March: A Lovely Year of Finishes - Finishes Party

Phew what a month!

Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are so excited to be share with you A Lovely Year of Finishes. 

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I'll be showing my finished goal in a separate post.  I'm so close to finishing I can taste it.  :)




I can't wait to share my 'All Framed Up' quilt from the AWESOME Melissa 's pattern

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So how did you do on your March goal?  


To enter into the prizes please remember you have to 

1. Link-up {on this post} the first 7-days of the month

and

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month. (this post) 

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.

Please grab a button or link back to Melissa and I so other people can join in the fun!

**Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at Melissa , so there is no need to enter twice **

Here's what we have up for grabs as March prizes from awesome sponsors:

1. Quilting Patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

2. Thread Prize from Aurifil

3, 4. TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern

from Sew BitterSweet Designs ($10 value)

5. PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

6. Sew Sweetness – 1 pdf Pattern

7. Thimblepie's Quilt Supplies - Custom fabric package, 4 yards (worth $20) plus free shipping

8. Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

9. 1 Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to

Stitches n' Giggles (winners choice)

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As always.  Let Melissa and I know if you have any questions.

My Bright Sky quilt top or I'm a pattern tester

I'm on a few pattern testing lists.
I wish I could do more.  Sometimes work is too much or I feel like I'm inching myself into too many quilty commitments again.

But then...sometimes a pattern just calls to you. 

This was the case with Bright Sky by the awesome Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts.

Here is my sample made up.

Ohhh yeah baby!  

The pattern suggested it's good for big prints, so that's what I did!  I used some precious Prince Charming in the center and then  I used my favorite, at the moment, color pallet.

This pattern is SO great that it gives you enough information to make sure that these large pieces won't be wasted.  The pieces aren't too small and you don't cut off too much either.  It's a just right kinda situation.

For each piece, it reminds you what that block size should be. Which makes for much better piecing.

I even used my awesome Bloc_loc ruler to make these points perfect..

perfect I tell ya!

I seriously love this Bright Sky pattern.

This creates a 64" x 64" quilt top.
I would guess it took me around 4 hours from start to finish including pressing the fabrics before cutting.

You can go see the other awesome testers (a lot of us actually) on Alyce's post here.

This pattern was awesome when I tested it. Now it's been updated and includes more information..well worth it!

If you're thinking of purchasing this fantastic pattern... this week, read all the way to the end of this post.
Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

For my quilt top, I'm pretty sure I'll be taking this to a long arm rental.  I'm not sure if I could imagine pushing this through my domestic.  I could but I have some interesting ideas for these larger block areas.

Sibling Quilts

I have the most amazing step-father. 

My step-dad won my heart when I was in my 20's
This was NOT easy task

Yep, I was that terrible daughter that made life completely unbearable for any guy that dated my mother.

So with patience my now step-dad won my heart. 
It wasn't that hard actually ... he just didn't fight me.

