TGIFF! - Quilt Girl Spies a Turtle

Welcome to TGIFF, where every finish deserves a celebration!

Before I get into our party, I have some exciting news!

October Sky won second place in the "Excellence for Original Modern Wallquilts" at Quilt Canada's National Juried Show. Holy crap! Actually, I said something a little more graphic, but it wouldn't be polite to repeat it. ;)

When I think back to my very first quilt, there's no way I ever thought one of my quilts could get accepted at a major show, let alone place. I'm still grinning like a fool about it. :D

Okay, enough about that. It's time to enjoy some finishes!

My quilt this week was barely finished in time.

I've been working on a couple of new projects, but neither are close to being finished so what's a TGIFF! host to do? And so begins our tale:

On Monday, we started planning a baby shower for a colleague and there was my answer. I pulled out one of my wee spy tops, which I sometimes make as a leader/ender project, and found that I just had to add the border! 

Within a few hours, this baby was done! Doing the top as a leader/ender saved me about 2 hours this week (I've done this quilt many times so I know how long it takes me). Sweet!

Love that coral paired with the turtle fabric of the backing. Hopefully my colleague will love it too.

Finished quilt size: 42" by 54"

Phew! I always like a happy ending...

This fabulous quilty comic? Not me. It's fabric! Quilt Girl by Whistler Studios for Wyndham Fabrics. I found it at The Pickle Dish in Carleton Place for you local folks. You are welcome! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

TGIFF! - March Break Madness

I was planning on sharing my finished Luscious Columns quilt today, but we finished Daniel's Wee Spy quilt!

I have to admit that when we began last weekend, I was sure this was going to end up as a WIP. He surprised me though. He was determined to finish it.

For the quilting, I had pulled out some variegated yellow thread that I thought would match his quilt (and that I hoped we could use up!), but he wasn't having any of it. He pointed to a spool of yellow polyester Aurifil thread (#5222) and said "that one looks like gold." Okay, Rumpelstiltskin. Even my kid prefers Aurifil. LOL!

He is so excited about his quilt!

Look at that grin! There's son #3 doing his best to photobomb.

He especially loves this bulldog square for some reason:

I am less enamoured with the bulldog.

Trying to get clear photos of this quilt was a challenge. We tried this:

Then this:

Then this:

And this:

Playing I Spy

Finally, I snuck out of the house with it while they were playing mini sticks.

Daniel's March Break Madness - Front

Darn tree shadows!

Daniel's March Break Madness - Back

Oh well, you get the picture, right? Ha ha.

His finished quilt measures 44" by 50".

It was so much fun seeing the quilting process through his eyes. I'm so proud of him. :) He's already picked out the colours he wants for his next project. A placemat. Phew!

I'm now contemplating Purl Buttons advice to Hide.My.Stash! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

March Break Mischief and Mayhem - Works in Progress

We're sticking close to home this March Break. There are so many great things to do around Ottawa that I'm sure we'll have plenty of things to keep us occupied. I'm currently in a 40 Organizing Projects/Items in 40 Days kick so I'm roping the kids in during the break. Friday was their rooms, Monday was the basement, and today is the craft room. Aren't I the most fun mom, ever? ;)

Novelty Fabric Bundles

As I was cutting and organizing my novelty fabrics into Wee Spy quilt bundles over the weekend (organizing project #5), son #2 turned his puppy dog eyes on me full force and told me he wanted to make a quilt with me. His mom is a sucker for those puppy dog eyes so we made this.

He picked out and arranged all the squares. He also worked the pedal and we worked together to guide the fabric through the machine. He soon announced that "Sewing is fun!" and suggested that he get his own machine. I told him we could set up my old machine for him to use and he set off to find it.

In unearthing the old machine, he managed to step on my Bernina extension table and break it clean in half. Sigh. Yes, I'm still crying a little on the inside. :( Anyone have any tips for fixing one? I can't remember if there's a warranty, but there probably isn't.

Anyways, we basted his quilt last night before bed. "Are we going to finish my quilt tomorrow?" was the last thing he asked me last night. He's upstairs waiting for me right now too. "Mommy!" Like a dog with a bone, that one. No idea where he gets it. ;)

Doesn't everyone have a basting party during March Break?

Have a great Wednesday, all!

