Q3 Finish Along List!

Here we go!

After a flurry of Q2 finishes that were NOT on any finish along list, I am READY for Q3!

1.  Seeing Stars

Remember this one?  It first appeared on my 2015 Q1 FAL list!

In the last couple days of 2018 Q2, I sat myself down and basted and quilted this baby! 

No, really, I did!

 After which it kindly requested some hand quilting, which is still in progress!

But once that is accomplished to this quilt's satisfaction, there is this binding to finish it off, ready and waiting!  Talk about incentive!

Yep, this will be my first finish of Q3...bet on it if you like!

2.  Flynn's Hunters Star

I have the backing and binding ready and waiting for this one, and if there was an informal self-imposed deadline for this, I have gone past it! So this is #2 in the lineup for Q3!

3.  Year of Fabric Quilt

This has my whole heart!

Inspired by an amazing "Ludlow" quilt by @njcrabtree on Instagram!

I am using all the fabrics randomly acquired over the course of my LQS's first year in business, which was Fall of 2016-2017!  I have included some other fabrics from the year as well, since that was a year we lived in 2 places, moving from southern Indiana, again, back to Montana. So far, 77% of the focal fabrics are from Lewistown's Sew Pieceful.  All the HSTs are made with low volume prints, and the squares are bright white.  It is just waaay too much fun putting these blocks together, and only takes about 15 minutes per, now that all the components are made! Not too worried about finishing this, but it could happen, so onto the list it goes!

4.  Selvedge Color Blocks Quilt

I only lack 2 colors, so this could happen, too!

5.  Sewcial Bee Sampler

This top was finished in 2017, a sew-along with Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell, 

made with my Jeni Baker and a few other Art Gallery fabrics.

It would be a fun finish!

6.  True Blue Mini Charm Pillow

Because I may need a smaller diversion sometime in the next 3 months! For quite awhile now this design has languished in my notebook.  I have cut and marked all the background fabric, so again, this could happen!

7.  Dresden Plate

This is the second of 5 quilts I am making from 20 blocks made by my Great Grandmother.

They are not large, and I made a start on the hand quilting last quarter.

8.  Kaffe Fassett Challenge Quilt

The Challenge?  Make a (minimum) 50"x 60" quilt using at least 50% Kaffe fabrics purchased at my LQS, Lewistown's Sew Pieceful, by August 31, to be displayed at the Chokecherry Festival in September.  If there are enough entries, prizes will be awarded to include a Grand Prize, a new Pfaff sewing machine(!), First Prize, a 2 night retreat for 2 at Judith Mountain Lodge(<3), and People's Choice Prize, a $100 gift certificate to LSP!

Kaffe certainly is new territory for me, so I chose one really amazing stripe, and pulled solids for a Disappearing 4 Patch. I feel confident I will get this one done, considering it has a deadline and all!

I suppose that is all for this go round!

 Do you have some WIPs that you need a little nudge to finish?

The Finish Along provides some fun incentive, as every finish from your list at the beginning of the quarter is an entry to some great prizes at the end of each quarter! 

What can you finish in 3 months?

No penalties for not finishing quilts and projects listed, so you have nothing to lose, and some worthwhile finishes to gain! Join us, won't you?

All the info you need is here:  2018 Finish Along

Linking up with FAL2018!

And also, Main Crush Monday! (Hi Beth!!!)

Happy Sewing, friends!

Also, quick side note: I am now selling my pattern(s) on Craftsy! The link is on my sidebar! 

"Us Plus" Finish!

My third quilt finish, and Number 4 on my 2018 Finish Along List!

I am calling this quilt "Us Plus"...the design is inspired by newlyweds, and the idea of two lives adding up to one union, and all the colorful promises of that life together.

Ironically, I have finished this quilt just as Cheryl Brickey and Paige Alexander are finishing up the blog hop for their new book, Modern Plus Sign Quilts, which just looks fabulous!

To be clear, I did not make this quilt from the book, nor am I part of the blog hop, but it is ironic to me because I won these 2 shot cotton jelly rolls from Cheryl/Meadow Mist Designs in 2016,

from which, of the myriad of quilt patterns I might have made, I ultimately designed and made this Us Plus quilt, finishing it in perfect timeliness, as their blog hop, on Plus Quilts wraps up!!!  I just really love that, and think it may be a sign I should really go ahead and get that book!  Wouldn't you?!

I have written a pattern for Us Plus, and when it is ready, I will add it to my Cedar Fork Stitches Etsy shop!
In addition to the shot cottons, I used Essex Yarn Dyed Linen, in Olive for the background and binding, and a Robert Kaufman wideback by Valori Wells, Blueprint Basics, for the backing.

I had fun piecing some color into the binding, where squares came to the edge of the quilt!
I quilted straight lines, using colors to match in the Plus sections, and a pretty "linen" gray Coats and Clark for a perfect match everywhere else.

Us Plus finishes at a very tidy
48" x 61"

I think that will be the last Q1 Finish Along item for me.
But I am starting something fun and new, and it will definitely be on my new Q2 list!
The end of the first quarter is coming up so be sure to watch for the linky to open for your finishes, and get your Q2 lists ready!
Happy Spring everybody!

Mini 4-Square Finish!

Number 1 on my Q3 Finish Along list
AND my entry in to The 2017 Fall Bloggers Quilt Festival!

This Mini 4-Square Shadow Quilt finished at 33"x 33".

