Thursday, July 29, 2021

Upcoming Teaching (In person!!)

 I am so excited that I get to be teaching in person this year!!!!   What a blessing to be able to start gathering again :)   I have previously shared a few teaching engagements lined up, but there were some updates and a new retreat added so I wanted to share that for the rest of the year.   Hopefully I will get to see you in a class or two :)


Date - Sept 14-18, 2021
Place - Layton, Utah 

This September I will be teaching at two retreats in 1 week, should be fun!!!  First up,  I will be teaching 3 classes at Quilt Fest held by the Utah Quilt Guild.   I will be teaching a class of my Nordic Nights pattern (and this class is full but there is a waiting list available)  on Thursday morning,  a class of my Wishes Pattern on Wednesday afternoon, and  a class of my Desert Rose pattern on Wednesday Morning.   The registration for this retreat is open and you can sign up for classes now ;)  
 



Date - Sept 15-18, 2021
Place - Lehi, Utah 

And then I will head down the I-15 to teach at the beautiful Ashton Gardens in Thanksgiving Point to teach 3 classes and do a Charming Baby Quilts Trunk Show at the Garden of Quilts!!!   I will be sharing my Charming Baby Quilts Trunk Show on Friday at Noon.  And I am super excited to say that the classes sizes were recently expanded, so now all of my full classes have a little more room in them!!!   I will be teaching a class of my Nordic Nights pattern on Friday Afternoon.    I will teach a class of my Desert Rose pattern on Saturday Morning and finally, I will be teaching a class of my Decades Past pattern on Saturday afternoon.   This retreat is going to be a real treat and I am so looking forward to it!!! 



Date - Nov 10 - 13, 2021
Place - Paige, Arizona

And when things get cold here in Cedar come November, I am super excited to head down to Paige Arizona to teach at the Lake Powell Quilt Retreat!!!  This is my first time teaching at this particular retreat and I am super excited!!!  I will be teaching 2 classes and even taking a class as well.   I will be teaching a class of my Nordic Nights pattern (and this class is full but there is a waiting list available)  on Friday afternoon and a class of my Scraptastic Stars Pattern on Saturday Morning and there are still spots in that class.   And we are going to do a fun scrap square exchange and you know I have a big ol box of 2 1/2" squares to share with everyone in class, so fun!!!

  

And that is it for 2021 teaching.  But 2022 Teaching is starting to fill up as well, so exciting!!!  Just check back on my Teaching Page to see where I will be next!!!  And if you are interested in having me come to teach at a retreat in your area or at your guild, just send me an email at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.  I would love to come and visit and share my love of quilting!!!  

I hope I get to see some of you in class!!!!   Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!!
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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

New Works in Progress

So when I said I was excited about my Happy Mail the other day, I wasn't kidding.  I have missed my machine so I got right to work on some of these new projects.   And ya know, sometimes you start stitching and you just can't stop!!!   So ya, between last night and this morning, I whipped up the Stars and Strips mini from the Liberty Box.   Isn't it just so fun!!!  So ya, a work in progress that just needs to be quilted and bound, and I even made the binding strip already, yippee!!  


So I obviously needed another WIP, so I pulled out the adorable Joy in the Journey Rolie Polie fabric from my May Sew Sampler Box, and got to work on the Leaves pattern.  It's all cut out now, and I am going to start sewing on this just as soon as I am done typing this post.   I just think the colors are so great and perfect for a little baby born this fall ;)  
 

And last but not least, while I was away I got a ton of hits on my Playing the Scales quilt.    Looking back over the tutorial, it is getting pretty old and I thought it might be time to do an update.    So of course, new Work In Progress!!!   I dug through my stash and found this beautiful Fat Quarter Bundle of Dwell in the Possibility (which totally stuck out to me as it is the same fabric as the giveaway this week!!)   I knew right away it would be perfect with all of it's low volume and high volume prints!!  (I am saving the black FQ's for another project as I wanted the black and white to stand out in the low volume prints :)   


 I am thinking that for the update rather than share another tutorial do a new Free PDF Download, like the one I did for Cabin Among the Stars.   It was so well received, so why not take a favorite quilt and make it easier!!  Then there would be a tutorial for it as well as a pattern.  And I might even do a second PDF for the Queen Size version that I have written in the comments about.   What do you think, is that something that would be helpful??

 

I cut the quilt out yesterday and stated the strip piecing this morning so hopefully this one won't be to long of a work in progress ;)  

 Can I just say, it is sew nice to be back on my machine just stitching away!!!  What are you Working Away on???

I hope you are all have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Tuesday, July 27, 2021

A Scrapbook of Quilts - Pillow Along!!

Note - If you are looking for Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day you will find it here :) 

 I am so excited!!!  Today is my day to share in the Pillow Along for A Scrapbook of Quilts !!!  If you haven't check out this book yet, let me say, it is amazing!!!!   Co-Authors Joanna Figueroa and Carrie Nelson use 6 basic quilt blocks and a pile of scraps to make over 30 gorgeous projects. And for this week of the Pillow Along, I was asked to use the Cathedral Garden Block and a Halloween theme to make up a Pillow.  


