Sunday, February 21, 2016

Lots of Love Block - The Splendid Sampler

Today I am so excited to get share the block I designed for The Splendid Sampler.   If you are visiting Happy Quilting for the first time from The Splendid Sampler , Welcome!!!    I am so glad you popped in and hope you will come back often.  I have so much fun sharing my passion for quilting here with lots of  free tutorials, giveaways, fabric eye candy, finished projects and of course, lots of  Happy Quilting goodness!! 


Each of the blocks in The Splendid Sampler have a story behind the design.  I hope you get the chance to read each of the stories on the top of each block pattern ;)  Quilts are so special because they have the ability to wrap someone in Love!!  My block is a representation of the 6 people in my life that I always want to wrap up in Lots of Love.  The large heart is for my sweetheart, Jacob, and the smaller hearts are for each of my wonderful children, Spencer, Jessica, Kristian, Kamryn, and Jocelyn.


It is my hope that while you work on your own Lots of Love block, you will think of those special someone's that you want to wrap in Lots of Love as well ;)   You can find the block pattern in the The Splendid Sampler book :)   

So now, let walk through a few tidbits on how to make these hearts a little easier to piece ;)  

PIECING TIDBITS

First off, when working with small pieces, it is always helpful to starch your fabrics before cutting them.  I just use an inexpensive starch and a high heat setting on my iron.  It only takes a few seconds but will really help to keep your fabrics from stretching once you start piecing them on the angle. 


If you feel confident with your piecing, you can do two steps of the pattern at one time ;)  Both the inner small square and the large square can be stitched on without having to stop and press in the middle.  On the smaller 2" hearts, your squares will be touching but not overlapping, so you can still stitch both without having to cut and press in between.


When adding your outside small square, double check that it is overlapping the already sewn square by 1/4".  If it isn't, adjust slightly trying to balance the underage or overage between the overlap and the edge.   This will allow you to get those nice perfect points down the line.  


When sewing the two halves of the heart together, it is best to take the extra second and pin the seams in place.  They will be aligned right on top of one another, so if it isn't pinned, the bulk can easily shift under your presser foot.  Press the seam of the center heart open to help avoid bulk and give you reference for sewing your points when putting the block together.


When putting the block together, align and pin each of your seams first.  Then go back and pin the edges.  Finally, when sewing your seam, be sure to stitch directly through the center of the X created at each of the points of the hearts, even if that means not stitching a perfect 1/4" seam.  You will see the X in your previous stitching, and stitching right through the center of it will give you those beautiful perfect points ;)


Finally, and this is optional, If the waste of trimming bothers you in this block, you can always turn those trimmed bits into bonus Half Square Triangles.  You can either sew an extra seam 1/2" away from your first seam and then cut (on the dotted line) between the two seams or, once you have trimmed your blocks, simply sew a 1/4" seam along the trimmed triangles.   Both way will give you lots of fun bonus HST blocks ;)  



LOTS OF LOVE BLOCK

And just like that, you will have a beautiful Lots of Love Block!!!!   


Of course, I had to make another block for my own version of The Splendid Sampler :)  I am doing my blocks in monochromatic layouts and if you have been around here for any time, you will know that Purple is my favorite color, so of course, I had to make this Lots of Love Block in purple ;)


And I tell you, once you start making these hearts, you won't want to stop . . .so maybe, you will have a special someone to wrap in Lots of Love with a Bonus Lots of Love Mini!!!

BONUS MINI

This Mini was a special Valentines gift for my wonderful Mother In Law, Barbara.  Barbara and I live 2 doors apart and we love to quilt together.  There isn't a day that goes by that we don't have a few minutes to talk about what we are working on, upcoming projects, fabric choices, ect, ect. ect ;)


So as I mentioned earlier, my block represents my family.   Well this Mini represent's Barbara's family ;)   The two large hearts are for her and her husband (grandma and grandpa) and the 12 medium hearts represent their 6 children and their spouses, and you guessed it.  The 24 little hearts represent her 24 grandchildren.  (edit . . .and now I need to applique two more hearts on, because 2 more special little angles have arrived since I made this :)   It is a very special representation of everyone Barbara wants to wrap in love ;)


And if  you are feeling like you want to tackle your own Lots of Love Mini, here is the fabric calculations for the hearts ranging from 2" finished up to 10" finished ;)    So now you can make all the Hearts in any size you want!!!! 


