Saturday, January 9, 2016

January 2016 FNwF

 A surprise arrived in my mailbox on Thursday! It was full of quilty goodness. My sister sent me a mystery quilt. She decided to kit up everything to make the blocks for Moda's Sampler Block Shuffle. Each block was in a sealed envelope with the fabric and directions. She sent me the first 18 blocks and put two more into the mail today. 
 I was signed up for Friday Night with Friends, so of course I had to start these mystery blocks immediately. I shelved working on a UFO because it would be rude of me not to participate in my sister's mystery project immediately. Right? Well that is my story anyway... I made the first 10 blocks Friday night--a very productive FNwF because my family ate leftovers and I binge watched Netflix in my sewing room as I sewed. Here is the link to what everyone else around the world did:
 The fabrics my sister sent are all Bonnie and Camille's Hello Darling with a creamy off white background--I love her choices. The blocks will finish 6 inches. Here is the link to their free patterns:
 I made the other 8 blocks this afternoon after returning from teaching my Quilty Fun class. I think the class was pretty successful--everyone got all their background cut for their first row and most of the ladies made at least two cocoa cups. It is going to be cool to see how different they each quilt will look because of the fabrics used.
Sorry, my lighting is bad because I finished these blocks after dark. There was only one appliqué block, but I chose to use Heat and Bond and my machine's blanket stitch. All 18 blocks are done!
 I have been making progress on hand quilting the borders of my Cottage Garden project.
I am about 75% done. One issue I have been having is some of my wool appliqué pieces are being pulled up by snap on hoop, so I am going to need to make a few repairs.  Any advice on how to avoid that? I will work more on this for Slow Sunday Stitching. Here is the link to that handwork inspiration:

This week I plan on unearthing another UFO to work on and starting to cut up a bunch of scrap squares for Carole's Scrap Dance Tango--Mystery Quilt 2016. I usually do not participate in mystery quilts, but since this one will be made with only the scraps I already have-- why not? I can always donate it to a charity unless of course I love it! Carole is kindly giving the numbers for different sized quilts too. You can find more information here:

35 comments:

  1. Wow! What a great sister! Could you loan her to me? 😉 I love the mystery quilt kit that she made for you. I finally got a layer cake of Hello Darling from one of the holiday fabric sales and I'm looking forward to sewing with it. That fabric line is so pretty!

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  2. Can you try putting saran wrap over the part you are working on so the appliques will not pull up?

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  3. What a lovely idea from your sister. That was a great choice to work on for Friday night. The blocks are great.

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  4. Yes....glad you and your sister are so close! What wonderful happy mail!!! ALways fun to see everything you are up to! I'm joining Caroles' mystery quilt too....sounded easy and like you said, a good scrap buster.

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  5. I take a tissue, fold it over and put it on top of the edge of my piece. Then I snap the snap cover on it. That has worked well for me on all the counted cross stitch I do. It's a quick and inexpensive solution. You could also try putting a thin piece of muslin over the edge of your work. Hope this helps.

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  6. Thank you for mentioning Scrap Dance Tango!! Welcome to the mystery quilt along!

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  7. Luv your cottage garden quit. Your quilting compliments it so nicely.

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  8. Wow you didn't waste any time making up those blocks. They look great. Sorry have never used wool so I am no help but I do hear that some fuse it down not sure that would help. Have fun stitching!

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  9. What a wonderful sister you have. ...the blocks you have made are beautiful..you are so fast..I would still be thinkkng about it!!! Your quilting looks amazing!! I am no help with your problem sorry.

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  10. Love your blocks; such fresh colors! I found you through Kathy's Quilts and her slow stitching Sunday link party. Happy to have found you!

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  11. I love the fabrics your sister sent you for the blocks. Bright and cheerful! Have fun quilting today.

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  12. So will you call the quilt Sister Love? Your quilting is lovely.

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  13. How lucky are you! Can I borrow your sister? Great job on getting those blocks together. Your cross hatch quilting is lovely on that quilt.

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  14. Wow, you sewed up those blocks so quickly. They look great! Thanks for sharing with Oh Scrap. I always love to see what you are up to.

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  15. You sure have been busy. So many beautiful blocks, such a great sister to send these mystery blocks.

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  16. What a nice gift from your sister. The blocks will make a very pretty quilt. It's always such fun to get things in the mail...and quilty things are the best!

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  17. Gosh, what a great sister to cut up all those fabrics, kit them, and send them off just in time for Friday Night with Friends! The blocks are very pretty. Can't wait to see the finish!

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  18. The blocks for your Moda quilt are so pretty - they look like the first day of spring! And the quilt you're nearly done is just spectacular! I love the colours, and the lovely applique work.

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  19. You have a wonderful sister! I don't have any suggestions on how to protect your wool applique but your quilt and quilting do look good!

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  20. what a fun sister you have. That gives me an idea about what I could do for a sewing buddy. Thanks for the link to the scrap mystery. I think I'll take a look. Lovely eye candy today.

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  21. What a fun gift from your sister.

    What would happen if you covered the wool applique with muslin?

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  22. Your sister really set you up good! Those blocks look like they will be fun. Love your Garden Cottage quilt and thanks for the "big stitch" inspiration. I'm getting ready to embark on my first quilt done that way and seeing this has gotten me fired up!

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  23. Everybody needs a sister like that! I got out a UFO today thinking I had already sandwiched this top but I had put the batting and top together but no backing. :( Guess I'll be making a trip to the shop unless I piece the back. Which, now that I say that, I should totally do because I'm trying to use up my fabric! blessings, marlene

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  24. Those little blocks are all so pretty! Gotta love that Bonnie and Camille. AND YOUR SISTER!!! Wow! What a fun gift! You know... If you really like making 6" blocks, you are going to love the Ugly Christmas Sweaters quilt along. YAY!

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  25. that is one sweet sister! what a lot of work on her end. it's looking so wonderful.

    and yay for progress on handquilting! i adore handquilting.

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  26. great achievement on finishing those 18 blocks and I love your hand quilting project too! thanks for linking up at Bits 'n Bobs for Design Board Monday......its always a pleasure visiting you to see what's happening.

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  27. You have a very thoughtful sister. Love those mystery blocks.

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  28. What a fun and neat idea from your sister!

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  29. Great job on the Moda Shuffle blocks. Your sister is a sweet heart. Hugs

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  30. Gosh Tanya, you are so busy! and teaching too! Congratulations and thanks for linking up to Building Blocks Tuesday regularly. I always love seeing what you are up to, even if it takes me a week to check in.

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