And here is what I made!!!  Isn't this just the cutest!!!!   Of course, I always have to go off a little and I made a table runner instead of a pillow.  I can't wait to use it this year!!   This is the same Cathedral Garden Block from A Scrapbook of Quilts I just played with the fabric layout to make the word boo!!   And I think it is just so fun how it worked out.   


I used Fig Tree scraps in Orange and Cream and Grunge Black for the letters and the binding.  And rather than do each block in one fabric, I went for an all over scrappy look.  I think it really adds to making the boo pop all the more.



And when it came time to quilt it, I thought it would be fun to add to the Halloween effect by quilting spiderwebs.   This was my first time trying them, and I am super pleased with how they turned out.  Not all my echoing is perfect, but it works :)  I even added a little spider in the center o, so fun!!!    


And this Pillow Along  post wouldn't be complete without a diagram.   I am hoping you all will want to quilt along and make your own Boo Cathedral Garden Pillow or Table Runner as well.  
 You will need a copy of A Scrapbook of Quilts and use the directions for the Large Cathedral Garden Block!!!   I used 5 Orange Fig Tree Fat Quarters and 4 Cream Fig Tree Fat Quarters  and 1/2 yard of Black Grunge .  But you can totally use Scraps or more Fat Quarters for variety.  

Make 8 Blocks total in the following fabric layouts of blocks.  

                               Block 1 Layout - Make 1                           Block 2 Layout - Make 4
          

                              Block 3 Layout - Make 1                              Block 4 Layout- Make 1
         

Block 5 Layout - Make 1

Layout your Blocks as shown and sew the blocks into rows and the rows into the pillow top or table runner top.  


I added a 2" finished Scrappy Cream border to my Table Runner and then quilted and bound it.  It finishes at 20" x 36", perfect for a table runner of a lumbar pillow.  And just like that, you have an awesome Boo Cathedral Garden Pillow or Table Runner!!! 


I just loved participating in this Pillow Along and hope you will sew along as well!!!   There are 6 weeks of Blocks and 6 Themes:  Patriotic, Halloween, Autumn, Christmas, Two-Color and Neutral.  You can read all of the details about the Pillow Along on Joanna's Blog.   These are all such fun projects to make and how great is it to have a Pillow or Table Runner to swap out the whole year long ;) 


Thank you so much to Joanna and Carrie  for inviting me to join in this fun Pillow Along!!!

I am looking forward to making more pillows and table runners soon.

Be sure to follow along with the Pillow Along and if you haven't already, you will want to add A Scrapbook of Quilts to your quilting library.   It is phenomenal!!!

I hope you all have a Happy Quilting Day!!! 
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Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

  It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  
The winner of the Dance in Paris Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop is . . .   Number #261 . . . Congrats debworthman!  I have messaged you :)  

   
           
And on to today's

And now . . . Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Kimberly's Fabric Stash.    You will find so many amazing fabrics over at Kimberly's and everyday low prices!!!  And Kimberly has a brand new App so you can shop even easier.  It is available for both android and apple.     Download Kimberly's Fabric Stash App  for 15% off your first purchase on it :)  




Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for some amazing quilting goodness!!!  Kimberly's Fabric Stash is giving one lucky reader a Dwell in the Possibility Layer Cake by Gingber for Moda!!!   Oh, this is just such a pretty prize ;) 

You have two entry chances here on the blog, 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 is your favorite sport in the Summer Olympics to watch ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Kimberly's Fabric Stash  Love!!!!   You can  You can follow them on   Facebook(where Kimberly Hosts her Facebook Live every Friday at 7 EST) TwitterPinterest, or You Tube.  Or you can visit The Shop  and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Kimberly Fabric Stash Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, August 3rd,  when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Monday, July 26, 2021

Back with lots of Happy Mail!!!

 Oh my goodness, what a wonderful few weeks!!!   We spent the last two weeks in the mountains at a Family Reunion and then at Lake Powell with our dearest Friends.   And in both places, we had zero cell reception.   Talk about a wonderful way to unplug, play, and relax with wonderful people, good food, and lots of laughs.   And yes, if you are counting we are missing one.  We also began all of this crazy family fun with Spencer starting his Church Mission, so he spent the time with my parents for Home Missionary Training and we picked him up this weekend so he is back home with us until he goes to Germany in mid August.  

And of course, it is always nice to come home, sans the mountain of laundry that I have been tackling today.    But I also had a whole stack of Happy Mail that made it super fun to come home as well and has given me the excuse to squeeze in some much missed time with my sewing machine. 

