Renovation - Week 4!!

And I thought  Week 3 of Renovation was starting to look like a kitchen again, this week really has a close to a kitchen!!!   I was out of town for most of the week, so it was so great to get home this morning and see just how much had changed.   But let's take it one day at a time ;)

MONDAY -   The counter tops were installed!!!   And I just love them ;)   It is hard to know what they are going to look like when you are choosing a swatch that is 6" x 6".   To see it in the entire top, is just so fun!!!  And look how great that bar is going to be, so big!!!!

And this will be my computer desk for all things blogging ;)    And again, so big!!!   It is going to be just great to have so much room to spread out, I can't wait!!!

And right after the counter tops dried, in came the back spash!!   And I have to say, I was memorized by watching this back splash go in.   It is a lot like making a quilt, the way it all fits together in tiny little pieces.  Just so awesome ;) 

TUESDAY - And then the next day in the morning, they grouted the back splash.   And I realized the coolest thing!!!  They even matched the tile perfectly in the corner, which of course made my quilters heart just so happy.    That hexagon tile also makes my heart pretty happy as well ;)   What better back splash for a quilter, right ;)  

And while the tilers were grouting, the floor guys were trying to put our subfloor back together.   They had to do some  serious "Patchwork" to fix the holes created when the tile was taken out.   But once it was all one smooth surface again, it was ready for flooring.   And the first part to go in was our cute little entry way :) 

WEDNESDAY - And then close to follow, the Kitchen floor.   And I have to say, when I got the text with this picture, I sqealed right in the middle of my class.  Someone asked if I was okay, and I said back "Oh Yes, I have Floors!"  Which of course, needed a little explaining, but was oh so funny :)  

THURSDAY - Moved the flooring folks to the dining room where they finished off all of the wood floor and then the carpeting folks promptly got all their stuff loaded in to start carpeting the next day.
Things were really hoping!!!

Also, on Thrusday, while the flooring guys were in the dining room, the plumber came and hooked up the kitchen faucet and sink.  So I have water in the kitchen again!!!!    Yippee!!!!!

FRIDAY - And since they were all set, Friday started with carpet !!  They got the living room, and hallways done, and then my family (yes, I was still out of town :) promptly got to work moving everything in the 3 bedrooms into the bathrooms and newly carpeted living room so that the rooms could be carpeted this morning.   And that is what is going on right now!!!   Wow, just so fast!!!

So that is Week 4!!!  And speaking of fast, it looks like Week 5 will be the last week of Remodeling!!!  Our amazing contractor, Dennis from  Precision Development  told my husband yesterday that it looks like everything will be finished up by next Friday!!!  Talk about a super sweet surprise to come home to!!!!!

So I will be back next weekend with hopefully a finish ;)   Of course, everything most likely won't be moved back, but you get the idea!!!  Until next week!!!

And one more reminder . . . My Low Volume Chevron Pillow is in the Pillow Fight Semi-Finals ;)   Be sure to Pop on over and Vote !!!  

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

Baby Dragon Quilt!!!

So this might be the cutest quilt I have every made!!!!   And here is it's story :)   A few weeks ago my twin sister called and said she needed a "Baby Dragon" quilt for her SIL's baby shower ;)   My Sister has been tutoring my daughter for years with her reading so I was so excited that I could do this for her as another Thank You!!!    But I have to say, I was a little nervous about the concept of Baby Dragon.

So I quickly decided I need to do some applique ;)     I started surfing around and found this Shutterstock Image of an adorable Baby Dragon that I knew would work perfect!!!  I used my Complex Layered Applique Technique and made up dragons in the New Mom to Be's Nursery colors ;)     I secured stitched them with a blanket stitch in black and I think it really helped to outline the dragon and make it pop all the more!!!!

I machine stitched the facial features by just dropping my feed dogs and free motion stitching them.    The fabrics are Riley Blake Shades.  I love that they are a little more texture than a basic solid but not so much of a print to distract from the applique.    And isn't that patchwork sashing just precious.  Oh, so cute!!!

When it came time to quilt it, I really wanted to continue to emphasis those adorable dragons, so I did simple pebbling in the background.   Which also made the dragon's pop again almost like a faux trapunto.   And I just stitched in the ditch around the sashing again, as I didn't want to distract at all from the dragons.   And I just love the way it turned out ;)

And so did Mom!!!!!    This is Sarah and from what I hear, she just loves her new Baby Dragon quilt ;)   Won't it be so cute hanging over the crib ;)

And that is my Baby Dragon Quilt ;)  And of course, now all of my kids want a dragon quilt as well, no surprise there :)    Good thing I love applique, because it sounds like I will be appliqueing a lot more dragons in the future ;)    But honestly, I don't think you can get to much of such an adorable thing!!!  

