Friday, July 31, 2015

Unraveled - The Cottage Garden Edition

And it's finished, and just in the nick of time ;)   First, some back story . . .   When I first heard that the Modern Quilt Guild Challenge sponsored by Riley Blake was using Amanda Herring aka the Quilted Fish's The Cottage Garden line I was so excited!!!  I used this line once before for this quilt tutorial and loved it, and I was so excited to return to it once again.  I just love the colors and the beautiful designs!!!   And then, as I explained in this post, inspiration hit and I knew that this fabric line would be just perfect for my Unraveled quilt design from my new book,  Irish Chain Quilts.  And here it is!!!!  Unraveled . . . The Cottage Garden Edition :)


This quilt was so much fun to make once again.  And I just love the way the chain just comes "unraveled" and disappears into the negative space of the quilt.  Such a fun way to add that Modern Twist to a beautiful traditional chain.   And don't you just love those colors of fabric, they just pop off of that beautiful white background so nicely ;)


I really wanted to do something fun and detailed in the quilting as I had so much negative space to work with.   So I decided to incorporate some of my favorite designs and mix them all up to create a beautiful flow or lines.   So there are Swirls, Echoed Paisley's, Pebbles, and Curly Q's.


And then I played with the scale of those designs.   In the bottom left corner they start out small, and then midway through the quilt they move to more large, and where the chain starts to unravel the design gets large and fills in all that beautiful space.   It is kind of hard to see, but I also quilted in the missing chains with the same double arches as the chains.  I love how they blend in so you don't notice it right off, but then you see it and it's like, Yes, the Chain does finish ;)


And look at all of that super yummy quilt texture ;)   Oh that just makes me smile ;)


Unraveled measures 63" x 75" making it perfect to snuggle up with on the couch with a good book.  And since I just started a new book, I just might do that this afternoon ;)


And that is Unraveled - The Cottage Garden Edition.   I hope you love it as much as I do.   And if you make this or any of the quilts from my Irish Chain Quilts book I would love to see them!!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or use the #irishchainquilts in social media and I will find it ;)


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

Linking up this finish to Amanda's and Sarah's ;)
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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Playing with Scale in Quilting

Yesterday was an all out long arm quilting kind of day.  And, oh I had so much fun!!!   Majority of it was spent on my Unraveled Quilt Top for the Modern Quilt Guild Challenge, yup, due tomorrow :)   Like the original quilt in Irish Chain Quilts, I decided to once again play with the scale of the design.  Only this time, I added a few more designs.  Some of my favorites, Swirls, Echoed Paisleys, Curly Qs, and Pebbling all combined to just flow beautifully over the quilt top.

Playing with scale in your quilting is such a fun way to add a lot of interest.  All three of these next pictures cover the same amount of space in the quilt and you can really see how much the scale changes from

Large

to Medium
  


And down to Small


Love it!!!   And it really is a fun way to quilt as you can keep changing things up.  I just used my spray and disappear blue pen to mark the guidelines of where I wanted each size.  My favorite places to quilt is where it transitions from one size to another ;)   I just have to get the binding on now and I will share the finished quilt tomorrow.   So excited!!!!!

And I was on such a roll when I finished my MQG quilt, I decided to throw on this little secret Christmas project as well.   I know, not much of a sneak peek, but I can't wait to share it next week!!!  Don't you just love the way tiny pebbling looks like lots of little snowballs.  So fun!!!
   

