2019 in the Books . . . Bring on 2020!!!!

Wow, what a year . . . an so exciting to be moving into a new decade.   I just love this end of year post that allows me to step back and see what the year has brought me.   And looking forward to this new year is just so exciting, its a whole new decade and I will also be celebrating a decade of writting Happy Quilting.  Just Wow  !!!!  So let's take a look of what has been happening over the past year!!

41 Quilts 

 (including sneak peeks at some new patterns to be released in 2020 that I haven't shared yet :)

8 Mini's & Projects

 Countless Blocks including:
Bee, Dessert Sampler, Goodness Grows, Scraptastic Stars, and Surrounded  

And a Whole lot of Teaching!!! 

And One New Book, On it's Way!!! 

And that's Happy Quilting 2019!!!! Wow, what an incredible year!!!   And it is just so amazing to see it all together in one neat little summary ;)   You can see more details about all of the quilts in my Archive Cont. Tab at the top of the page including links to the quilts with tutorials and of course, the annual Quilt Along ;)

As I look back over this past year, I just can't even express how grateful I am to have found this amazing industry to be a part of.  I just love doing what I do each and every day!!!   I am so blessed by all of the wonderful friends I have made through this quilting journey, and I look forward to making many more.  Thank you so much for reaching out to me in comments, emails, and sharing your pictures.  It just warms my heart and again, reminds me of how blessed I am to be able to enjoy Happy Quilting every day :)

And now, It's time to look forward to 2020!!!

Wow, that is just crazy.  2020!!!  A new Decade and a celebration of writting Happy Quilting for a Decade ;)  Just amazing!!!

So what does 2020 hold in store . . . Lot's more Happy Quilting :)     Of course, my new book comes out in March of 2020 and a Quilt Along from the book will follow soon after that.  I have 5 New Patterns that are all just needing to be written, and I hope to have them done in the beginning of 2020.   And of course, there will be lots of daily Happy Quilting fun!!!

Each year, I hang a little print off in my sewing room that serves as a daily reminder of what I want to accomplish creatively in the year while trying to keep up with life as well ;)   Which is going to be a little crazy as we are going to be adding a Kitchen Remodel into the mix in 2020 as well.  (that should be crazy fun!!!)  So I have made my goals accordingly.    Some of these are repeats from previous years and some are new, but all are important for me on this amazing journey.

1 -  Priorities, Priorities, Priorities
2 -  Daily Enjoyment and Accomplishment
3 -  Remember the Big Picture
4 -  Family First and Foremost

And again, these probably only make sense to me but there are so many thoughts tied up in each of those little statements.   They will  be wonderful reminders to me each and every day and I look forward to them guiding me in my 2020 Creative Journey!!

And One Last Thought Before I Wrap This Up . . . Thank you!!!!

I know those are just two simple little words, but I mean them truly.   I can't believe I have been writting here for almost 10 years, and if it weren't for all of you, I wouldn't be.   I am so incredibly grateful for each of you and am blessed to have been able to share this little space for almost a decade!!!

And I guess that means it is time to say goodbye to 2019 and look towards 2020!!!!!  Here is looking forward to lots and lots of Happy Quilting!!!!!!

December Sew Sampler!!

Hi All!!!  It's been a little quiet around here lately (as in I haven't posted for 10 days)  With the kids off school, I have been enjoying the holiday season with lots of wonderful family time, including visiting family from out of town which is so fantastic!!!    Food, Fun, and Family my favorite's of the season.   But things are starting to slow down, so today I wanted to pop back in and share a fun little present I tucked under the tree for myself . . . My December Sew Sampler Box!!!

This month's box theme is Vintage Soul and it is just full to the brim with lots of Lori Holt Goodness!!!  And we all know, she has so much quilting goodness to go around :)

I can't wait to make up this adorable Sweet Daisy Table Runner!!!  It is an exclusive pattern and I just think it is oh so cute ;)    And the Vintage Happy 2 Stacker is just so wonderful!!!  I love Lori's charming colors and vintage prints.   This is going to be just perfect for my dining room table this Spring ;)   And nothing chases away snowy blues like sewing with spring fabrics ;)  

And this month's notions are more of  Lori Holt Goodness!!!  That gal blows me away with all she does, just so awesome!!!   I am super excited for this Quick Press Seam Roller.  It will be fantastic for quilt classes ;)    And the Cute Point Protectors will be wonderful to keep little fingers safe from my stacks of scissors :)

