DrEAMi #59

I am so glad I usually start the next DrEAMi post after the current linkup closes. It has been a while, hasn't it? I didn't do one in December because I was in Alberta for Christmas, and then the one that should have been published on Saturday, is only going out this evening because Dayna was finally here for a visit! Other than publishing the Postcard from Sweden post, it was all about her for the 2.5 days (and what, 11? workout shirts I hemmed and a sleep mask and pillowcase I fixed...) she was here. 

I did have a DrEAMi in December. I got a request from not one, but two of my yoga students to make a bag like mine for a loved one of theirs. Since I was off to Alberta on the 20th, I had to get pretty much right to work.

This is one of the two I made. You can read about them here or click the link in the Linky Party below!

Postcard from Sweden QAL Step 2

Welcome to Step 2 where we begin to sew all our lovely triangles together to make them into squares again. So, you have cut all those 360 gorgeous triangles, yes?

Bella loves them

This time around hosting this QAL, I've split sewing the quilt top into three steps: we will make a third of the quilt at a time. This way I can show you some super-cool tips for construction which will make your assembly life a lot easier.

PQ 13.2 Silhouette Tea Cosy

My second project for Project Quilting 13.2 Silhouette, got done in the nick of time. This is a popular and fun challenge dreamed up by Kim at Persimon Dreams.

In my family we all love our tea, a legacy from my mum. Tea made in a pot is the best tea, of course. Making it in a mug is rather gauche, she would feel. Every pot needs a tea cosy to keep it warm longer. Yes it really does help. After my mum passed away, Dayna wanted my mum's beloved teapot, and mainly due to Covid closing the border for so long to non-essential travel, and making it difficult since it has been open, she still has yet to get said teapot. Well, now she will have a tea cosy to put on it!

Temperature Quilt 2021

I've started the year with a very good focus, and I hope it stays that way, but knowing my long history of succumbing to distractions (squirrels), I am sure I will stray. Hopefully not too often, as I do want to get my UFOs and USOs under control. To that end, the last project I started last year was this temperature quilt. 

To qualify for my PHD (Projects Half Done) Quilter certification (ha) any project I start within a calendar year must be completed, unless it's a leader/ender project or it is a quilt where you make a block a day, as this one is, with the last block being made December 31. I made sure to have this one as my January UFO.

Postcard from Sweden QAL Step 1

Well! Judging from the number of PDF patterns I emailed out, and the excitement on Instagram, this second QAL I'm hosting should be a resounding success with beautiful colourful Postcard quilts splashed across Instagram! Now, do not fret if your fabric hasn't arrived, or if you haven't had time to peruse your stash for 36 shades and tones of the rainbow; we have two whole weeks until we start sewing. 

Postcard From Sweden Quilt Along

This is the introductory post for the 2022 Postcard From Sweden QAL. I'm so glad you are here. January in the Northern Hemisphere can be a tough slog, so I think it's a perfect time to lift our spirits by sewing something bright and simple. It's all half-square triangles in beautiful vibrant fabrics. Once again, I used Kelly's photo of the quilt as the background for the graphic.

First things first. Tracie of Riceford Streams messaged me way back at the end of September asking if I was considering hosting another QAL, since she had come across a kit for a good price, and had always wanted to make this, as she said, cheery quilt. She thought sewing with others would be a good incentive. I thought this a great idea, maybe something to make in the new year. Besides, I have a healthy stack of Kona cottons I seem to have amassed since that first QAL. Might as well use them! So I contacted Kelly Liddell in early December to ask her permission to host another quilt along. Her pattern is no longer available anywhere. If you have seen it for sale as a stand alone pattern, then do not purchase it, because whoever is selling it is a thief. This is Kelly's design, inspired by a postcard set she saw in IKEA by Tom Frazier. Her pattern was always free. If you would like to join in with the QAL and make this quilt you have a few options.

PQ 13.1 Postcard Pouch

It 's that time of year again! Project Quilting time that is, the brainchild of Kim of Persimon Dreams, hosted by her good friend Trish  @quiltchicken . The first challenge Trish dreamed up is called 'All the Colours'. As in use 'em all. In my last post I mentioned that I was going to once again host a Postcard from Sweden Quilt Along. Put that with all the colours, add in wanting to make a small gift for my niece, and boom! Postcard Pouch idea was born.

I used the Charm Square pouch tutorial, formerly available on Moda Bakeshop, that I've made at least a dozen times, substituted HSTs for the squares, based it on Kelly's Postcard from Sweden quilt, formerly available on Craftsy, tried Anna's technique at Noodlehead Open Wide pouch and another boom! It all came together beautifully.

Review of 2021 and Looking Ahead to 2022

2021 was my first year of not being an Island Batik Ambassador, so I allowed myself free rein to have fun and see where my muse took me. Well, the fun started with Project Quilting, and again I had fun all year with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I got a bit serious tackling UFOs through Gail's PHD. All in all I had a fun year. I had goals in mind but no pressure. Well maybe a couple of times a little pressure! Self-imposed, so that's okay.

As always PQ pushed my creativity, which I love.

Skulls On Fire

Well, it took four years after buying all the fabric, but my husband finally has his very own quilt.

Does it ever feel good to have a finish on the second day of January! I'd like to thank Leanne at Devoted Quilter who is hosting TGIFF this week, for her 100 days of WIPS on Instagram #wipsbegone2021 which gave me an extra push to get this done.