I used most of what was left of a mini charm pack of Denyse Schmidt Modern Solids.

Those DS MS charm packs/mini charm packs may seem pricey, but there are right around 100 pieces in each one!!! That is a LOT of color play for your buck, in my opinion!

 I made this quilt top last Summer, in Indiana, and it was the impetus behind submitting the idea to McCall's(!!!) for a full sized version!

It is kind of fun to see the tops together! I'm glad I thought to take the photo of them!

 I thought it was appropriate to use another DS fabric for the backing; this, from Katie Jump Rope!

I may have gone a bit light on the quilting. I consider this simple diagonal grid just fine for a baby quilt, but would want it a little denser for a wall hanging, I think. 

I used a few different strips of shot cotton, from a jelly roll, for the binding. I thought it made for a nice subtle finishing touch.

How 'bout that label, eh? 

I am linking up with Beth today @Main Crush Monday

and also, when the linky opens in a week or so, with Leann (I think!) @Q3 Finish Along
Also, jump over to Amy's Creative Side!
The Fall 2017 Bloggers Quilt Festival is happening now!
Always sooo many gorgeous quilts and many great prizes, drawn randomly this year!
Make a post this week and enter yours, too! It is such fun! Do it!
No really, Do it! :)

Sew Many Things!

How does one blog when their computer has been hijacked, held hostage, held for ransom...okay, not ransom, but our ever stalwart computer guy is in love and when we will get our  computer back is anyone's guess!!! argh! So, we got a new computer, and here I am!!! Sew many things!

First, this!! Have you seen it? The Get Cozy Mini by Pen + Paper Patterns, available through Craftsy! (I have been hanging in there meanwhile, via Instagram, perhaps we are friends there, too?)

I simply had to do this! I won a wonderful bundle of Front Yard fabric by Sandra Clemons, from Michael Miller Fabrics during Market week (squeee!!!) and this little thing popped up and demanded I just sample that luscious bundle of yummy! The collection has such a great variety of color, design and scale...it's, like, perfect!

The mini has proven difficult to photograph because it is long, 36" when it is all finished!

But it has a quilt in it, on the couch!! This is not paper pieced, y'all!

Actually 4 quilts...3 more on the quilt ladder!

In other progress news, the Meadow Mist Designs Mystery quilt is coming along...these are November's units.

I am still working on December, where these units are made into blocks! They are wonderful! Such a fun project...zero regrets getting in on this one!

Meanwhile, over on Instagram, I have a new "destash" account!

@cedarfork_FQdestash where I will be destashing Fat Quarters of fun random fabrics! 

If you are on Instagram, I am kicking things off this evening, 12/13 at 6:00!  I want to add to the destash each Tuesday.  So jump on over and check it out!  I very much appreciate it!!

I am thrilled to be able to LINK UP with my friends this week!!!!
With Beth: Main Crush Monday@Cooking Up Quilts
And Lorna: Let's Bee Social@Sew Fresh Quilts
(do y'all remember me?!)
And one more shot of my "new living room", in my sewing room ;)

*sigh* it is good to be back!

Crushing on Carolyn...

Friedlander that is! Doe and Carkai, to be exact!

When Missouri Star Quilt Co recently had Doe charm packs on sale for $5, I made the immediate decision to make my Doodle into a quilt. 

(This "doodle" from a sweet CF mini charm pack that Lorna sent me in June)

I bought 3 charm packs of Doe, and 2 of Carkai. 

And commenced the pairing of the charms and the making of my beloved HSTs!

The immersion into the simple process and kinda-quirky-to-me color and design combos has been very crush-worthy!

I may be a little late to the Carolyn Friedlander party, but I made it...better late than never!

Linking my current Carolyn/HST crush with Beth@Cooking Up Quilts and Main Crush Monday!

And also with Lorna@Sew Fresh Quilts Let's Bee Social :D

New Home Necessities

Hi there!

After days and days, okay weeks and weeks, of repair, repaint, reflooring of the little house we are living in for the time being...

there were a few items that were essential and could be put off no longer.

Because of the condition of the front room, it has become my first ever official Sewing Room!

No heavy furniture allowed.

So while I am pleased to actually have space and all, it seems, well, quite visible, exposed really., after so long in my former bedroom corner :)

A machine cover, which I have long meant to make was in order!

I found a tutorial at Sew Delicious, and just plugged in my own dimensions and patchwork design :)

I thought it might turn out kind of "flopsy", but I am pleased how it stands up after the quilting :)

I tied each corner to fasten the lining, which is more of the osnaburg, which I used on the outside too.

Tiny Michael Miller gingham and Feed Sack from Joel Dewberry's Birch Farm...I just love that combination!

I threw all my potholders away for the move.

So they were actually the first thing I made :)

I used leftover Awesome fabrics, by Sandy Gervais, with a few random charms.

and a "Skillet Handle Holder"...gotta have one of those, always!!!

I am really happy to be easing back into the sewing groove after so much time busy with all the other stuff :)

linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts,

Finish It Up Friday :)

First Q2 Finish!

Barry Loves Sue Pillow! Number 4 on my Q2 list.

It went pretty quickly from this...

...to this!

My own personal welcome to the wonderful world of low volume :)
One of my sons suggested the fish camo for the B...as Barry is a fisherman, among other things, from Minnesota :)

I'm loving my two-toned pillow backs :)

So! There we go! One down, 2 or 3 to go :)

Linking up with Main Crush Monday @ Cooking Up Quilts :)