Wishing you a Happy Quilting Day!!!!   I am off to finish some binding ;)


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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

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

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of the That Patchwork Place 2016 Quilt Calendar is . . .   Number #133 . . . Congrats Amanda Best !!!   I have emailed you :) 
    

     




    
And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Intrepid Thread!!  Julie is currently hosting her Christmas In July Sale!!!!   You won't want to miss out on these amazing good deals!!!  You can find all of the details and links for the sale here!!    (Can we say super sale on Free Spirit, Art Gallery, and Holiday Fabric!!!!)   Sale will last until Midnight 7/29 so don't be late ;)  
   


Today's  Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for this stunning Custom Apple Pie and Soda Pop Fat Quarter Bundle  that Julie crated just for this occasion!!!  Isn't it just so happy, makes me totally want to go to the park for a picnic!!!  And oh,  I just love those apples!!!  Oh, and it also comes in a Half Yard Bundle :)  



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 telling me what kind of apple is your favorite.   We love Granny Smith Apples around our house ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your The Intrepid Thread love. You can follow them on FacebookBloglovin,  or Instagram.  You can Sign up for The Intrepid Thread Newsletter (right side bar) ,  Follow Their Blog, or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your The Intrepid Thread love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, August 4th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Monday, July 27, 2015

A Boatload of Bee Blocks!!

Well, it was a productive weekend and I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to start Monday Morning all caught up on my Bee Blocks!!!!  Just in time for the new August ones ;)   So here is what I was sewing this weekend.

First, the catch up blocks.   The June block for the Bees Knees group was for Amy of Diary of a Quilter and she asked us to make a 20" Swoon Block, and oh my, I just love the way it turned out!!!  I absolutely loved making this with all of those wonderful points to match up!!  So fun!!!  And the fabrics Amy sent, fabulous!!!!  Every time I make one of these blocks for a bee, I tell myself I am going to make the full quilt . . . someday ;)


The June block for the Beejeebers Bee group were these fun X blocks for Cathy ;)  We used the ever popular Badskirt Tutorial to make these ;)  I love the colors Cathy choose and had a lot of fun putting these together.   I had made them before, so they went together super fast, and yes, once again, I loved all of those points to line up :)


And on to July's blocks!!!   For the Bees Knees group,  Calli from Make it Do asked us to make some traditional T blocks.  This was my first time making the T blocks and they were fun and fast.   I think I might have to make some more of these in the future ;)


And finally, the July Beejeebers block was for Celeste, and she asked us to make a Quasar Star in wonderful Red White and Blue.   I still had all of my scraps out from the Log Cabin Block Swap so this was super easy to pick fabrics for ;)   Here is the tutorial we used for the block, and Celeste whipped up these measurements to upsize it to 12".
White (4) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares (8) 2" x 2" squares  (8) 2" x 3 1/2" rectangles
Blue  (4) 2" x 2" squares  (4) 2" x 6 1/2" rectangles
Red (4) 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares  (4) 2" x 3 1/2" rectangles  
(4) 2" x 5" rectangles 
 And of course, I totally want to make an entire quilt of these.  So pretty!!!!

I am starting to notice a trend that with each new month's bee block, I add another quilt to my ever growing list of quilts I want to make.  Please tell me I am not the only one that does this ;)

But all is well, because I am all caught up ;)  For the next week at least ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!!
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Friday, July 24, 2015

Weekend Sewing Plans

So this is the first weekend in July and a good part of June that I am actually home for the entire weekend.  Ya, things have been a little crazy busy around here, but in that good Summer Time Fun kind of way.   So I have some big plans for my first weekend home . . . and you better believe they include lots and lots of patchwork.

First up, I am staring a new little Christmas in July project :)   I love Kate Spain's new Jingle line, so fun!!!!   And I have something so adorable planned for this that I will be sharing soon.  Can't wait to start piecing it together!!


Next, I have my Unraveled Quilt from Irish Chain Quilts all pieced together into row, now I just need to get the rows sewn together and then I can move onto the quilting ;)  I have until July 31st to finish this for the MQG Challenge, so I would love to really get a lot done on it this weekend!


And finally, which I should have probably mentioned first, I have to catch up on some bee blocks.  I am normally never late on my bee blocks and these are just itching to be sewn up.   And they are such cute blocks too, I am looking forward to sharing them.    I have June's to get caught up on and July's to get done.   So 4 bee blocks, it is going to be so fun!!


