2018 FAL Q1 Link Up

It's time to link up your list of unfinished projects that you propose to finish in Q1 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 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 (That's ME)

• 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 about.  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 long or short, as you wish.  The 2018 Schedule and Rules for the FAL are on my permanent FAL page, let me know if you have any questions.

Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q1 of the Finish-A-Long - you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo (think about visiting them and saying thank you):

$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

Join Us!

So, now it is time to round up those projects 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 #2018FALQ1yourname (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 Q1 link for your list of proposed finished is now open below on my blog and each of the hosting blogs.  You need only link your list once, on one blog - the link will show up on all of the 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 lists together and get linked up.

The Q1 proposed finish linky party will stay open until 11 pm EST, Monday January 15, 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

2017 Best Nine and 2018 Planning Party Goals

Most Likes on IG for 2017 

Early December I ran the 2017 "Best Nine" for my Instagram likes and posted but before sharing on the blog I thought I'd run another to see if there had been any changes and sure enough, my Free-Range mini that i just blogged about this morning popped up on the mosaic.  

The only duplicate was my QDAD QCon challenge quilt Bend Don't Break, one with me posing in Savannah and the other on my bed at Retreat.  Last year Reflections made the cut 3 times in various stages and this year again on while the longarm - clearly liked and no argument there. 

The Quilts Planner 2018

Because I haven't been very organized in 2017 and haven't blogged as regularly, pulling together a recap of what I've made will take some time so check back for a belated post that will hopefully happen soon.

Planning for 2018 will be made easier since I got a new Quilter's Planner for Christmas.

Here are my 2018 Goals linking up to the #2018PlanningParty with Yvonne who blogs at Quilting Jetgirl:

1. Organize:  My stash is in desperate need of attention.  After retreats and workshops the piles just collect and it's hard to tell what I have and where to find it.  

2. Purge:  This one is tough for me but I know I'll feel better keeping the most likely to use stuff and finding a good home for the rest.  This is especially true for notions.

3.  Pause:  "Admire, Don't Acquire" is a phrase that I read somewhere (sorry I can't remember to give credit) No point in thinning my stash if I continue to collect more without restraint.  I'm not going on a full fledged fabric diet but I'd like to be less impulsive. 

4.  Teach:  I had the opportunity in 2017 to teach a workshop and loved the experience.  It was a lot of work to prepare for but a worthwhile process and very rewarding.

5.  Pace:  I'd like to create without the extreme highs and lows.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy diving in and being so engrossed in a project that everything else disappears.  Maybe just fewer marathon sessions and last minute makes would be an improvement.  

6. Blog Briefs:  The number of posts this last year is pretty thin and thankfully being a 2017 Finish-A-Long host has kept me going.  I'm going to try to share on the blog more often even if the posts are brief. 

7.  Blog Header: I'm emotionally attached to the header I've had for so long but it's getting outdated so I'd like to make a new one. 

Best of Luck with your goals in the New Year!

Karen

Free-Range: 2018 MQG Fabric Challenge

Free-Range

Free-Range 2018 QuiltCon Fabric Challenge

"Free-Range" was a definite challenge to make in the sense that I tried very hard to create something that I felt was modern,  brought out the best in the fabric line and represented me as a maker.  I do enjoy participating but not competing.  I honestly thought I might have a chance at being chosen but it was not. 

Here is what I wrote for my entry:

The animals are the center of attention in Free-Range just as they were in “Our Yard” growing up where we had a cat, rabbits, chickens and a few mice too.  An original design based on a log cabin because nothing depicts home more than that.   Intentionally imperfect, the improv-abstraction blocks create a fence to keep the critters in. 

Machine quilted with hand-stitching added to mimic the sweet charm of the fabric. Special care was given to the binding treatment.  

The smallness represents the precious plot of land as viewed from above and the high cost of living in California.

A fun impromptu photo shoot

The Modern Quilt Guild provided the Our Yard F8 bundle and I bought Cotton Couture from my LQS then ordered yardage of the print online. I have SO much left over. 

The Design Process

block sketch

Simple enough, right? It wasn't until after I'd sewn together a good portion of my second block that it dawned on me that although the construction was the same for all four, the center critter orientation was not.  I happened to be at a Sew Day with guild mates who were very supportive of my oversight!

Directional Critters

The color placement ended up reversed from my original mock up because of the contrast between the solids and the printed background.   In order for there to be less focus on the solids I inserted the stripes to break up the center motif and also tie in the grey color in the critter blocks.

mock up

This was another idea that I had for layout and although I think it's really fun, there would be even less emphasis on the fussy cut blocks so it will have to wait to become reality on another day.

alternative layout

alternative layout

There were a lot of cute animals and I had fussy cut an additional four in mustard taking into consideration which way they faced (see I do learn from my mistakes).  I tried and tried and ugh tried to work them in.

Example layout 

Here are just a few ideas that I toyed with.  More just didn't feel like an improvement and bigger was not better or balanced. In the end I'm happy with my decision to keep it simple and close to the original vision.

Finishing Touches

 Continuing the stripes on the binding and the light vs darker aqua for the sides was a satisfying touch.  I had just taken a big stitch workshop with Tara Faughnah so embellishing with floss came to mind.   Pulling out the darker pink found in the fussy animals as well as resembling a chicken footprint was IMO perfect.

