Strips and HST's this Month

This month the bee blocks were on the easy side, which I have to say was so nice for the start of the year ;) For the Beejeeber's group, Colby asked us to make blocks using simple strips.  These went together so quick and easy. And look at the inspiration for making this quilt, it is going to be awesome ;)

For the Bees Knees, Carrie (yes as in Carrie of Miss Rosie's Quilt Shop, can we say a bit intimidating) asked us to make some Half Square Triangle Blocks.  She is making a sampler quilt from Camille's 25 HST Blocks Video, and she even sent some Flee Market Fancy for us to make them with ;)

These blocks were so much fun to put together.  I love making HST's!!!  Especially now that I can trim them super fast and easy with my Bloc-Loc Ruler   (seriously, I don't think I could possibly love a ruler more ;)

There is nothing quilt like a whole tone of perfect points in one block.  So pretty!!!

And now I am super excited because it is Jan 10 and I am finished my Bee Blocks!!  Yippee Skippee for Finishes early in the month :)  And Jan 10 is also a super exciting day around here because my oldest turned 11, my goodness he is practically a little man!!!  I'm off to bake a cake ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Linking these finishes to Sarah's and Amanda's :)

Teaching, Printing, and Winning

I hope you all enjoyed the Quilt St. George Blog Hop.  I know I had a wonderful time popping around to everyone's blog ;)  I can't wait for next week when I get to teach these three classes at the retreat.  It is going to be so much fun!!!

And I have been working on getting all set to jet for those classes.  I am almost done all of the samples for the classes and I have spent a good part of today printing patterns for all of my class participants.  I seems like my computer desk has turned into a mini printing press :)  Oh ya, good times.

And since the blog hop ended today, I need to choose some winner from my little stop along the way.  These three lucky readers will be receiving three of my patterns each :)  And the lucky winners are . . . 

Congrats!!!  Your patterns will be sent shortly ;)  I hope you all have a wonderfully Happy Quilting Day!!!  I am off to get some more ink for the printer and then it is back to the printing press ;)

Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long - It's Coming!!!!

It's Official, the Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long is ready to go!!!!   I am so super excited!!  I just love Quilt-A-Long's and I am so loving this pattern, especially since so many of you had a hand in choosing it out.  We are going to have such a great time.   I have written it up in lots of size options so there is sure to be a quilt that fits you and your time ;)

Just like in previous quilt-a-long's, there will be easy step-by-step weekly directions, stunning Quilt-A-Long kits (which you can see a peek of here and maybe even win one :)  fabulous fabric prizes that include weekly progress prizes and Grand Prizes at the end, and most importantly lots of fabric fun with friends!!!   Here's the schedule . . .

Jan 15 - Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement

Jan 29 - Cutting

 Feb 5 - Flying Geese

Feb12 - Half Square Triangles

Feb 19 - Building Block Centers

Feb 26 - Building Block Sides

Mar 5 - Building Block Corners
Mar 12 - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky

April 2- Star Light Star Bright Parade and Grand Prize Winners

So what do you say??  Do you want to Quilt-A-Long with me???  Grab a button and get ready for fun!!

  

  <a border="0" href="http://happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/p/quilt-longs.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik31iuIOx5j-Ee7SRPUDaK1NlO7WjKWbKG2e4qj0yRGSdaFZc-_7SHFFoFRQAVpLMUVP68DOTIzZawX1CxCs9U1witHdXU0wHFVQ1675V26NRgNrDDB8uCncq7SjKR9Z-09znebKY6bB0/s1600/SLSB+Button.jpg"/></a>

Oh, and for easy access, I will be updating the weekly links on the Quilt-A-Long Page as well as this post ;)

Teaser Post
Schedule, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes
 Cutting
Flying Geese
 Half Square Triangles
Building Block Centers
Building Block Sides
Building Block Corners
Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky
Parade and Grand Prizes

A Secret Project Revealed!!!

The new book Kitchen Stitches will be out soon—and and I so thrilled to get to announce that I am one of the designers in it!   Squeal of excitement!!!  Goodness, that was a long secret to keep, like almost a year :)  This is my contribution to Kitchen Stitches a Bistro Tablecloth and Napkin set.  The four sides say "Soup", "Salad", "Bread" and "Dessert", so cute ;)  This was such a fun project to make and I am so excited to finally be able to share it :)  

And there will be more Kitchen Stitches fun coming your way.  The publisher, Martingale, is hosting a big blog hop for the book with new sewing-tip videos and 14 book giveaways, PLUS a $100 gift-certificate giveaway.   You can “Like” them on Facebook to be sure you’ll be in the know when it all starts on January 30th.  And of course I will be posting here as well ;)   

It's a Happy Quilting Day for sure around here!!!!  Hope your's is as well ;)

Some Oakshott Geese

This weekend I finally pulled my beautiful Italy Oakshott bundle off the shelf.  I was hesitant to take the ribbon off, it just looks so cute and perfect all bundled up.  (Please say I am not the only one that has a hard time unwrapping beautiful bundles :)  But once the ribbon was off, I got to work.

A bit of pressing, some quick cutting, and before I knew it I had a lovely pile of large colored squares and two little piles of grey squares.  The grey squares are still waiting to be turned into some Half Square Triangles because I went to work on those gorgeous rich colored squares.

And this morning, I have a beautiful gaggle of geese in stunning Oakshott Cottens.  Oh my, oh my, they are just so pretty!!!  I used my favorite No-Waste Flying Geese Method to make the geese but I increased the sizes just a 1/8" so that I could trim them.

Then I used my awesome Bloc-Loc Flying Geese ruler to trim them all up so perfect.  I can't wait to sew them into my planned block and see all of those perfect points ;)  But I do have to say sorry here, as I can't show that planned block.  Yup, another one of those secret projects, what ya gonna do :)

But before I start whipping up those Half Square Triangles and making blocks, I best do some laundry and I don't know, maybe take down the Christmas Tree.  Oh ya, it's time ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!