TGIFF! - A Wee Spy Quilt

Wee Spy Quilt And Bag

If you haven't had a chance to enter my blogiversary giveaway, you have until Monday to enter. :)

***

My cousin's Wee Spy quilt is done! Sorry for the blah photos -- it's rain, rain, and more rain around here. For those new to the blog, the Wee Spy is my go-to baby gift. These aren't meant to be precious or heirloom quilts. They are made to keep little eyes interested and to handle whatever a baby can throw at it, burp on it, pee on it...you get the idea. 

As with all my Wee Spy quilts, they have a standard size (approx. 38" by 50") and layout, using 48 6" blocks of various novelty fabrics. The novelty fabrics don't coordinate on purpose and are chosen because they have some novelty item on it that would be interesting to little eyes.

I piece the novelty fabrics as leader/enders of my other projects so I usually just need to add the border and a backing when a baby gift is needed. Efficient? Yes! 

For the quilting, I simply echo the seam lines on either side using my walking foot. 

While each one is made in a standard way, each Wee Spy is unique in the backing and coordinating border colour, as well as which novelty fabrics are included. 

I then make a coordinating bag out of more novelty fabrics, the border and backing material and add my little tag so parents get an idea of things they can do with the quilt...other than wrap their bundle of joy in it. 

I found the backing fabric at Fabricland last year, I think, and I've been hoarding it since waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. There are moose, beavers, polar bears and some Canadian geese, as well as some maple leaves scattered here and there -- just perfect for the little Canuck that should make her/his appearance towards the end of July.

I'm linking up with the wonderful Laura of Quokka Quilts for this week's TGIFF! Hope you can take some time to check out her ode to Kate Spain and the other fabulous finishes. If you have a recent finish, you are more than welcome to link up as well.

Have a great weekend, all!

TGIFF! - Wee Spy - Canadian Style

Now that this little puppy has made it safely to its new home, I can share my second commissioned Wee Spy quilt with you.

It's made for a new little girl born in sunny Burbank, California. It's loaded with a good dose of Canadiana for its new Canadian-American owner. A girl's got to know her roots, eh? :)

I've made many of these Wee Spy quilts over the last seven years, but each is unique just like the baby for whom it's intended. 48 different novelty fabrics in 6" squares arranged randomly, surrounded by a 3" border that coordinates with the backing.

I make the Wee Spy quilts gender neutral so they can be passed down or around, but sometimes I'll include a few fabrics geared towards the family (ie. boats for a family that enjoys sailing, music notes/instruments when I know the dad is a musician, etc.). This quilt has some Canada fireworks, hockey equipment, Christmas moose, and plenty of maple leafs...and an American flag. :)

They measure ~ 40" by 50" and come with their own matching travel bag, which doubles as a mini I Spy. 

I'm told that the proud parents of the new arrival are very pleased with this gift. Woo hoo! :D

Linking up with Nat @ Made in Home for this week's TGIFF! party.

Happy Friday, all!

Works in Progress Wednesday - 12-12-12

Ah, there's nothing like WIP Wednesday to hold one accountable, eh? It's been three or four weeks so it seems like a lot.

There's still time to enter my Quilting Gallery Blog Hop Party giveaway, if you haven't had a chance.

New Projects:
Su{Brrr}nova: I've always loved this Supernova quilt by Lee at Freshly Pieced and now I'm making my own! First block here, three more blocks here, and below are a few more. Thanks to Pam from Mad About Patchwork for some more Snowflakes in Red, I was able to finish the centre block. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Pam! Now, just two more blocks to do!

Centre Block

Jelly Belly: Top and backing are done and ready to be basted.

Completed Projects:

Paint Chip Placemats

Paint Chip Placemats: First handmade gift done!

Wee Spy Bag

Commissioned quilt: I finished the Wee Spy quilt for my friend's cousin and it's currently wending its way through the postal system to its new, adorable owner. I'm thinking that she'll have a lot of fun doing tummy time on this quilt. I'm excited that this commission has led to another commission. :D Yay!

Super cute butterflies for the backing

Spring Green for the front

Colour My World Blue: This month's Colour My World Challenge is blue and I thought I'd work on my free motion quilting. It's coming along well so far and I'll share it on Friday for the link up!

Current Projects: 

Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop:
The Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog hop is done -- what a fun idea! My block is appliquéd on a white background, but that's about it. Thinking pillow, but maybe bag. Thoughts?

