Josef Albers Inspired Mini #2 and TGIFF

Welcome to TGIFF!

At the end of March, I shared my 1st Albers Inspired Mini and said the plan was to make six of these in 2018. I'm happy to share Mini #2 today.

This Albers colour study was all about transparency - you can see how I attempted to create the illusion of transparency with the three different shades of grey between the black and the white.

I quilted it with straight lines using my walking foot. I first stitched a few random lines across the quilt and then echo quilted inside the different sections the original lines created. Lots of turning, but the quilt is quite small so not a huge deal.

There really was no way to choose a thread that would blend in on all shades of grey, the white and the black so I went with my trusty Aurifil #2600 (Dove).

I found a black, white and grey stripe in my stash and used that for the binding - I think it frames the mini perfectly!

Stats:

• Pattern: My own design inspired by the work of Josef Albers
• Size: 15" x 20" 
• Fabrics: Kona White, Kona Silver, Kona Ash, Kona Black, Kona Iron and a purple blender from Connecting Threads 
• Thread: Pieced and quilted with Aurifil #2600 (Dove) in 50 wt

How about you? Do you have a finish to share? Add your finish below and please don't forget to visit a few people!

An InLinkz Link-up

I'll sharing this finish over at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday. This is also Project #4 and my 1st finish off my Q2 FAL list!

Spring is in the Air Quilt Finish

Last year, Shannon from sf Designs launched her Spring is in the Air quilt pattern and I almost immediately purchased a copy - baby quilts are so useful and this design was particularly fun!

I used scraps for my version along with some Kona White. I love how colourful it is and it was a pretty quick make.

I once again went with wavy horizontal lines with white thread for the quilting.

For the back, I used some of the leftover blocks in two columns along with some leftover backing from another quilt. I love that I used every last bit of those fabrics.

Stats:

• Pattern: Spring is in the Air by Shannon Fraser of sf Designs
• Size: 40" square 
• Fabrics: Kona White and scraps 
• Thread: Pieced and quilted with Aurifil #2021 (White) in 50 wt

I will be linking up at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday and at Pretty Piney for TGIFF.

2018 FAL Q1 Finishes and Q2 List

Now that Q2 of the 2018 FAL has officially started (you can link up your proposed list of finishes here), I thought it would be a good idea to look back at Q1 and plan for Q2.

I was pretty successful with my Q1 list, completing 6 out of 7 projects.

Top row:

• Cross Check Mini
• Aeroplane Bag
• Magnolia Mystery Quilt

Bottom row:

• HST Table Runner
• Row Addition
• Albers Inspired Mini

For Q2, the list is a little more ambitious - not sure why, I'm not expecting to have much more time for sewing this quarter, but I wasn't sure what to put on the list, so decided to go with everything!

1. Perspective (Quilt pattern by Quilting Jet Girl) - The top is done and I plan on preparing a back this week. Then quilting is set to begin over the weekend.

2. Pink Lemonade (Quilt pattern by SF Designs) - I pulled my blue and my orange scraps for this one and plan on making the lap size quilt (the twin size if I have enough scraps).

3. Canvas (Quilt pattern by She Can Quilt) - Another top that's finished and waiting for a back and quilting. This one is big - I made the queen size which measures 80" x 80".

4. Albers Mini #2 - This one is the 2nd in the Albers Inspired series I decided to make. You can read about the 1st mini here. I have my design chosen, my fabrics pulled and I started sewing the top. I should have no problem finishing this one before June 30.

5. Layered Diamonds (Quilt pattern by Yvonne Fuchs for Quilt Theory) - I pulled a stack of low volume, neutral fat quarters for the background and plan on using scraps for the coloured squares.

6. Baker Street Bag (Free bag pattern and video tutorial by Sew Sweetness) - With the success of my Aeroplane Bag still fresh in my mind, I really want to make another one. This one has a recessed zipper which I've never done but other than that, it looks pretty easy. I'm planning on using this gorgeous Art Gallery fabric for my bag.

7. Rick Rack Runner (From the book Modern Plus Sign Quilts) - I participated in the blog hop when Cheryl and Paige launched this book and there are a number of quilts I want to make in that book. This will be the 2nd (I completed Row Addition during the blog hop last month). I will be using mini charms for this project so it'll be nice and scrappy.

8. Promise Ring Backpacks (Bag pattern by Sew Sweetness) - I decided to make backpacks for my grand-daughter Madison and her step-father's little girl Ava. These bags will be useful when we open up the summer cottage again and both girls come over for the weekend. I found the perfect fabric for these and I already ordered the notions and hardware I'll need.

