4 Surrounded Blocks

This last weekend I was in Panguitch teaching at the Panguitch Quilt Walk.  I am still working on my class photo's so I will be sharing those next week, but today I wanted to share some of what I worked on in between classes.   I made 4 Surrounded Blocks from Lissa Alexander's book Oh, Scrap! and I am just so loving them!!!!

You might recall, I stared this project way back here, when I made my first surrounded block for the Oh Scrap! Blog Hop.   I knew then that this was a quilt that I was going to love making!!!  I love all of the low volume goodness, and boy did I have a stash of it building up.   And then after it being in the back of my mind for about a yea , I got serious about getting this project cut out.  And boy oh boy, that was a lot of cutting :)   But I knew that was the hurdle that needed to be jumped and why it had been just sitting in my mind for so long.   And I was thrilled when I cut the last few pieces because I knew then, it was going to made!!!!  I figured it would be the perfect next Leader and Ender project as soon as I finish up my Scraptastic Stars.

But as I went to pack up for Panguitch, I realized I didn't really have another project to piece on.   I have lots of need to be quilted, and a bunch of new need to be cut, but I finished all of those in between ones ;)  So I threw in my box of Surrounded pieces and figured I could work on it a bit here and there.    And that was all it took to get me hooked ;)

I managed to piece 4 blocks while I was at the retreat between my classes.   And that doesn't sound like a lot of blocks, but with 97 Pieces per block I was feeling really good about that!!!   I decided this is an awesome retreat project.  It is just so fun to make each block one at a time and get the thrill of seeing it come together.   It's totally getting thrown in the car every time I travel to sew now ;)

I just love each and every block.   I am so glad that I took the time to cut out all of those tiny pieces so now I can just sew and sew.   And the other awesome part about these blocks,  now I can sit and play eye spy with all of those fun low volumes.  Each one reminds me of another project they were in and that just makes me smile from ear to ear.

And speaking of smiling,  the most exciting part of my sewing time at retreat was that I wasn't sewing alone!!!  Jessica came along and I was thrilled she wanted to come see what retreats are all about!!   She set herself up in the corner of my classroom and went to town :)   I can't wait to share what she worked on.  She only has 4 blocks left that she plans to finish up this weekend, and then it is going on the design wall.  Pictures Coming Soon!!!! 

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

** This post contains affiliate links. 

Terrific Tuesday 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 Little Tree Jolly Bar  from  Fat Quarter Shop is . . .  Number #190 . . .   Congrats Deb E!!!   I have emailed you :)   

***   And Something Special This Week - Fat Quarter Shop is Celebrating it's Sweet 16th Birthday with 5 Days of Special Flash Sales!!!  You won't want to miss these.  (I might have already filled a cart today ;)   So pop on over and join in the 16 Year Celebration!!!!! *****

 

        

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 wishing for, and maybe a little something to help welcome Spring ;)

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 about your favorite Birthday Party??

 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, June 18th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

** This post contains affiliate links. 

Dashing Duos - American Patchwork and Quilting

Today I am excited to share a secret finish that I made at the beginning of this year and it has been so hard to keep it a secret because I just love it!!!   It's a twist on the classic Churn Dash block and you can probably see how that twist gave the quilt it's name, Dashing Duos ;)

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine.
 ©2019 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

Dashing Duos is featured in American Patchwork and Quilting's August 2019 issue and it is hitting Quilt Shops everywhere today!!!! .   The issue is filled with lots of wonderful quilts that are fun, fast, and some even a little scrappy.   I am honored to be among so many amazing quilters and thrilled to be published in APQ for the first time. 

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine.
 ©2019 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

Dashing Duos finishes at 70" x 70" so it is a great size to snuggle up with a good book or lay out under the sun :)    It is Fat Eight Friendly and goes together quick thanks to some strip piecing :)   I just love taking a classic block and seeing how it can be spun to create something that looks all new.   And the Double Churn Dash has quickly become a new favorite block of mine.   I also had a lot of fun playing with the subtle secondary designs created with the black and white prints.  It just makes those happy colors pop all the more ;)   

And those happy colors and beautiful prints are from Lella Botique's   Lollipop Garden fabrics.   You know she had me at the purple right ;)    But they truly are just a wonderful array of the rainbow that just makes you want to smile.   And I loved getting to pick out each and every 2 color fabric combination when I started this quilt.   So, so, so much fun!!!   

