It's August and Incredibly Happy Mail

Wow, I really can not believe it is August 1st today.   I have to say, July was about as crazy as they come in our house.  We had 2 Family Reunions, a Week Long Scout Camp, and 5 days at Girls Camp.  Honestly, I spent more days away from home in July then I did at home (quite a few more ;)  And while I loved every minute spent with family, you can guess that there hasn't been a whole ton of sewing time and yes, it might have been causing a little anxiety to get back to my sewing room and machine.  So I can not being to express my delight when I checked the mail Saturday afternoon and found this adorable Mini!!!!!

Nicole is participating in the Summer Solstice Quilt Along and made this fantastic mini for me as a thank you for helping her along with her project ;)  Isn't that just so incredibly nice!!!!  She represented each of my 5 children, and even have them in age order.  So cute!!!!

Thank you so much Nicole!!!!  This was just such a wonderful surprise and could not have come at a better time :)  Suddenly deadlines didn't seem quite so stressful when I remembered how amazing quilters are and how incredibly grateful I am to be a part of them!!!!

Nicole, You have certainly made my day a Happy Quilting one and I hope that each of you are having a Happy Quilting Day as well!!!

Splendid Sampler Saturday!!!

Time for another Splendid Sampler Saturday!!!  I am just loving this project, it is so fun to get to step away from everything and enjoy playing with new techniques each Saturday ;)  So let's see the blocks!!

First up, the Swirl Time block designed by Sarah J Maxwell.  I always love coming back to some simple piecing :)  It is just so fun to play with points and I loved how this one came together.   The movement is just so great!

Second is the Circle of Love block designed by Geta Gamma.  This one was some serious applique work and I absolutely love it!!!  The design is just so fun, and I really liked doing it in a basic 2-tone using the pinks and reds ;)   And I know it's crazy, but I really do enjoy secure stitching my applique, I just find it so relaxing ;) 

And finally, the Whim block designed by Faith Jones.  This was a paper piecing block, and I have to say, it was so nice to do some very easy paper piecing.  It went together in no time flat, and I just love that there is no rhyme or reason to it, it is just fun and whimsical :)

I am just so excited about all of these fun blocks!!!  I can't wait to see this one all come together ;)

Ruby Jubilee Progress :)

So do you remember how I was "working on" a Ruby Jubilee version of my Braided Irish Chain Pattern??  Well I haven't shared much since I cut up all my 2 patches.   I actually made up the 4-patches sometime around April, but forgot to share them.  (sorry about that)   And I just saw them all sitting on my desk a few weeks ago and decided, it was time for some progress, Yippee!!!

And I am super happy, that the progress really multiplied as I have been squeaking these in among other projects.  And before you knew it, I had finished up all of my "small blocks".

These were a whole lot of chain stitching and oh so much fun to piece!!!   I just love how fast they go together once you have all of the 4-patches done ;)

And now all I have to do is turn the "small blocks" into "big blocks" and then it's just sewing them into a giant 9-patch for the quilt top!!!

I can't wait to get this one all finished up.    I am just loving how classic it is going to be in just red and white!!!!  So fun!!!   And here is hoping that it won't take quite so long to share the finish as it did the progress ;)  

I hope you all have a Happy Quilting weekend!!!

Breaking Open Bundles

I am starting some new projects today and Breaking Open a few Bundles!!!!  I am super excited to have a plan for my Grand Canal Fat Quarter Bundle by Kate Spain that I picked up at Market during Sample Spree!!!  Aren't the colors just gorgeous!!!  You know I am head over heels for those purples :)

And then I am starting another little "secret project" using 3 stunning bundles of fabric goodness!!  I am mixing Sundrops from Corey Yoder, Chestnut Street from Fig Tree Quilts and the blacks, browns, and greens from Olives Flower Market by Vanessa Goertzen.   EEEkk, I am so excited to see this one come together ;)

And this leads me to the question that I had after pulling these off the shelf . . . Does anyone else have a bit of a hard time "Breaking Open" a bundle??  I just love to see them sitting on a shelf and admire the colors and prints.  And even though I know exactly what I plan to do with these bundles, I still had to take a second before breaking them open and enjoy the beauty of all the prints together ;)   

But, With that said, the second I get the ribbon off, I am pressing away and can't wait to cut it up and create something new.    So how about you . . . How do you Break your Bundles open??

180 Doodle Quilting Designs!!!

I am so super excited to share a new book that I was so very fortunate to have a part of!!!  It's called
180 Doodle Quilting Designs and it is packed with a bevy of Free Motion Quilting Designs to help aid you on your free motion quilting journey!!!

Each design in the book is shared in a block layout, a triangle layout, and a border layout, so you can use each design to really fill the space you need ;)  And its as simple as tracing, doodling, and then free motion quilting!!!   You can watch this fun little video Martingale put together to show just how easy 180 Doodle Quilting Designs is to use ;)  

And if you are wondering what you can practice tracing, doodling, and sewing from me . . . Well there just might be some of my all time favorites which you have probably seen around here in quilts time and time again!!!  You can learn the Swirl and Curl ;)

And then take it the next step to the Swirled Paisley

And then add in one more element with the Swirled-and-Pebbled Paisley :)

And not to forget, my favorite variation to the Swirl and Curl,  my Feathered Swirl.  

And I had one more design selected to share of a different nature . . .my Fireworks design!!!  

I can not even begin to say how excited I am to be able to share these favorite Free Motion Quilting Designs!!!  They really are my "go-to" favorites and I am so happy to be able to share them in a way that makes them easy to see, practice, and do!!!  

And there are bevy of additional free motion quilting designs from some of my wonderful quilting friends!!!  It is such an honor to be sharing free motion quilting inspiration along side of  amzing women like, Karen Burns, Lori Kennedy, Maddie Kertay, April Rosenthal, Vicki Ruebel, Shelia Sinclair Snyder, Angela Walters, and Christa Watson :)

I am just tickled pink to be a part of 180 Doodle Quilting Designs and hope you will love it and use it as one of your free motion quilting resources!!!  And . . . You can even win a copy of it!!!  Martingale is having a Giveaway!!!  So pop on over and cross your fingers that you get lucky!!!  (and watch for a TTGD giveaway day in the near future that will be featuring this wonderful resource as well, so fun!!!)  

Thanks for stopping in today and each day ;)

I hope you all have a very Happy (Free Motion) Quilting Day!!!!