Thanks so much for sharing this finish with me!!!   Have you tried Layered Applique??   It really is a lot easier than it looks and it is oh so much fun ;)    And you can make the cutest appliques!!!


Oh and just a reminder . . . My Low Volume Chevron Pillow is in the Pillow Fight Semi-Finals ;)   Be sure to Pop on over and Vote for your favorite which also enters you into a giveaway for a  Plus One Pillow Talk Kit as well, so double bonus!!!!  

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

Tutorial Throwback Thursday - Hang Time

Well things are a little crazy around here lately.   Things are moving right along with the remodel, I am teaching twice in two weeks (once out of town) and of course, to make it all the more fun, we have had a ton of snow ;)   So when I was thinking about which tutorial to share for Thursday, Throwback I decided that Hang Time would be fitting ;)  The last few weeks have really been all about trying to make the best of Time and keeping happy while we Hang In There ;)    So ya, Hang Time is just perfect!!!

Hang Time is such a fun and fast quilt to make!!! And this particular throwback is actually not a tutorial, but rather it's just a free pattern that you can download and/or print right here ;)   But it is super easy piecing, so you will be able to do it no problem with just the pattern ;)  It finishes at 75" x 75", so it makes a great quilt to cozy up in.  

And Hang Time is Fat Eighth Friendly, so you can just choose a favorite bundle,  grab some Background Fabric, and you are good to go!!!!  I used Allison Harris's beautiful Hazel fabrics,   which would be hard to find now, but any of Allison's Fabrics would look equally amazing in it ;)  I just love her fabrics, they are just so happy ;)    Whatever Fat Eighth Bundle  you choose, it will looks so great!!!

And I have a fun story to share with the quilting of Hang Time,     The first time I met Allison Harris was at the Sewing Summit back in 2011 where she was teaching a free motion quilting class.   I loved that class and learned so much.  The first thing she taught the class was how to stitch simple meandering.   So . . . I decided that Hang Time just needed to be a memory of that first meeting and class and what better way to tie that memory in that stitching some simple meandering.   And that just makes me smile ;) 

And that is my Hang Time quilt.  I hope you have enjoyed today's Tutorial Throwback Thursday!!!    To make your own Hang Time  just click on any of the quilt name links for the free pattern.    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 Hang Time Quilts!!!!

Oh and one last thing . . . And super exciting news!!!  My Low Volume Chevron Pillow made it to the next round in the Pillow Fight ;)   Thanks all for voting!!!!    It is now in the Semi-Finals and voting for that starts Today!!!   So be sure to Pop on over and Vote for your favorite.  And your vote also enters you into a giveaway for a Plus One Pillow Talk Kit as well, so double bonus!!!!  

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

Wednesday Works In Progress

Wow, I haven't done one of these posts in a while.  Things are a little crazy around here with the remodel and all, but I am still sewing in the background ;)     And I have recently started 3 new projects!!!   And I am super excited about each one!!!

To start, last week was the Cedar Chest Quilters Guild Retreat and along with teaching 3 classes, I got to take a class as well!!!   I was fortunate enough to take the Vintage Charm Class from my friend Sherri McConnell.  It was so great to just sit and sew for 3 hours and enjoy the company of so many amazing quilters ;)    I am using Harvest Road by Lella Boutique  and plan to make 25 blocks so I can have a nice big fall quilt ;)   I made a good start of it in class, so hopefully it won't be long before I can share this beauty!!!

And then I had to start a project with these amazing Sugarhouse Park fabrics from my wonderful friend Amy Smart!!!   I grew up in the same general area as Amy and have so many great memories of times spent at the actual Sugarhouse Park with my family and my husband used to run there for State Cross Country every year ;)   So I decided to make a new quilt for our bed with these beautiful fabrics that have so many great memories tied up in their name!!!   My plan is to Quadruple my Ring Around The Rosies Quilt from my soon to be released Charming Baby Quilts Book.   It is going to be so great, I can't wait to get it all made up!!!

And finally, I am thrilled to be making a quilt for Poppie Cotton's blog tour of their newest line Daisy Mae!!   I just love these beautiful prints and colors and the hand of this fabric is so soft.  I plan to make another enlarged quilt from Charming Baby Quilts  with these fat quarters as well.  But this time, It's going to be the Dream Big quilt (first quilt I shared from the book) and I plan to use a dark background and the navy prints for binding.   It is going to make all of those pretty pins and whites just pop!!!  More on this coming soon!!!

So ya, lots to get sewing on all of these new projects!!!   I just love pretty stacks of fabric, but I love pressing, cutting, sewing, and quilting them up even more ;)

Hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

P.S.   Speaking of Works in Progress . . . There is still a Pillow Fight in progress!!!!   Today is you last day to vote and tomorrow we will find which pillow moves  on and which pillow is knocked out ;)   

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 Dream Weaver 10" Stacker from Fat Quarter Shop is . . .   Number #592 . . . Congrats Susan Deveraux!!!   I have messaged you :)    

   

   

   

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Shabby Fabrics!!   Shabby Fabrics has an amazing selection of Fabrics and  so many cute BOM's and Clubs!!!  And don't forget, Shabby Fabrics  also has an amazing  Clearance Section, you are sure to find some amazing deals, and have also just added a whole bunch of Quilt Kits on sale as well!!  Super fun!!!   

  

And for the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway  Shabby Fabrics is giving one lucky winner a $30.00 Gift Certificate!!!!!   Now the winner can get just what they have been wanting!!!  

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 was your first Job??

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Shabby Fabrics love. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Pinterest, or Instagram.  You can Sign up for the Shabby Fabrics Newsletter (top right hand corner) or 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 Shabby Fabric Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, February 11th, 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!!!

Bloom-Topia Quilt!!!

Last week I shared my first blocks from the Bloom-Topia Quilt Along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop.  And wouldn't you know it, that same day I got a wonderful box on my door step that just happened to have the original Bloom-Topia Quilt in it!!!   Isn't that just so great!!!   I got to snap a few pictures (inside, it is snowing like crazy outside) of it and sign a cute quilt label before sending it on to the next Bloom-Topia Blogger ;)

This Bloom-Topia Quilt Along is just goregous!!!   And the quilting is stunning!!!  I love all of the fun blocks in such an array of sizes, and the fabrics are just beautiful and make me long for Spring (especially as it snows outside ;)  And there are still some  Summer Sweet Fabric  Bloom-topia Quilt Kits and Backing Sets available if you want to join in and make this exact quilt ;)  And I didn't realize until I watched the Live Stream on Friday, but the kit comes with all the Patterns!!!!   So if you are like me, and really struggle to wait for the next release, you can get the Bloom-topia Quilt Kits and make all the blocks at your own pace :)   So fun!!!  

This will be the next block that we work on coming on February 15th!!!    (Although I hear it might be a day early as well like Block 1 :)    This is such a pretty block, and I will be changing mine up to have 4 blooms instead of the stem, so fun!!!

And this is the block  that i am looking forward to the most.   I just think it is so cute and I am excited to try out the specialty half rectangle ruler for it ;)   

And I just had to finish up today with the back of the Bloom-Topia Quilt Along quilt!!!   I just think this is too cute for words!!!   And can you believe a month has already come and gone in 2020, just wow!!!   

And can I just say . . . It's hard to put this quilt back in the box to be shipped off, I just want to put it over my couch and think of Spring ;)   Ah well, guess I will just go sew with some Happy Fabrics  instead ;)

Oh, and one last thing before I sign off . . . speaking of that  Live Stream . . . They also shared my Pillow from the Pillow Fight :)    It is so fun to see them in actual live footage.   And be sure to Pop Over and Vote for your favorite pillow if you haven't already.   It has been neck and neck for the last few days and I think it is going to come down to the wire to pick a winner ;)  

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

I know with all this snow, I just plan to stay inside and sew ;)  

Renovation - Week 3!!

If you remember from  Week 2 of Renovation we were all set for painting, and that is just what happened, along with some other super fun things!!!   

MONDAY -   The walls were painted.   When I have done my own painting in the past, I have always used a roller and brush.   And I have to say, those spray paint guns are awesome.   Such a nice even coat and oh so much quicker ;)    We choose the color Malabar at 50% by Sherwin Williams for the wall color, (Since I am sure it will be asked ;)  And I just love it.  It is so warm and inviting ;) 

TUESDAY - The painting moved upward.   All of the ceilings were painted and I was so tempted to take a picture of the painters :)  They were all decked out from head to toe in white jumpsuits.  Which I totally understood when I saw how much "misting fog" came from the spray gun pointed up towards the ceiling :)   Still, far better to have a jumpsuit and spray, then a sore neck from staring up at the ceiling while you roll it on, and occasionally get paint in your hair ;)    Are you getting the picture that I really don't enjoy painting and am so grateful professionals are painting this time around, tee hee hee :)  

WEDNESDAY - This was the final day of painting, and the one I was looking forward to seeing the results of the most.   It was doors and trim work, and I just love how they shine!!! Nothing like a beautiful white finish to really make the paint pop all the more!!!   (And yes, there is a new door handle coming for this door, we are not keeping the two toned look :)  

THURSDAY - What an awesome day!!!!   With the painting all done, it was time to make the kitchen start to look like a kitchen again with the cabinets being installed.   I know it is just frames, but this made me so excited!!!   I am going to have so much cupboard space, eeekkk!!! 

