I had some wonderful Squishy Mail last week. First, I started getting some of my Triple Irish Chain blocks from my wonderful Beejeebers Bee Mates ;) I am so excited to see this one come together!! Isn't it so fun already!!! Now I just can't decide if I want to add three more blocks and make it a queen or keep it a large lap. I guess time will tell ;)
Saturday afternoon I got another wonderful package in the mail. It wasn't squish but the contents certainly were!!! Oh yes, the Denyse Schmidt's Modern Solids box of amazing goodness, EEEkkk!!!! I am so excited to dive into this. I have a super fun quilt planned out and it is going to come along with a tutorial for the Free Spirit Fabrics blog ;) Yippee!!!
Have you gotten any fun super squishy mail lately?? Is it just me, or does fabric in the mail just have a way of making you smile ;)
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Monday, August 25, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Sew Kind of Wonderful Blog Hop and a Giveaway!!!!
Yippee!!!! It's my day of the Sew Kind of Wonderful Blog Hop!!! If you are hoping over for the first time, Welcome!! I hope you find lots to inspire :)
So, want to learn more about the Quick Curve Ruler . . . . go and check out Jenny’s blog and shop. You can also join the Sew Kind of Wonderful mailing list to get news of any new patterns or promotions.
There is going to be a linky party on the Sew Kind of Wonderful blog on Friday 29 through 31 August – you can link up any quilt or block made using the Quick Curve Ruler. If you haven’t tried a QCR project yet, never fear, there’s a chance to win a ruler (see below :) during the bloghop and have a go. And be sure to follow along with all of the other bloghop participants for lots of QCR Inspiration!
You have two chances to win, please leave a separate comment for each.
I first met Jenny and Helen from Sew Kind of Wonderful at Fall Quilt Market 2 years ago. It was my first Quilt Market and Barbara (my wonderful MIL) and I were staring down at the show floor through an upstairs window getting so excited for the show to start. We looked over and noticed we had some viewing companions. Well, we soon got to chatting and before you knew it, Helen and Jenny became fast friends!!!
Helen and Jenny shared that they were at Market to do some demo's on their ruler. I made a mental note right then that I had to try this ruler. Well 2 years later, (you know how we get busy) Barbara and I had the opportunity to actually take a Quick Curve Ruler class from the gals at Sew Kind of Wonderful during the Small Town Quilt Show that I was also teaching at. Yippee!!! I knew it was the perfect opportunity to finally give the Quick Curve Ruler a try. Here is Jenny demoing the ruler during class, so awesome!!!
And what can I say, It was Love at first Slice!!! This ruler is so incredible!!! It really makes curves so easy :) And why is it so easy, well it could be that they add allowance to trim so you don't have to be perfect, Yippee!!! Jenny and Helen do a fantastic job on their pattern instructions as well. They are very easy to follow and have great graphics. I finished my first block for the Metro Hoops quilt in class and today I am excited to share the finished quilt.
So here she is, my Metro Hoops!!!! I am so over the moon excited with this quilt finish!!! I pieced curves and they look stunning, if I do say myself ;)
I used some Aviary prints by Joel Dewberry that I had been saving for just the right project!! I paired some Grunge Basics for the diamonds and background. They were the perfect compliment to the prints. Eeekk!! I just love how chic it turned out :)
When it came time to quilt this, I knew I wanted to do something custom and special. So I spent some time playing around with sketches and eventually came up with this ;) I wanted to keep the chic feel, so I went with straight or basic curved lines with no fillers. It was hard not to fill those centers in, but I really love how the simplicity adds to the overall feel. I used Almond, Charcoal, and Medium Grey So Fine 50 by Superior Threads to do the quilting ;) I just love how well it blends!!!
I love all of that yummy texture!! The quilt finishes at 60" x 75" so it is just perfect to curl up in or to lie on the grass and read a good book :)
This quilt was so much fun to make!!! I really fell in love with this ruler and will be adding more Quick Curve projects to my list of things to make for sure ;) (Like this one from Jenny and Helen's new book!!)
And that's not all. Like I said before, Barabar took the class with me as well. She decided on the Urban Chained pattern. Isn't it so fun!!!
She got the blocks all whipped up, but when it came time to sew them into rows she decided to get a little creative and try something of her own making. I love that Barbara always changes patterns around to make it her own version ;) This is what she came up with!! So fun huh!!! I think she is going to call it Brackets, so cute!!!
