Swaps - My New Addiction

So I can't believe I waited so long to join in swaps.  They are so much fun!!!  I can now show you what I have been working on since my partners have received their parcels :)  

First is the Pillow Talk Swap :)  My partner, (Elaine aka Messygoat) left me a mosiac of rainbows and modern style.  I stalked her flickr account and found this pillow :)  And then I cam up with this idea to go with it :)  I was hoping the lots of white with pops of color would offset it well :)  And guess what, she loved it!!!  I am so excited.  I mean what can be better than stalking someone and trying to figure out what they would love, and then actually hitting the mark.  Yippee Skippee :)  

Here is a close up of the quilting.  I did echo quilting of the shapes in the white space.  This was so much fun!!!

And here is a shot of the black.  I added the black for a little pop.  And the binding was so much fun to put on.  It is also the first time I have done rounded edges.  I always run down to my MIL for help with those but this time, I managed on my own :)

The next swap was the Name Game Swap.  This was a swap where you designed a mini quilt around your partners "Quilting Name" and make them an adorable wall hanging for their studio.  My partner (Linda aka SewLindaAnn) posted a mosiac of rainbows and raw edge quilting.  From her inspiration I came up with this concept :)

The idea is that no matter how rainy or gloomy a day seams, there is nothing like a bit of sewing to turn the day around and make everything rosy :)  And Linda loved it!! She sent me the sweetest email with her appreciation and her words so made my month!!!  Sweet words like that remind me of why I loved all of this online quilting craziness :)  So basically, things couldn't have worked out more perfect!!!

I am now looking forward to see what comes back this way :)  I will for sure be posting it as soon as it does.  And in the mean time, I think I will be looking for another swap to join ;)  I can tell these are going to be addicting :)

TNT Thursday goes Raw!!!

So what have I been trying out new???  I have been playing with a new method of applique stitching.  Raw Edge applique that is :)  I have done tons of applique but I always stitch it down with either a blanket stitch or a zig-zag stitch.  But my Name Game Swap partner had a mosiac full of Raw Edge applique so I figured it was time to try something new.  Here is a little preview with a close up of the raw edge stitching.  (I promise to show more once my partner has received it in the mail :)

And I had so much fun with the new little technique that I decided to do my Beejeebers Monopoly Block (That I showed here) applique with raw edges as well.  Which was nice because when you are stitching 1" applique pieces blanket stitch and zig zag pretty much take up the entire applique.  Raw edge worked prefect, and once again, was a lot of fun :)

So that is what I have been trying new.   How about you????  Let's see those links :)

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Welcome Studio Kat Designs and a Giveaway!!!

I am so excited to welcome  Studio Kat Designs as  Happy Quilting's newest sponsor!!!   Kat carries amazing purse patterns designed for the way women Really are!!!  And her bags are truly Art you can wear!

All of her bags are fabulous and there is sure to be one that fits your needs just perfect.  Like maybe this one??

The Carolina CarryAll

or this one??

The SideKick

or maybe this one??  

The DittyRoo

Kat also carries all of the notions that you would need to make up your fabulous purse.  Talk about one stop shopping!!!

And Kat even has several free patterns on her website like this cute little Airport Organizer!!  I totally could have used that on my last flight with the 4 (at the time) little ones :)

            

Thank you to Kat and Studio Kat Designs!!!!   I am so happy to have you as a part of Happy Quilting!!! So how about a little giveaway to welcome our newest sponsor!!

 Kat has graciously offered one lucky winner, not 1, not 2, but 3 of her amazing purse patterns.  Yup, one lucky winner is going to win all 3 of these!!!

The Quattro

The Baggalista

The PortaPockets Purse Insert

You have two chances to win, and please, leave a separate comment for each (for a total of 2 comments max :)  


1 - Visit Studio Kat Designs shop and leave a comment of what pattern is the perfect bag for the way you live :)


2 - Follow Studio Kat Designs Blog and leave a comment that you do so :)


So that's it, easy enough right :) The giveaway will close on Tuesday the 28th and I will announce a winner on Lucky Leap Day!!!     Good Luck to all and Happy Quilting!!!

February Bee Blocks

For the Sew. Bee. Create Bee Bethany is making a super cute blue and green quilt and gave us a choice of 4 blocks to make.  I liked this block layout.  The block is 12" finished and those 5 little guys are 2 1/2".  I really like piecing on a small scale lately.  It is just so fun!!!

For the Beejeebers Bee Linz asked us to do a 16" block representing a family friendly game.  She is doing a game night quilt for her family.  What a great idea, huh!!!  I choose Monopoly.  I had so much fun putting this block together.  And boy oh boy, did I get to use my Slice a lot.  Don't you just love those little trains.  They are 1" :)  So cute!!!!

