New planner - again

Happy New Year!

Just a short post to let you all know that I have updated the quilt planner for 2022.

Originally, the planner was made for the Finish-A-Long (FAL) and included FAL dates and links.

These days I am no longer involved with the FAL, but I still use a planner to track progress on my projects.

If you would like a planner for your quilt projects, or for your other craft projects, find the free downloads on my Planner page. Let's work on getting those projects finished!

Sandra

Looking back at August

One of the pleasurable things about blogs is the connection you make with others. When blogs were much more a "thing" than now there was a lot of "linking up" going on, a great method to find other blogs and for others to find your writings, too.

So I was pleased to see that Archie the Wonder Dog is (still) hosting a monthly link-up, for any crafty blogs. And since I have done a good bit of crafting (and a few blog posts written) it may be a good time to join in today and give an overview.

So what has happened here this past month?

With restarting blogging last month I have been much more motivated to sew, too. I finished a quilt top inspired by my Irish Summer Garden, strips of green with accents of red and purple representing the colours in my garden:

I also "found" my wool felt while tidying up and made a little rabbit and then some small seaside-themed keyring charms.

And lastly, I had some quilting ideas for the Summer Garden quilt, but wasn't sure I could pull it off. To practise I stitched some scraps together and they were made into two small "art" pieces while trying out quilting ferns. They are only about 6 inches square and I absolutely loved making them! I called them Glimpses of an Irish Summer Garden. So now I have to admit being quite distracted from quilting the quilt by ideas for making more small pieces and using up my scraps.

Distractions allowing, I hope to finish quilting the Irish Summer Garden quilt next month. Knowing myself, there may well be a few small "glimpses" joining the first two as well! 

Find others joining Archie the Wonder Dog at the August "Furtle around the Blogosphere". And more info on the "Furtle" can be found by clicking the button:

I will be doing some more sewing now...

Sandra

A glimpse (or two) of an Irish summer garden

Earlier this summer I wrote about the Irish Summer Garden Quilt I started, inspired by my Irish summer garden. I finished the top and have layered it up ready for quilting.

In the mean time I have been playing with some scraps, making mini quilts at about 6 inches square. I am thinking of them as glimpses of an Irish summer garden. At the same time they gave me an opportunity to practise quilting a few ferns before tackling the bigger sister. I am so happy with the results that I am inspired to make more small quilts now!

I also experimented with the binding, making it narrower than usual which I think suits their small size. I'm working on a tutorial for that...

Sandra

Preparations

I am preparing to quilt fern shapes across my green summer quilt...

Seaside felt

After finishing Ella rabbit and her clothes I had loads of felt left, so I played some more. This time I drew some simple patterns myself.

I started with a few fish, then decided to make a shell and starfish, too. Making it up as I go along, as is my usual way, they ended up as keyring charms and got gifted... Fingers crossed they all arrive with their recipients soon!

I think I need one or two felt creatures for my own keyring next...

Sandra

Project in Felt

Recently I have been procrastinating on my quilt projects. Fortunately I have been doing other crafts instead!

I "found" several pieces of wool felt in my cupboard and remembered a book of felt animals that I received for Christmas. A new project was quickly started! Several happy days were spent stitching, filling, and dressing this little one. Meet Ella Rabbit:

There are some more felt items almost done, I may show them next time!

Sandra

Summer Garden Quilt

If you've been here before you'll know that our garden is one of my great pleasures. So it's no real surprise that it sometimes influences my quilts, too.

After someone remarked "you never use green in your quilts" and realising that the view outside my windows is actually mostly green (this is Ireland after all!), I decided to look for green fabrics in my boxes. Turns out I have a few!

As so often happens, the quilt changed a few times while making it. I started with a plan for a huge quilt, sewing strips of varying widths to a length of 80 inches or so. Going from darker to lighter green and back to dark. And I didn't quite like it... So the strips got cut in half, going from dark to light, and aiming for a smaller quilt.

I debated on orientation of the dark/light: Random? Alternately light one way and the other? I decided they needed to go in one direction, dark at the top, light at the bottom. A bit like the border from my kitchen window.

Then I realised that it needed something more to break up the green a little bit. Little scraps of purple and red were added here and there to represent the fuchsia flowers and foxgloves that are plentiful in the garden, too. And that the strips needed to go horizontal rather than vertical. So this is where it is at now, shown in its natural environment:

There is more to do, and I am already thinking of how to quilt it...

Sandra

Blog email

Well, two days in a row!

Today a short message to those who get an email message whenever I write a new post. You will at some point have clicked at "Follow by email" as shown on the side bar of the blog:

However, the service that provide this, Feedburner, will soon stop offering this. Which means you will no longer receive emails when I write a new post. You may be happy to hear it (after all, TWO posts in as many days!) and if so, you will not have to do anything and the emails will soon stop.

If you would like to keep up with what I write you will have to do something. Here are some options:

* You could just check the blog now and then and see whether there is a new post. You can even bookmark the page in your browser

* You can use a blog reader site and add this blog to it. Check out Bloglovin or Feedly or maybe you have found another reader site? You will need to create a login for either of these. 

* You can follow me on Instagram (IG). Apart from regular posts of a photo with a caption about my  garden and craft activities, I will regularly mention when I have written a new post. With a link in my IG profile to the blog for easy access.

I'd love to know if you are still actively reading blogs, and which way you prefer to find out about new posts...

Sandra

Starting afresh

Are you tempted by new notebooks, a blank page, a new pencil? I am!

New notebook and pencils with motivational phrases

 

It has led me to consider starting a new blog... New layout, fresh start and all that. But after some thinking, I have realised that it is more important to create new posts, rather than a new blog. So this will be a new start on the old blog.

I intend to be writing a few small posts, mostly for myself to get into the habit of blogging again. A photo, a little text. A gentle easing back into blogging after a long absence.

I may play around with the banner photos, or some other minor changes to the looks, but essentially this is my blog, and it will stay that way. At least for now 😊

Sandra

New Year, new planner

Having made planners for the Finish-A-Long for many years now, I have become used to having a planner page to keep track of my projects. I am no longer involved in the FAL, but I still need a planner to at least try and keep order of my many WIPs. I confess, my list is not getting any smaller...!

 

So this year I have redesigned the planner, and even better (I think), I have designed two slightly different planner pages. One is specifically designed with quilt projects in mind (blocks, basting, binding, etc.) and the other for craft projects in general. Find both as a free download from the "Project Planner" page.

And good luck with getting your projects finished in 2021!

Sandra

New pattern coming

Hello everybody!

This spring and summer, with everything going on, I did not have much chance to set up my sewing machine on our kitchen table like I usually do. My oldest had taken over the table as a work-from-home office during the day. And in the evenings I was just too tired to set up anything... and then putting it away again, too.

Instead of sewing I spent plenty of time sitting behind the laptop, in any spot in the house that's available on the day, I might add. So now I am - finally - working on the pattern for my curved log cabin.

Pin basting for quilting

I worked out fabric amounts and cutting instructions. The order of sewing has been described with plenty of diagrams to explain it all. It isn't a difficult pattern, but it needs to be clear, right?
There will be a colouring page, too.

At first I was making it too complicated for myself. Don't we all do that? My mind was (and still is) whirring with all kinds of variations, fabric options, size changes etc. But I finally realised that including it all was the way to sure madness, so I have focused on what is really important: Writing the pattern clearly. I'm leaving the variations for another time...

So now I am rewriting, and making it (hopefully) good enough to send out into the world...

Almost done!

Sandra

Autumn has arrived

A few photos from the garden today.

The berries are colouring, spiders are busy making their webs, and the mist shows up their work beautifully. There is a decided chill in the air...

Sandra

Summer will come

Following on from yesterday's post, I am back to tell you about another pattern!

Several years ago I made a lovely beach bag/tote. With its colourful pieced beach huts and appliqué sun, bucket and spade, it makes me long for summer days outside!

Unfortunately, the coast is way more than the allowed 2 km from our home, but I am dreaming of the days to come when we can take trips again...

Even without a beach close by I do use the bag often, mostly to go to quilt guild meetings, though those don't take place now either, of course. If you want to make your own beach hut tote, the (free!) pattern can now be found on the blog! And if anyone really has no use for a beach/tote bag, the pattern can also make a lovely summery wall hanging or a cushion...

Find the pattern below or on my Patterns page:

Beach Hut Tote pattern

As the current advice goes: Stay home... and sew!

Sandra

Baltimore style blocks

We are living in strange times! We are almost completely in lockdown with all of our little family working and studying from home, only allowed out to do the grocery shopping and for an odd short walk within our 2 km limits. But we are safe, and doing our very best to stay healthy, and sane...
And we're lucky: We have a garden and it is in a better state than most years with all the time we can spend on it. The weather is helping, too!

With table space at a premium (five desk spaces required) my work "desk" is quite improvised.
And in my free time I don't get to take the sewing machine out at all any more. So to relax I try to make time to do some hand sewing or hand quilting. My knitting comes out regularly, too, as well as a sketchbook or a colouring page... I even found a book I haven't read yet!

The whole situation has spurred me on to do something I have been thinking about for a long while: I am putting some of my patterns up on the blog! So today I am starting with some Baltimore style appliqué patterns I created many years ago. Some are based on traditional Baltimore blocks, others are my own variations. The pattern set is quite basic in the sense that it only consists of a couple of pages of instructions and full size drawings of the twelve blocks.

The method our quilt group used originally was to prepare the appliqué shapes by tacking the fabric onto paper templates, but you can use the patterns for any method of appliqué you are happy with. And while they were created as traditional hand appliqué patterns with the edges turned under as in needle turn, you can also use them for raw edge (bonded) appliqué, by hand or machine (any free motion stitchers out there?).

For now I have decided to make these patterns freely available to anyone. At the moment I just don't have the patience to work out how or how much to charge for them...
I would love to see how you use the patterns, whether you're making a block or a couple, or all 12. So if you are using Instagram please add the hashtag #sewofcoursepatterns to any pictures!

The patterns are now available as a digital download, here:

- Baltimore style block patterns -

Stay home and sew...!

Sandra

Warm ears

I finished a hat! And not only that, I finished knitting a hat. From real wool yarn... that I dyed myself, too!

The wool for the hat came in a kit meant for dyeing and then knitting into a small pouch. But I figured that I would have more use for a hat.

This was the start, the wool has just been dyed:

Which looked so much better once dried and wound into a skein. I was so proud of this! You can read a bit more about this dyeing journey in a post from last year...

Aren't those colours  scrumptious?!

Then I found a hat pattern. It is called the Antler Toque by Tin Can Knits and is available for (free!) as a download from their blog or on Ravelry (search for Antler Toque or Tincanknits).

I knitted the larger size, apparently I have a large head. I am not at all an experienced knitter, but with a bit of care I managed fine. It just took quite some time, but being a (very) slow knitter I kind of expected that. The pattern is clearly written, and once I "got" the cables I could do the repeats without checking the pattern all the time. Slowly, mind you.

I used a circular needle, and switched to double pointed ones for the last bit. I found out later that I could have continued with the circular needle and use the magic loop method. That will be for next time then...

I have a little yarn left, and I keep changing my mind whether I should use it to make a pompom. What do you think?

Anyway, when I have to go out in this cold weather (do you see the snow behind me?), I will have warm ears. And in the mean time I have started another knitting project!

Sandra

Making Plans

Well, that's been a long time coming! I haven't posted a non-finishalong post in I-don't-know-how-long!!! High time to say hello to all of you and let you know of some changes...

I am generally not one to make special resolutions for the New Year. I find the bleak winter months difficult enough to get through, without adding extra pressure by making extreme changes. Of course, I could do with shedding some pounds, keeping better on top of housework, working harder, do exercise, and more of those issues that keep nagging at me to do better.

But this year I think it is time to focus on being KIND. Does the world ever have enough kindness??!

And, that means I have to be kind to myself, too.
Who can be kind to others when not in a good (mental) place themselves?!

So, I will not be promising anything apart from allowing myself a little time (hopefully every day) to do things I enjoy:

• I will try and allow myself more time for creativity with fabric, fibres and thread - I have so many ideas for things to make! And I hope to make time to post about that journey here, too.
• I have started a drawing/sketching challenge #30daysketchbookchallenge - though the second day prompt has me already wondering what I've let myself in for... If I don't give up on it, you may get the odd sketch post in between textiles.
• I will try to deal with a WIP (one at a time) by treating it like a new project - maybe making it into a different item than originally planned, or giving/throwing it away if it really doesn't inspire me any more... I hope to be joining the FAL to be accountable, but no long lists, I think.
• And I will be KIND - to others as well as myself!

Another change I am making is that I will no longer be a host, co-organiser and social media person for the Finish-A-Long. I am still a host for your finishes from Q4 of 2019 (click for the link-up), but after that linkup closes I will send you to the new hosts for 2020. I have been actively involved for the last three years, and it is time to hand the baton to others. Saying that, I have been asked to still host the 2020 FAL planner, so I will be posting that soon.

Time to put some of these ideas in practice, I'm off to sketch bottle(s) apparently...

Sandra

Link up your Finishes from the last Quarter

With the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, we also have reached the end of Quarter 4 of the 2019 Finish-A-Long!!  Of course, this means it is now time to link up any finishes from the list you linked up in October (doesn't that seems ages ago)?! I hope you have been able to complete a lot of the UFOs from your list and have had an overall successful year.

The 2019 FAL is hosted by a great community of bloggers. This year our hosts are:

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA Louisiana
• Sandra - Sew of Course - Ireland
• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada
• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA Georgia
• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA California
• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA Maryland
• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada
• Sarah G - Sarah Goer Quilts - USA California
• Sarah Z - Cedar Fork Stitches - USA Montana
• Julie - That’s Sew Julie - USA Iowa
• Sharla - Thistle Thicket Studio - USA Kansas
• Nicole - Handwrought Quilts - Canada

Each finish you link up will be in the draw for great prizes, so let's give a huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors:

Winner's Choice of 1 Large 12 Spool Collection

$80 Gift Certificate

$50 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

1 Six Month Subscription

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Fabric Voucher

The 2019 Quarter 4 link for your finishes is now open below on this 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 (Instagram or Flickr) 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 right quarter, too). On Instagram the best way to do that is to tag your photos with #2019FALQ4yourname (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 2019 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 Q4 Finishes link will stay open from now thru 11 pm EST on Thursday, January 9, 2020 (that is 5 am GMT on Friday, January 10) - since we are global, do 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.

