Some Circles and an Orb

Yippee Skippee, I am happy to say I am done with my bee blocks for this month :)  After barely squeeking them in on time last month I moved them up the priority list a bit :)  Both blocks were super fun this month.  Here they are :)

Josie asked the group to make anything inspired by circles and dots.  Blue and green fabrics on a grey background, lovely!!!  I thought I was being all creative linking my circles and then when I finished and went to link it up in the group, I noticed that the inspiration mosaic had a block fairly similar to mine.  So I have a feeling I had some subconscious inspiration on this one ;)

Kris  asked us to make an Octagonal Orb block using Elizabeth Hartman's Tutorial in fun greys and Oranges.  She was super sweet and pre-cut all of the pieces so this block went together super fast.  This block was a lot of fun to make, I can totally see myself making some more in the future :)

Where I am Not . . . Where I have Been!

NOTE - If you are looking for the Sweet Celebrations Book Tour you will find it here :)
If you are looking for the Beginners Guide to Free Motion Quilting Book Tour you will find it here :)


So I am not at the Sewing Summit.  Le Sigh.  Remember . . . I posted back here about how I was going to be attending my Cousin's wedding in Canada on this particular weekend.  Well . . . I am not at my cousin's wedding either.  Double Le Sigh!!  Turns out, that right after I sold my ticket to the Sewing Summit, our family vehicle started to have some issues.  And then some more issues, and now to where we don't dare drive it more than around town.  So of course, there was no way we were driving it to Canada and back, and with the prospect of having to get a new vehicle, renting one for a trip wasn't really in the budget.

So I needed to do something to make up for this super sad turn of events.  And so I quilted!!

I spent from 9 - 5 yesterday and from 9-12 today at Let's Quilt.  It's is a fabulous little shop that you can rent time on Long Arm's.

I got my Queen and King Braided Irish Chain's all done!!!  My back and knee is a little sore now, but I am so ecstatic about the results !!

Oh, and I should mention, the sheets, which did turn out to be microfiber and not cotton, worked fabulous for the backing.  And now the backs are all silky smooth!!

I promise to show more than just the backs soon, but I wanted to save the full reveal for when I got the bindings on :)  For now, I think I am off to take a nap.  I am exhausted :)

TNT - Have you tried Scrap Bags??

NOTE - If you are looking for the Sweet Celebrations Book Tour you will find it here :)
If you are looking for the Beginners Guide to Free Motion Quilting Book Tour you will find it here :)

So the other day I decided that I needed another twin quilt to match this one that is on my daughter bunk bed.  After debating back and forth for a while I came to the conclusion that I wanted to make the second quilt in the same prints (Sunkissed by Sweetwater)  as that first quilt.  But trying to find a popular line from almost 2 years ago.  Not easy!!!  I finally came across some scrap bags of Sunkissed and decided that since I was originally looking for a jelly roll they should work, fingers crossed, and ordered them.

This is my first time trying out a scrap bag and I have to say I was a little nervous if it would work out or not.  I was nervous there wasn't going to be a good mix of prints or they were going to be all different sizes.   But they arrived in the mail today and I am so excited!!  They are just what I needed!!!  Yippee Skippee!!!

And, they will have the added bonus of seriously padding my selvages drawer!!  I still have yet to use these in a project, but I sure love the way they look in others!  That will be something I need to try new in the future :)

So onto the pile of WIP these 2 scrap packs go!!  I am hoping to start this one in the near future, realistically around November-ish :)   And if the concept in my head works out you can count on a tutorial :)

EDIT - To answer the question - I found these on Ebay.  Just type in Moda Scrap Bag.  There are lots of stores that sell them and it is a great way to find older lines.  Like Bliss, Central Park, and Breakfast at Tiffany's :)

So . . . that's what I did new this week.  (Yup, I am counting shopping as TNT, tee hee hee),  What have you tried new.  Doesn't have to be anything huge, just link on up!!

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Fit for an Irish King and Queen!!!

NOTE - If you are looking for the Sweet Celebrations Book Tour you will find it here :)
If you are looking for the Beginners Guide to Free Motion Quilting Book Tour you will find it here :)



The Queen Version!!

The fabrics are Hello Luscious from Basicgrey and Moda Bella Solid Off White

 The King Version!!

Fabrics are Reunion from Sweetwater and Moda Bella Solid Slate

I just love this Braided Irish Chain pattern!!  These 2 quilts are samples for the class I will be teaching come January.  I have rented time on a long arm tomorrow to get them all finished up.  (Hence, why I am finishing the tops today :)    The tutorial for this pattern is similar to these 2 quilts just a different size variation. The pattern is now available for instant download in my Pattern Shop.

She caught the bug!

NOTE - If you are looking for the Sweet Celebrations Book Tour you will find it here :)
If you are looking for the Beginners Guide to Free Motion Quilting Book Tour you will find it here :)


This weekend my twin sister, Jennifer,  and my mom and dad visited.  It is so much fun to have family come and stay!!  Whenever my mom comes we always spend a few hours in my sewing room.  Good Times!!!  We  go through the new quilts I have made since she was here last, I tell her of  my new planned quilts and we ohh and ahh over the fabrics I will be cutting up soon.  And we even get in a bit of sewing :)  Jennifer joined my mother and I on this little sewing room escapade and after a while she asked, "Do you think I could make something like this??".  Absolutely!!!!!

We surfed through my archive and she decided on a quilt design.  It took her a little bit to narrow it down but in the end she decided to go with the Double Dresden idea only she will be adding the circles in the centers.   She plans to make a twin size bedspread for her cute little girl.  Once the design was chosen it was back to the sewing room for some fabric fun.  She played and played in my stash until she came up with this beautiful pile!!!

And then it was a crash course in cutting as she only had 2 hours until she had to head back to Salt Lake!!  She opted to have varying sizes of Dresden's so we cut some 8", 7", 6" and 5" blades.  I can't wait to see them put together!!!

And speaking of cutting, I am about to start cutting my own new project!!  Can I just say, I love Marmalade!!!  It has been on my shelf for about a month now, awaiting it's turn to be played with.  I am so excited to get going on it!!