Tutorial Throwback Thursday - Star Surround!!!

It's  Thursday and that means another Tutorial Throwback feature.  And today's throw back isn't going very far back as a finish, but goes way back as a start to finish.  In fact, it is probally my longest "WIP" to date.    So here it is, the Star Surround!!!  This was started and the entire quilt top was made as part of the Star Surround Quilt Along back in 2013, but it actually didn't get quilted and finished until this year.   Crazy, but true ;)

The  Star Surround Quilt Along was one of my favorites.  I host a free Quilt Along each year, and this one still remains as one of the most popular I have hosted :)   We had 98 quilters participate and 33 quilts finished and shared at the parade!!   It was so great to quilt along with everyone and see all of the amazing designs!!!!  And the variety of finishes was incredible as the design was offered in 5 different sizes and 4 different layouts.  So fun!! (and a lot of quilt math, which I love ;)    And it's Fat Quarter Friendly and Julie of The Intrepid Thread made up this beautiful custom bundle for it.  

But the main reason I wanted to share this quilt as the Throwback today is because it now has a very special story to go along with it that I will cherish.   A few weeks ago, a very dear friend of mine had to say goodbye as her amazing sweetheart of  60 years slipped away in his sleep from complications of Alzheimers.  These two were the sweetest couple and dear neighbors and friends.   A few days later, my friend celebrated her 80th birthday.  I wanted to bring her something special and knew a quilt was just the right thing to wrap her in love.   But which quilt to give her??   After thinking over it for a bit, I decided on this Star Surround Quilt.  

I wrapped it up in a pretty bow and my daughter and I went to deliver it.   As you can imagine, there were hugs, and cries, and some laughter thrown in too.  But what was the best, as my sweet friend unwrapped the quilt she got tears in her eyes and told me Green was her husband's favorite and that every-time she wrapped up in it she would think of him.  Yup, more tears and hugs ;)   I can't even begin to explain how much I love that a quilt can bring peace and comfort.   It just makes me smile!!

I just love that every time I do the Annual Quilt Along at Happy Quilting, it will remind me of this quilt and my dear sweet friend.  Isn't it just amazing how quilts can have so many wonderful memories tied up in them.   It just makes me so grateful that I found this love of quilting way back and that I get to be part of something that brings such love and happiness and joy. 

I hope you have enjoyed today's Tutorial Throwback Thursday!!!    I know I didn't talk about the quilt as much, but hey, that's what this throwback thing is all about.  To share the inspiration, and love, and stories of these quilts.   If you wan't to make your own Star Surround Quilt just click on any of the quilt name links.  This will take you to the page of my finished Star Surround and it has all of the links for each of the free step by step tutorials to make this this quilt start to finish.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 Star Surround Quilts!!!


And one last thing while we are talking about Quilt Along's ;)   Just in case you missed it yesterday, I just announced this years Happy Quilting Quilt Along.  It's called Starstruck and it's going to be so much fun.   Be sure to pop in next Wed. for all the details on quilting along with me ;)  

Thanks for stopping by today and sharing this throwback with me.  
 I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Starstruck Quilt Along!!!

Today is such a great day, in fact, It's one of my favorite day's of the year!!!!!!   Today, is the announcement of this years annual Happy Quilting Quilt Along, and I am so very excited :)     And I have so wanted to make a medallion quilt as a QAL for so long and this is the year it is happening!!!  So here it is, the Starstruck Quilt Along!!!!  Isn't it just so pretty!!!! 

So like in previous years, there will be easy step by step directions, and we will be on  a weekly schedule, but each week isn't to much, and it should be very doable to keep up :)   And you can choose to do a Wall Hanging, Baby Size, Lap Size, Picnic Size, Queen Size or King Size, just by how many borders you add on to the center design ;)   So whatever size project you want to make, it's up to you and they will all be awesome!!!   

Starstruck is a Fat Quarter Friendly quilt, but it would also make a gorgeous two color quilt!!! So if that has been on your to make someday list, I will be giving the fabric requirements for that option as well.   

Be sure to pop in next Wednesday for the Fabric Requirements.  I will be showing the design in a range of colors palates to get some ideas flowing for ya all!!!   And there will be a discount on Fat Quarter Bundles shared as well for all those participating ;)  And of course, I'll reveal fabulous fabric prizes that include weekly progress prizes and Grand Prizes at the end.   The Quilt Along will run from September through October with the big Finises Parade in November and is going to be oh so great!!!  Here is the schedule . . .

September 4th- Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement

September 18th - Cutting

September 25th - Wall Hanging Piecing

October 2nd - Baby Piecing

October 9th - Lap Piecing
October 16th - Picnic Piecing
October 23rd - Queen/King Piecing & Grand Prize Linky

November 13th- Starstruck Parade and Grand Prize Winners

It all starts next week!!!  So what do you say??  Do you want to Quilt-Along with me???  Grab a button and/or get your #starstruckquiltalong posting ready!!  We are going to have some amazing Starstruck Quilting Fun!!!

And for easy access, I will be updating the weekly links on the Quilt-Along Page as well as this post.

Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement

Cutting

Wall Hanging Piecing

Baby Piecing

Lap Piecing
Picnic Piecing
Queen/King Piecing & Grand Prize Linky

Starstruck Parade and Grand Prize Winners

I can't wait for next week!!!!   Hope to see ya there!!!!  

Terrific Tueaday 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  Anagram Fat Quarter Bundle from Green Fairy Quilts is . . .  Number #196 . . .   Congrats Lisa!!!   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 . . . there are so many to choose from and they are all just stunning!!!  Isn't this new Colors of Fall bundle just so great!!!   I love all of that Sunshine Yellow!!!    Along with hosting the giveaway, Jamie is having a  Fantastic Sale with with lots of amazing discounts!!!! And don't forget to pop over to Lou Lou's Fabric Shop each day for the Daily Deal!!! I love something new on sale each and every day, it's so fun to see what shows up :)  

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 any of the awesome Lou Lou Bundle's or on the Daily Deal!!  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 tell me what is the best way to start your day??

 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 next Tuesday, September 3rd when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

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 ;)  

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 ;)