2017 Finish-A-Long: 2nd Quarter Results

Do these quarters seem to be going faster and faster?  I did manage to squeal out two finishes this quarter ~ mostly due to travel and other projects that got in the way that weren't on my list (also known as baby quilts for the twins our daughter is expecting!)

1 - Facets from the book Machine Quilting With Style by Christa Watson.  FINISHED!  Blogged here.

Next up ~ I'm still working with the Seasonal Silhouettes pattern book by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts and I've decided that each block is going to be its own mini-quilt so that I have something to hang each month.  Here's my basket of fabrics.  (BTW, this is the Oslo Craft Bag ~ a free pattern by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness)

2 - Seasonal Silhouettes - May.  I have all the pieces fused, but it's been on the back burner since we got home from out west.

3 - Seasonal Silhouettes - June.  I have most of the pieces fused, but it's also on the back burner for a while.

4 - Sloan Travel Bag - This is a belated birthday present for my daughter (I haven't given it to her yet, so here's just a preview).  FINISHED!  Blogged here.

So two out of four this quarter ~ I like to think of it as my glass half full.  :)

2017 Finish-A-Long: 2nd Finish for Quarter 2 (shhh - it's a secret!)

Is there anything in the rules that says I have to show a full picture of something on my list that I haven't gifted yet?  I told my daughter Kelli I was going to make her a Sloan Travel Bag for her birthday which was January 2nd!  (Sorry, Kel ~ I've been buried in quilt-making).  I added it to my 2nd Quarter FAL list, thinking that would give me the push I needed to finish it.  

Well, it's finished, but I'm bringing it up to Michigan in July and I don't want her to see it until I give it to her.    So here is a picture of the pattern:

and here is a sneak peek of Kelli's bag:

Fingers crossed that it's good enough for the Finish-A-Long.  :)

p.s. I absolutely love this pattern by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness ~ I made one for myself last year and it's Awesome!

Update:  OK ~ the bag has been gifted and is anxiously awaiting the trip to the hospital for the birth of Kelli and Mike's twins!  So here are a few more photos.

2017 Finish-A-Long: 2nd Quarter List

On to the 2nd Quarter!  I only had one non-finish from last quarter, so that's up first.

1 - Facets from the book Machine Quilting With Style by Christa Watson.  The background and the solid diamonds are cut out ~ I have the 5 solid blocks and 10 improv blocks done, but I'm still working on the improv fabric for the rest of the diamonds (it's harder than I thought, although there might be a slim chance I'm too anal!).  Hoping to finish this quarter.

Next up ~ I'm still working with the Seasonal Silhouettes pattern book by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts and I've decided that each block is going to be its own mini-quilt so that I have something to hang each month.  Here's my basket of fabrics.  (BTW, this is the Oslo Craft Bag ~ a free pattern by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness)

2 - Seasonal Silhouettes - May.  I'm working on cutting out the pieces for this one ~ it's one of my favorites!  Here's the pattern.

3 - Seasonal Silhouettes - June.  Haven't started this one yet, but here's the pattern.

4 - Sloan Travel Bag - This is a belated birthday present for my daughter that got put on hold because of deadlines and a 6-week trip out west.  I really need to finish it this quarter!  Here's the pattern and you can see the one I made for myself here.  I have most of the fabrics and interfacing, so that's at least a start!

Linking up with Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts!

Sloan Bag Reveal

Back in March, I hinted that I was testing a new pattern by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness.  So today on Sara's blog, she introduced the release of her Sloan Travel Bag pattern.  Which means that I can finally show some pics of the one I made!

This bag is BIG ~ 18" x 14" x 6" ~ and it's perfect to carry most of my stuff when I join my fellow quilters for a "Sit & Sew" session.  Sara has explained all of the features in her blog post, along with LOTS of photos by her other testers, so I'll let her tell you more of the details.  I do love that it has a recessed top zipper, side pockets (inside and out) and comfy padded straps.

Here's a few pics of my new favorite bag (the pattern, by the way, is on sale in Sara's shop through May 20, 2015).  :)  I used fabrics from the Boat House collection by Sweetwater.

A big Thank You to Sara for letting me test this great pattern!