So Long 2015, Hello 2016!!

Wow, isn't' it amazing how fast a year can go by.  This truly is becoming one of my favorite posts to write.  I get the opportunity to step back and see all that I have done in a year and look forward to what I want to accomplish in the next year.  So lets get started and check out how 2015 went :)

2015 was another prolific year in my little sewing room.  Let's break it down in the numbers . . .

45 Quilts 

 (a few secret ones still not shown :)

12 Totes

6 Mini's

4 Table Toppers

4 Pillows

A Whole Bunch of Bee Blocks

and last but not least . . . 

1 Book Release

And that is a quick picture Round Up of my Happy Quilting 2015 :)  Wow, it never ceases to amaze me how much quilting fun you can pack in a year  :)  And I sure love seeing it all together.  You can see more details about all of the quilts in my Quilt Archive Tab at the top of the page including links to any tutorials ;)

As I look back on this year, I realize once again, that I just love quilting.  I don't think I could say it enough!!!  I keep wondering if I am going to get tired or this, but I don't!!!  I just love it!!!  I love every step of the way!!!  I love the designing, I love the choosing fabrics, I love the cutting (I really do), I love the piecing, I love the quilting, and I am learning to love the binding ;) Basically put, I am truly Happy Quilting ;)

And now, It's time to look forward to 2016!!!

Last year at this time I printed off 4 goals that hung in my sewing room and served as a constant daily reminder of what I wanted to accomplish creatively in 2015 ;)

I have 4 new goals on a new printout for  2015 :)

1 -  Pass It On
2 -  Watch The Time
3 -  Plan With Purpose
4 -  Mommy First

Just like last year, these probably only make sense to me but there are so many thoughts tied up in each of those little statements and those 4 little tidbits are a great way to summarize all of those thoughts.  They will  be wonderful reminders to me each and every day.    I look forward to these 4 little lines guiding me in my 2016 Creative Journey!!

And Before I Wrap This Up . . . I know I just said this a few weeks ago at Christmas, but I can't ever say it enough.  Thank You!!!!  Without you there would be no Happy Quilting.  I am daily blessed that I can share my creative journey and my love of quilting with so many of you ;)

So here's to 201, May it be another year filled with lots of  Happy Quilting!!!!!!

String of Pearls - BYU Style

Today's quilt starts with a bit of a story.   So our best friends are both BYU Alumni and I decided this year (maybe a little late like as in December 1st) that I wanted to make them a Stadium Quilt to use when they attended the games.  Well, My Husband is a Uof U Alumni.  Now, if you are not from around Utah, you might not know, that those two schools tend to clash in all things sports related.  In fact, they played each other in the Vegas Bowl on Saturday the 19th, when I just so happen to be trying to finish this quilt.  My sweetheart kindly let me know that I couldn't be working on a BYU quilt during the big game as that would be bad luck.   So I set my quilt aside, even though I knew I only had 2 days left to work on it,  and watched the game with my sweetheart. So apparently the Utes have me to thank for their big win as I was selfless enough not to jinx them.  Okay, silly story, back to the quilts now ;)  I give you the String of Pearls Quilt - BYU Style!!!!

This is the original String of Pearls quilt from my book Irish Chain Quilts.  As soon as I decided on making a Stadium Quilt I knew this would be the perfect pattern.  It is mostly strip pieced so it also had the benefit of going together fast, and since I didn't start until December, that was a big plus ;)   And of course,  I was so super excited to do another Irish Chain Quilts remake ;)

I made a few adjustments this time around, which always keeps it fun ad new.  Since it was going to be a Stadium Quilt, I didn't want all of that white background, so I flipped the darks and lights.  I just love how bold it is!!!  I also added the corner squares as I think that looks awesome on a bed but I wanted to keep the chain going this time.   I also shrunk down the block size  making the quilt 70" x 70" as I figured it would be hard to tote a queen size quilt to the game ;)  

 

