Wednesday, August 10, 2011

WIP to get up the WIP Post!!!

**NOTE**  If you are looking for the Off the Rail Quilt Kit giveaway sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop you will find it here :)

Seriously,  I can't believe how long it is taking to write this post.  I keep having one distraction after another.  Oh well, what ya gonna do :)  I think I haven't shown any of my works in progress for a bit (probably as there has been a lack of them :) and thought today would be the day to remedy that :)  So here it goes :)

My first new huge work in progress is starting up my new STARS Quilt-A-Long!!  It is set to start on Monday and I am just trying to make sure I have everything ready to go.  I am so super excited about it!!!  There is already a great group of people quilting along and I know it is just going to be so much fun!!  It was even posted about at the Jolly Jabber this morning :)  Ya, how cool is it to have your name mentioned at the Jolly Jabber. I will tell you, It's Super Cool!!!


Next, is a new version of my Hugs and Kisses from the Park tutorial.  You might recall that the pattern was inspired by my grandparents so I thought it might be nice to make a version for my grandmother that will fit her room decor.  I went for Pom Pom de Paris.  I think she will love it.  I have gotten as far as pinning the original piecing and stalled.  It was suppose to be for her birthday but whereas that is in a week it will most likely now be for Christmas :)


Next, I got this little beauty all basted and it is just waiting to be quilted and bound.  I would show you the front but that would take away from the fun when I get to release it as my newest "baking project" :)


And last, for fun . . . I thought I would give an update on the Baby Bump WIP :)  This is me at 33 weeks :)  Only 7 weeks left and if things go as they have with the last 4 it will be more like 6 weeks!!  Yippee Skippee!!




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Monday, August 8, 2011

STARS Quilt Along Starts Today with the Fabric Requirements :)

**NOTE - If you are looking for the Off The Rail Quilt Kit Giveaway sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop please go here :)


Oh my goodness,  I am so excited for this Quilt-A-Long!!!!  It is going to be so much fun!!!  Okay, so before we get right to the fabric requirements, there are a few things that need to be gone over.  Sorry, this is a bit wordy, but I wanted to make sure we all stay on the same page :)
Some General Notes :)


There is a flickr group for this STARS Quilt-A-Long that you can get to by clicking here.  You don't have to be part of it if you don't want to.  It is just fun to see each others progress.  Please feel free to post pictures of your progress, add discussion, ask questions, ect. ect. ect. in this group :)  I have just started a STARS Hello / Introduction discussion where those participating can say where they are from, what they like about quilting, what number quilt-a-long this is for them, ect, ect, ect.  It is just a fun place to chat :)


You can find all of the STARS Quilt-A-Long posts listed under the Quilt-A-Long Tab on my blog.  It is up there at the top of the blog.  Or you can just click here :)  This just makes it easy if you happen to get behind a little to find the specific post you are looking for rather than having to surf through a weeks worth of posts :)


I am always happy to answer any questions you have.  Please don't ever hesitate to ask if you aren't sure of what I mean in my instructions.  Sometimes it is hard to know if my wording makes sense to anybody besides me.  You can always email me at happyquiltingmelissa (at) gmail (dot) com and I will get you an answer as soon as I can.


Okay . . . Now some Notes on the Fabric Requirements!!


This Quilt-a-Long is for a quilt with a finished measurement of appx. 84 x 84.  (or Queen Size).  The fabric requirements therefore reflect that size of quilt.  Also, as I mentioned previously, I will be giving options for the start part of the block to vary in size and we will be playing around with some wonky angels to allow you a little freedom in creating your own unique quilt top.  Because of this, the fabric requirements are a little trickier.  Just know that you will have enough, but that I have had to take in several factors while considering the size.  (Meaning you could have some scrappy leftovers when you are done,Yippee Skippee for scraps ;)


Also, If you want to quilt-a-long, but want to do a smaller size that is just fabulous.  Please don't feel that you have to do the Queen size in order to participate.  You will just want to adjust your fabric needs based on the size you are doing.  The Queen Size is made of 36 12" finished blocks in a 6 x 6 grid and then borders.  So from that you will want to decide how many blocks and what grid you want them in and if you want borders then estimate your fabric needs from the original requirements.  If you have any questions or need help calculating fabric requirements for your particular chosen size please do not hesitate to email me.  I would be happy to help you figure them out.   




Onto the Fabric Requirements!!


I will be giving the fabric requirements followed by the Fabric Choices that I will be using from the Joel Dewberry Heirloom Line :) Then I will release the Coupon Code for your discount at Fat Quarter Shop!!


