Two Minnie Mouse Bathrobes

Back in the spring, I had planned to make Minnie Mouse backpacks for my grand-girls. I ordered the fabric and the pattern, but then forgot to order some of the hardware I needed for the bags. Meanwhile, I was browsing on Pinterest and found a free pattern and tutorial to make a kid's bathrobe.

So I downloaded it and got to work almost immediately.

I used cotton fabric so it was crazy easy and took no time at all! The robes might be a little more comfy and drapy with a knit, but...

The girls love their robes!

And I have lots of fabric left so I might be able to make those backpacks after all. Or maybe some cute zipper pouches for their hair clips and toys. Or maybe even some matching pyjamas!

2018 FAL - My Very Short List for Q3

I had an awesome second quarter and managed to finish nine out of ten projects. (And to be honest, I changed my mind about project #10 and won't be making it after all.)

My original list is here and if you'd like to read about the nine projects I finished, click on the links under the collage.

Sunny Skies

Cleo Skirt

Baker Street Bag

Canvas

Layered Diamonds

Josef Albers Mini #2

Rustic

Perspective

Rick Rack Runner

As a result of my particularly productive quarter, I only have one WIP in my sewing room at the moment! So my Q3 list will be super short:

These are low volume "slabs" that I'm piecing to create a Regatta quilt from the book Stash Statement by Kelly Young from my Quilt Infatuation. I'm a little over halfway done with the slabs now and I haven't yet decided what colour my "boats" are going to be. I think I want to go with just one colour, but I'm tempted to go with a bunch of really bright solids. We shall see!

And that's it for Q3 - which is probably a really good thing because I've not been spending a lot of time in my sewing room lately. It's been really hot around here and things are extremely busy and stressful at work so I just want to chill these days when I'm not at work.

Did you prepare your list of WIPs you'll be finishing this quarter? Did you link-up? If not, you only have a couple of hours left so hurry up and go here!

2018 Goals - Mid-Year Review

A little over half the year is gone and Yvonne, from Quilting Jetgirl, is hosting a mid-year review link party. I participated in Yvonne's goal-setting party at the start of the year, so I thought it'd be fun to see how I'm doing.

My goals for 2018 were separated into 3 different groups:

1. Start making garments

My mini-goals here were to:

• Learn how to use my serger (probably with a Craftsy or Creative Bug class) - I learned how to thread my serger and used it a few times to finish seams.
• Make an easy woven top for myself - Done! I made a Sorbetto top for myself and I made a Cleo skirt too!
• Make an easy knit top for myself - Not done, but I did purchase the fabric and an easy T pattern.
• Make dresses for the grand-girls - Not done, BUT I did make something for the grand-girls. I haven't taken photos yet, but will be sharing all about these very soon.

My new Sorbetto top 

My new Cleo skirt

2. Make at least 2 bags

My mini-goals for this one were to make:

• The Aeroplane bag by Sew Sweetness - Done! You can read all about my bag here.
• The Gatherer Crossbody Bag by Noodlehead - Not done, but I did make a second bag. I made Sew Sweetness' Baker Street Bag.

My Aeroplane Bag

My Baker Street Bag

3. Make a series of mini quilts based on Josef Albers' work

Half done! I made three mini quilts so far this year.

Albers Inspired Mini #1, #2 and #3

For the second half of the year, I plan on making a few more garment pieces, finish my Albers series of minis and I've got a few scrappy quilts planned also. Should be fun!

I will be linking up at Yvonne's (I'm cutting it real close though because it closes today!).

2018 FAL - Proposed Q3 Finishes

It's time to link up your list of unfinished projects that you propose to finish in Q3 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 2018 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

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

Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q3 of the Finish-A-Long. you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo. Please think about visiting them and saying thank you for their support of the FAL.

$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

$40 Gift Certificate

So now it is time to round up those projects that 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 & Instagram), it will be very helpful if you tag your list with #2018FALQ3yourname (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 Q3 list for your list of proposed finishes is now open, below, on my blog and each of the hosting blogs. You need only link your list once, on one host blog and the link will show up on all the host blogs. If you are using Flickr or Instagram, post a photo 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, or Marci of Marci Girl Designs has a tutorial to link up an Instagram post specifically.