And I have to say, making the Appliqued BYU Logo is like a million times easier than my sweetheart's UofU or my SUU logos ;)  Thank you BYU for that ;)  I have a tutorial on how I make complex layered applique right here, just in case you are inspired to make your own stadium blanket now ;)  

When it came time to quilt it, I was in for a special treat.   My good friend Kim, and owner of my LQS Stitching it Up, gave me a demonstration of her Pro-Stitcher computer on her long-arm.  It was so cool to watch the long-arm stitch away this cool BYU design!!!   Isn't that so fun ;)

And on the backing, I found this super soft and snuggly BYU fleece from JoAnn's.  It will make it so soft and warm to snuggle up in at the games ;)  And I bound it with a solid Tan, perfectly accenting the logo and backing.   So fun!!!

And as you might have guessed, our friends were very surprised (It was hard not to share sneak peaks and give it away) and absolutely loved it ;)  I just love making special quilts for special people!!!  And I so enjoyed making this quilt again ;)    I know I have said it before, but I always feel so very wonderful and blessed when I can share my love of quilting with those I love around me and wrap them in quilty hugs :)  It is just the best!!!!

How about you . . . did you make something special handmade for someone special this year for Christmas?? I would love for you to share it with me in the comments ;)

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

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

First off,  I have emailed out PDF Happy Quilting Patterns to everyone who left a comment on last weeks Merry Christmas TTGD ;)  I sent them in groups BCC, so if you don't see it in your inbox, be sure and check your junk mail folder.  If you have any questions you can send me an email at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com ;)    I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to a very Happy New Year!!!

    

   

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Bear Creek Quilting Company.  Bear Creek has an amazing selection of fabrics and amazing deals on those fabrics!!  And they just happen to be currently having an amazing Year End Clearance Celebration!!!  Be sure to check out these amazing deals ;)  

And today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for a $50.00 Gift Certificate to Bear Creek Quilting Company!!!  There is going to be one super lucky reader winning a very fun shopping spree :) 

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 2016 Fabric line you are most excited about arriving.   (You can find the coming soon lines here if your not sure ;) 

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Bear Creek Quilting Company love.   You can follow them on  Pinterest, Facebook, 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 Bear Creek Quilting Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, January 5th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Locket Quilt with AGF Stitched

Today I am excited to be sharing another AGF Stitched quilt, This one is called Locket  ;)  When the Fat Quarter Shop asked me if I wanted to help them with the last AGF Stitched quilt of the year I was all over it.  I absolutely love the graphic nature of the pattern with all of its awesome angles.  I knew it would be perfect for another Alma Mater quilt ;)

And so, I perused through Art Gallery's amazing fabric lines looking for the perfect Red, Black, and Whites.   Mostly I make a quilt from a single fabric line so this was a super fun change to pick bits and pieces from a range of lines.  I think I will be doing that more often for sure ;)   Just in case you are curious, here are the fabrics I choose ;)

For Fabrics A & B I used Your Heart Pure from Wonderland by Katrina Roccella
For Fabrics C I used Square Elements Pomegranate and Noir by In House Staff
For Fabrics D & E I used Beside Journal Candid from Happy Home by Caroline Hulse
For Fabrics F & I I used Confetti Noir from Minimalista by In House Staff
For Fabrics G & H I used Tire Buds Lumi from Cleta by In House Staff

And for the Binding I (fabrics J)   I used Your heart Timid from Wonderland by Katrina Rocella and for the Backing I used Delineament Sepia from Sketchbook by Sharon Holland.   I just love how all of these super fun prints from so many different lines go together so well and add to the awesome geometric design ;)  

 This quilt is so much fun to make and has such great movement.  I had fun doing two colors in the large triangles to give it a chain effect ;)  You know how I love chains in my quilts ;)  And the quilt goes together surprisingly fast as most of the piecing is stitch and flip or HST's, so fun!!!

And of course, Kimberly has made an awesome video tutorial that helps you along every step of the way making it go even quicker ;)

When it came time to quilt mine, I decided I didn't want to take away from any of those wonderful angles, so I just did straightish lines across the quilt.  I think it is the perfect compliment to this super cool design.

And you can't see the texture very well, but it is so super yummy.  I just want to keep running my fingers over the quilt top.  

And that is my Locket Quilt ;)  This particular quilt will be auctioned off for a Women's Athletic Fundraiser at my Alma Mater, SUU ;)  My niece is currently on the Cross Country Team there so it is fun to be able to support her with my love of quilting.     You can find the free pattern for Locket here .  And if you don't want to make a School Colored one, like I did, you can always do like Kimberly and make up her beautiful soft color palette.   You can find the original Locket  quilt kit here and the backing set for it here .

And for lot's more Locket AGF Stitched eye candy, check out these awesome blogging friends ;)

Angie of GnomeAngel

Cara of That Crafty Cara

Caroline of Sew Caroline

Christina of Sometimes Crafter

Erica of Kitchen Table Quilting

Heather and Megan of Quilt Story

Jane of Quilt Jane

Jemima of Tied with a Ribbon

Melissa of Happy Quilting  (that's me ;) 

Natalia of Piece N Quilt

Sinta of Pink Pincushion

That's all for today ;)   I am off to unpack from a fabulous Holiday weekend spent with my family and just maybe I might get to squeeze in some sewing.  5 days away from my machine has got me itching to piece something together ;)

Have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Christmas Charming Totes

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!!!   I tried to get on and write a special Christmas Post but it has been all family, friends, and foods the last few days, and I wouldn't have it any other way ;)  We have just loved all of the laughter and happiness, and joy.   I got a very special Christmas present too!!!!!   So excited!!!!

So now today, that things are slowing down just a bit, I thought I would start to share some of this years Homemade Christmas gifts ;)   Remember when I made up all of those adorable Charming Totes last December . . . Well, I think Christmas totes are going to be a new favorite for quite a few years :)  I love, love, love making these toes and they are just so handy!!  Perfect ;)  And I love going through my stash to find the perfect bits of leftovers to become great linings and handles.    I have now made a full step by step tutorial on how to make these totes here, Just for your reference ;) 

So, for sweet nephew #1 who is just getting into little league, I used an  All Star Charm Pack by Zoe Pearn for Riley Blake Designs.   So cute!!!  I lined it with some extra backing I had from The Boat House line and the numbers are a perfect match ;)

And for sweet nephew #2 who loves all things sports especially baseball and football, I used a Charm Pack of  Varsity by Sweetwater for Moda.  I lined it with a great print from the Best Day Ever line by April Rosenthal that looks just like little baseballs and made the handles from Chic Neutrals line by Amy Ellis.   They all go so perfectly together.

And for my sweet niece  #1 who just loves a rainbow of colors, I choose a  Tula Pink's True Colors for Free Spirit Fabrics Charm Pack.  For the lining I used a great Rainbow print from Dear Stella that was the perfect compliment.   I just love all of those happy colors ;)

And finally, for my very special Sister-In-Law, who I am slowly sucking into the fabulous world of quilting, I decided on the ever so cute Charm Pack of Paper Bandana by Alexia Marcelle Abegg for Cotton + Steel Fabrics and then complimented it with the gorgeous Arrow Print also by Cotton + Steel.  I love how all of their prints coordinate ;)

And those were the 4 new Charming Totes from this Christmas ;)  I just love making these bags!!!   I did a take on a tutorial here where you can make the tote reversible, and here is the original tutorial I used from Crazy Mom Quilts ;)   I just do the corners of the bag differently, as shown in the first tutorial ;)

And then I had one last special little tote to whip up.  This one was a little more patchwork and I am so excited with how it turned out ;)   My sweet nephew just loves Minecraft so I made him a patchwork tote of what I now know is a creeper.  I loved playing with all of the different shades of green.

And on the reverse side is the Blue Sword.  There is just nothing quite as fun as simple patchwork.   So, so, so much fun!!!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and maybe can sneak in some Happy Quilting today ;)