9. Rustic Quilt (Pattern from the book Southwest Modern) - I purchased this book about a month ago and there are a number of quilts in there that are now on my To Make List. First up is Rustic.

10. Cleo Skirt (pattern by Made by Rae) - I'm still working on figuring out how to make myself a top that fits but then I saw this pattern and thought a skirt might be a nice change. I purchased a beautiful Art Gallery print for it and can't wait to get started.

And that's it - an even 10 projects. Let's see how that goes!

2018 FAL - Q2 Proposed Finishes

It's time to link up your list of unfinished projects that you propose to finish in Q2 of the Finish-A-Long. We are hoping that the FAL community will inspire you to work on your unfinished projects this quarter (and throughout the remainder of the year) and to get them finished!

The 2018 FAL is hosted by a community of bloggers across the world. Our hosts are:

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA

• Sandra (also Social Media Director) - Studio Sew of Course - Ireland

• Leanne - She Can Quilt  - Canada 

• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA

• Felicity - Felicity Quilts - Canada

• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA

For those of you who are new to the FAL, it is a place to find motivation and encouragement to complete those unfinished projects that are hanging around. At the start of the quarter you post and link up a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months, and then at the end of the quarter you link up each successful finish from your original list.

Each linked up finish is an entry into the draw for wonderful prizes from our sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing a listed project, so feel free to make your list as long or short as you wish. The 2018 Schedule and Rules for the FAL are on my permanent 2018 FAL page, let me know if you have any questions.

Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q2 of the Finish-A-Long. you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo. Please think about visiting them and saying thank you for their support of the FAL.

$50 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

$25 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$20 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

3 Six Month Subscr.

$25 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

A Minikins Bundle

$50 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Gift Certificate

$40 Gift Certificate

So now it is time to round up those projects that you want to finish over the next three months! Take a photo of each one and make your list. Please ensure that you have at least started your projects - pulled fabric with a pattern is considered a UFO - and remember it is only finished projects that will get you an entry toward the above listed prizes. So while we love to see your bee blocks, the "finish" is when they are a completed, usable project.

If posting on social media (Flickr, Facebook & Instagram), it will be very helpful if you tag your list with #2018FALQ2yourname (where yourname is unique to you). Using the same hashtag over the quarter when sharing project progress or finishes helps the host to make the connection to your original list quickly and easily.
IMPORTANT: Don't forget to link up your finishes when the quarter closes!

The 2018 Q2 list for your list of proposed finishes is now open, below, on my blog and each of the hosting blogs. You need only link your list once, on one host blog and the link will show up on all the host blogs. If you are using Facebook, Flickr or Instagram, post a mosaic of your projects and put your list in the description. Don't forget to include your unique hashtag. Katy of The Littlest Thistle has a great tutorial on how to link up if you need it.

We also ask that you become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others - visit and comment on their lists. We all need encouragement to get those finishes done, so please share some of your own too.

If you want you can follow us on Facebook, Finish-A-Long and/or on Instagram, @finishalong, too. We'll post encouragement during the quarter and reminders when the finishes link up opens at the end of the quarter.

When creating your list there is one thing to remember - No deductions for not completing something so - Aim High! Nothing to lose!! Well now, get those list together and get linked up.

Feel free to use and share the FAL button above and this one too:

The Q2 proposed finish linky party will stay open until 11 pm EST, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - as we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link (you can also see how much time is left below the linked up images on the right.)

Remember: you only need to link up at ONE hosting blog and it will automatically show up on all hosting blogs.

An InLinkz Link-up

Baskets from the Easter Bunny

This last Good Friday, on a whim, I decided to make Easter baskets for the little ones. I wanted to make three of them and didn't have much time, so I needed something quick and easy.

I found this really good tutorial and, as luck would have it, had the perfect fabric in my stash (that's one of the advantages of having a pretty large stash).

I didn't have any interfacing though so quilted the outside of the baskets instead and it worked out very well.

How cute are these bunnies?!

This one has a bunch of cute little bugs and ducks.

And more bunnies!

The baskets were very well received and one particular little girl was all smiles this morning!

I will be linking up at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday and at Celtic Thistle Stitches for TGIFF.

2018 FAL - Q1 Finishes Reminder

Popping in today for a quick reminder that the Quarter 1 Link Up for all your finishes closes on Monday, April 9, 2018, 11 pm EST. So you still have a few more days to finish a project or two and link them up to be eligible for prizes. The link up can be found HERE or on the blog of any of our current hosts.