Seeing the Forest for the Trees Quilt: I figured out what to do with the layout, but it means doing four more blocks.

On Hold/UFO Mash-up:

Don't Worry {Bee} Happy Bee - Two of my beemates blocks arrived this week and they look great! Can't wait to see the rest.
Appliqué/Quilt/Paint Thing
Mini I Spy Charity Quilt

Stained Glass Lillies

Modern Block Monday Sampler 

Chop Suey

Collage Tree 

Asterisk Christmas Table Runner 

Red and Tan Bargello in the Round 2

Happy Villages

Kingston quilt

Fibonacci's Not Random

Red and Cream Amish Wedding Ring

Wedding quilt

Nine patch colourwash

WIP Wednesday Recap: Woo hoo! We're still under 20!

New projects: 2

Completed projects: 3

Current projects: 2

On Hold/UFO: 15

Bucket List: 34

I'm linking in to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network and to W.i.P. Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. 

TGIFF! - Wee Spy Quilt

Wow, this week flew by! This Wee Spy quilt was made for a friend's new baby. It's pretty much my standard go-to gift, but each one is unique in that each one has a different border and coordinating backing. The variety and placement of the I spy squares are also different every time. This is one that I pieced as a leader/ender project.

As my friend travels a fair bit with her munchkins, I thought I'd use this Canadian fabric that I found at Fabricland last year. Seriously, how cute is that beaver? And it has tulips where Ottawa is in honour of our huge tulip festival every May. This will definitely remind her of home and us when she's abroad. :)


I also made a coordinating bag for the quilt so it's easy to take anywhere. The front can act like a mini I spy too. I always include a tag to give my friends ideas for what they could use the quilt for aside from a blanket.

I'm linking up to TGIFF! over with Amanda at Don't Tell Quilts. She's got an adorable Argyle Robot quilt to share this week. Love it! Head on over and link up if you've got a finish too.

Oh, and it's the last day for my St. Patrick's Day Blog Hop Party giveaway, so if you haven't entered, today's your last chance!





Happy Friday!

TGIFF! - Wee Spy Quilts

Welcome to this week's TGIFF!

I must say that I've been enjoying the motivation that TGIFF! brings me to get my projects completed. However, the part I'm most enjoying is seeing other's people's work. Such a great variety of projects and styles. As this is the last TGIFF! party I'll be hosting this calendar year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have party-cipated in TGIFF! over the last couple of months. Your work has inspired and energized me to try new things.

This quilt likes playing hockey

While my finish this week is not a new project for me, I made the Wee Spy quilt top as a leader/ender project, which is a new piecing technique for me.

I was able to piece the whole top before I even finished piecing the back of Clockwork Orange! That's pretty much a free quilt, people. And no crazy thread tails to snip on either project. Based on this experience, I'm sold on the leader/ender technique and will be incorporating it into my regular piecing routine.

Once my Wee Spy was basted, it took only a couple of hours to straight line quilt and machine bind it. I've made almost 40 of these (it's my go-to baby gift) so I can whip them up very fast.

I was pretty happy friggin' esctatic to have a finish so early in the week. With all the other Christmas prep, a no stress TGIFF! was just what I was aiming for.

But...on Wednesday night, I was digging through one of my WIP baskets (yes, I have baskets of the damn things wonderful works in progress) looking for another project when I found an incomplete Wee Spy. I'd forgotten this one even existed! I think I started this one four years ago as we were heading into our big renovation. It probably got put away when I packed up my sewing stuff. It was even all basted and ready to quilt.

Well, when I found it, I think I got a little loopy (it was late at night) and decided that, sure, I had time to finish it for TGIFF! Some crazy nap time quilting today and here is Wee Spy - The Cuckoo Choo Choo Version:

This quilt likes playing hockey too.

I'll be donating both quilts, as well as a few toys, to some children less fortunate than my own. My hope is that we can make their holidays a little more comfortable and brighter this year. 

The back of the quilts - turtles and trains

Now, before I forget, I'll be party-cipating in the Quilting Gallery's Blog Hop Party and Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day. I'll be doing TWO giveaways, one starting on the 9th and ending on the 17th and one starting on the 12th and ending on the 16th. So be sure to come back and enter! I would love to see one of you win.

Okay, I showed you mine, now it's time to see your finishes!