FABRIC REQUIREMENTS FOR A 84 x 84 STARS Quilt!
QUILT TOP
1  Fat Quarter Bundle (13 Fat Quarters) for the Star Blocks
5 1/2 Yards of White for the Star Blocks and Sashing
1/3 Yard  for the inner border 
1 1/4 Yard for the outer border
QUILT BACK
5 Yards for the backing 
BINDING
3/4 Yard for the binding 

MY FABRIC CHOICES :)
QUILT TOP
1  Fat Quarter Bundle in the Ruby Colorway.
5 1/2 Yards of Kona White.
1/3 Yard of Heirloom Gold Ribbon Lattice Yardage SKU# JD57 - GOLDX 
1 1/4 Yard of Heirloom Garnet Ornate Floral Yardage SKU #JD53-GARNE 
QUILT BACK

5 Yards of Heirloom Garnet Paisley Yardage SKU # JD55-GARNE 
BINDING

3/4 of Heirloom Garnet Empire Weave Yardage SKU# JD54-GARNE


COUPON CODE!!!!!

Thank you to Kimberly and the Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring this STARS Quilt-A-Long!!!  Kimberly, has graciously offered a discount of 20% off ALL HEIRLOOM FABRICS!!!!!!  Yes, that includes all the Heirloom FQB's as well as yardage that you would need for borders, backing, and bindings :)  Yippee Skippee!!!!!   


To get your 20% off, simply use the coupon code HEIRLOOM when checking out :)  So get on over to the Fat Quarter Shop and pick out your favorite color-way and coordinating prints and save big!!!

Some Final Notes :)

Well that just about wraps it up for this post.  I will give everyone a week to get their fabric all squared away and next Monday, the 15th, I will post the instructions for the first STARS block.  My plan is to release a new block each Monday and Thursday for 3 weeks.  (But don't hold me firm to that :)  We will then work on finishing the top and putting together the quilt :)  I am just so excited!!!  I hope you all have loads of fun Quilting along with me :)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!!!
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Friday, August 5, 2011

Fat Quarter Shop Sponsored Giveaway!!!

Okay, so I just love the Fat Quarter Shop!!!  Kimberly and her team just finished celebrating their 8 year anniversary of the Fat Quarter Shop!!  How about a Shout Out to them!!!  Seriously, they are amazing!!!  If you have never had a chance to visit or shop at the Fat Quarter Shop you are missing out.  When I visit I normally plan an hour or more to look around, it is so much fun!!!!




*** Quick side Note*** So not only is the Fat Quarter Shop sponsoring this amazing giveaway (which I will get to in just a second) they are also sponsoring my newest Quilt-A-Long called STARS.



 I am so very excited and Fat Quarter Shop's super generosity is going to make it all the more fun!!!  They will be giving discounts , starting Monday, on the fabric choice I will be using (Oh yes, none other than Heirloom by Joel Dewberry!!!)  and they are also awarding 3 participants that finish their quilt tops $50.00 Gift Certificates to the Fat Quarter Shop!!!!   So . . .  If you missed the Quilt-A-Long Introduction post where you can read more about how much fun we will be having just click over here :)




*** Okay, back to our regularly scheduled Giveaway Post***  

So what does the Fat Quarter Shop have in store for you today . . .  We'll lets see what is behind door #1

It is an entire Off The Rail Quilt Kit !!!!  Yippee Skippee!!!  This includes the pattern and everything you need to make 68 x 81 quilt top and binding!!! This pattern is by Julie at Jaybird Quilts, whom I admire like crazy!!!!!!!!   The fabric is Treasures & Tidbits by Robert Kaufman and is simply adorable!!! Oh my goodness, what a prize!!!   Thank you to Kimberly and the Fat Quarter Shop for such an amazing giveaway!!! 

Okay, So I know you are excited so lets get to it!!  Here is how to enter. . .   You have three chance to win, and please, leave a separate comment for each (for a total of 3 comments max :) If you leave one saying I did it all, Mr. Random.Org will only count it for one.
  1. Be a follower of Happy Quilting or become one and leave a comment that mentions the word Stars.    So yes, I am totally excited about this new Quilt-A-Long and wanted to change things up a bit.  This will be fun!!!  Oh, and if you don't know how to follow, no worries, it's easy, just click follow up in the top left hand corner :)
  2. Head on over to the Fat Quarter Shop and leave a comment of what you would buy if you won one of the $50.00 Gift Certificates from my STARS Quilt-A-Long.  Oh man, I could shop there for hours, it is a wonderful world of endless fabric choices :)
  3. Alert the Media - Post on facebook, twitter, or your blog about this giveaway.  Leave a comment saying where you wrote and a link :)  You can post on all 3 sites but it only gets you one entry, but I will love you forever!!! 
Giveaway will be open until August 11th and a winner will be announced on the 12th :)  International Entries Welcome :)  Alright, it's time to get commenting!!!

