Announcing - A Lovely Year of Finishes in 2015

Were you wondering whether or not Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I were going to be hosting again?  We are happy to announce that we will be back!!!

If you are planning on joining us we would love for you to share the logo for 2015 on your blogs!

<a href="http://fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/p/2015.html" title="A Lovely Year of Finishes"> <img src="http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/image005.jpg" width="180" height="180" alt="A Lovely Year of Finishes" style="border:none;" /></a>

We are so excited to announce that we have an awesome line up of sponsors too!  You know A Lovely Year of Finishes wouldn't be near as much fun without our wonderful sponsors!

Currently the 2015 Sponsors include:

Gotcha Covered Quilting

 

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 The fun in 2014 isn't over quite yet though! Don't forget to link up your December finish here by midnight Pacific time tonight. Also, on January 1, 2015 we will open the linky party for the 2014 finale. In order to be eligible to win you must have successfully completed and linked up 6 finishes.  Also on January 1, 2015 we will be opening our first goal setting party for 2015. 

So busy day but just keep an eye out.

If you are new to A Lovely Year of Finishes, visit our main pages here and here. You can also visit our Q&A page to answer some of your burning questions and also find tutorials on how to link up.

Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are so excited about 2015, we hope you are too!

Just keep Stitching.

IgMiniSwap ~ Sent and Recived

I seem to find myself a lot of Instagram these days. 

My lovely friends lured me into the IgMiniSwap and oh I was so excited I did.

My partner in Australia was Kay of Shocking Hocking was the lovely I got to stalk as I made a quilt for her.  She loves improv and reds.  

This so stretches my comfort zone..in all good ways.

I was glad to attempt new ideas and designs for me.

Okay I was also very very scared!








But I finally sat myself down and accomplished improv scrappy curves

Adding different strips and I was so glad to work on this. I even added different fabrics in the binding fabric.

Yes and some hangers...

Quilt Stats:

Name: Leading Lady

Size: approx. 16.5 x 16.5"

Fabrics:  Reds and low volume.  

Pattern:  None - Improv with curves
Quilting: Machine quilted on my 1008 Bernina and a dabble of handstitching

Started : November 2014

Completed: November 2014

I added a line of handquilting although it's not the "proper" technique.  I may have bought a craftsy class to help me with this.

Overall, I was so happy to send this away with my name on it.  Which I of course forgot my label...bahahaha.

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Now the beauty of a swap is that I get something in return.

I had a partner that floored me with his quilting awesomeness.
This was made by travlis




Look at this beauty!

Look at all these y-seams

Look at the quilting.

I totally wish this were bigger for a lap quilt!  Is that bad :)

This is a fantastic addition to my mini quilt collection.

I am so happy to be part of the #igminiswap and part of #kaysgroup

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Just keep Sewing

December: A Lovely Year of Finishes - Finishes Party

This marks 24 months of 'A Lovely Year of Finishes' Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I have kept going even with our busy times.  

We are planning on doing it again in 2015...so keep an eye out for a new button and new and continuing sponsors to keep us all encouraged.

Hope this finds you well as in the US it's Christmas holiday.  I get a whole day of sewing sewing sewing.

And remember to check everyone else out too.  ALYoF is awesome only because of all of YOU.

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I am excited to share that I made some homemade gifts for my family this year.  That's right I make quilts and people even get to eventually use them.

There is no batting in between the minky and cotton. And I chose just added some straight line quilting near both sides of the seams.

This makes a super fast and I know loved gift for my parents and grandpapa.

A finish and a gift ...that I mailed on time for them to open on holiday I may add!

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But, let's get down to your projects...

You have requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.

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

and

2. Link-up below during the last 7-days of this month 
~ with a successful finish.

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! {See stage left for the grab the button stuffs}

And if you remember to make it easy for us we'll click through the winners faster..aka put number of goal link up. The easier for us to choose you the happier we are.  

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

Here what our amazing sponsors have up for us this December: 

1.  Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

2.PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

3. $15 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop

4. One pdf pattern from  Sew Sweetness

 

5.Thread Prize from Aurifil

6. One Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to

Stitches n’ Giggles (winners choice)

7. One PDF Pattern from Meadow Mist Designs

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

9. Sew BitterSweet Designs  one pdf pattern

10. PDF Pattern from Katy - The Littlest Thistle

11. One pdf Pattern from Clover and Violet

So exciting to share all of the fun with you all...can't wait to see what you choose.

Just keep sewing.

Craftsy Review: The Secrets of Free-Motion Quilting

Super excited to review the craftsy classes I've bought you can see the classes I've reviewed Craftsy Class Review.  

In this post, I'll review The Secrets of Free-Motion Quilting
with Christina Cameli that blogs over at A Few Scraps

What I learned - It might just be the part of my quilting journey I am at, but this class broke down free motion quilting into a way that things are just clicking.  Free motion gets better with practice but I needed someone to help me break things down and with some fantastic new ideas -- this is "THE" class.

Seeing the techniques stitched is mesmerizing.  I find myself guessing where I would make these designs if I were quilting.  The teacher, Christina, was able to stop and point out things she thinks about while she quilts.  What I really enjoyed, there were many times she was talking while sewing that felt much more organic and what happens in person.

Pretty much this class rocked my world.  

Teacher - Christina Cameli is great on camera.  Christina shows the quilting techniques and also encouraged us to try while she was going along.  The hours of breaking down different motifs went fast and makes me want to add a lot more to my FMQ projects. I feel she is 100% knowledgeable with this topic. 

Class Content - This class includes 7 different pattern design families.  While this isn't a class on how to prepare for your first free-motion quilting project, I have had that in a few different classes. The techniques on free motion quilting Christina presents are clear and super helpful.

I did want patterns to all her projects she was working on...at least there is one found over on Sew Mama Sew. I'm so making these!!

Rating - Blah - So So - Like - Love this class.

I love this class. I purchase this class during the craftsy super sale based on other reviews..and I'm so glad I did.

I would recommend this class to a beginning-intermediate level free motion quilter.

I would buy this class again and again.  I've already watched this 3 times from video to video. I even got in a little practice...love it!

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To see more of the classes I have reviewed visit the reference page I've created, Craftsy Class Review.

As a reminder of the fine print: these are affiliate links but the opinions are all my own.

Craftsy Review: Cut to It

Super excited to review the craftsy classes I've bought you can see the classes I've reviewed Craftsy Class Review.  

In this post, I'll review Cut to It - Strategies for Smarter Quilting
with Debbie Caffrey her website is over at Debbie's Creative Moments

What I learned - Awesome cutting techniques...silly right?

This class broke down safe ways to use our quilting tools that makes to some fast, precise, and SAFE cutting.

I have to laugh at myself because I even enjoy watching people cut out quilting projects...is there a problem?  Naaaahhh

What I did learn is repetition helps drive home the important points (thank you Debbie).  And I'm now not afraid of multiple layers of fabric. In the past, I've been so disappointed with my fabric layers rocking and not able to be sure I'm cutting all the way through all the layers.  I have been cutting only one fabric layer at a time....yet not anymore!

Teacher - Debbie Caffrey is confident on camera.  Debbie repeated the great pointers to drive these technique home.  The most important thing is that Debbie on every cut practices what she's teaching...making it comfortable. 

Class Content - This class includes math and if math isn't your bailiwick there are some awesome cheat sheets included in the materials.

While the fabric choices in this class isn't me..it didn't distract me from the point of learning new cutting techniques.

Rating - Blah - So So - Like - Love this class.

I like this class and it's a great techniques class.

I would recommend this class to a beginning to advanced quilter especially if you are looking for tips and tricks to cut more projects.

I would buy this class again and again.  It's a nice class to have in my back pocket.

Even to practice these new techniques I cut out this quilt with 6 layers instead of 1 layer at a time.  Talk about some time saving!

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To see more of the classes I have reviewed visit the reference page I've created, Craftsy Class Review.

As a reminder of the fine print: these are affiliate links but the opinions are all my own.

Just keep sewing

November Winners ~ A Lovely Year of Finishes

Wrapping up another month, Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are excited celebrate your finishes with some of our amazing sponsored prizes.

Be sure to go thank these generous businesses and individuals to keep them thriving.

Here is a list of our winners or November!!

1. One pdf pattern from  Sew Sweetness

Lisa, Quilts By Lisa

2.Thread Prize from Aurifil

 Iris - Crazy Dutch Bird Quilts

3. PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

Jannette - Quilting and Cardmaking

4. One Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to

Stitches n’ Giggles (winners choice)

Pauline - Quilt-n-Queen

5. One PDF Pattern from Meadow Mist Designs

Sophie - Sophies Junction

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

Marie - Flickr

7. Sew BitterSweet Designs  one pdf pattern

Jennie - Jennie's Threads

8. PDF Pattern from Katy - The Littlest Thistle

 Cathy - Sane, Crazy, Crumby Quilting

9. One pdf Pattern from Clover and Violet

Linda - Pieceful Kingdom

10.  Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

Tammy - Karamat Sews

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Happy Quilting and keep up the awesome work!