A few reminders for linking up:

• Please only one finished project for each post that you link up, so that each finish can be an entry in the (random) prize draw. 
• Please include a link to your original list in each post of your finishes (on Instagram the link is the unique tag #2018FALQ1yourname to be used in the Q1 list post, and in any Q1 finish post).
• Please visit some of the other participants and leave a friendly comment, we all love to get those!

If you didn't have a chance to visit the tutorials that were posted as part of Finish-A-Long Tutorials Week, here is the schedule once more:

• April 3, 2018 - Marci of Marci Girl Designs - How to Link Up Your Instagram Photos to Inlinkz Via Your Computer

• April 4, 2018 - Sandra of Studio Sew of Course and Marci of Marci Girl Designs - They will be sharing a round-up of last year's fantastic tutorials.

• April 5, 2018 - Lynne of Tinking Along - Ripstop Nylon Packing Bags Tutorial

They are well worth a visit!

Finally, we hope you will be joining us for Quarter 2 to do it all over again!! So get your List ready, the link up for Q2 Lists will open on April 10, 2018.

2018 FAL - Q1 Tutorial Week

Today kicks off "Tutorial Week," which has been part of the Finish-A-Long since it's inception.  While the link up for Finishes is open, we share some tutorials for you all to enjoy. They are varied, interesting, and usually helpful, so take some time to investigate and visit the blogs below on their scheduled day!

• April 3, 2018 - Marci of Marci Girl Designs - How to Link Up Your Instagram Photos to Inlinkz Via Your Computer

• April 4, 2018 - Sandra of Studio Sew of Course and Marci of Marci Girl Designs - They will be sharing a round-up of last year's fantastic tutorials.

• April 5, 2018 - Lynne of Tinking Along - Ripstop Nylon Packing Bags Tutorial

The Quarter 1 Finishes link up opened yesterday, you can find the link up HERE or on any of the hosting blogs. There is still plenty of time to link up or finish those projects as the link up does not close until April 9, 2018, 11 pm EST.

And whether you had a lot of finishes, or none at all this quarter, or you missed Finish-A-Long Q1 altogether, you can always join in for Quarter 2 which is taking off on April 10th, with the link up opening for your List of Proposed Finishes. We hope you will join us!

2018 FAL - Q1 Finishes

Can you believe it, we have made it to the end of the first quarter of the 2018 Finish-A-Long and it's time to link up your Q1 finishes.  We hope you have used the first three months of 2018 to complete a bunch of those UFOs on your lists!

The 2018 FAL has a community of bloggers across the world jointly hosting and this year's hosts are:

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA

• Sandra (also Social Media Director) - Studio Sew of Course - Ireland

• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada

• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA

• Felicity - Felicity Quilts - Canada

• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA

Before the link up, let's give a huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors:

$50 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

$25 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$20 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

3 Six Month Subscr.

$25 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

A Minikins Bundle

$50 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Gift Certificate

$40 Gift Certificate

For the 2018 FAL, we continue tutorial week.  Here is the schedule for this quarter so you can visit them all:

• April 3 - Marci of Marci Girl Designs

• April 4 - Sandra of Studio of Course and Marci of Marci Girl Designs

• April 5 - Lynne of Tinking Along

The 2018 Quarter 1 link for your finishes is now open below on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs - you only need to link on one blog for your finish to appear on all host blogs.

Link-up "Rules":

Add one link for each finish.  If you want to link a round up post of all your finishes, use that link to enter one of your finishes and then link the rest of your finishes separately.  Please, only one link per finish, as your link is an entry into the randomly drawn prize draws. 

Please ensure that the photo or blog post you link up contains a link or reference back to your original list so that we can verify your entry (make sure it is from the appropriate quarter, too). On Instagram, tag your photos with #2018FALQ1yourname (where yourname is unique to you), this makes it easier for us to match your finishes with your list, which also should have this tag.

Please become part of the FAL community.  Check out the links of others and leave a comment. We all need encouragement so let's applaud each other.  The 2018 FAL Facebook page is HERE and you can follow us on Instagram @finishalong.

Our hosts will also link up their finishes to share in the community but they are not eligible for any of the prizes.

The Q1 Finishes link will stay open from now thru 11 pm, EST, Monday April 9, 2018 - as we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link (you can also see how much time is left below the linked up images on the right).  It is best to link up your finishes early and if you have a last minute one, add that one later so you don't miss out.  The prizes will be awarded as soon as we can verify all the entries and do the drawings.  We will post the winners on each host's blog.

Lastly, don't forget to start making your Q2 list as the Q2 list link opens on April 10, 2018.

2018 Q1 Finishes Link Up: