Finish-A-Long 2017 Host

Exciting news to start the year off with - I'm joining in 2017 Finish-A-Long as a HOST!  The global community of bloggers has expanded even more this year:

• Rhonda - Rhonda's [Quilt] Ramblings - USA

• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada

• Nicky - Mrs Sew & Sow - Great Britain

• Jess - Elven Garden Quilts - Australia

• Abigail - Cut & Alter - Great Britian

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA

• Lucy - Charm about You - Great Britain

• Sarah - Sew me - Northern Ireland

• Judith - Just Jude - Northern Ireland

• Felicity - Felicity Quilts - Canada

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA

• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA (that's me!)
• Social Media Director - Sandra - Sew of Course - Ireland

I've been particpating since before I began blogging, linking up on Flickr way back in the First Quarter of 2012 and completing all three of these.   Makes me a little sentimental.

2012 FAL Q1 Goal Mosaic

Since then it's been on and off, hit and miss for me with the linky parties but that is the beauty of this wonderful quarterly event.   No pressure, no stress just an opportunity to set goals, encourage others, discover new makers and maybe even win a prize from our generous sponsors.

Starting on January 8th, you'll be able to link up your own 2017 Q1 FAL Goals right here or on any of my co-hosts blogs.  Please check out all of the hosts sites to get to know them and for more details.   I've created a FAL tab at the top of my blog with all of the important dates and rules. 

For those of you who may be less familiar with Finish-A-Long, here's a bit of backstory.    It  began in 2012 and for the past 4 years has been hosted by one blogger, while moving across the globe from the USA (Rhonda at Rhonda's [Quilt] Ramblings), to Canada (Leanne at she can quilt), to Scotland in the UK (Katy at The Littlest Thistle) and to New Zealand (Adrianne at On the Windy Side).   In 2016 FAL took a collaborative twist with multiple hosts covering several countries and continents sharing the honor: 

· Debbie - A Quilter's Table - USA

· Jess - Elven Garden Quilts - Australia

· Stacey - SLO Studio - Canada

· Jennie - Clover & Violet - USA

· Helen - Archie the Wonder Dog - UK

· Nicky - Mrs. Sew and Sow -UK

· Rhonda - Rhonda's Ramblings - USA

· Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada

Shout out to all of the previous hosts.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue on this fun event.  Check back in a couple of days and I'll have things up and running.  In the meantime, start compiling your WIP list of projects to tackle.   Can't wait to see what you choose!

FAL 2013 Q2 goal

FAL 2013 Q2 goal, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

Decisions, decisions... here you have it, eight quilts for the FAL 2013 Q2 goal link up.

Quilts #1, #2 & #3 are all part of our MQG charity project so they had better get done.

#4 Jigsaw is for my nephew's 21st birthday - in March - so it had better get done too!
#5, #6, #7 were in my 2013 New Years Resolution mosaic and FAL will help me from breaking it... or so I hope.

I'm sure I will get distracted and make other things along the way but it would be really nice to have these out of the way.

It's funny how a quarter of a year can feel very long and very brief all at the same time. When I was thinking of what to include my mind went from "June is so far off, who knows what I'll be in the mood to work on"... all the way to "If the next 3 months fly by like the last, how will I ever get these done".

We all have conversations in our head - right?

Last call for linking up your FAL 2013 Q1 finishes HERE with Leanne at She Can Quilt. The count last time I checked was up to 314 - good job people!   I'm happy to say I got six out of seven done. Be sure to also check out the great line up of guest posts she provided:

• Monday, April 1 - Block Holder - by Jennie, from Jennie's Threads

• Tuesday, April 2 - Oven Mit - by Adrianne, from On the Windy Side

• Wednesday, April 3 - Reversible His/Hers Camera Strap - by Jennie from Clover and Violet

• Thursday, April 4 - Photography Tips - by Anne from Play Crafts

• Friday, April 5 - Hand Quilting - by Jo from Bearpaw

• Saturday April 6 - Working with a Long Arm Quilter - by Thearica from Pigtales and Quilts

March 2013 Mosaic / FAL Q1

It is Fresh Sewing Day link up time with another page flipped on the calendar this weekend. Crazy!

I've started a set for myself in flickr to file away these monthly mosaics as a way of keeping track of projects. Blog housekeeping is not my favorite part but an attempt to maintaini a resemblance of order seems the least I can do.  Consolidating my tabs and sidebar for "links" was also part of this effort.

Finish A Long 2013 Q1 -Six of Seven!

FAL Q1 is also coming to a close with a tutorial hop that is sure to be fun and informative. I'm happy to say that 6 of the 7 qualifying projects are DONE.  1) No Inherent Sense of Direction 2) Tassels 3) Driving in Circles 4) Luminosity 5) Sisterly Love 6) QuiltCon Charity featured below (and previously blogged here, here and on our MQG blog here).

The swap tote was made too but with only a few of the original fabrics pulled and was only a concept (like the schoolhouse tunic) so it shouldn't been in my goals post to begin with. The Scrappy Trip is in my UFO bucket without really any incentive to finish.

Q1 Goals Mosaic

Leanne posted a Q&A that was really helpful if you are in FAL or joining us for Q2, take a peak.  It'll be interesting to see how the other 175 participants did.

I'll use this post to link up the finish of the QuiltCon Charity FMQ since the other items already have finish postings to link to (see above). It might be hard to tell from the original Goal Mosaic picture but the bottom row center is the stack of blocks we started with and the back was made by our talented founder and President Tina- so proud of what they became:

Katie Blakesley of SwimBikeQuilt was sweet enough to send me this picture showing our SBAMQG quilt displayed at QuiltCon and I think it looks great with all the others.

Tassels - Complete

Tassels - Complete, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

Well here it is - so exciting to share this quilt. Thanks to an amazing - and wonderfully exhausting day with friends I have a photo shoot to share. This time it wasn't the beach/redwoods tourist trek like with the QuiltCon charity quilt with Anne but rather the picturesque meadows with Sue.

Tassels has been a long time coming since the tutorial and deserved a proper introduction to the world. The gorgeous blue sky and open fields of Corralitos was the perfect setting.

I could not have asked for a warmer day for galavanting around .....

mid-70's mid-February, that's my kind of weather

Thank you Friends+Fabric=A Modern Stash Bee from April 2012 for all of the great blocks.

Linking up to Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF at Sewing by Moonlight.  

Previous Tassel posts here, here and here. 

61"x73" Pieced and FMQ on my BabyLock Symphony with Aurifil 50 and 40

Officially off the list! The completion is especially sweet because this poor quilt rolled from one quarter of Finish-Along to the next and then into January AND February of A Lovely Year of Finishes. 

EDIT: Linking up to 2013 FAL Q1 with Leanne of She Can Quilt as one of the 6 of 7 qualifying projects done.  1) No Inherent Sense of Direction 2) Tassels 3)Driving in Circles 4) Luminosity 5) Sisterly Love 6)QuiltCon Charity.

2013 FAL Q1 Goal Mosaic 

FAL Q1 2013 - here we go!

Nine to finish, really?  

question:Why am I setting myself up when I know how lousy my track record was for 2012 FAL?
answer: Optimism with a bit of indecision mixed in.  I simply couldn't narrow down what projects I wanted to work on.

FAL Q1 2013 - Goal Mosaic

Reasonable or not...here's the line up: Madrona Road #2 aka: No inherent sense of Direction , Tassels Quilt, Madrona Road #1 aka: Driving in Circles, Luminosity, Sisterly Love, Scrappy Trip Along, Schoolhouse Tunic, QuiltCon Charity FMQ, Tote Bag.

It may look like five are practically done - and they kind of are - but I hit a wall when I get to the sandwich stage. All the more reason to put them on the list wouldn't you agree?

Hope you'll be linking up with Leanne at She Can Quilt for the 2013 Finish Along Quarter One and playing along.  The flickr group has a great cheering section!

Finish it Up Friday and FALQ4

Finish it Up Friday - final 2012 edition

I'm excited to have this quilt officially done as part of my FAL Q4 goal

Still hoping to make a few more across the finish line before the clock strikes midnight for the New Year but am glad to share some finishes with Crazy Mom Quilt's linky party. (the fob is technically my son's finish since he made it - but I helped and it's too cute not to show you)

WIP - On My Way

At the airport - waiting to board

Just HAD to make a Travel Handmade

I'm here at the airport waiting to board with my new Travel Handmade - now that's better!  It just didn't seem right to arrive at Sewing Summit with just my luggage. Besides, my hubby hooked me up with his computer so that I can stay in touch and post on my blog like this - thanks honey :) Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.  Another finish for FAL Q4, yippy!

I agonized over what fabrics to bring from my stash. Although we'll be shop hopping,  there's so much in my buckets that I truly love. After way too much thought and time I'm pleased with my choices.

Pre-cuts for class

Still typing without my index finger but it has healed enough to participate fully in all of my classes which was my goal.  

Traffic was a hassle over Hwy 17 but he got me here safe and sound.  Quick post to link up with WIP and I'll try to add more pictures later from the hotel when I can plug in the camera. 

Last night I got together for another sewing session to prepare for our MQG Retreat. At first it felt like one too many things to commit to but it was so much fun and just what I needed.  We made the most adorable Swag Bags and got them all done- they will remain secret until after the event.  Trust me, they're better than what I had pictured in my head.

Finished: 3

Double Bar Supernova Tote

Swag Bags for Quilt Retreat

Black/White Swap

New Projects: 4

Sewing Summit Class Prep

No Progress:

Everything Else

Happy Quilting, Karen

   

Tick Tick - Time to Pack and FAL Link Up

and yet so much to do - it's crazy.  The daily posts from sponsors of Sewing Summit have my head in a spin- like today's Opening Mixer with Craftsy (newly discovered by me and totally hooked) and other all time favs like Art Gallery, Olfa (despite my recent boo boo) and Pellon - which I've used more of lately with bag making... just to name a few.

All this time to prep and I just now added my flickr/blog name to a name tag - it's not even new - I'm using the one I made at one of our first MQG meeting. My pre-cutting homework isn't done and I haven't even chosen fabric for my serger class. I want to pack my entire collection of buckets.

clothes shopping haul

I spent the last couple of days clothes shopping after a momentary freakout about what to where.  Two new pair of shoes last night - out of control I tell you!

Before I forget - I'm linking up to Q4 of FAL at Quilter in The Gap because despite the frenzy I know I really want to be part of that fun and finish.

FAL Q4

 Keeping it real with four - upping my odds I figure.

Tonight is my Quilt Guild meeting and tomorrow I get to sew with friends again making Swag Bags for our MQG Retreat. Fun Stuff.

Yikes - excited but out of control - Karen

FAL Q3 = 22%

I was so optimistic in July about the 3rd Quarter of Finish A Long at Quilter in the Gap when I created a list and bumped the goal to 9 items. Original post here.

Now it is linky time and I've got two finished and seven untouched to show for it - a whopping 22%.

FAL Q3 Goals

At least the ones that got done were quilts that I'm happy with:

Starred Swoon

Old Italian Block a wedding gift and Starred Swoon for my niece's 21st birthday.  I guess I do better with things for other people!

Old Italian Block

Congrats to those who scored a higher % than I did - I know it's not a contest but participating does push me to be accountable. Rhonda, our wonderful hostess didn't finish a single on her list so I guess I'm in good company with biting off more than I could chew!

She will also be starting a Guest Posters and their tutorials tomorrow on her blog - I've started pinning Tutorials so I'll be sure to check it out.

Join in the link up for FAL Q4 on Oct 8th. My choices just might get downscaled to a realistic number :)

August it was Swoon and for September OIB is my link up at Katie From the Blue Chair's End of my Hallway link. Thank goodness for these bloggers who keep me on my toes!

Happy Quilting, Karen

Complete: Starred Swoon

Starred Swoon made it to the porch for a picture!  Funny enough, I'm ahead of schedule on this one - can you believe it?

Starred Swoon complete 65x65

When I started the Swoon QAL on flickr with Katy at I'm a Ginger Monkey my plans were simple and hopes were high.

Big Pile - Big Plans

 Here it is 7 months later and the group is now called "the swooning on a hop along" with over a thousand members and nearly three thousand photos.

Front and Back - Love them together

Despite the bumps and detours involved with this quilt, I'm happy to have it done and please with the results.

Quilted with Light Beige#2310 Aurifil 50wt

The AMH Innocent Crush Shattered Punch in pink made for the perfect binding and the Super-sized and Mini-me Starred flannel back is certainly cozy.

Super Sized and Mini Me

Specs:

Camille Roskelley's Swoon (modified)
Back: original design
size: 65x65
Warm and Natural batting 
Kona Bone, AMH Innocent Crush, Tula Pink Neptune and others
Aurifil thread 50wt piecing and quilting
Wiggle and straight stitch quilted
Babylock Serenade and Symphony
part of Swoon QAL, My Precious and Finish Along FAL Qtr 3

Things I learned:

Buy enough background for the entire quilt and keep it together.  When I packed away the project to take a break I didn't keep the remaining background of Kona Bone from fabric.com with the other parts and must have used it or misplaced it. My LQS Hart's had it in stock but the dye lot was quite different.  I used it anyway but in certain lighting it's pretty noticeable.

Baste Better.  I was a little lazy with this step and wish I'd been more diligent.

Keep Going... when plan A is a miss, move on to plan B and work your way down the alphabet all the way to Z if need be.

check out At the End of the Hallway August linky party with Katie at from the blue chair - feels great to have a true finish on a big project for the month.

Swoon gets Stars

Swoon Stars

Progress - hooray.  After a blazing start with Swoon six months ago- choosing the fabric pairing (fun), chatting it up on the QAL group (fun)... I hit a major road block and locked it away in a project container.  Honestly, I had not enjoyed myself and my seam ripper had gone into overtime - let's just say I was pretty much "over it". Three blocks were complete but there was no way I would survive another six.  But, I put it on my FALQ3 mosaic and made a promise to come up with a plan.  

One more block had been cut out and just needed to be pieced. It went together relatively easy although I still found the poor print quality difficult to distinguish parts illustrated in two shades of gray frustrating.  The pdf version is apparently in color which I would have opted for had I known. Doesn't it look as if a copy machine was low on toner?

Normally I don't like to read blogs with an overly negative tone and avoid writing those kinds of posts, but I feel the urge to vent. A 3 1/2 and a 3 7/8 square should not appear exactly the same on the pattern - it messed with my mind. 

Block #4

Adding stars to the layout seemed like a good idea and so far I'm pretty pleased.  I ran out of Kona and either misplaced or used up all of one fabric but at least there is progress with an end in sight. The quilt will be smaller than I'd like unless I add a border so we will see where it's headed.

the start of some stars

WIP Weekly Status Update:

Polaroid Swap (75 done and 60 mailed)
Low Volume Swap (cut and mailed)
Blog pages (added pictures)
Swoon (yeah - progress) 
Wedding Quilt - Old Italian block (no progress)
Alpaca Pillow (no progress)
Not your Granny's Bee (no progress)
Patchwork Prism QAL  (no progress)
Modern Scrappy Bits swap (almost time for partners)

Linking up to Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday and since it's almost midnight  WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced with guest host  Coleen of The Busy Bean.