More coming soon, I promise (and a link party)

There is a lot of planning for events, hops, QAL etc that I am going to announce in the next few weeks. This means again very little sharable crafting, but again something small and cute...

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - finished Sept board, will be shared next week. This is the last of the QAL :( but I am already planning 2017 QAL, so stay tuned
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
4. Minion QAL - no progress... SERIOUSLY?? I just have the final few lines of quilting to add, but I cannot make myself do it... ufff.....
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - paused until Sept
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress, lost interest :(
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - finished row, finished post. Ready to be shared soon!
9. Secret event (January 2017) - started designing
10. Secret event (February 2017) - few blocks ready to stitch!
11. Secret event (August 2017) - button designed
12. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017) - sketching started!
13. Gift Bookmarks - second one done (see below)
14. Teal Mini Swap - STILL FEW DAYS TO JOIN, link from EvalPaige Quilt Designs
    I got my partner info, the fabric and I picked the design. Now just need to implement it

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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Ok, so basically this is the only picture I can share... cute bookmark.

3.5'' x 9.5''

I designed it in Google Spreadsheet and stitched it up using cross stitching!
It went together super fast. I then just used a decorative zig-zag stitch around three sides, slided in a piece of thick paper and then I  stitched the top close. In this way if it bends, we can just change up the cardboard inside and the bookmark will be like new!! :)
The other fun thing is that on the two characters I used 2 strands of floss and 1 strand of glow-in-the-dark thread... when you turn off the light, Snoopy and Woodstock light up! I think they needed their own light because they want to read when they are closed in the book ;)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Slow, slow summer (and a link party)

There is something about summer that makes me slow down... well, at least I have few small finishes!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - finished quilting August block, starting Sept board
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - new instructions have been released. I will work on this tomorrow
4. Minion QAL - if only I could convince myself to quilt the borders... well, maybe this week!!
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - paused until Sept
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress
9. Secret event (January 2017) - started designing
10. Secret event (February 2017) - design completed
11. Secret event (August 2017) - button designed
12. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017) - sketching started!
13. Gift Bookmarks - one done, one designed (see below)
14. Gift pillow cases - 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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Two more pillow cases done! These are a birthday present. I am becoming super fast making these... and that's a good thing because guess what everybody is getting for Xmas this year..? :)

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The only other little project I completed is this cute bookmark.

2.75'' x 9''

I designed it in Google Spreadsheet and stitched it up using cross stitching!
It went together super fast. I then just zig-zagged a couple of times around three sides, slided in a piece of thick paper and then I hand stitched the top close. In this way if it bends, we can just change up the cardboard inside and the bookmark will be like new!! :)
I really really like that print! I have a fat quarter of it, and I used it to make my boyfriend a credit card wallet, a zipper pouch for his gps and now this. I still have some fabric left for other small projects. Don't you love when everything coordinates? ;)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Nothing to show, but a lot going on behind the scenes (and a link party)

I have been doing a lot in terms of planning and finishing, but not quite ready to share! :)

Picture from the past... August 2015 :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - finishing up the quilting on August pattern
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - all pieces ready to be assembled
4. Minion QAL - quilt almost finished!!
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - blocks sent (paused until Sept) 
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - finishing touches to my row
9. Secret event (January 2017) - started designing
10. Secret event (February 2017) - design almost completed
11. Secret event (August 2017) - button designed
12. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017) - sketching started!

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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You may have noticed that in 2017 I will be hosting or running quite a few events (QAL and similar)... more in the months to come... I am so excited, they will all be so fun!!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Curved piecing and Minions (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 released (see below)
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - I am catching up! (see below)
4. Minion QAL - all blocks quilted and joined (see below)
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - blocks for my August partner done (see below) 
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
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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Seriously... last week I mentioned 5 reasons why I love Melissa's (HappyQuilting) QAL... let's add another one: it is so easy to catch up!!

With her easy and clear instructions it took me just 3 nights to make all the Flying Geese and all the Drunkard Path blocks!!
Some are perfect, like painted by Giotto... other are less perfect, like painted by Giotto's 1 year old son moderately drunk ;) but I really enjoyed the process, especially because I alternated FG and DP construction so I wouldn't get bored or frustrated. By the end of the process, I think I am a pro at curved piecing (especially considering that I am not precise cutting the pieces).

Since I caught up with all the FG, I wanted to see how all the pieces look on my design floor :)

 (mising some 3'' squares, but everything else looks great!)

Making this project I learned a fantastic lesson: when we use the "no waste or little waste" methods (for either HST, FG or DP) directional fabric and stripes are tricky because pieces will go in opposite directions. However... if you mix the stripes with gingham fabric and polka dots, the "misaligned" lines won't be so striking and they will blend right in with the rest (or at least that what my eyes thinks :) ). Also mixing the scale probably helps.

I am looking forward to the assembly direction because it was quite challenging to arrange those pieces without the clear instructions that Melissa always has!! :)

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By chance, the August board for my Play with Me QAL is also featuring curved piecing! However the pieces here are much much bigger so they are easier to stitch (and they are also fewer ;) ).

If you are interested in learning more about the QAL, you can read everything on the Play with Me QAL official page!

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

Block pattern available here

Butterfly pattern available here

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Finally I finished quilting around each character!

Now I just need to add a border and I will be done. I took the quilt to the quilt shop to pick the perfect fabric. A lady saw the quilt and said "oh, this is so cute, a little kid will be so happy to have it!" and then she corrected herself "oh, well, maybe this is for a teenager"... well... the last time I was called a "teenager" was about 20 years ago ;)
Minions are for all ages!! :)
P.S. I am finishing up the pattern for the "tower of minions" block and tonight I will submit it to Fandom in Stitches, so it will be available soon for others to enjoy!! :)
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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up