The funny part now, I now call him for advice of how to deal with my own step-daughter issues ---since he knows how to work it.

~~~

When my step-dad asked me to work on some quilts for his youngest daughter's kids, how could I say no?!  My mother, a master fabric purchaser, gave me two layer cakes, batting, and free reign.
{Master fabric purchasing runs in the family}

Here are the quilts I created for siblings.



I actually found the patterns quickly.

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The Girl quilt:

Quilt Stats:

Name: Pink on Bento

Size: approx. 48" x 48"

Fabrics: Meadow Friends

Pattern:  Pattern by Megan of Lucy & Norman

Quilting: Long arm rental by me

Started: August 2012

Completed: November 2012

Sad to say, I hated every moment of this one.

Yep!

I so desperately tried to make this random and in this quilt there are just too many moving parts. And my control freak came out hard.

Yet hating it make it go super quick and I was so excited to have this be my first long-arm quilted projects.  Go me!

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The Boy Quilt:

Quilt Stats:

Name: A boy with a zig

Size: approx. 54" x 63"

Fabrics: Meadow Friends

Pattern:  Pattern inspired by Mommy by day Crafter by night

Quilting: Long arm rental by me

Started : August 2012 

Completed: January 2013

This one is a zig zag variation.

Super fun!

I added different long arm pattern in each zig.  It was awesome!

This one hung out for months before I could put on the binding.

This is one reason why I adore ALYoF.

I was forced to finish this.

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I sent this to my stepfather's daughter.  I'm not sure if they are used.  But they were made with lots of love.

March - A Lovely Year of Finishes Participant Highlight - Michelle at Squeek Crafts

Middle of March...can you believe it?

  

Melissa and I are so excited to see and share all of your hard work.

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We also want to thank our sponsors this month.

Quilting Lodge
Aurifil

 Sew BitterSweet Designs

Persimon Dreams

Sew Sweetness
Thimblepie's Quilt Supplies

Green Fairy Quilts 

Stitches n' Giggles

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This month our participate highlight is the fantastic Michelle!

Michelle from Squeek Crafts

Photos provided Michelle @ Squeek Crafts

Blog name: Factotum of Arts

Blog address: http:\\factotum-of-arts.com

Name you’re known by throughout quilting world. Michelle @ Squeek Crafts

What's your ALYoF goal this month?
Finish the X & + quilt top

How do you approach your sewing goals?

I have a lot of unfinished projects that I have accumulated in my first year of quilting. So, I have become super organized this year.  This was my plan at the beginning of the year, and each month I adjust as I need to. I use link-ups to keep on track - A lovely year of finishes, Finish along 2014 (http://www.the-littlest-thistle.com/p/finish-along-2014.html) and this month 30 /30 Sewing Challenge (http://www.berrybarndesigns.com/3030-sewing-challenge.html)

I am also using these free monthly quilting project sheets from Taryn @ from pixels to patchwork (http://www.pixelstopatchwork.com/2013/01/quilt-project-sheets.html)

How do you organize/prioritize your projects?

I have several project bins with each of my projects materials and patterns etc all contained in that bin.

What is your current favorite project that you are working on? Will you share pictures with us?

My favorite project, at the moment, are my Tapa Star paper piecing pattern which I am making into cushions for my mum.

What is your dream project to work on?

I have two projects that I would put on my dream list - the Amy Butler Weekender bag, like the one Elizabeth Hartman made, and then the Tula Pink Butterfly quilt.

What is your favorite time of day to sew?

I really only get to sew during the weekends, and I love working in the afternoons but would sew all day if I could get the chance.

What is your favorite quilting/sewing accessory?

That is my small seam ripper (or in NZ lingo that would be a Quick’n’Pick)

What is your number one quilting/sewing goal for 2014?

I would like to finish at least 2 quilts per quarter

What is one technique you really want to learn?

I would like to learn how to use design software, so that I can create designs for fabric

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Thank you so much Michelle for joining us today!

 Keep up the great work on your one goal for this month - you can do it!

 The finishes link-up starts the last 7 days of the month and will end before the month is over.

ALYoF musings

A Lovely Year of Finishes

Wowzers you all are SO awesome.

Melissa and I are so appreciative of all of your awesomeness.

You help catch our mistakes 

and point them out kindly.

You help us by choosing one distinct project 

when you may have a longer list.

On the finishes party you've even pointed out your original goal post and some of you even list the # you are on the link up.  Seriously makes our life easier.

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We are so happy to be doing this. 

We get to channel fantastic sponsors directly to you.

Did you know that we aren't being compensated for ALYoF .. at all.

I know I've said it before but man I'm jealous of the prizes you all get!

We only highlight sponsors as part of the ALYoF link-up's. We aren't compensated to do any extra posts on our blogs.

This is just a hair brain idea that we came up with.  As I need some motivation to finish things. 

I wouldn't have finished these items without being accountable to all of you.

Wait. . some of these aren't my goals.  True but I've needed to clean out my design wall to get to my goals.  A finish is a finish...right?  

We have each other - thankfully!
And YOU!

Please continue to connect to us but more importantly each other. 

Thank you for linking up with us. 

We love to have comments on things we make, things we need to improve on, or that we are all in this together.

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As always.  If you have questions let Melissa or I know.

A Blooming Marvelous Star - Tutorial

Super excited to share a tutorial I created for

Presenting A Blooming Marvelous Star

I am sharing this tutorial over on Inspired by Fabric 

There is a whole blog hop going on.  And a giveaway!

I was sent some fabulous Ro Gregg's Marblehead Venetian Glass fabrics which is awesomely inspired by travels.

This was super fun to create.  
Find my tutorial HERE

So excited to try something different on such a (to me) traditional block.

This is one of my tester blocks..

Cute ey?

How about this beauty

Thanks to Katy from The Littlest Thistle for help with the name.  She just seems to see into blocks nature...right?

Would love to see any photos of stars you create with my tutorial.

Totes all around - Sew Sew Modern 4

I love being parts of swaps.

This time round I finally jumped into Sew Sew Modern 4.

I love my noodlehead Super Tote and why not make a few more!

So I made my partner a tote from this awesome pattern. I'm thinking this is my 2nd time round.




This is one of the outside pockets.  Seriously a 12" block works really well for these!  WHOOP!




I nearly botched this by cutting the pattern pieces before quilting.
Quilt then cut!  Learn from me.

Here's the finished
package...


*Thanks to MLR Designs for letting me use her photo.
I was in a super rush to get this out the door.

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Well it was a swap.  And here's what I got in return.

I was so uber lucky to have a fantastic partner Purple Panda Quilts

I adore Lyanna and she just blew my mind!

Such great details on this beauty.

The recessed zipper, which I have yet to attempt;
piping, which I've yet to attempt on this bag;
QAYG pockets ..& TWO perfect pockets I might add!


Her bag is sturdy for sure.  I love it and it's wearing perfectly.

There is some curry lining, Joel Dewberry, Tula Pink, AND some Denyse Schmidt.
And oh and yes I got some of the scraps too.

She pretty much knew me inside and out. She's a fantastic stalker down to the lip balm.

I'm gleefully sporting this beauty all round with me now!!

Here is her post on the bag.

Thank you again sweetie.

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The other awesome part is that this was part of my FAL Q1 goal.

CHECK

February Winners ~ A Lovely Year of Finishes

Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I love seeing your finishes for A Lovely Year of Finishes. 

Super excited to see everyone's finish!

What a great amount of fantastic finishes.  

Thanks again to our sponsors.  We are so excited to share their prizes with all of you.  

The February winners are:

1. $15.00 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

Leanne - She Can Quilt

2, 3. TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern

from Sew BitterSweet Designs ($10 value)

Jessica - Noguchi Designs

and

Kathy - Kathy's Quilts

4. PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

Jannette - Quilting & Cardmaking

5. Quilting Patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

Cheryl - Meadow Mist Designs

6. Thread Prize from Aurifil

Deborah - Sunshine Through the Rain

7. Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

Sherry - Sew Very Sherry (on Flickr)

8. Sew Sweetness – 1 pdf Pattern

Mariana - Coser Teer Crear

9. 1 Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to

Stitches n' Giggles (winners choice)

Cheryl - Paisley Cheryl (on Flickr)

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As always.  Let Melissa and I know if you have any questions.


Remember that you can link up your one goal for March until the 7th here.