New Scraptastic Stars Layout!!!

Thank you all so much for all of your help on deciding a favorite layout for my Scraptastic Stars quilt earlier this week!!! It was so helpful to have everyone's feedback!!!   And by far, that resounding thing I got was you all really liked Option B and Option D. 

 

  And so I decided why not try and combine both!!   I love that B keeps the chain going and is small so it doesn't distract, but I love that D has a complete chain , it just seems to get a little lots in that chunky sashing.   So I went back to EQ8 and kept the chain from D but made it skinnier so it won't get so lost, and then altered the border so it is a cleaner finish.    So what do you think??

I am so loving it!!!!  I think it is the perfect finish for these awesome blocks!!!   And someone suggested using a nice charcoal grey instead of black, Now I have one more decision to make.   Both are so awesome, only time will tell which color I end up using ;)

And it sounds like you were all big fans of this being turned into a pattern, so I will add that to my list of things to work on ;)  I am super excited because I think this would just be oh so fun to teach in a class setting!!!   We could talk Leaders and Enders, Sorting Scraps, and then piecing it all together!!  So great!!!

Thanks for your help and I hope you all are having a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Night Flight Quilt

So back in January, I got to play with Halloween fabric!!!   How about that for funny timing ;)  I was doing some pattern testing and making this sample for my wonderful friends at Moda.   And how fun is this Night Flight quilt!!!   But in all honesty, I have to say, when I first opened the box to see what sample I would be making I thought, Halloween, really???     You see, I am not a huge Halloween fan from the start.   But making this quilt was such a blast, and it turned out so awesome :)  It might just change my mind about Halloween :)

The pattern is by Basic Grey and features their Hallo Harvest fabric.   It uses a Fat Eighth bundle and then some Grunge for the bats.   This Night Flight quilt pattern was released a few weeks ago and almost by the next day, the pattern was sold out.   So I thought I would wait a little bit before I posted about it, because I hate to post about this awesome quilt and then tell you, the pattern isn't available.   So I have given it some time to see if more patterns would be in stock anywhere, but alas, I figured it's best to post it before the fabric is all gone as well ;)  **Note - I did contact Fat Quarter Shop and they said they hope to have some come in, so you can click on the Notify Me button, to be emailed when the pattern is in stock ;)  

And speaking of the fabric, it was even one of Moda's cool little kits that they do all boxed up, but ya, those all sold out like hot cakes as well.  But the fun thing is, my sample quilt is actually the quilt Fat Quarter Shop used for their Quilt Kit pics, so that was a fun surprise!!!  But seriously,  I can't find a place that still has Fat Eighth's of Hallo Harvest in stock either, so maybe get a friend or two, buy up some yardage and then split it so you can all make the Night Flight quilt ;)  

So ya, basically I waited 8 months to share this awesome quilt so that I wouldn't be all, "hey look at this quilt and you won't be able to get the fabric for months and months"  only for it to turn out to be,  now you have to search and search to make it.   Sorry friends, that plan just didn't work out.   But hey,  on the bright side, it really would look awesome in any Halloween Fabrics, and it really is worth the effort of tracking down a pattern because it is oh so fun to make!!!  The quilt is a generous lap size of 58" x 72" so it would be great to drap over a couch or snuggle up with while waiting for kids to come by all dressed up.   

I am so glad I got to make this quilt, and I hope if you have added it to your want to make list, you can track down what you need to make it too.    And if anyone knows of where you can find the patterns or the Fat Eighth bundles, please let me know and I will add it here ;)     This really was a super fun quilt and I am glad it make me think happy thoughts towards Halloween, because hey, its only a few short months away ;)  

And one last note . . .while I am on the thought of Patterns running out . . . Today is the last day to take advantage of my celebrating turning 40 with a  40% off Pattern Sale!!!   I have also added Printed HARD COPY PATTERNS in my shop.  There are lots of patterns in Etsy Shopping carts, so if it's in your cart, be sure to check out before the end of the day as they will go back to regular price tomorrow morning ;) 

Thanks so much and I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking up this finish to Sarah's ;)

Tutorial Throwback Thursday - Mister DJ

It's  Thursday and that means another Tutorial Throwback feature.  Sorry this is coming a little late today.  I have spent the running to the store to get all of the fun little "props" my son needed to ask a girl to Homecoming.  I can't believe my son is doing the whole "going to the dance with a date" thing now!!!     Which of course, made me think back over all the years.   And that made me think of today's Tutorial Throwback.   A few years back (like 5) my son asked if I would make a quilt for his bed but in his words, "It had to be a cool quilt!".    So today's tutorial spotlight is the Mister DJ quilt!!