2019 Q4 Finishes Link Up:

An InLinkz Link-up

Sandra

Winners!

We can finally announce the winners of Q2 and Q3 of the Finish-A-Long and we're happy to award some wonderful prizes from our fantastic sponsors. We had 398 finishes for the second quarter of 2019 and we had 400 finishes for the third quarter which is really brilliant, keep it up!

Without further ado, here are the winners picked by Random Number Generator for Q2 and Q3 of the 2019 Finish-A-Long:

The Q2 winner's choice of One Large 12 Spool Collection from Aurifil goes to Mary who blogs at Quilting is in my Blood.  She finished this beautiful "camping quilt" that they actually use while camping, and isn't this photograph stunning?

The Q3 winner's choice of One Large 12 Spool Collection from Aurifil goes to Amanda on IG @sew.bake.stitch and she finished this lovely Swoon quilt.

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The Q2 $80 Gift Certificate from Sew Sweetness goes to Sara who blogs at Sew Little to Say.  She completed this lovely tote bag and it's her own design.

The Q3 $80 Gift Certificate from Sew Sweetness goes to Carina on IG @carinascrafts and she finished this bag that she cut out 10 years ago.  Way to go on getting it done!

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The Q2 $50 Gift Certificate from Fat Quarter Shop goes to Karrin and she blogs at Karrin's Crazy World.  She finished these two quilts that will be donated to the Mercyful Quilts charity.  Not only is that lovely but so are these quilts.

The Q3 $50 Gift Certificate from Fat Quarter Shop goes to Kat who blogs at Craftaholic Kat and she finished this lovely quilt that was for her son's seventh birthday.

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The Q2 $25 Gift Certificate from Sew Me A Song goes to Kathy who blogs at Kathy's Quilting Blog.  She completed this Crown of Thorns quilt which also will be donated to charity, Jack's Basket.

The Q3 $25 Gift Certificate from Sew Me A Song goes to Kris who blogs at Krissies Kollections and she finished this scrap quilt made from charms she collected throughout the years.  She estimates this 91" x 91" quilt used 19 yards of fabric!

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The Q2 3 PDF Patterns from Happy Quilting goes to Carol who blogs at Quilt Schmilt.  She finished this lovely pink quilt that was for a golf club fundraiser.

The Q3 3 PDF Patterns from Happy Quilting goes to Vasudha who blogs at Storied Quilts and she finished this beautiful art quilt inspired by Indian folk art motifs.

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The Q2 2 PDF Patterns from Charm About You goes to Karen on IG @thecreativeheifer.  She finished this fun and colorful baby quilt.  Isn't it adorable?

The Q3 2 PDF Patterns from Charm About You goes to Jan on IG @snell.jan and she finished this blue scrappy queen sized quilt.  Another great photo, don't you think?

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The Q2 2 PDF Patterns from Blossom Heart Quilts go to Jennifer on IG @crimsonconfection and she finished and framed this lovely little lucky cross-stitch.  Lucky indeed!

The Q3 2 PDF Patterns from Blossom Heart Quilts go to Alison via Flickr and she finished this appliqued cot quilt.

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The Q2 6 Month Subscription to Make Modern Magazine goes to Jessica on IG @jessshullquilts_and_more.  She finished this fabulous Swoon quilt using Tula Pink fabrics.

The Q3 6 Month Subscription to Make Modern Magazine goes to Peggy who blogs at Quilts & Adventures and she finished these wooly mug rugs.

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The Q2 2 PDF Patterns from Bonjour Quilts go to Mariana on IG @denana1973.  She completed this wonderful Flora Supply Case for a friend.  Lucky friend!

The Q3 2 PDF Patterns from Bonjour Quilts go to Teresa on IG @misdosbichillos and she finished this one hour scrappy basket, isn't it a cute gift?

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The Q2 $30 Fabric Voucher from Hillstitches goes to Anne who blogs at Said With Love.  She finished this charming quilted table topper, and isn't the photo just lovely too?

The Q3 $30 Fabric Voucher from Hillstitches goes to Karin who blogs at The Quilt Yarn and she finished this funky bird quilt.  Isn't it is cute?

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That's it folks, quarter two and three of the year are officially wrapped up! Congratulations to all of our winners and a big thanks to everyone that played along so far this year.

And we're already well into our fourth quarter by now, so keep working on those WIPS so you can link them up in the New Year! 

Happy sewing,

Sandra