And while the cabinet makers were busy in the kitchen, my HVAC friends were finishing up the fireplace!!!  Isn't that just so pretty :)   It has a remote control and everything and by the end of the day, we were enjoying watching a crackling fire.  I can't wait until I can sit on the carpet and curl up here with a good book :) 

FRIDAY - And this was another busy and wonderful day.    And I have to say, I was grateful I had somewhere to be other than home while they took out the last of the tile ;)   I came home to everything cleaned up, and ready for the next step.  So nice!!! 

 And I also came home to lights!!!  The electricians were busy all day installing new LED Cam Lights and pendant lights in the kitchen and dining room.    And I am over the moon!!!  I just keep going in here and turning on the lights to bask in how bright and happy they are.   So great!!!    And I just love this picture, it really is starting to be a kitchen again.   So fun!!!

So that is Week 3!!!  I can't even fathom what will be done next week.  I will be out of town for most of the week teaching, so I will have to see if my husband can take the daily photo's.   But I am just super excited for the idea of coming back and seeing what has been done by  Precision Development and all of the amazing folks working on our home ;)   

Until next week!!!

Bloom-Topia Quilt Along - Release 1

Were starting a day early!!!   How fun is that ;)   Today is the First Block Release of the Bloom-Topia Quilt Along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop :)   I am so excited to share Blocks 1 and 2 for this quilt!!!  And aren't they just so fun!!!! Classic piecing that goes together super quick, love it ;)   

And as I mentioned in my previous Bloom-Topia post,  I am making a different layout and promised to share my alterations.   So for Block 1, I changed up the size of my butterflies and made 2 blocks.  Referring to the pattern I cut  (8) C Print rectangles at 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" and (16) D Print rectangles at 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" and (32) B Background squares at 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".  The construction of the units are the same and use 4 units per block.   

And for Block 2, there are no alterations, only make 2 blocks instead of 1.   And if you happen to not have Triangles on a roll, you can simply make regular HST's with (12) Print 4 " x 4" squares and (12) Background 4" x 4" squares which will trim down to 3 1/2".   Then all you need is (8) more Print 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares for the centers of your two blocks.  

So are you joining in the Bloom-Topia fun???  If so, you can download the block pattern  and it is requested for each pattern you download to donate $5.00  to the Make a Wish Foundation :)  This is Fat Quarter Shop's annual charity QAL that is raising funds for an amazing organization.  What a wonderful way for us all to make a difference !!   And Fat Quarter Shop and Moda will match up to $20,000 of the donations raised.  So let's help them reach that goal ;)  

And if you are just now finding the Bloom-Topia Quilt Along, you still have lots of time to get your fabrics together ;)  You can find the  Fabric Requirements here and if you want to make it in the original  Summer Sweet Fabric by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda Fabrics there are still a few  Bloom-topia Quilt Kits and Backing Sets available. I am using a Breeze Fat Quarter Bundle by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics with Gris Grunge as the background!!!  It gives a fun winter look to this spring quilt :)  And of course, you can use any fabrics you like and make it your own!!!    

And speaking of making it your own, just in case you want to see how all of my changes are going to end up looking . . . here is my draft for the Bloom-Topia quilt :)   It will finish at 94" x 94" and uses 25-30 Fat Quarters and 7 yards of background fabric and 1 yard for binding.   I am super excited to see all this patchwork goodness come together!!!

And like always, Fat Quarter Shop has made awesome  You Tube video tutorials that walk you through making each month's blocks.  There are some great helpful hints and you can see it put together step by step!!!   

Be sure to share all of your Bloom-Topia progress on social media with #bloomtopiaquiltalong and check out Fat Quarter Shops post for Release 1 for lots more Block Inspiration!!!

And that's it for the first release in the Bloom-Topia Quilt Along!!!!   I will continue to share a new set of blocks on the 15th and 1st of each month.  So fun!!!  So what do you say, wan't to come Bloom-Topia Quilting Along??  You are going to have so much fun!!!

And just to make it easy to find . . .Here is a list of all the places to find my alterations


Layout Fabric Requirements Alteration

Thanks for popping in today ;)  I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!

P.S. . . . Did you get a chance to go and vote in the pillow fight :)  It's a tight race and every vote counts!!!  So fun ;)