Dragon Fruit BOM - Month 3 (a little late)

  Well, I am a little late on sharing my Month 3 of the Dragon Fruit Block of the Month, but everyone knows the week between Christmas and New Years doesn't count :)   This awesome quilt along is hosted by Fat Quarter Shop and I had so much fun piecing the blocks this month (especially the purple ones :)    

 This month we made the following 20 Paper Pieced Blocks and then sewed them into the 9 patches above.  And I know those Log Cabin blocks take a second with all of that tiny piecing, but they look so cute when they are done I can't help but love them!!     I just love that we get to use Tula Pinks gorgeous fabrics each month on these blocks.  Can't wait to see what we do this month ;) 

Month 3 is done and I can't wait for Month 4 to arrive!!! I love that I am working on my Paper Piecing Skills and I can really see improvement with each month.     And that is it for Dragon Fruit Block of the Month - Month 3   

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!! 

Works in Progress - 2 x 2 x 2

 So ya know how at the beginning of the year you just feel like you need to finish everything up from the previous year so you can have a nice fresh start . . . well, that is what I have been doing this last week, kind-of ;)   Today I am sharing 2 old WIP, 2 old/new WIP, and 2 new WIP.   So ya, a little of everything, because once I started working on the 2 old projects, I figured I was ready for that fresh start to begin on 2 new projects :)  

First up . . . the 2 older WIP . . . Remember those four patch leaders and ender blocks . . .  Well, I finally got around to figuring out the math and piecing the four patch blocks into rows. 

  The Hey Boo panel prints needed a little 1" border so they are the same size as the four patch blocks, and I decided I will do the binding in that same Grunge Lead.  The blocks are sewn into rows and now I just need to sew the rows together and add a four patch border.  I can't wait to get this one all put together, it is just so cute Halloween!!!       

The Christmas quilt took a little more math, but with still super quick to turn my Favorite Things Christmas Prints 16 Patches into rows, and add a little Fig Tree Christmas to my   Fancy That Design House's Christmas panels into rows.  Now just to sew the rows together, and I am going to bind this with the Fig Tree print.

And now, for the 2 Old/New Works in Progress.  These are old, because I am embarrassed to admit that I cut the first one out last April, and the second one out in October.   They are new because I just started piecing them last week!!! 

Ya see, when I made my first Wandering Star Quilt, it was actually clear back in April 2024 for the H and H show and since then it has been traveling around quilt shops in Moda's trunk show program.  And I have been needing to make a second quilt ever since so that I have a sample when I teach classes (like I am going to be doing next month ;)  Ya know, nothing like approaching deadlines to prompt me to get things done :)   So ya, last week I pieced together another gorgeous Wandering Star Quilt in the oh so pretty Seaglass Summer by Sweetfire Road. (which should be arriving in shops soon!!)   Now just to quilt and bind it ;) 

And while I was teaching in Texas last October, I found this beautiful Phoebe Fat Quarter Bundle for Dear Stella.  You know I can't resist purple and I figured it would be the perfect catalyst to get me working on the above Wandering Star as I figured I would make a Child Size version and sew them together at the same time.  So as soon as I got home I cut out my Phoebe pieces and then they sat next to the Seaglass Summer pieces.  Until last week!!!  I have to say, when piecing a child size version next to a queen size version, the child size version pieces always go so fast!!!   Another to quilt and bind :)   So ya see, kind of old and kind of new ;)   

And last but not least . . . the 2 new projects.   Because honestly, I just can't help but start new projects!!!  

I am starting a new Shortcut Quilt.  Yes, these are my favorite because they are always so fun and so fast!!  I am using Groove Fabric which will come out in a few months (I just might have had some large scraps from some secret sewing :)   And since this fabric is so Groovy, I decided to use a Groovy Background color of Blue Chill.  This is going to be so fun and because it is a Shortcut Quilt I will have it together in no time at all!!  

And finally, I started preparing for a class I am taking next month at the Quilty Friends retreat.  The class is called Pumpkin Roll (Sorry, I don't have a link to the pattern as it was in an old magazine that the teacher got permission to share for the class) and it has inset circles!! So I got all my pieces cut out in scrappy whites, blacks, and solid reds so that I can make another SUU quilt ;)  And of course, I cut a few extra pieces so that I could practice "inset circles".   This was my second practice and I am feeling much better than the first practice.   Lets just say 8 pins worked much better than 4 pins ;)

So that is what I have been working on the last week.  What have you been up to?? 

Corry Changes

 Things have been changing in the last little bit at the Corry Household.  

Our daughter Jessica, who was serving her mission in Peru,  arrived home December 26th. Jessi has experienced some crippling anxiety attacks on her mission leading to periods of severe depression. It was decided that she needed to be transferred home to work on her mental health. She was very emotional with that decision but has quickly seen that this is God's plan for her. She is currently serving from home as a service missionary in the St George mission while she gets help anxiety and depression. We are so excited to have her back home. We asked her how much we could share and her response was: "you can share it all, I feel like the more we hide mental illness the harder it is for those who suffer to seek help".

And she is so very right!! Both her Father and I also deal with mental illness. Which is why we have talked about it so much with our Children and made it a very safe topic in our home. I am so grateful that our daughter felt comfortable sharing her struggles with us so that she could get help. And that is the wonderful thing is that there is help! I am a very Happy Quilter, Happy Mom, Happy Wife, and soon to be Happy MIL, thanks to amazing help from medication and therapy. So please, if you are struggling with anxiety or depression, seek help. If you don't know where to start looking for help or just want to talk with someone who has been through the throws of it, please don't hesitate to email me. (happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com) It is an illness that can be treated and there is hope.

Kristian was working after we picked her up from the airport, so we drove from there to Hermies to visit him.

And I just hinted at the other big change coming to the Corry Household . . .  Spencer (our oldest) is engaged!!!  He will be Married and Sealed to the amazing Michelle Eisert on March 8th!!  We are so very excited to have Michelle in our family.   They are just so wonderful together and I am so excited to be a Mom in Law :)  There has been lots of fun going on the last few weeks with all of the wedding preparations.  And the newest preparation for the wedding . . .  

Will be to make this adorable Fairy Garden Quilt.   Fairy Garden is the theme for their reception and I was just so excited when I found this pattern as I knew it would be perfect.  The reception colors are dusty pink and dusty blue so I am using South Hill to make it.   The fabric just arrived yesterday so I can't wait to get working on it ;) 

And ya know, I had to find a way to bring in a quilt in this post ;)

I hope you are all having a wonderful 2025 so far!!! 

$5 Pattern of the Month - Andromeda!!!

 I am so excited for this new Monthly Feature here at Happy Quilting!!!  Each month, I will choose one Happy Quilting Pattern that will be just $5.00  all month in my Etsy Shop ;)    And we are starting out with Andromeda!!!   

The  Andromeda Pattern can be found in my Etsy Shop in both a Paper version as well as a PDF version and both versions will be marked down to $5.00 for the month of January. 

 Andromeda is an intermediate skill level pattern with 5 size options and is Fat Quarter Friendly.  I designed Andromeda because I have had so many people tell me how much they just love Nordic Nights, but wish it wasn't curved piecing.  So this is my creation to give you a similar feel, but without curves.    The quilt is made with full blocks and half blocks pieced together in columns to give the shifted layout.   The pattern teaches you lots of techniques including quarter square triangles, half square triangles, stitch and flip, and tiny no-waste flying geese.  (my new nickname for them are goslings ;)     

Need some ideas for your Andromeda??  Here are some new arriving fabric collections mocked up . . .  Just to give you some fun ideas of what you can do with this pattern and play with colored backgrounds!!

Here is the Queen Size in Cali Co. by Corey Yoder with a Tone on Tone White Background from Cali Co.  Don't you just love a fun rainbow quilt!!!  And using the Grey in the center and the binding really makes all of the colors pop!!

And this is the Lap size in Twilight Creatures by Natalia Abello with a light blue background from the line.  Wouldn't this just be so adorable for a young boy quilt.   I just love all of the happy blues ;)  

And for a Valentines Day or All Girl Quilt . . . here is Love Blooms by Lella Botique in the Twin Size with a Ballet Slipper Pink Grunge Background.   That is becoming a new favorite color of grunge and it looks so amazing with this new line of Vanessa's.  

And finally, here is the Picnic size in Between the Pages by Fran Gullick with a Navy Background from the line.  Doesn't that navy just makes all of those colors pop!!!  I so want to make this version!!! 

And that is my $5.00 Pattern of the Month!!!   January 2024 is all about the Andromeda  Pattern!!!     I really think you are just going to love making this quilt ;)   And of course,  if you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to me ;)  And when you make your Andromeda Quilts I would love to see them!!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to social media with  #happyquiltingwithmc ;)  I can't wait to see your Quilts!!!

So are you ready to start making your Andromeda Quilts???  Pop over to my Etsy Shop, to pick up your Patterns grab a Fat Quarter Bundle and get Happy Quilting!!!!   

Wrapping Up 2024

It's my favorite post of the year where I get to see what I have been up to all year ;)   2024 was another amazing year for Happy Quilting!  I have enjoyed making so many Happy Quilts and spending time here on the blog and in person with so many Happy Quilters!  This year I completed 41 Quilts and also a whole bunch of quilt tops that still need to be quilted, somehow there just aren't enough hours in the day to quilt them all.  I might need another quilting marathon in 2025 :)

41 Quilts

  (there are quite a few that I can't share yet :)  

And like I said, I got to spend a lot of time this year in person with lots and lots of Happy Quilters! I got the privilege of teaching and sharing  on 11 separate quilting trips!!  I was in TX, AZ, CO, UT, and even the Caribbean ;)  It truly is my favorite part of this whole quilting journey, being able so share my love of quilting with so many Happy Quilters!!  

11 Teaching Trips!! 

 

And a lot, (and I mean a ton) of time was spent at the computer this year working on Happy Quilting Patterns!!  I am so happy with the new Happy Quilting Pattern format and I am just thrilled to hear all of the wonderful feedback from all of you!!  I am just so glad you love the new patterns and their new look as much as I do.  It has been a lot of work to update so much but it has been so worth it :)   And I have already started work on 5 new patterns for 2025, so exciting!!!  

5 New Happy Quilting Patterns and

 9 Updated Happy Quilting Patterns

(and 5 new patterns in the works)

And that's Happy Quilting 2024 in a nutshell!!!! 

 For all of the details about all of the quilts from this year, see my Quilt Archive. at the top of the page.  

And I know I can't adequately put this in words, but I  just want to say a huge Thank You to all of my Happy Quilting readers!!!  You all are the best and make what I do each and every day so enjoyable.  I can't wait to share 2025 with you all ;)  

So  lets say farewell to 2024, and here's looking to 2025 filled with lots and lots of  Happy Quilting!!! 

Oh . . . and lets not forget . . . We need to announce the winner of the final Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!  The winner of the Christmas Bundle is . . .  #289 . . . Congrats rfrobles1.  I have messaged you. 

Thank you so much for sharing in the joy of Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day for the last 10 years!!! 

 And be sure to pop back in tomorrow for the start of my Monthly $5 Pattern :)