The Last of the Blocks Rolled On In!!

I am so excited to have the last of my Semi Bee Block arrive.  Don't you just love when you get squishy packages in the mail!!!  It is just so much fun :)

Lisa made this amazing Car Carrier block.  Can you believe she pieced in those cars!!  So amazing :)  I just love how creative and fun it is.  (And I want a purple polka-dot car!)

Ursula  made this super fun Horse Trailer Semi.  I love that one of the horses has turned his back on the camera.  Apparently, he is not a fan of the Paparazzi.  And isn't it fun that Ursula took the picture by her own horse :)  Such a clever girl!

Once I had all of the blocks, I went back and added a bit of detail to some of the blocks.  You know, doors, ladders, just a few little basics.  Except for this block.  When Danny originally made it she intended to add the transformer logo to the carrier.  But she was having printer issues and ended up bagging the idea.  So, when it arrived looking all Optimus like in the navy and red I couldn't help but finish her plan.  Didn't it turn out cool!!! (It was super easy too, I just laid the paper print out on the wrong side of the fabric and zig-zag stitched over the lines, when I was done, I just tore away the paper :)

Last, but not least on the Semi Truck news, I finished paper piecing the big semi in the middle.  Yipppee Skippee!!!  However, I will save that story for tomorrow.  It is a whole saga and I have to get the kids ready for swim lessons.  (My 3 year old is in a tots and mom class so I suppose I better be getting ready as well :)  Until tomorrow, Happy Quilting!!

EZ Dresden Challenge Kick Off!!!

Today Kick's off the EZ Dresden Challenge!!!  This is a super fun challenge hosted by the Salt Lake Modern Quilting Guild to celebrate Darlene Zimmerman 20th anniversary of designing amazing quilting tools!!

There are several categories to enter and lots of prizes to be won.   Including a Singer 7469Q Confidence Quilter Sewing Machine!!!! As well as many many more provided by these amazing sponsors!!

You have lots of time to get your entry ready as the linky party for entries doesn't open until September 1.  So in the mean time, the SLMQG has rounded up a fabulous group of bloggers to give you some Dresden Inspiration!!!  So hop along (There will be prizes) and get some ideas percolating on what you want to do with your EZ Dresden ruler!!!

June 1
Salt Lake MQG: Kick Off http://www.slmqg.com/

June 2
Lee: freshlypieced.blogspot.com/

June 3
Kati www.fromthebluechair.com/

June 4
Victoria: bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
Tanya: www.squaresandtriangles.com

June 5
Val: howaboutpinkplease.blogspot.com/
Leigh: leedledeedlequilts.blogspot.com/

June 6
Amy: amyscreativeside.com/
Elisa www.stitchoutsidetheditch.com/

June 7
Katie: www.swimbikequilt.com/
Emily: emsscrapbag.blogspot.com/

June 8
Melissa: happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/  (That's me :)
Brooke: pitterputterstitch.blogspot.com/

June 9
Nicole: mamalovequilts.blogspot.com/
Amy sukie.mt-wudan.com/

June 10
Elizabeth: www.dontcallmebetsy.com/
Colleen: www.thebusybean.com/

June 11
Faith: www.freshlemonsquilts.com/
Deonn: quiltscapesquilting.blogspot.com/

June 12
Angela: angelaflicker.com/
Barbie: thequiltingmill.blogspot.com

June 13
Amy: www.diaryofaquilter.com/

June 14
Jessica: sewcraftyjess.blogspot.com/

June 15
Salt Lake MQG: Wrap-up www.slmqg.com/

So Pop on over to the Salt Lake Modern Quilting Guild Kick Off to get all of the details on this super fun challenge!!!  And I look forward to seeing your projects :)

TNT - I am in a Book!!!!!

This is something New that I tried a long time ago and I have been dying to tell you all!!!!  I am in a book :)  Yippee Skippee, I still can't believe it is quite real :)  Enter lots of squeals and and a happy dance :)

About a year ago I was asked if I would like to contribute to a second Moda Bake Shop collaboration book.  It took all of about 2 seconds to respond with an Absolutely, I would love to!!!!  Sweet Celebrations has over 35 projects all based on holiday's and celebrations through the year.  And of course, there will be a book tour and all that fun jazz when it gets closer to the release date of October 2012.  I am just so excited that I finally get to say that I am In A Book.  Thank you to the Moda Bake Shop.  It is an honor to be part of this book with so many other amazing quilters!!!

So what have you tried new this week.  Link on up :)

<a border="0" href="http://happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src=" https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERmOwnuoN_yJzxwDc-0EeiilcFD1-q0nwIYFJi8QgWQomMNyUe-mWSSLzpB1MHklEHvw7R3SgK4qNy-XzyNo0-QVoY6bWsu3_ACS-uXIDSqii5EEEEgawSE6dBGJI0DWhpWddnS0yvLs/s1600/TNT-thursdays-blog-button.jpg"/></a>

A Tale Of 3 Irons :)

This is a story about Pressing

2 years ago I replaced my old iron from my college days with a new iron.  There was nothing wrong with the old iron but I wanted a new one to go with my new quilting hobby.  The old one looked so beat up and I wanted something pretty.  

So I found beautiful #1.  So white and pretty.  She was super light weight and had automatic shutoff so if I forgot to unplug her she would take care of it herself.   #1 and I were happy pressing for about a year when sadly, the small children running through the house knocked over the ironing board and her with it.  The children were in no danger as #1 wasn't on, however #1 took a beating.  She had cracked and no longer could hold water.  I tried to stay with her for the next month or so, but how can you press beautiful seams without water??

So, eventually, I secretly replaced her with #2 and set her on the shelf.  I didn't want to hurt her feelings by throwing her away.  #2 was brought home by my husband, so needless to say, there wasn't a lot of thought in picking #2.  He would do the job, but he had no automatic shutoff, and never got to hot.  Until one day a month ago, when #1 mentioned to him how much better I liked her than him.  Well this blew his top.  Suddenly he got super hot!!  So hot that he threw sparks across the ironing board and sparks from the wall outlet.  Well I don't like it when irons don't play nice, so #2 was immediately taken from his place on the ironing borad and set on the shelf with #1.  Now they fight all day about who did the better job.

So without an iron I went in search for the perfect friend to press with.  And I found her at Big Lots no less. She was the last one on the shelf and was quite lonely.  So I picked her up and brought her home.  #3 and I became fast friends.  She shuts off when I forget, she gets nice and hot, and she has more surface space so I can press a little more, which always saves me time.  She is very considerate but I wish she would lose a few pounds.  #3 is a bit heavier than #1 and #2 ever were.  But I do like that with her weight comes better pressing.  So here is hoping #3 and I have a long friendship in pressing.

But we will have to wait and see, Irons and me seem to have very fickle friendships :)  If #3 and I don't get along very well I might have to consider looking for a replacement in the Royal Family of Irons.  I hear Oliso is quite the Family name of Pressing!

Coming Soon!!

Mark your calendars for June 1st!!  Find your EZ Dresden Ruler by simplicity and start letting those ideas percolate.  (Don't have one, no worries, you will have lots of opportunities to win one!) And lastly, get ready to be inspired . . . Why???

Because the EZ Dresden Quilting Challenge and Blog hop starts this Friday, June 1st!!!  This is a super fun challenge and there will be tons of amazing prizes!!!   And, I am so excited to be part of the amazing blog hop!!  I will be posting on the 8th and can't wait :)  So stick around, it all kicks off on Friday!!!