OMG: Spirit Song Quilting Completed + Linky Party Launching August 4th

OMG indeed, you guys!  I think this might be the very first time that I've been able to link up at the END of the month for the One Monthly Goal linky party, because this July is the first time I've actually completed the goals I set for myself by the end of the month.  I had set two goals for July, one of them a quilting goal and the other a blogging goal.

✅ My July Quilting Goal: Finish Quilting Spirit Song

Finish quilting borders and blue HSTs with blue thread.

Rethread with off white thread, either So Fine #50 weight or Bottom Line top and bottom (haven't decided yet)

Finalize which background fill designs I want to quilt in which areas

Quilt fairly dense background fills in all of the white/cream/neutral patches

I did end up sticking with So Fine thread in the needle and Bottom Line in the bobbin for the background quilting.  It's so exciting to finally unpin a finished quilt from the frame and flip it over to finally get a good look at the quilting design from the backing side.  I can see now why Judi Madsen prefers to use solid backing fabrics to show off her quilting!  

I am DELIGHTED to report that I can't find a single tuck or pleat anywhere on the back of this quilt, and it doesn't feel overly stiff to me, either, despite how heavily I've quilted it.  Especially considering that my quilt top was so heavily starched before I quilted it -- so I'm predicting that this quilt will come out of the wash even softer.

I'm really happy with my design choices for this quilt, especially with the quilting.  I was able to practice lots of different motifs and quilting techniques, and I think I achieved my objective of making a straight set quilt with only one block look like a diagonally set quilt with two alternating blocks.

In the photo above, you can see 2/3 of the quilt draped sideways over my frame.  This was the best I could manage for a photo of the whole quilt at this point.  

✅ My July Blogging Goal: Launch New Long Arm Learning Linky Party (Coming Tuesday, August 4th!)

Make a Linky Party Blog Button: Figure out the html code part of it so that the image functions as a button rather than just an image

Select a linking platform and create my account

Figure out the mechanics of actually creating a linky party and inserting the link up into my blog post so that others can join in the fun

Pick which day of the week and how long the party will be open for link ups

Finally, and crucially, I'll need to figure out how to spread the word about my new linky party so that those who might want to participate can find out about it. 

Did you notice my linky button up at the top of my left sidebar?  Go ahead and grab the code!  I think I did it right, but I'd really appreciate feedback about whether it works on your end.  I've also added a separate page tab for the Long Arm Learning Linky Party at the top of my blog, making it easy for new visitors to find all of the pertinent information.  

I've set up an account with InLinkz and have created my first linky party, scheduled to launch a week from today on Tuesday, August 4th.  It will be a weekly linky party, open for you to add your links anytime from Tuesday morning through the end of the day on Friday.  And, even though I've created the linky party with the primary objective of connecting those of us who are working on developing our skills on a frame mounted long arm machine, I want to cast as wide a net as possible -- so if you are machine quilting on your domestic sewing machine, or on a table mounted mid arm machine like the HQ Sweet Sixteen or the Bernina Q20, you are 100% welcome and encouraged to participate, too.  There is a tremendous amount of crossover in terms of machine quilting design ideas, rulers, etc.  What's more, although many linky parties specifically exclude participants from linking up a post that promotes their quilting business, I want to especially encourage the many small quilting business owners out there to link up posts about the classes they are teaching online and in person, the ruler lines or notions they've developed to make quilting more successful and more fun, or the books they've written to share their knowledge and experience with those of us who are just starting out.

What Can YOU Do to Help?

As for my last goal, spreading the word, I'm asking YOU to help with that.  I already love all of you who regularly take the time to read and comment on my blog posts, but if you share this blog post with your machine quilting friends, I will love you EVEN MORE.  Please take a moment to share this post on your favorite social media platforms (Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)  and/or add the lovely button that I worked so hard to create to your blog sidebar.  Thank you so much!

Tuesday's Weekly To-Do List:

1. Write and schedule publication of my first linky party post for next Tuesday
2. Continue to spread the word about the new linky party 
3. Trim excess batting & backing from Spirit Song
4. Digitize, machine embroider, & hand stitch Spirit Song label to back of quilt
5. Make binding for Spirit Song, machine stitch to front of quilt, & begin hand stitching binding to the backing

I'm linking up and partying with the following bloggers today:

• One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts. 

TUESDAY

·       Colour and Inspiration Tuesday at Clever Chameleon

·       To-Do Tuesday at Home Sewn By Us

WEDNESDAY

·       Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

·       Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

THURSDAY

·       Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation  

·       Free Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning Combo OR at Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing