Fat Quarter Favorites!!!

It's funny how the timing of things work out ;)  I am still reeling from excitement of finishing my Splendid Sampler quilt yesterday that had waited for a year to be finished, and now today, I get to share 3 quilts that I have been keeping a secret for over year!!!   So exciting to finally get to share these finishes!!!

So early last year I was asked if I wanted to contribute to a Fat-Quarter Favorites book.  These would be quilts that are made strictly with Fat Quarters!!!   And you all know how much I love Fat Quarters, I was all over this!!!   I submitted a few designs and was thrilled a few weeks later to hear that not 1, but all 3 designs I submitted were accepted for the book!!!   And I got stitching :)

The first quilt is Double Dutch and was inspired by the idea of turning pinwheels into dutch windmills, hence the name ;)   I used Fat Quarters from Lella Botique's Farmer's Daugther line for Moda and love the way it allowed me to add a 4 color scheme in the quilt while still having a great variety of prints.   And don't you just love those 4 colors together.  And all you need to make it is 16 Fat Quarters and some background!!! 

My second quilt in the book is How They Shine.  And you all know how much I love Star Quilts!!!   And I love the secondary design that is created in this quilt by changing out the background and print layout.   It is a super fun one to make and I used Corey Yoder's Flower Mill line for Moda that really makes each block pop.  And all you need to make it is 20 Fat Quarters and some background!!!

And last, but not least, my third quilt in the book is called Red Cross.   And I just love this design and it's wonderful geometric interlocking puzzle.   And it was so super fun to piece together!!!  And picking out all of the fabrics, just as fun ;)    I used a whole variety of shades of red all from different fabric designers for Moda.   I love the way all the different shades play together, and then you use the last of the fat quarter scraps for a wonderful scrappy sashing that gives that finishes off the interlocking design and creates some fun secondary designs.     It's just so fun!!!   And again, all you need is 16 Fat Quarters and some background!!!

And those are my three quilts in Fat Quarter Favorites!!!   I will be back next week with individual posts on each of these three quilts to share more of the details in the design, piecing, and quilting ;)  But for now, I am just thrilled to finally get to share these quilts!!!  

And this book is filled with so many more amazing designs that are all made with our favorite stashed Fat Quarters!!!   If you are like me and have stacks of Bundles and Individual Fat Quarters, you need Fat Quarter Favorites in your quilting library ;)    And if you are lucky, you can pop on over to Martingale and enter in a chance to win your own e-copy!!!    And even if you don't win, you can still pop over to see lots more of all the great quilts in Fat-Quarter Favorites!!!    

Good Luck and I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!  

Splendid Sampler Finish!!!

A Year to Make, A Year to Wait and finally, my Splendid Sampler is Done!!!!  And I couldn't be more thrilled!!!!

So ya, if you have been following along with my blog for a while, you know that pretty much every Saturday of 2016 was spent working on my Splendid Sampler blocks.   And then in early 2017 I shared over here the book release  and how I was so close to having my quilt top done.   And I am happy to say, I finished the quilt top and the backing in May of 2017.  And then somehow there was a Year Long Wait!!!   

Honestly, I don't know why it sat for so long.   I knew I wanted to spend some time on it to really do some custom quilting in lots of colors, and there always just seemed to be a deadline that needed to be met.    But lucky for me, I managed to create a deadline for this quilt, because nothing gets me to a finish like a deadline.   So what is that "deadline" you ask . . . .Well it's the Splendid Sampler 2!!!!   Yup, it's back again with 80 new designers and 100 new blocks ;)  So exciting!!!!   And I told myself what better way to celebrate the launch of the Splendid Sampler 2, then with the finish of my original Splendid Sampler!!!!

I can not even begin to say how much fun I had making the blocks for this quilt.   I delighted each week in picking out fun fabrics from my scrap bin in colors of the rainbow.   I loved trying new techniques, and mostly, doing a lot of tiny piecing.   And mostly, I loved getting to be a part of such a huge group of quilters working on this!!!  It truly was a world wide project that made it just so amazing!!!

And like I said, I knew I wanted to do some equally amazing quilting ;)   So with lots of changing of threads, I quilted swirls in the background in white, echoed arches in the chain in black, and then I stitched in the ditch on the pieced blocks and did a simple scalloped outline on the applique blocks with a variegated thread of each 6 basic colors.   The stitching in the ditch took a while and I am still not great at it, but I just love how it makes all of the tiny piecing just pop!!!  So worth the time :)

And just fYI, that purple heart block above, ya, that's my block that I designed for the Splendid Sampler.  It's called Lots of Love, and it was so fun to make ;)    And all that love in the quilting made for lots of cool texture as well.   How fun does it look on the back of the quilt!!!  I love the swirls and arch combo, so neat!!! 