When it came time to quilt it, I decided on some Bubble Swirls.   I just love how it adds all of that curvy goodness to all of the straight piecing.  And of course, I used my 402 Pearl because it just blended perfectly with all of the prints and disappeared in the background.   

But even if the threads disappeared, the texture certainly doesn't.   Isn't that just so yummy!!!  It was hard to pack this one up and ship it off because I just wanted to keep petting it ;)   I just love quilting texture!!!

And like I said, this quilt really is oh so much fun to make and goes together really fast.  One of the things I always find myself saying when I am teaching is Fun and Fast and this is just that!!!   Eee, it just makes me itch to make another Dashing Duos . . . How cute would it be in Americana!!!   The 4th of July is quickly approaching ;)  

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine.
 ©2019 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

And that is my Dashing Duos Quilt!!! I hope you love it just as much as I do ;) And if you make your own, I would love to see it!!!   You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to my flickr group here or post it to social media with  #happyquiltingwithmc ;)  I can't wait to see your Dashing Duos Quilts!!!

And that's all for the weekend!!!  I am teaching at the Panguitch Quilt Walk this weekend so I will have lots of fun to share next week!!!

 I hope that you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend :)

** This post contains affiliate links. 

May Sew Sampler Box!!!

So I know it is June, but May's Sew Sampler Box came a little late last month, and I didn't want to share the reveal until everyone had a chance to get their box :)  And what an awesome box it was!!!  The theme for this month's Sew Sampler Box is Bobbin" 4 Apples and it is just filled with quilting goodness!!!

First off, I was thrilled to find an entire bundle of Orchard Fat Eighths by April Rosenthal for Moda Fabrics!!!  I love everything April's Designs and these Orchard Prints are no exception!!!  I love the the happy colors and adorable prints.   So fun!!!  And how cute is this Apple Crisp quilt design to use the bundle on.   I think I want to add one more set of triangles on the sides and make it square, and then maybe a border to make it a good lap size.   So cute!!! 

And fun notions this month!!  First off, the Triangles on a Roll paper for making those giant HST's in the Apple Crisp pattern.  I just love when they include everything I need to make the pattern.   And then a beautiful Bohin Sewing Needle Book and awesome Clover Fork Pins.  I have never tried fork pins, but in class I have had students that just love them!!!  And you know, a quilter can never have enough needles and pins!!!!

And I was thrilled that this month's Goodness Grows block included applique!!!  You all know how much I love to do Machine Applique.   And while I am not using the Goodness Grows quilt  kit, I am using Sugar Creek which is Corey Yoder's next line and lucky for me, the Goodness Grows Thread Set made for the kit is still a perfect match for Sugar Creek!!!  So I had to get that :)  I love how the Aurifil 80wt thread is so fine it just blends away on the applique.  So pretty!!!  And those adorable wooden spools are pretty awesome too!!!

And here is the second block block, Branch Out!!!  Isn't is just so great!!! I really, really, really love those patchwork strawberries ;)    And I might have also got that adorable Felt Letter Board.  (not in the Sew Sampler box, but awesome none the less)  I have been wanting one for some time and I was thrilled to finally get one!!!

And that is my May  Sew Sampler box  :)   And now there is even less days to wait for my June Box to arrive.  Gotta love a silver lining :)

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

** This post contains affiliate links. 

Terrific Tuesday 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 $25.00 Gift Certificate from  The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co is . . .  Number #28 . . .   Congrats Joybeth54!!!   I have emailed you :)     

 

        

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.   Fat Quarter Shop is amazing and they never cease to amaze me with everything they have going on at their shop!!!     And did you know they have a 24 Hour Flash Sale every day with 2 Flash Sales on Tuesdays!!   And not only do they have a daily deal, they have a Basic Fabric of the Month!!!!    And it's a Brand new month June is all about Grunge!!   And you all know how much I love Grunge!!!!   For the whole month all Grunge Basics are marked down 20%.  Yippee!!! 

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving away a Beautiful Little Tree Jolly Bar by Lella Boutique for Moda.  This is such a cute line and I just love that the Christmas Fabrics are arriving in shops ;)   Makes me want to start singing Christmas Songs!!!!  I know, it's not even July yet, but I can't help myself, tee hee hee.  

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 your favorite Christmas Song??  (Mine is Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas :)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, You Tube 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 Fat Quarter Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, June 11th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

** This post contains affiliate links.