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!!
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Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Quilt-A-Long Anyone????

That's Right!!!  It's time for another Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long!!!  And the theme for this Quilt-A-Long is STARS!!!!!  It is going to be so much fun, I am just so excited!!!  We officially start off on August 8th!!!


So let's see here, what can I tell you that will get you interested to join this particular Quilt-A-Long???

1 - It is super beginner friendly but still a lot of fun for experience quilter's alike.

2 - You will learn some fun techniques for saving time and I promise to do all the math :)

3 - It will last about a month to 6 weeks
 (I am due on the 25th of September so I am hoping to finish before then :)  

4 - It is being sponosored by the Fat Quarter Shop and they will be having amazing discounts available if you want to do it in the same fabric that I am using. Yippee Skippee for Discounts!!!



5.  Oh yes, and you might ask, "What fabric will I be using that you can get a discount on??"  Well it is none other than the amazing Joel Dewberry Heirloom which I have been drooling over for a month!!!  I am using the Ruby colorway, you can choose whichever color-way you like best!!!


    

6 - Oh, have I mentioned . . .  Fat Quarter Shop will be giving away 3 $50 Gift Certificates as prizes that you are eligible to win if . . . you complete your quilt top!!!  3 , yes count them, 1, 2, 3, people will be walking away from the Quilt-A-Long with $50.00 to spend at The Fat Quarter Shop!!!  Oh my, what I could do with that :) 



7 - And last, but certainly not least, how cute is this quilt!!!   It is a queen size. (but you can always go smaller if you like by doing fewer blocks :)  This is the basic concept, we will be changing up the angles and sizes a bit so that everyone's is unique . . .but it gives you the concept.  And personally,  I think it happens to be a pretty stinking cute and fun concept :)  (Although, I might be a bit bias)



So are you interested???  Do you want to Quilt-A-Long????  If so, be sure to grab a button and  join our Flickr Group!!!! (It is so great to see everyone's progress)  Oh, and you can leave a comment too, it will be fun to see how many might be joining us :)  Then make sure to come back on August 8th when the fun all begins!!!!  

EDIT ***  I will be announcing the fabric requirements on the 8th and giving the discount code for fabric at the Fat Quarter Shop.  I will then give you a week before we actually start sewing to get all of your fabric together so no need to worry about that yet.  I just wanted to let you all know about the quilt-a-long a few days early so you would have time to think about it and get excited :)




Edit - Here is a Quick Link Reference to all of the posts in this Quilt-A-Long Series
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Monday, August 1, 2011

Wantobe Quilter's Starts Today!!!!


Okay, So I have mentioned this before on my blog but I just wanted to remind everyone that the Wantobe Quilter Campaign starts today!!!!  If you haven't sent me your info yet (email, phone number, and name) you still have time.  This goes on for 3 months!!!

So just a quick run down on the Giveaways to make sure you are all on the same page . . . This comes right from Stash Manicure, the brains behind this amazing campaign.




Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are for Wantobe Quilters
( those who do not quilt, they do not have tools, machines, rulers, fabric bundles) 
YOU can win all of the goodies we will be giving  away...as long as you
are affiliated with one of the bloggers (Meaning you have sent me your info that I mentioned above :)
Be sure to connect with them, be a follower of theirs,
 include their name (Melissa Corry or Happy Quilting)  when you leave a comment and if you win, 
they also win something..if you don't leave their name of  your sponsor blog and yours you
 will not be eligible for any wins...
I will not have time to remind anyone to do that...sew this is your only reminder..


So What if you are an experience quilter but you still want to win something??  This is for you!!


Tuesdays and Thursdays are for QUILTERS...
( all those who quilt..you will be able to win new tools too
Did I just hear a squeal.....lol)
If  you do not have a blog you can still enter of course..
but give your name to someone (ie . . . email me your info at happyquiltingmelissa (at) gmail (dot) com :)
and be sure when you leave a comment you provide their name of their blog too (Melissa Corry or Happy Quilting)..
IF you win, sew do they...if you only leave a comment with no name
you will not be eligible ....again I will not have the time to remind everyone of this....

If you have a BLOG yeah, .you only have to leave a comment to win 
on Tuesdays and Thursdays... if you win..YOU win...
well you will see....lol.. ( we will know you are a blogger cause your avatar
button will link us to it) 

ONE FINAL NOTE!!!!

In order to win . . . you must comment at Stash Manicure on your designated days, (not here) and you must be a follower of the Stash Manicure Blog!!!

And that about wraps it up!!!  If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask.  This campaign is amazing and everyone can participate and enjoy!!!  Happy Quilting and best of luck!!!
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