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 your list together and get linked up.

Feel free to use and share the FAL button above and this one too:

The Q3 proposed finish linky party will stay open until 11 pm EST, Wednesday, July 18, 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

2018 FAL - Q2 Finishes Reminder

Popping in today for a quick reminder that the Quarter 2 Link Up for all your finishes closes on Monday, July 9, 2018, 11 pm EST. So you still have a few more days to finish a project or two and link them up to be eligible for prizes. The link up can be found HERE or on the blog of any of our current hosts.

A few reminders for linking up:

• Please only one finished project for each post that you link up, so that each finish can be an entry in the (random) prize draw. 
• Please include a link to your original list in each post of your finishes (on Instagram the link is the unique tag #2018FALQ2yourname to be used in the Q2 list post, and in any Q2 finish post).
• Please visit some of the other participants and leave a friendly comment, we all love to get those!

If you didn't have a chance to visit the tutorials that were posted as part of Finish-A-Long Tutorials Week, here is the schedule once more:

• July 3, 2018 - Sandra of Studio Sew of Course - The Finish-A-Long Project List - keeping track of your FAL projects

• July 4, 2018 - Ella of Throw A Wench in the Works

• July 5, 2018 - Felicity of Felicity Quilts - Mini Charm Pack Zip Pouch

They are well worth a visit!

Finally, we hope you will be joining us for Quarter 3 to do it all over again!! So get your List ready, the link up for Q3 Lists will open on July 10, 2018.

2018 FAL - Q2 Tutorial Week

Today kicks off "Tutorial Week," which has been part of the Finish-A-Long since it's inception.  While the link up for Finishes is open, we share some tutorials for you all to enjoy. They are varied, interesting, and usually helpful, so take some time to investigate and visit the blogs below on their scheduled day!

• July 3, 2018 - Sandra of Studio Sew of Course - The Finish-A-Long Project List - keeping track of your FAL projects

• July 4, 2018 - Ella of Throw a Wench in the Works Fleece Dog Bed

• July 5, 2018 - Felicity of Felicity Quilts -Mini Charm Pack Zip Pouch

The Quarter 2 Finishes link up opened yesterday, you can find the link up HERE or on any of the hosting blogs. There is still plenty of time to link up or finish those projects as the link up does not close until July 9, 2018, 11 pm EST.

And whether you had a lot of finishes, or none at all this quarter, or you missed Finish-A-Long Q2 altogether, you can always join in for Quarter 3 which is taking off on July 10th, with the link up opening for your List of Proposed Finishes. We hope you will join us!

2018 FAL - Q2 Finishes

Can you believe it, we have made it to the end of the second quarter of the 2018 Finish-A-Long and it's time to link up your Q2 finishes.  We hope you have used the past three months to complete a bunch of those UFOs on your lists!

The 2018 FAL has a community of bloggers across the world jointly hosting and this year's 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

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA

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

$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

$40 Gift Certificate

For this quarter of the 2018 FAL, we continue tutorial week.  Here is the schedule for this quarter so you can visit them all:

• July 3 - Sandra of Studio Sew of Course

• July 4 - Ella of Throw a Wench in the Works

• July 5 - Felicity of Felicity Quilts
  

The 2018 Quarter 2 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 all host blogs.

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 (Instagram or Flickr) 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, too). On Instagram, tag your photos with #2018FALQ2yourname (where yourname is unique to you), this makes it easier for us to match your finishes with your list, which also should have this tag.

Please become part of the FAL community.  Check out the links of others and leave a comment. We all need encouragement so let's applaud each other.  The 2018 FAL Facebook page is HERE and you can follow us on Instagram @finishalong.

Our hosts will also link up their finishes to share in the community but they are not eligible for any of the prizes.

The Q2 Finishes link will stay open from now thru 11 pm, EST, Monday July 9, 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).  It is best to 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 host's blog.

Lastly, don't forget to start making your Q3 list as the Q3 list link opens on July 10, 2018.

2018 Q2 Finishes Link Up:

An InLinkz Link-up