (13-16): completely lost interest in all those projects... eventually I may get back to them but for now I archived them all!

Well...

I guess that I had so many new projects this year, that several lost momentum. Some are still going, some are kind of dead for now.

I can report that I am still sewing, I am still designing, I am still organinzing events, I am still having fun so I guess it's all good!!

Back to crafting (and a linky party)

I came back home from the work trip. 

I don't have much to share but something is better than nothing!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - August pattern ready to stitch
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) - dropped. Too many other things to do this month
3. Minion QAL - no progress
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - two blocks done (see below)
5. Splendid Sampler - one block done (see below)
6. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - three blocks done (see below)
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

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I made two blocks from my July's partner for the  Hello Block Swap.

Blocks I made for Laura

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I also finished block 36 of the Splendid Sampler project.

While I like embroidery, I hate french knots and I don't like much the lazy daisy stitch.

However I wanted to give this block a try as close to the original as possible. 

In this block I also experimented with glow in the dark embroidery thread (works great) and with the soluble sulky embroidery stabilizer (it was ok... I was able to see the stitches traced on it and it washed away just fine. I didn't particularly enjoyed stitching on it, but probably just because I didn't stabilized properly)

Block 35

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The only other thing I made are three blocks for my Stephen King project.

I prepared 5 blocks for my trip as I thought I would have time to make them.

While I had time, I didn't seem to be in the mood. So I made half of one during the trip and completed the rest yesterday.

The Long Walk, The Stand, Gerald's Game (7.5''x5'')

Well, I hope to have a more productive week ahead!

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Oh, I also added some side panels to this great t-shirt I got in the kids section of a shop :) I got the biggest size they had but it was still a little too tight on the belly :) I watched some youtube tutorials and then I gave it a try. Easier than I thought!! It is not perfect but I use it as a pijamas so who cares! Next time I will add less fabric (because now it's a little too big) and I will make it narrower at the top. But as a first experiment this went great!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

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Disney dreams come true (and a link party)

I have been at a conference for work, so no project updates

HOWEVER...

The conference is at a Disney World Resort, so I took a day off and went to meet all my favorite characters!!

Above, their autographs on small pieces of fabric that I quilted for the occasion (left over of a few projects I made a while ago): now I have the perfect coasters and mug rugs!!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

A lot got done (and a link party)

After a week of not sharing, I am back with several projects!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - July block will be released on Monday!
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) - kind of dropped, maybe, not sure :)
3. Minion QAL - several blocks done, final layout pieced, started quilting! (see below)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - two blocks received (planning what to do for July's partner) (see below)
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - finished, washed and in use! (see below)
6. Splendid Sampler - one more block done (see below)
7. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece
8. Pumpkin's bed - done, interesting project (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
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

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One more block for Selvage Splendid Sampler:

Due to the tinytinytiny size of these hexies (about 3/8 of an inch) I couldn't really use selvages. So I used batiks, as they really pop against the black background!

It was fun to learn a new technique to make hexies: Hexies from a circle!, no template and this is the only way to make it work with this so tiny size for me!

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I received my blocks from my other June's partner for the  Hello Block Swap.

Blocks that I received from Jane

I love how wonky and scrappy the entire quilt will look!!! I cannot wait to have more block to arrange in a nice design!!

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I got my American quilt (renamed "Tu vuo' fa' l'americano") from the Professional Long Arm Quilter (Marcia from Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting). She did an AMAZING JOB with the quilting. I asked her an all over meander with stars, but she added some custom quilting which makes it suuuper special!!

Size: 55'' x 72''

"Tu vuo' fa' l'americano"

Center blocks from the Americana QAL, Snail trail border from the Block Swap Adventure!

Amazing quilting, from the back!

This was my first experience with a long armer... I won a coupon for a discount so I thought it was a great opportunity to try it, especially on this quilt that is a Xmas present for my dad. I am extremely happy with the experience and final result. Xmas is far away, so I started using the quilt (perfect for the 4th of July, right?) ;)

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Two projects that are kind of the "spur of the moment"

Cat bed from "See Kate Sew" 

My cat name is Pumpkin... I thought that the fabric was just too perfect not to use it for her little cat bed. I used the wrong material for the "foam filling" so the structure doesn't hold up that well... so I tried to hang it and see if Pumpkin likes it... if not I can put it on the floor. It's summer here, so I am not sure if she wants to sneak in there any time soon... but in the meantime it's nice to look at it I guess :)

A zipper pouch, GPS holder... because we got a new GPS and I wanted a cover that matches a previous credit card wallet I made for my boyfriend :)

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And last, but not least... the Minion QAL is over!

These are the last two blocks I made

And then... I assembled all the blocks in the final layout!

I am quilting the three sections separately and then joining them with a QAYG method. I will also add a special border... stay tuned to see that!

I actually already quilted 5 of the blocks (backgrounds) so I may be able to finish the quilt in a month or so (I have a trip for work, so I won't be able to quilt much in the next weeks)! I am very excited!!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up