And since I am sure that little sneak peak of the back has got you wondering, here is a full shot of the back :)    It's a Grunge Rainbow!!!  Eeekkk, you all know how I am all googly eyes over Grunge  ;)   I used up all of the leftover yardage of Grunge fabrics that I had from other projects to piece this giant back and I just love it!!!

And I have to say, I am just so happy with the layout I choose to highlight these blocks ;)  You all know how much I love Irish Chain Quilts, so the idea to put these in an Irish Chain Setting just made me smile from ear to ear.  And it turned out even better than I had seen it in my head!!!

And since I was asked over a year ago to share how I did this layout . . .here is a quick mini tutorial :)

For a King Size measuring 98" x 98" you will need: 
                                                   72 Splendid Sampler Blocks  -  (Or any 6" finished blocks)
                                                   72 Black and White 9 Patch Blocks -
                                                         -Make from 360 Black 2 1/2" squares & 288 White 2 1/2" squares
                                                   312 White  2 1/2" x 6 1/2"  Sashing Strips
                                                  169 Black 2 1/2" squares for Cornerstones

For a Queen Size measuring 90" x 90"you will need:                     
                                                   60 Splendid Sampler Blocks  -  (Or any 6" finished blocks)
                                                   61 Black and White 9 Patch Blocks -
                                                         -Make from 305 Black 2 1/2" squares & 244 White 2 1/2" squares
                                                   264 White  2 1/2" x 6 1/2"  Sashing Strips
                                                  144 Black 2 1/2" squares for Cornerstones

To make your 9 Patches, simply layout 5 Black Squares and 4 White squares as shown.  I used scrappy squares in all kinds of prints, but you can use solids if you prefer (in which case I would strip piece these ;)  Sew the squares into 3 rows of 3 blocks each and press the seam allowances towards the black squares.  This will allow you to nest the seams when you now sew the three rows together.   And just rinse and repeat to make your designated number of 9 patch blocks!   (I used these as my Leaders and Enders for quite a while ;) 

Then you will have a stack of 6" pieced blocks and a stack of Black and White 9 patch blocks that will look a little like this ;)   Now just lay out the blocks according to the diagram above.   And if you want to change your color layout, that is fine, just be sure to alternate pieced blocks and 9 patch blocks ;)

Once you have a layout you like, you can piece your rows together adding a Sashing strip between each block.   So for example, this is the first Block Row in the King Size quilt.   Simply sew all of the blocks and strips in a row and then press the seam allowances towards the Sashing strips.  Repeat for all the Block Rows in your quilt ;)

Then you need to make some Sashing Rows.   Simply sew a Black Cornerstone to a Sashing Strip and repeat for the designated number of pieces in your layout.   (King will have 12 Sashing Strips and 13 Cornerstones and Queen will have 11 Sashing Strips and 12 Cornerstones) Press the seam allowance towards the Sashing Strips.  Which Yes, means you are pressing to the light, but this will allow you to nest your seams ;)

Now all you have to do is sew your rows together ;)  I like to sew a Sashing Row to each of my Block Rows first (and two to the last row) and then I will Sew the Sashed Rows together ;)  Just be sure to follow your layout!!   And before you know it, you will have a super fun Splendid Sampler Irish Chain!!!  

And that is my Splendid Sampler Finish!!!!  And I am just so super, duper excited that it is now all finished!!!   This was truly a project that had a whole Lot of of Love put into it and I am so grateful to all of the wonderful friends that I made along the way.   And if you missed participating in this Splendid Sampler, I would highly recommend popping over to the Splendid Sampler site and checking out the Quilt Along for the Splendid Sampler 2.  It's going to be so much fun!!!   

That's all for today ;)  I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!! 

Teaching Time - Panguitch Quilt Walk!!!

 I just love getting to teach at the Panguitch Quilt Walk!!!  The classes are always so much fun and just filled with the nicest people!!   I love that I get to see friends that I have met and had in classes over the 7 years I have been teaching there.   And of course, there are always new faces and friends to be made and it is just such a happy atmosphere.   We truly are happy quilting!!!

The first class I taught was on Friday morning and it was my  Corckscrew Pattern :) This is always a fun class to teach!!!   I just love watching these blocks come together and it is always fun to see what fabrics and colors everyone chooses to use.   The rainbow goodness in this class is just enough to keep you smiling for hours after ;)   So fantastic!!

