It's Been Awhile

Seriously, it has been a long while since I did a Work In Progress post. It's Wednesday, and I need to get everything all written down for the new year , so here it goes :)

I have two projects that I want to work on this week.  First. I have received enough of my Paper Pieced Improv Tree Blocks (tutorial found here) from the Bees Knees group to get the first four rows of the quilt put together.  I guess that means I should probably figure out the measurements of my rows and cut some backing fabric :)   Oh, I would love to have this ready in time for Christmas, we shall see if that happens or not :)

Secondly, I decided to give myself a little handmade Christmas present.  This is something I have been wanting to do for quite some time and this lovely bundle of True Colors by Jenean Morrison is just perfect!!!

Oh the fun part, picking the fabrics!!  I need 10 Fat Eighths for this little project and wanted them in a rainbow so I figured it would be best, to first lay all of the Fat Quarters out in color order and go from there.  Although, once I had them laid out, I just sat and stared because they are oh so pretty!!!

I seriously went back and forth for like a half an hour trying to pick my favorite combination.  Every print is just so perfect it was so hard to pick just 10.  In the end, these are the prints I went with.  I just love seeing a rainbow of fabrics, it just makes me smile!

And now, I can actually start my project.  Are you wondering what it is???  Don't worry, I won't make you wait long. I am hoping to have it all put together and finished by Friday, and I plan on taking some pictures along the way for another fun tutorial ;)  Yippee!!

And last but not least, It wouldn't be a Work In Progress post without the run down :) It is sad that since the last time I did this in September I have added 9 quilts in the completed category and yet the same 4 quilts still sit in the Quilting Stage category.  I think something needs to be done about that and quick!!  I see a new little goal coming up :)

Designing Stage

• DJ
• Oakshott

Piecing Stage

• Jessi and Me Quilt - Starting back up again on Wed Afternoons :)
• Block of the Month - Lucky Stars (So far behind, I don't know if I will ever get caught up)
• Improv Tree Bee Blocks

Quilting Stage

• Solids Quilt for Free Motion
• Star Value Bee Quilt 
• Star Surround Quilt-A-Long
• Starburst Quilt-A-Long 

Completed Stage  

• Steps to Tranquility
• Back to Basics
• Sister's Choice Josie
• Twists and Turns
• Lucky Stars
• Shabby Hexie Twist
• Playing the Scales
• Boxed In and Out - Alumni Edition
• In Your Neighborhood

Linking to Lee's :)

Fabric Therapy

Yesterday morning I woke up feeling down right "icky" (as my 2 year old would say).  Just as my family got over all of our sickness, I managed to pick it up for another go round.   I stayed in bed most of the morning, but by the afternoon I was feeling super down and needed a major pick me up.  And what better to pick me up then some good ol fabric therapy.   So I made my way down to the sewing room and pulled out these two lovelies.

A beautiful layer cake of  Vintage Verona by Emily Taylor Design for Riley Blake.

 And a second beautiful layer cake of  Valencia by Lisa Tueller Designs for Riley Blake

Now I don't normally open pre-cuts without a plan to use them right then, but desperate times call for desperate measures :)  So I untied the string and laid out all of these gorgeous prints!!!  Oh, how they make me smile ;)  Look at those beautiful rich Navy's, Reds, and Greens.  And oh, that plaid print, eeekkk!

I pulled out my sketch pad and started drafting some ideas.  I often find that just looking at fabrics can bring inspiration for designs.  And those dots and echoed bead prints got the creative juices flowing.  So fun!!!  And who doesn't love a great strip??  I just love sketching while ogling over gorgeous fabrics.

And after an hour of playing and petting I really did feel better.  I mean, I still felt sick, but I didn't feel down in the dumps sick.  Ahh, what a good bit of fabric therapy can't do :)

And I am happy to report that I am starting to feel better in a not so sick kind of way this morning.  I am hoping it was just one of those 24 hour things ;)  Yippee, not not only can I pet fabric, but hopefully I will have the energy to sew some ;)

Hope you are having a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

*** Giveaway is now closed - The winner is Angelia Lanouette!!

It's Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!!  I love this day!!!  Now I know you have lots of places to visit so lets get right to it :)

Up for grabs is a Fat Quarter Bundle of True Colors by Jenean Morrison which is being generously sponsored by Julie of The Intrepid Thread.  Yes, that is 20 Fat Quarters!!!  Don't you just love these prints!!!  Oh my goodness, I am just head over heals for this rainbow of goodness!!!

So what do you have to do for your chance to win???

Leave a comment here of your favorite Fat Quarter Bundle Julie carries in her shop, The Intrepid Thread

That's it.  Up to 1 entry per person.  Giveaway is open to international entries.  It will close on Friday, December 13th at 5p.m. and a winner will be selected randomly and announced shortly after.

Oh, and by the Way . . . If you are stopping by for the first time, Welcome!!   I am so glad you visited and hope you will come back often.  I have so much fun sharing my passion for quilting here.  If you would like, you can follow Happy Quilting (over there on the right) and ensure that you catch all of the Quilty Goodness :)  I promise, I will make it worth your time with tutorials, giveaways, fabric eye candy, and lots of smiles :)

Winner and Giveaway Day

It's time to choose one lucky winner for the Southern Fabric Gift Certificate.   The lucky winner is . . .

Who happens to be . . . Lori!!!!   Congrats Lori, I have sent you an email :)

And if you didn't win today, don't worry, you still have a chance to win next week because Monday is the Bi-Annual Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day.   So be sure to check back Monday, trust me, you won't want to miss this one!!!!

Finish It Up Friday - Holiday Edition

NOTE - If you are looking for the Southern Fabric Gift Certificate Giveaway you will find it here :)

Today's finish isn't a fabric one, but I am certainly excited it.  As of last night, my Holiday shopping is done, wrapped, and ready for Christmas!!!  Yippee!!!  I always do my shopping earlier, but I tend to procrastinate the whole wrapping part of it.  I am so thrilled to know it is finished.

And with the house all decorated, (and my December Bee Blocks made and mailed )  I think I can pretty much "sit back" and enjoy all of the holiday festivities at this point.  Whoo Hoo!!!  But before you start thinking "wow, that Melissa is sure on top of it this year" (tee hee hee) , I will point out 2 little things below that I conveniently nixed off this year's Christmas to do list :)

See that family picture, yes, it is missing a child and I was supposed to schedule Christmas pictures with the photographer, whoops ;) And even though I have had making Christmas Stockings on my list all year, there are still mismatched store bought ones hanging on the mantle this year, what ya gonna do :)

But, after a lot of mental debate, I have finally decided on an idea for the stockings.  (I think, well it's down to 2 ideas at least, I keep going back and forth )  So that is a step in the right direction :)  I even printed out this stocking pattern from Katie's Simply Sewing book and pinned it by my ironing board so that every time I press I will be reminded of this project that will go back on the "to do" list on January 1 ;)

Have a Happy Quilting, Happy Holiday Season Weekend!!!

Linking this finish to Sarah's and Amanda's :)