My son absolutely loved, and still does, listening to music, and all kinds of music for that matter.   So when I was trying to think of something "cool" I was reminded of my summer job when I got to be a tech specialist.  I know, totally random right!!  Can you see me all dressed in black and running the sound and lights at events.   Best Summer Job Ever!!!   Anyhow,   I thought it was super cool, and my inspiration was formed.   What better for a music loving kid than a quilt based off a sound board.  

And I just love, love love the way it turned out.     And so does he, because Mister DJ is still the quilt on his bed!!!  It is such a fun quilt to make and really goes together quite quickly and is much easier than it looks with all of those pieces.    

 What makes Mister DJ  go so fast is that it uses two jelly rolls.   So not near as much cutting as it seams.   And what really makes this quilt is choosing Jelly Rolls with a lot of low volume prints, or some high contrast between the prints.   And Low Volume is huge right now, so it isn't to difficult to find Jelly Rolls that would fit this quilt just perfect!!!   And all you need is 2 Jelly Rolls and 2 Yards of a Solid and you are set!!!   

And quilting this one is super fun and easy.   It is just perfect for an all over quilt design and a nice neutral thread just blends away in both the low and high volume prints.   I did an all over fireworks design that added to the "cool boy" vibe I was going for.  

And that is the Mister DJ quilt for this Tutorial Throwback Thursday!!!  It finishes at 70" x 89" so it is perfect for a twin size bed.   And we all know, it is harder to find "boy" inspired designs, and I really feel like this one hit the nail on the head for a boy quilt of any age ;)    And it is so fun and fast to make, you can just "rock" it out!!!

I hope you have enjoyed today's Tutorial Throwback Thursday!!!    To make your own Mister DJ  just click on any of the quilt name links for the free step by step tutorial.   And when you are done, I would love to see your quilt!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com, post it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc  or or add it to my flickr group here ;)  I can't wait to see your Mister DJ Quilts!!!

Thanks for popping in today and have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Scraptastic Stars Layout???

So I almost have two more of my Scraptastic Star Blocks done which I will be sharing soon.  But with the blocks winding down, I realized I need to decide on a layout!!!   So I sat down yesterday and stared playing with EQ8 .    And playing in EQ8 is so fun and easy, but now the only problem is, I can't decide!!   So do you think you could help a girl out here and let me know in the comments which you like the best???

Option A is where I started with just a nice, plain black sashing.

And then I decided I wanted to keep the chain going.   So Option B is a Black sashing with some White squares added in to finish the "chain" look.  

And then I wondered what it would look like with that same idea but adding cornerstones.  So Option C is a Black sashing with the chain squares as well as some White cornerstones.

And then I really got into the whole chain idea, and added in a lot more piecing.   So Option D is a larger Black sashing with some White and Black Nine Patches added in to totally finish the "chain" look.   

 And the of course, there is always that point where you circle back around and wonder if you should just keep it simple.  So Option E is just taking it back to a plain White Sashing.

So what do you think???   Which finishing style do you like best???  

Also, another question.  Last time I posted my blocks, I had questions emailed me if I could teach this as a class or if I would make it into a full pattern with size options.  So now I am curious??  Would you like to see this as a full on Happy Quilting Pattern with the alterations to the original free pattern and size options and finishing instructions??

So ya, know you have two opinions to weigh in on ;)

Oh, and one last thing.  Speaking of Patterns . . . I am celebrating turning 40 with a  40% off Pattern Sale!!!  The sale will go until Friday and I have also added Printed HARD COPY PATTERNS in my shop.  So if you see a quilt you want to make but can't be in class because you are far away, now is the time to pick up the pattern for it ;)

  

Thanks for your help today and I hope you all are having a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

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

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway :)

The winner of the Moda August Basics Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop is . . .  Number #133 . . .   Congrats Linda!!!   I have emailed you :)   

 

        

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Green Fairy Quilts  .  Green Fairy Quilts is your home for pre-cut goodness with amazing sales going on every weekend  and a  Deal of The Day!!!    And Right now, they are celebrating their 11th Anniversary with huge savings!!!!  Charm Packs are 40% off, Fat Eighth Bundles are 40-50% off,  Ruby Star Society Precuts are 50% off, and all Jelly Rolls are on clearance starting at $20!!!   You won't want to miss this amazing deals!!! 

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway, Green Fairy Quilts will be giving one lucky reader a Anagram Fat Quarter Bundle by Kimberly Kight for Ruby Star Society for Moda!!  I love this line with all of it's fun colors and prints!!!  It will make such a wonderful project :)  

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 what was the last book you read (or listened to) ??

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Green Fairy Quilts love.   You can Sign up for their Newsletter which I highly recommend as it will ensure you catch all of their amazing sales!!  You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook,  or you can visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Green Fairy Quilt Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, August 27th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!