Math at Night is Never a Good Idea

So I have been playing with this super adorable fabric over the last little bit.  It is Ten Little Things by Jenn Ski and I am putting together a little bakeshop tutorial for it.  This little pile however is now in my scrap bin.  Why you might ask.  Because I broke one of my cardinal rules and did math late at night.  It seems whenever I do that, I tend to make errors.  As was the case here.  I figured the size of these squares wrong and so they are all  1/2" to small.  One of these days I will learn.  Does this happen with any of the rest of you or is it just me that has a brain that shuts off at 9 pm???

Happy Mail Day

And not because I got mail but because I got it sent out!!!  I put together the packages for some February commitments yesterday and ran them to the post office. Packages included 2 Bee Blocks, the Name Game Swap, and the Pillow Talk Swap. (I promise to show you them all next week :)   I had a lot of fun with all 4 of these little projects.  With that said, I am glad to have them in the mail so I can move on to the next high priority project.  I have to get my Grandmother's queen size Lone Star quilted this coming week as her birthday is Friday.  Wish me luck in the wrestling match I am about to have :)

TNT Thursday with Pat from Color Me Quilty

Were back.  Man, I can't believe it has only been 2 weeks since we have done this.  It feels like forever.  So welcome back to TNT Thrusday.  And we are back with a super special treat.  A fabulous tutorial by Pat from Color Me Quilty.  I love this block she has made and I know you are gonna love it too.  Thank you so much Pat for putting this together for all of us to enjoy.  So . . .Take it away :)

Hi, I'm Pat from Color Me Quilty! I am beyond excited that Melissa has invited me to show you this tutorial for Gothic Windows. I hope that you will all like making this block.

Gothic Windows. 8"x 8" finished (8 1/2" x 8 1/2" as it is here).

Believe it or not it can be made with 3 contrasting Jelly Roll strips or (3) 2 1/2" wide by the width of the fabric strips.

(3) contrasting strips 2 1/2" x width of fabric (approx. 44")

Cut the strips as follows:
Green - (3) 2 1/2" squares (two of the three squares need to be cut diagonally in half)
White - (6) 4 1/2" rectangles
Charcoal - (8) 2 1/2" squares AND (4) 4 1/2" rectangles

Fold all six of the white rectangles in half (right sides to the outside) and sandwich between the charcoal squares and rectangles.

White sandwiched between two charcoal squares. Align the two edges of the white with the edges of the charcoal squares. The folded edge should be approx. 1/4" short from the other edge of the two charcoal squares.

Do the same with the rectangles with the exception that one side with have additional fabric.

Notice the pinned side you will be stitching - from the open to the folded edge of the white block

All the blocks ready to stitch

You can chain stitch the blocks, if you wish. Then just cut them apart.

Now the magic happens....open the block

A perfect one seam flying geese (or is that goose??) Press!!!

You should end up with 4 short and 2 with longer sides.

Stitch two of the short geese together.

Put the green square in the middle, evenly spaced (it will be smaller that the white). Fold the white edges down and press.

Top stitch the white edges down. You may want to pin or glue the white down. I found that Elmers washable school glue works great for this step. (I did show how to use the glue a little farther down)

Voila! you have the center done.

Next you will be doing basically the same thing with just the flying geese.

Since these geese are not sewn together, you need to stitch a very scant 1/4" across the bottom to hold the corners of the geese down and to hold the green half square in place.

This line of stitching will not show once your block in assembled. Do this will all 4 of the remaining geese.

Again, press the white edges in over the green

I found that adding a touch of glue at this stage very helpful

Can you see the glue?

Repress to set the glue. This will NOT gum up your needle when you stitch.

You can use either the liquid or the glue stick. I've used both on different projects.

Top stitch the two side of the triangle.

Start to assemble by adding the two short geese, one on each side.

Add the two longer geese to the other sides.

You now have completed a Gothic Windows Block!

I hope you've enjoy my tutorial. Thanks again to Melissa for letting me guest blog.


What an awesome Tutorial!!!  Thank you so much Pat.  I know this is on my list of things to try new :)

And I will throw in a quick bit of something new I tried last night.  I taught a class for the first time.  Here are some of the amazing ladies I got to teach.  We went over basic machine care and made some disappearing 9 patch blocks :)  So fun!!!  I was nervous at first but once I got going I had a ball!!!  I just love quilting and sharing how to do it is something that I look forward to doing it again sometime :)

So . . . You have had quite a while to be saving up some new things.  What have you been trying new??  Link on up and show us all :)

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