First Happy Quilting treasure in the mail box was the Liberty Box from Fat Quarter Shop!!!  This is an exclusive box to celebrate July and all the fun of fireworks that comes with it ;)  And there are still a few left in stock!!  And talk about a box packed with quilting goodness!!   Red, White, and Blue in all of it's glory for sure :)


I was so excited about the adorable Stars and Stripes Quilt Pattern that I already cut it out in-between loads of laundry.   This is going to make the cutest little table runner for next year!!   And now that it is cut out, I know I will get to sewing it even sooner rather than later :)


Next up, was my May Sew Sampler Box, which was lost at my post office so I was super excited they found it!!!  I absolutely adore this Joy in the Journey Rolie Polie and the exclusive Leaves pattern.  It has bumped up to the top of my to make list :)   And I just love all of the notions from this month.  My Sew Sampler Box is always a favorite to open . . . and I just checked and there are now openings available . . . .no wait list or anything ;) 


And of course, with a new box comes a new block!!! This is Block 2 in the Bright Side Quilt Along!!!!  And I am using scraps from Basic Grey's Neutral Lines (ie, Little Black Dress, Little Black Dress 2, Stiletto, and Maven)  I am just loving these blocks!!!



And what can be better than the May Sew Sampler Box, showing up, then the June  Sew Sampler Box arriving while I was gone as well!!!  2 Boxes of Aqua goodness . . . .I call that Happy Mail indeed!!!  June's  Sew Sampler Box theme was Vintage Soul and will filled with wonderful vintage quilty goodness, including these gorgeous The Seamstress Charm Packs!!  You all know how I just love Charm Packs!!!  I think this would make the cutest Hugs and Kisses quilt from my Charming Baby Quilts Book, as it already has a fun vintage feel to it.   Another to add to the list ;)


And yup, I whipped up the  Bright Side Quilt Along Block 3 as well today!!!!  These are super fun to make and super fast.   I don't know the layout yet, but I am loving the blocks so much I am debating making 2 of each so I can make a bigger quilt.   I will have to think on that ;)


And last but not least . . . I got one last package of Happy Mail and this one was from Moda!!!   It's my Stroll Quilt that I made for Moda to use as a sample last year.  And I am just thrilled to have it back for summer!!   This is just such a happy quilt and it was oh so much fun to make!!!  There are still a few Stroll Kits available if you want to make your own ;)    This one just puts a smile on my face!!! 



 And that is all of the Happy Mail!!!   The rest were just bills and junk, not near as fun as fabric and quilty goodness ;)   

And I wanted to say thank you to all of the sweet notes you left me on taking a bit of time away.   I don't often take a break, and this one was pretty much forced upon me due to no wi-fi but I found it so very refreshing and I am super charged to get back to some Happy Quilting!!

Be sure to pop back in tomorrow for TTGD and Wednesday I have a fun new secret project that I have been waiting to share ;)

I hope you are all have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Little Break - Be Back Soon

 Hi all,  

I am taking a little break for some Family Time.   I will be back before the end of the Month.  Just wanted to let you know things would be quiet for two weeks and that there will be no Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day on July 20th.   Hope you are all having a great summer!!



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Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

 It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  
The winner of the 3 Moda Scrap Bags from Green Fairy Quilts is . . .   Number #222 . . . Congrats quilting_cindy!  I have messaged 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!!!!     All Blossom Basics are on sale and this is one of my new favorite basics, so great!!  Also, all KimberBell Products are on sale for the Notion  , and Coriander Quilts Patterns are on sale for the Pattern.   Save 20-30% off of all of them for the whole month of July!!  So great ;) 

24 Hour Flash Sales at the Fat Quarter Shop!


And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving away this amazing Dance in Paris Layer Cake by Zen Chic!!!!  This line is just gorgeous, and I know because I did some secret sewing with it!!!  So pretty!!!   

You have two entry chances here on the blog, 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 Dream Vacation??  (An all over Europe Art History Tour would be mine)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYou 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 for a little longer this time.   I will pick a winner in 2 Tuesday's , July 27th,  and will announce it on the next Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Friday, July 9, 2021

Cabin Among The Stars, QOV

Thank you so much for all of the love on my Cabin Among the Stars Quilt!!!!  You all are so sweet and I am so glad you just loved the design!!   Just in case you missed it, (I know I posted on a holiday weekend for the US) you can download the  Free Cabin Among the Stars PDF and make your own!!!!  



There are 5 Size options in the  Cabin Among the Stars Free PDF.   Here is the details of what you will need and the finished sizes for each of the 5 quilt options.  


And so many of you mentioned making this as a Quilts of Valor quilt.  I thought I would share a quick rendition of it in Red, White, and Blue.   Isn't that just fun!!!   


And of course, you can always swap around the color layouts . . . either way it would make an awesome QOV!!!



I hope you enjoy this free Cabin Among the Stars PDF Pattern and that you make your own quilts!!!  And if you do, I would love to see them ;)   You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to social media with the hashtag #happyquiltingwithmc and #cabinamongthestarsquilt ;)  I can't wait to see your Cabin Among the Stars Quilts!!!


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