And of course, there is a Goodness Grows Block!!!  This month the block is called  Rise Above  and it was a fun and fast block!!!  And who doesn't just love plaid!!!  Such a cute way to fill a big space :)    Oh, and just a reminder, if you are wanting to make your Goodness Grows quilt in the same fabrics I am,  the Sugarcreek Goodness Grows Quilt Kits are now in stock and there is also a Sugarcreek Backing set.   I am just loving seeing these blocks come together each month in these gorgeous fabrics and can't wait to share it all finished up.   Only 3 more blocks to go :)

And that is my December Sew Sampler box  :)  It was so fun that it came in time to tuck it under the tree and open it Christmas Morning ;)   

 Oh, and FYI, the Sew Sampler Box membership is full again, but you can get on the wait list and spots open up fast ;)

I will be back tomorrow with a year end wrap up and I am so excited.  It's one of my favorite posts of the year!!! 

hope you are all having a Happy Quilting Day!!

Charming Baby Quilts Cover!!!

Monday was the photo shoot for my new Charming Baby Quilts book :)  It was so fun to have the images for the book texted to me throughout the day.  (Thanks so much It's Sew Emma for that!!!) And the picture that was just so exciting . . . the cover image!!!!    And I am so excited to get to share it this morning!!!  Isn't that just precious!!! 

The photo shoot took place at an adorable children's store in Texas and the gals at It's Sew Emma did such an amazing job!!!  They just captured the nature and feel of this book so perfectly!!!   I mean, how adorable is this!!!!

And of course, I will have lots and lots more pictures to share over the next few month's as it get's closer to the release of Charming Baby Quilts.   It's so fun to get to share peeks of these quilts!!!   And it makes me realize it is going to be so hard to wait for March :) 

And here is the back cover!!!   Isn't that stack of Charming Baby Quilts just so fun!!!  It is so great seeing them all together :)   And I just love that each quilt is made with  with one, two, or three charm packs!!   Because let's be honest, we all have a stack of charm packs that we just want to create with :)  And Charming Baby Quilts is perfect for just that!!!! 

 And just as a reminder . . . Charming Baby Quilts will be released in March of 2020 and it is available for pre-order!!!  You can pre-order a copy of Charming Baby Quilts directly from It's Sew Emma, or from Fat Quarter Shop (with a pre-order discount) , or if you would like to pre-order a signed copy directly from me, that is an option as well ;)   All pre-ordered books will ship out in March 2020   

Oh, and I just found out  . . . Kimberly shared all of the quilts from Charming Baby Quilts on her Behind the Seams Chat today.  So fun, and she even shared the Quilt Along we will be doing with the book so now I can share it here as well!!!    So excited for this QAL!!!

What a fun day of sharing!!!!   Thanks for all popping in today and being a part of this super exciting project ;)   I can't wait to share more with you all!!!

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

Tutorial Throwback Thursday - Classic Christmas!!!

Well it's Thursday, and so it is time for another Christmas throwbackbut today we are not going back to far.  Just a year and a half to my Classic Christmas Quilt!!! I love that this quilt is truly a classic!!  Red, Green, White with Simple Patchwork and Stars, it just doesn't get more Classic Christmas than that ;)

The inspiration for this quilt goes a ways back.  My husband and I were married in December and my now Sister In Law, gave us a Christmas quilt for our wedding.  It was a tied quilt with a Classic Christmas Cheater print full of stars in red and green.  I loved that quilt, and after it was "over-loved" by our sweet children, I set out to recreate a new family Classic Christmas quilt . . . and here it is.    

Classic Christmas is made using my favorite No Waste Flying Geese method.  And they chain stitch  in no time which means this quilt goes together a lot faster than it looks.   It really is a fun quilt to make and allows you to use wonderful reds and greens in the simple patchwork and then highlight some favorite low volume Christmas prints in the star points!!!  

And I quilted it with all over swirls to add lots of yummy texture.  Classic Christmas finishes at 71" x 71" so it is a great size to be able to cuddle up with in front of a fire with a mug of hot chocolate ;)   And I just love to snuggle under it and think back on all of the many wonderful Christmases we have shared and look forward to many more to come!!! 

And that is my Classic Christmas quilt.  I hope you have enjoyed today's Tutorial Throwback Thursday!!!    To make your own Classic Christmas quilt  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 Classic Christmas quilts!!!

Thanks for popping in today and each day.    I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day and are looking forward to a very Merry Christmas (in less than a week!!)  

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 Granny Chic 2 1/2" Rolie Polie from Fat Quarter Shop is . . .  Number #203. . .   Congrats Carol - Beads and Birds!!!   I have emailed you :)    

    

           

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop .    Did you know that Jamie makes a new Lou Lou Bundle every Tuesday . . . here is the latest called Deck the Halls, isn't it just so festive!!!  Along with hosting the giveaway, Jamie is also offering all Happy Quilting readers has a special discount of  20% off  All Fat Quarter Bundles with the code happyquilting good until Friday (excludes Lou Lou Bundles) !!!  Oh, so much fun shopping!!!