Aurifil 12Wt

The lighting was working against me at my usual photo taking spot.  A mini is tough to capture the details of from a distance but I do like this one.

19"x19"

Despite the status of a #QuiltConReject I'm please to say it is a #2017Q4FAL goal success.    If you are participating please be sure to link up HERE.  I've got 3 out of 9 and am proud of them all.

Start thinking about what your 2018 FAL Q1 goals will be and check back for the Goal Setting linky party here on my blog or on any of the 2018 FAL Hosts blogs.   I'll be updating the Finish-A-Long tab very soon with all of the details.

Happy Stitching, Karen

2017 Q4 FAL Link Up

It might be hard to believe but we have made it to the end of the fourth quarter of the 2017 FAL and it's time to link up your Q4 finishes!

The 2017 FAL has a community of bloggers across the world jointly hosting the FAL. Our hosts are:

• Nicky - Mrs Sew & Sow - Great Britain

• Abigail - Cut & Alter - Great Britain

• 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

• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada

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

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

Just Jude Designs - 2 PDF Patterns	Sew Sisters Quilt Shop, $25 gift certificate	Charm About You - 2 PDF Patterns
Fat Quarter Shop, $50 gift certificate	Elven Garden Quilts - 3 PDF Patterns	Tartankiwi - $25 gift certificate
Blossom Heart Quilts - 3 PDF Patterns	Mad About Patchwork - $50 gift certificate	During Quiet Time - 3 PDF Patterns
Happy Quilting - choice of 3 patterns	Cooking Up Quilts - 2 PDF Patterns	Sew Sweetness - 3 PDF Patterns
Knotted Thread, $30 gift certificate	The Littlest Thistle - Camp Bag Pattern Pack	Green Fairy Quilts - $15 gift certificate
Quilting Jet Girl - 2 PDF patterns	Sunny Day Supply - $30 gift certificate	Make Modern Magazine - 3 six month subscriptions
Clover & Violet - $30 gift certificate	Sew me a Song, $20 gift certificate	Imagine Gnats - $40 gift certificate
Studio 39 Fabrics - $25 Gift Certificate

InLinkz.com

The 2017 Q4 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 each blog. 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). Feel free to tag your photos #2017FALQ4yourname (substitute your name), this makes it easier for us to match your finishes with your list.

• Please become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others and comment. We all need encouragement so let's applaud each other. The 2017 FAL Facebook page is here and follow us on Instagram @finishalong. 

• Our hosts will also link 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 January 6 at 11 pm EST - 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 hosts' blog.

And don't forget to start making your 2018 Q1 lists as the Q1 list link opens on January 7, 2018. More details about next year's Finish A Long will be announced soon.  Hope you will join us.

An InLinkz Link-up

A Big Finish: King Clam Complete

King Clam Complete

In September of 2014 our MQG chapter had Latifah Saafir come to teach a Glam Clam Workshop followed by an open sew for a total of 12hours non-stop (exhausting) fun.  Thanks to the prep she had us do ahead of time and the fact that I had chosen the 12" template, I was able to finish the top by months end.  Why it has taken over three years to quilt, bind and put on my bed I have no idea.

I thought it would be amusing to compile a mosaic of all the times it made an appearance on my FAL goal list but after tracking down enough to fill the grid I decided my point was made and never actually got a formal count of how many times it rolled over.  Most importantly 2017FALQ4 Goal was the last, whoop whoop!

Finally On My Bed December 2017

We recently had a cold spell so I just placed it on top of my X-Plus quilt and let it hang over. 

FMQ detail

Keeping with the scrappy spirit of the quilt and because doing any FMQ controlled and repetitive is something that does not personally appeal to me as a process, I chose a bunch of different motifs inspired by the fabric or at whim. 

Handstitching Binding

One of the best things about hand-stitching the binding on quilts besides the final bonding moments is that you get to have something portable to take on outings.  Normally my quilts aren't so huge!  I had to stuff it in the stroller basket and it wasn't very discrete pulling it out to work on during Pre-school time at the library.  Coincidentally one of the books being read was about quilts and fortunately, my granddaughter was fully engrossed in the activities and didn't need my assistance with her crafts so it ended up worth the effort.

A Glance Back

September 2014 

Three holders with outstretched arms on a windy day at the yacht harbor captured the flimsy before trimming the bottom edge.

Original Fabric Pull 

When I made the choices of which fabrics to include for the clams there was a narrower color palette at the beginning.  Expanding to quite the scrappy eyeful in the end they all have something in common - I love them.

Pre-Workshop Prep

Cutting into your favorite stash can be hard but add to that the odd shapes that are left, it was pretty traumatic.  I still haven't dealt with the scraps.

Showing Off Progress At the Workshop

Had I only known it would be three years before finishing I probably wouldn't have had such a smug smile in these photos!!!

Latifah and I mid-way Workshop 2014

It has been fun watching so many variations of the Glam Clam shared on social media and I'm happy to have mine join the ranks.  One day, maybe in the next 3 years I'll take it out for a proper photo shoot.

Started: September 2014
Finished: December 2017
Size: 100" x 100"
Pieced by me on my Babylock Symphony, Aurifil 50wt
Quilted by me on my friends Handy Quilter, Glide thread
Batting: Bamboo