It just goes to show you can do just about anything with this awesome ruler!!!!
There is going to be a linky party on the Sew Kind of Wonderful blog on Friday 29 through 31 August – you can link up any quilt or block made using the Quick Curve Ruler. If you haven’t tried a QCR project yet, never fear, there’s a chance to win a ruler (see below :) during the bloghop and have a go. And be sure to follow along with all of the other bloghop participants for lots of QCR Inspiration!
Monday 18 August | http://quokkaquilts.com |
Tuesday 19 August | www.cluckclucksew.com |
Wednesday 20 August | www.fromthebluechair.com |
Thursday 21 August | liveacolorfullife.net |
Friday 22 August | www.happyquiltingmelissa.com |
Monday 25 August | www.greenfairyquiltsblog.com |
Tuesday 26 August | http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com |
Wednesday 27 August | www.pleasant-home.com |
Thursday 28 August | http://www.lucymade.wordpress.com AND http://msmidge.blogspot.com.au |
Friday 29 August | www.dontcallmebetsy.com |
The bloghop is going to be followed by a 'Curve it up' Challenge Quilt-a-long on the Sew Kind of Wonderful blog starting in September, so join in the bloghop, get inspired and get ready to Curve It Up!
Now . . . Didn't someone say something about a Giveaway!!!!! The wonderful ladies at Sew Kind of Wonderful have generously offered a Quick Curve Ruler and a copy of their new and totally awesome book, Contemporary Curved Quilts for one of my readers!!!!!
1 - Simply leave a comment that has the word Curve in it . . . Anything will do :)
2 - All Happy Quilting Followers, old and new, can have a second entry, just leave a comment here of how you follow i.e. Bloglovin, Email, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter :)
2 - All Happy Quilting Followers, old and new, can have a second entry, just leave a comment here of how you follow i.e. Bloglovin, Email, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter :)
And that's it ;) The giveaway will be open until Wednesday evening and I will announce a winner Thursday morning, the 28th ;) All entries welcome :)
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
It's What We Do :)
So at the moment I am actively working on 5 quilts. Yes, I really am working on all 5 at the same time. They are all at different stages of being finished.
One just has to be bound. (By Friday, nothing like deadlines to motivate :)
One is ready to be loaded on the long arm and quilted.
One the blocks are made and it is time to add some applique.
And the last 2 the blocks are almost all pieced.
And so why not add a #6. It's what we do, right!!!
This stunning collection of Birch Farms by Joel Dewberry arrived the other day from the lovely folks at Free Spirit Fabrics. I was so excited because I have had this idea for a new bedspread but I needed to find perfect cross of masculine and feminine for my husband and I . Hello, could Birch Farms be more Perfect!!!! So now I just need to go pick up some background fabric and Quilt 6 will be added to the mix ;)
So how many projects are you working on right now???
Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
One just has to be bound. (By Friday, nothing like deadlines to motivate :)
One is ready to be loaded on the long arm and quilted.
One the blocks are made and it is time to add some applique.
And the last 2 the blocks are almost all pieced.
And so why not add a #6. It's what we do, right!!!
This stunning collection of Birch Farms by Joel Dewberry arrived the other day from the lovely folks at Free Spirit Fabrics. I was so excited because I have had this idea for a new bedspread but I needed to find perfect cross of masculine and feminine for my husband and I . Hello, could Birch Farms be more Perfect!!!! So now I just need to go pick up some background fabric and Quilt 6 will be added to the mix ;)
So how many projects are you working on right now???
Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Reverse Sewing
So this morning I stood in front of the long arm with the goal to finish quilting up my Metro Rings quilt for the SKOW Blog Hop. All I had left to quilt were the arches and so I set off.
About 15 seconds in to it I thought "My that black thread really doesn't blend with the Yellow blocks, but I am sure it will be okay". About 30 seconds into it I thought "Oh dear, that black just isn't blending, but I am sure it will look better if I just quilt a bit more." About a minute into it I thought "Stop Silly Girl, its not getting better and you don't like it at all !!!!!" (When will I learn to stop after the first initial doubt. ) One hour later, I finished "reverse sewing" aka unpicking that One minutes worth of indecision.
So I am off to make a binding ;) I promise to share more of this quilt on Friday when it is my stop for the Sew Kind Of Wonderful Blog Hop :) It started Monday and so far has had 2 wonderful stops. You can see the full schedule here ;)
Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
Melissa
About 15 seconds in to it I thought "My that black thread really doesn't blend with the Yellow blocks, but I am sure it will be okay". About 30 seconds into it I thought "Oh dear, that black just isn't blending, but I am sure it will look better if I just quilt a bit more." About a minute into it I thought "Stop Silly Girl, its not getting better and you don't like it at all !!!!!" (When will I learn to stop after the first initial doubt. ) One hour later, I finished "reverse sewing" aka unpicking that One minutes worth of indecision.
Of course, like all quilters out there, Reverse Sewing is not my favorite thing to do in the world. I can handle it okay when I have to unpick piecing, but unpicking quilting . . . . Grumble, Grumble, Grumble!!! But, was it worth it ??? . . . Absolutely!!!!
The Medium Grey is soooo much better. It really and more importantly, I really love it!! I still used the beautiful Charcoal Black in the diamonds and even used a different background color. I know shocking!! Instead of using my favorite 402 Pearl, I used 403 Almond. It looks awesome on the grunge background!! All of these threads are So Fine by Superior Thread. I love how well they blend :)
And even with the bumpy start, I did finish the quilting and now all that is left is to bind this Metro Hoops quilt. And wouldn't you know it, I have 4 bindings made, and the one that I actually need is still yardage sitting next to the finished ones ;) Gotta love it.
So I am off to make a binding ;) I promise to share more of this quilt on Friday when it is my stop for the Sew Kind Of Wonderful Blog Hop :) It started Monday and so far has had 2 wonderful stops. You can see the full schedule here ;)
Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
Melissa
Monday, August 18, 2014
Jelly Roll Jam 2 with the Fat Quarter Shop!!!
First off, I want to thank you for the wonderful Birthday Wishes from Saturday. It really was a spectacular day and all of your sweet comments made it all the better ;) And just a note, my Happy Quilting Patterns are still marked down 35% for another 2 days ;) Turning 35 is a lot more fun with a sale to celebrate!
Now let's get back to today's post :) Do you recall the Fat Quarter Shops original Jelly Roll Jam?? It was the first quilt in the Shortcut Quilt series. Well, it had such a huge response that the Fat Quarter Shop has now come up with it's best friend. The Jelly Roll Jam 2!!! You can download the free Jelly Roll Jam 2 Pattern right here :)
And just like the first one, all you need is a jelly roll to get going :) I used a Fox Field by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics Roll. I just love these beautiful colors and prints!!
Jelly Roll Jam 2 finishes up at 36 1/2" x 38 1/2", just perfect for snuggling a wee little baby in ;) A lot of the quilt is made with strip piecing which makes it go together super fast and super easy. It really is the perfect pattern for when you are in a pinch to whip up a quick baby blanket ;)
Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
Now let's get back to today's post :) Do you recall the Fat Quarter Shops original Jelly Roll Jam?? It was the first quilt in the Shortcut Quilt series. Well, it had such a huge response that the Fat Quarter Shop has now come up with it's best friend. The Jelly Roll Jam 2!!! You can download the free Jelly Roll Jam 2 Pattern right here :)
And just like the first one, all you need is a jelly roll to get going :) I used a Fox Field by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics Roll. I just love these beautiful colors and prints!!
Jelly Roll Jam 2 finishes up at 36 1/2" x 38 1/2", just perfect for snuggling a wee little baby in ;) A lot of the quilt is made with strip piecing which makes it go together super fast and super easy. It really is the perfect pattern for when you are in a pinch to whip up a quick baby blanket ;)
And when I say it is fast and easy I really do mean it. Piecing this quilt took about 2 hours, and that was with a few stops to help munchkins :) And then the Fat Quarter Shop makes it even easier with their step by step You Tube tutorial. You can watch it below or see it at the Fat Quarter Shop You Tube Channel.
After whipping up the top, it was time to quilt it. I decided to quilt some free motion "ribbons". These are so much fun to quilt, you really get your hips a swaying when quilting these little back and forth loops ;) I used my favorite #402 Pearl So Fine #50 by Superior Threads to quilt this. I just love how that color blends so perfectly with every color in this quilt ;)
All in all, just a fun and adorable quilt that will go together in a snap. So be sure to download the free Jelly Roll Jam 2 Pattern here and then watch the You Tube Video Tutorial here ;) Now just grab a Jelly Roll (which one will you pick??) and get your Jelly Roll Jam on!!!
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