So here is hoping everything plays along so I can spend some serious time in my sewing room this weekend ;)  

So, so you have some Happy Quilting Weekend plans too??  What are you going to work on???
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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Log Cabin Swap Fun!!!

My good friend Lissa from Moda Lissa put together an awesome Log Cabin Swap this last month and I was so excited to be asked to be a part of it!!!  The idea was pretty simple.   Start off with some beautiful strips of Red, White, and Blue, with a touch of Gold for fun!  Check


Then make those strips into 12 Log Cabin Blocks.   It didn't matter what width the strips were, we could go as scrappy as we wanted (just not wonky) except for the last row had to be a certain size to allow for trimming down the line.  I worked on these last weekend while I was sewing at my Moms.  So fun!!!


I almost got them all finished and of course, ran out of strips on the last border of logs.   I totally thought I had cut enough, but no worries, that just uses up more scraps right ;)  So after getting back home and the house back in order, I finally got to finishing the last outer border of logs on Monday night.    12 beautiful log cabin blocks in festive Red, White, and Blue!!!  


But here is where the fun swap part comes in ;)   As part of the swap, we have been instructed to take our finished Log Cabin Blocks and Quarter them.   Don't they just make the coolest layout once they have been cut and mixed up!!!! 


I keep 12 quarters and send the rest onto Lissa in Texas where she will be mixing them up with everyone else's quarter blocks and before to long I will get a package back in the mail with a whole mix of fun Log Cabin Quarters that I can put with my reserved 12 to make a quilt top that looks like the above, but with even more scrappy goodness!!!  Oh my, oh my, I can hardly wait!!!!  I am so excited, I really have wanted to make a festive July quilt and this swap was just what I needed to shoot it to the top of the priority list ;)

To check out more of the blocks you can follow #logcabinswapfun on facebook and instagram ;)

I be sure and share the new scrappy layout as soon as I get the other blocks back :)

Hope you are Having a Happy Quilting Day!!!

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Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day - Miss March Edition!!!

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

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of $20.00 Gift Certificate and the Paradiso Blue Lagoon Fat Quarter Set from  Shabby Fabrics is . . .   Number #43 . . . Congrats Vicki in MN!!!   I have emailed you :) 
    

     


    
And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is just a little different.  You see, I have something fun to share and a giveaway to go with it, so why not do it on TTGD!!!!!   A few months ago, I found out that one of my Irish Chain Quilts was being featured in the That Patchwork Place 2016 Quilt Calendar!!!!  EEEkk, So exciting!!!!


So, what quilt was featured you might ask . . . well, the classic black and white, String of Pearls is the quilt and I bet you can guess what month it happens to be on.  Yup, March!!!!   Irish and March just go together, right!!!  And I have to say, my kids got a kick out of me telling them Mom is  Miss March :)


Every quilt featured in the calendar has complete instructions and patterns, and this thing is packed with 12 amazing projects by so many amazing and talented quilters!!!!   You are gonna love it!!!



And the kind folks at Martingale have provided me with a Calendar to giveaway to one lucky Happy Quilting Reader!!!!!   So fun!!!  



We are just going to do one entry today per person.    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 month is your favorite and why :)  

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, July 28th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Monday, July 20, 2015

More Charming Totes

So remember when I made up all of those adorable Charming Totes last December . . . Well, I was at it again this weekend, only this time I got to sew with my Mom!!!! The family and I headed to Salt Lake this last weekend for a fun filled time.  While the boys did a big ole hike up Kings Peak the girls had some sewing fun :)  I don't get to sew with my Mom very often, so I just loved every minute of it!!!


My mom loved the bags I made for my nieces last December, and wanted to make 2 for some of my other nieces.   So this first one is my sweet niece Audrey who is 8 and is made with a Life In the Jungle by Doohikey Designs Charm Pack from Riley Blake Designs and lined with Happy Flappers by Kelly Panacci from Riley Blake Designs.


And then for sweet little Emma, we used Vintage Market by Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Designs and it is lined it with the awesome navy stripe from the same line.


And since we were making these assembly line fashion, I decided it was high time I made my boys their own Piano Tote Bags, as their sister got hers last December.   And you just can't go wrong with Zen Chic for boys!!!  I love her awesome lines.   The first bag is for Spencer, 12, and he choose Figures and it is lined with a print from Sphere, all by Zen Chic.


And for Kristian, my fisty 8 year old, he absolutely loved Comma by Zen Chic.  And I lined this one with a print from my stash that I can't remember who did it and the selvage was gone.  So sorry about that.


And then another niece, who is 8, and was staying at my mom's while her dad hiked and her mom worked, saw us working on these totes and requested one of her own.  And of course, I just had some extra charm packs that I brought along ;)   So, we whipped up this one using Spot On by Studio for Robert Kaufman Fabrics and lined it with some Simply Colorful by Vanessa Christensen for Moda :)


And those are the bags we made.   I had so much fun sewing these up with my mom!!!!  The basic tutorial I used is here and I just changed a few of the steps that are reflected in my Reversiable Bag tutorial here.   (I just used regular batting though, these aren't reversible. )    And yes, my two youngest daughters have already requested theirs and are picking out charm packs.  Looks like I will be making more totes this Christmas as well ;)   I think I need to buy some more Charm Packs ;)


It was so much fun to get to sew with my Mom!!!  I will share more of what we worked on soon ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Linking up to Quilt Story ;)
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Thursday, July 16, 2015

Streamers Quilt - Quilted Living Blog Hop

Today is my stop on the  Quilted Living Blog Hop that Fat Quarter Shop is hosting and I am so excited to share my newest quilt finish for it!!!  So, let's get right to it.   This is my new Streamers Quilt!!!!


Quilted Living is written by Gerri Robinson of Planted Seed Designs.  Quilted Living is filled with 10 amazing designs for summer time.  They are absolutely fabulous and just make you want to visit a beach, or light some fireworks :)   The directions are super easy to follow and the diagrams are wonderful.  And the pictures in the book are gorgeous.   Just an all around winner!!!


Seriously, the hardest part of this blog hop was deciding which project from the Quilted Living Book to make.  They are all just so great!!! But in the end, I decided on the Streamers Quilt :)  It is just so fun and I love all the movement. Also, the biggest thing that drew me to this quilt . . .


When you look at it from an angle, it has a chain design!!!!  And we all know how much I love (Irish) Chain designs!!!!!   So fun!!!!  


I was also super excited to use my Pie Making Day Bundle that I got at Sample Spree.   This is Brenda Ratliff's first collection with RJR Fabrics and I loved it the second I saw it and have been so excited to cut into it.  And it was absolutely perfect for this Streamers design.  I love that every print is tone on tone so it really makes the design stand out!!!   And I just love, love, love all of those yummy, rich colors!!!


When it came time to quilt, I figured a Streamers quilt with a summer blog hop called for some fireworks quilting.  I did my little bursts in a smaller scale than usual and had so much fun with it.   And, of course, I used my favorite 402 So Fine thread for that perfect blend.  (in fact, it blends so well it is kind of hard to see, sorry about that.)


But I absolutely love all of that beautiful texture!!!   So fun, huh ;)  This quilt was so much fun to make and it went together super easy and super quick.  A great go-to summer throw!!!   I love my new Streamers Quilt and I can't wait to go curl up with it under a tree out back with a good book ;)


Thank you so much to Gerri and Fat Quarter Shop for having me a part of this wonderful Blog Hop.   Be sure to pop on over to the Fat Quarter Shops Welcome Post as there might just be a fabulous giveaway to go along with the hop!!!!  You can also find the hop schedule in that post so you can be sure and catch all of the Quilted Living goodness!!!


Thanks for stopping in today and have a Happy Quilting Day!!!!

Linking up my Streamers Quilt Finish to Sarah's and Amanda's :)

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