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for some shopping goodness!!  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop is offering one lucky reader a $25.00 Gift Certificate perfect to use on anything in the store, including the awesome Lou Lou Bundle pictured above!!  Just perfect!!!!

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 a Favorite Christmas Memory???  

 ENTRY 2 - Lets show Lou Lou's Fabric Shop some Love!!!!   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.  Or you can follow their blog or  visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Lou Lou's Fabric Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until Tuesday, January 7th  when I will announce a winner at the beginning of the next  Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :) 

Note -  I will not be doing a Terrific Tuesday Giveaway on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve as I want to spend those days with my family :)  So TTGD will see you in 2020!!!! 

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Bloom-topia Charity Quilt for 2020 - It's Coming!!!!

Each year, I donate a quilt to be auctioned off to the Festival of Trees in honor of my sweet little nephew David (who is doing so great!!!)  And for the last few years 4 years I have donated my annual Fat Quarter Shop Charity Quilt :)  I love that this allows so much good to be tied up into one quilt ;)   So of course, I am so super excited that Fat Quarter Shop  has announced their Charity Quilt for 2020 benefiting Make a Wish, and this year, it is Bloom-topia !!!!

Isn't this just a beautiful quilt!!!!   I can't wait to get started on this wonderful sampler!!!  I love that it will teach a lot of great new techniques and I will have fun trying new things.  But I also love that  most of these blocks are historical blocks with amazing traditional goodness tied up in them ;)  That just adds so much richness to the quilt!!!!

The Bloom-topia Quilt Along block piecing starts on February 1st, but the cool thing is, Fat Quarter Shop has already released the Fabric Requirements!!!    Bloom-topia features Summer Sweet Fabric by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda Fabrics and I got to use this fabric for one of the quilts in my new book, and let me tell you, it is so great!!!    Summer Sweet Fabric releases in January, but you can reserve an exclusive Bloom-topia Quilt Kit and Backing Set now,  (And isn't that quilt back just so fun!!!!)    Fat Quarter Shop also has lots of cute Bloom-topia extra's, like key chains and needle minders, and thread sets :)    Oh, and Fat Quarter Shop is currently hosting their Countdown to Christmas Daily Sales so you can save on it all up to Christmas !!!  

  

After a lot of debate, I decided I am going in a different fabric direction, and my plan is to use a Breeze Fat Quarter Bundle by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics and for the background I am going to use my favorite Gris Grunge!!!  I love the wonderful colors and prints of this line and I think they are just going to be so pretty on that great grey!!!   

And you all know, I always have to change things around a bit when it comes to the layout ;)    I love this fun modern layout, but with so many wonderful traditional and historical blocks, I decided to go with a more traditional and historical layout.   So this is my plan and it will be queen size, so its going to finish big ;)    I know, crazy different right.  It means I will be changing up just a few things along the way, but I am super excited because I just love, love, love the look of this and can't wait to see it all come together!!! Now I just have to wait for the 2020!!!

**EDIT - I have had several of you amazing quilters email and ask if I will be sharing this layout :)   And I am absolutely happy to do that.  I will plan on sharing the block adjustments I make each time I post my blocks.   And then, I will share my finishing instructions when we get to that week in the QAL ;)    As far as Fabric Requirements for my version - I will be using a FQB that has 32 Fat Quarters, and I know that will be enough for my blocks, I would assume 25-30 Fat Quarters will be great ;)  The more Fat Quarters the more variety.   This layout will also need 7 yards of background fabric and 1 yard for binding.  Hope that helps!!!  So excited to quilt along with you all!!!

So do you want to join in and quilt along for a great cause??  Download the Fabric Requirements, have fun shopping, and then mark your calendar for January 15th, the Offical Bloom-topia Kick-off!!!    It's going to be so much fun!!! You can pop on over to the Bloom-topia Quilt Along page for all the details and easy access links for the pattern releases :)  

Happy Quilting!!!!

Tutorial Throwback Thursday - O Christmas Trees!!!