And here is a closer look at each of their blocks. Everyone did such a great job in class.   They sewed and laughed and sewed some more and had such beautiful finishes.   And see that middle picture on the top row, she hand dyed her fabrics!!!  So gorgeous, I totally want to take a class to learn to do that!!!    And the first picture in the second row, ya,she was such a trooper.  She accidentally left a few pieces of her blue fabric at home so she couldn't finish her block, but she did partial seams to put as much of it together as she could.  So fun!!!  This was a fantastic class and I was so grateful to share the morning with these amazing ladies :)

And then after a wonderful lunch provided by the gals at the Quilt Walk and a fantastic Trunk Show by Jina Barney, it was time for my next class.   And I was super excited to be teaching one of my newer patterns, the Playful Posies Pattern.     I am always a little nervous the first time I teach a class because although I check my patterns over and over, if a mistake happens to slip through, it is normally a class where it is pointed out to me.   But yippee, not an error could be found, and everyone did such a great job!!!   And it's always fun when the blocks are different sizes depending on the size quilt they are making.   Isn't it so fun to see them all together in all their size and fabric and layout variations ;)

And I was so excited to see all of the different fabrics that everyone choose for the blocks!!!  It never ceases to amaze me how much it changes things up just to change the fabric that is being used.  From Batiks, to 30's, to Brights, and even a 4th of July block.   Everyone had such great finishes!!! 

And last but not least, I know I have mentioned it before, but I love, love, love when students from past years bring back their quilts and share their finishes with me :)   It is just so neat to see what started as a block in class, all finished and quilted :)   And this year, I had one student that brought back two quilts she had made from my classes in the previous two years.    This is her gorgeous Petal Pop quilt that she made with April Rosenthal's Sweet Marion fabric.   Isn't it just so pretty in those beautiful bold colors!!!   And she did her own quilting as well,  just so pretty!!!   

 (FYI,  all these patterns are available in my Craftsy Shop or in my Etsy Shop  if you see one you want to make :)

And she also brought back her finished End of the Rainbow Quilt from my Irish Chain Quilts book.    I just love how happy and bright her beautiful rainbow is!!!  And aren't her background low volume's just so fun!!   She really played up that background and it just looks amazing!!  Such a beautiful finish and I am so glad I got to see it all done ;)

And what a wonderful weekend this retreat was!!!   I know I say it every time, but I truly just love being able to teach!!!  It is so wonderful to get to share my love for this amazing industry and the wonderful way it allows each of us to create in our own way ;)   I can't wait for next year!!!

And if you are in the Utah Area, the Utah Quilt Guild is holding Quilt Fest 2018 in September and I am super excited to be teaching three classes there!!!   Maybe I will see you in one of them ;)  

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

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day so let's have some fun :)

But first, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the Cake Mix of your choice from Olie and Evie is . . .   Number #149 . . .   Congrats jrt14!!!   I have emailed you :)      

  

     

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co.  Julie has a fantastic new shop with lots of amazing fabric goodness!!!  And, she always has amazing prices (including the awesome Clearance Selection) that make it so fun to fill up a cart ;)   And Julie is also giving all Happy Quilting readers $5 off a $20 or more purchase with code SUMMERFUN!!!  How awesome is that!! 

And the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway from The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. is 2 Grand Canal Charm Packs by Kate Spain for Moda!!!  I just love everything Kate designs and I love the happy colors and prints of this gorgeous line!! And you can never have enough Charm Packs ;)  

You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me if you have any fun summer plans??   (We have family reunions, camps, and a trip to LA to see the Dodgers play planned, good times!!!)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. love.   You can follow them on   Facebook,  or Sign up for their Newsletter (just scroll down a bit) .  Or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, June 19th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

A New Long (Long, Long) Term Project

When Moda announced they were releasing a new Dessert Sampler quilt I knew right away that I had to make this quilt!!!  It reminded me of the Modern Building Blocks sampler that they did a few years back that I had so much fun making ;)  And of course, there are Kits using the new Color Cuts (so dreamy!!!) that this quilt was design for, but I was thinking this would be a great way to bust through some of my scraps :)

That was until I stopped and checked the Flash Sale of the day at Fat Quarter Shop before checking out with just my pattern ;)    Which just happened to be an Ella and Ollie Layer Cake ;)   And that totally sparked a new idea that was just to great not to do!!!

How gorgeous would it be to make a Figgy Dessert Sampler!!!!   I had 3 other Figgy Layer cakes stashed and the fabric requirements work out to be basically 4 Layer Cakes, so add the new one I threw in my cart, a Cupcake 1 and 2 Mix that the pattern calls for, and I am so good to go!!!   I am so excited!!!    And now I am just burning Stash instead of Scraps, and that's great too, right ;)

And I know there are some Sew Alongs out there for this Dessert Sampler, but my plan is to take this one nice and slow!!!   It's not often I can work on a quilt one block at a time, enjoying the process of seeing each individual block come together, and I want to take advantage of that for this quilt ;)   So no deadlines, no cutting out every block before I even start, I am just going to take this as it comes and enjoy every minute of it.    And with that said, I am sure it will come to a point where I just can't wait to see it all come together, and drop everything to sew it all up, but hey, here's to trying to start out thinking of it as a long (long, long) term project ;)  

So how about you???  Do you have a Long Term project that you are working on??