Well it's Thursday,  and sorry this Tutorial Throwback is coming a little late, but better late than never right ;)    Of course, today's throwback is going to be a Christmas one and I decided to go back 6 years to my O Christmas Trees quilt!!!  I love that this quilt started as an inspiration, that evolved into a new block tutorial, that eventually morphed into a new quilt tutorial.  It's always fun to see how projects just evolve like that ;) 

So like I said, O Christmas Trees originally was inspired by a Quilt Along that was hosted by Christa Quilts.  I loved her idea of tree blocks, and so I asked my bee mates to make me up tree blocks for my month,  but I changed them to an improvisational block that is made crazy patchwork style, and then you use a paper pieced pattern to do the tree shape.  And of course, they needed a block tutorial to make them from ;)     So fun, and such a wonderful way to use up lots and lots of Christmas fabric scraps.   (And I know, we all have a ton of them, right!!!)   

And then after I got all of my blocks back, I made a few extra and decided I wanted to make the same Christmas Tree Shape in my quilt, only make it a lot bigger.   Ya know, I had a lot of Improv Tree blocks to use up ;)  So ya, then there was a tutorial needed for turning the blocks into a quilt :)       And hence the O Christmas Trees Quilt and Block Tutorial!!! 

And I love, love, love the way it all turned out!!!  This is still one of my favorite Christmas quilts to pull out and throw on my couch for the month of December.  It just makes me smile, especially because so many wonderful friends had a hand in helping me make each of those O Christmas Trees unique and special!!! 

And when I quilted it, I really stepped out of my comfort zone.   The long arm was still fairly new to me at the time, so attempting this "snow flurry" was a little crazy, but it really was oh so much fun!!!   I just get "drifting" :)  

And then I did pebbles, and pebbles, and more pebbles.  I love the way doing this between the trees made the overall tree shape stand out more.    Oh, and do you see the cute little decorations on the tree??  This was one of the first times I used more than one color thread on a quilt.   So fun!!!

And that is my O Christmas Trees Quilt and I might just go snuggle up in it as soon as I am done typing this post ;)   

I hope you have enjoyed today's Tutorial Throwback Thursday!!!    To make your own O Christmas Tress Quilt quilt  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 O Christmas Trees quilts!!!

Thanks for popping in today and each day.    I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!

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 Quilt as you Go Holiday Stocking Kit from Shabby Fabrics is . . .  Number #134. . .   Congrats Sue D!!!   I have emailed you :)    

   

           

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.   Fat Quarter Shop is amazing and they never cease to amaze me with everything they have going on at their shop!!!     And did you know they have a 24 Hour Flash Sale every day with 2 Flash Sales on Tuesdays!!   And not only do they have a daily deal, they have a Fabric Basic, Pattern, and Notion of the Month!!!!    And this month you will score big on all of them!!!  All Moda Marbles Basics are on sale and this basic is just so great!!!  Also, All Best Press Products are on sale for the Notion, and Check out the Exclusive Pattern of the Month    Save 20-30% off of all of them for the whole month of December!!  So great ;) 

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving away a super fun Granny Chic 2 1/2" Rolie Polie by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs!!! I love the whimsical prints and colors in this line and it would make the cutest quilt!!!!   

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 your Holiday Baking Traditions :)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, You Tube or at their Blog.  You can Sign up for their Newsletter which will ensure you catch all of their amazing sales, or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Fat Quarter Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, December 17th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Goldenrod Pyramids Pattern

You might recall back in Spring, I made this Goldenrod Pyramids quilt for my good friends at Moda Fabrics for Spring Quilt Market.   Well, many of you asked how to get the pattern, so today I am excited to say that it is now available!!! You can now download the Goldenrod Pyramids project sheet for free!!!

And no surprise, the pattern release is coinciding with the Goldenrod Fabric release that is now also available!!!   I tell you, this was a long wait on this beautiful Goldenrod Fabric but it is totally worth the wait.  I love these beautiful prints and colors and this quilt design really shows off those wonderful large Raleigh Rose Floral prints!!  .

Goldenrod Pyramids was designed by Carrie Nelson and is Fat Quarter Friendly.   You just need a Fat Quarter Bundle of Goldenrod and a background, binding, and backing and you are good to go!!!   And as far as notions, this pattern uses a 60 degree triangle ruler.   I used the Creative Grids 8" Finished Ruler because I like that the point is squared off, but you can use any 60 degree triangle ruler ;)   And the quilt looks a little difficult, but it isn't at all with the right ruler.   It really went together fast and was a whole lot of fun to sew. 

The quilt finishes at 67" x 72" so it is a great size to snuggle up in!!!  And if you hurry, I bet you could get it made just in time for Christmas ;)    Or, you can always just get the pattern and fabric and have it as a special Christmas present under the tree to make in the new year!!!

Anyhow, just wanted to pop in and let you know this Goldenrod Pyramids pattern was now available for those that asked back in Spring ;) 

And now I totally want to make this quilt again, but maybe in Christmas Fabrics this time, wouldn't that be so fun!!!

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