And if you make a Lots of Love Mini, I would love to see it!!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com, add it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc .   I can't wait to see your amazing mini's!!!



And just for fun, here are my blocks for the Splendid Sampler so far!!!  I am so looking forward to working on this project throughout the year and can't wait to see everyone's fantastic blocks!!!



I am so very excited to see everyone's Lots of Love Blocks!!!!   Just think of all the people that are going to be wrapped in Love today :)

Thanks for popping in today and I hope that you have a very Happy (and Splendid) Quilting Day!!!


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Saturday, February 20, 2016

Splendid Sampler Saturday :)

So are you following along with The Splendid Sampler??  It is a year long Mystery Quilt Along with two 6" Sampler Blocks released each week ;)  And guess what, the first blocks were released this week!!!  You can find all of the details here, read along the top index for quick reference to everything you need to know :)   It is my hope to try and post my weeks blocks each Saturday.  In fact, I had such a lovely time starting my Saturday today with these super fun sampler blocks, that my plan is to save then for every Saturday Morning so that I can have Splendid Saturday's all year long ;)  



My plan is to do Monochromatic Blocks and then put them in an Irish Chain Layout.  I know, you are super surprised with my love for Irish Chain Quilts ;)   So when it is all done, it will look something like this, although I haven't decided on the final size I want it to be, so this could shift a bit, but it gives you the general idea.


 I hope to share blocks each Saturday (although, I know I am going to miss some ;)  and am so excited to watch this come together throughout the year . . . I hope you will pop in on Saturday's and share in watching this Splendid Rainbow take shape ;)   And with that . . . Let's get to this weeks blocks.

First off, the Hearts Aflutter Block designed by Pat Sloan.  I used fusible raw edge applique for the center heart and opted for a slightly different design of heart because I could cut this one out with my Slice, so it was super fast ;)  And of course, I didn't notice that little bit of lint on the picture until just now, oh well ;)



And Second, the Wings Block by Jane Davidson.  Those little blocks are 1" finished.  how cute is that!!!  I did free motion quilting for the little antenna on my home machine.  It was super easy and I always love the opportunity to do a little FMQing on my domestic machine since I mostly use the long arm now.  So fun!!!



And those are this weeks blocks!!!  And super fun news . . . Tomorrow I get to share the block I designed for this fun Quilt Along!!!  Be sure to pop in to see the fun story behind it, some tidbits on helping you to make the block, and a super cute bonus mini ;)  

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Friday, February 19, 2016

I Couldn't Stop and Finished the Rows!!!

So yesterday morning I posted some more progress that I had made on my Moda All In A Row Quilt Along Christmas Quilt using Winterberry fabric by Kate and Birdie for Moda .  As soon as I was done posting I was so excited I decided to sneak in a little more piecing time.   And the a little turned into a lot and before you knew it, the kids were coming home from school and I was still in my pj's . . . but . . . my Rows were all finished and sewn together into a quilt top!!!  Yippee!!!  I am so just loving how it all came together!!


The first row I finished up was the Double Star Row by Barbara Brackman.  I just love piecing stars, I think they are my favorite thing to piece!!!  I am wishing I wouldn't have used the holly print in the background as it is reading more green than white, but what ya gonna do.


As soon as I was done with the Double Stars row I moved o to this adorable Snowy Day Row designed by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs.  I had so much fun appliqueing on those adorable snowman.  And we all know I am not much of a hand stitcher, so I did all of the eyes and nose on my machine a la free motion.   So fun!!


And since I was already in the applique mood, I finished up with the Birdies and Trees row by Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts.   I just love those little birdies!!  I have wanted to do the multiple free motion outlines on applique for some time that is so popular, and I figured now was the perfect opportunity.  The more I did it, the more I loosened up and stopped stressing about the lines that were stitched a little askew.  And I just love that in this method of stitching, they all look perfectly organic in the finish, so fun!!!

So yippee!!! Finished Rows!!!!  It should be noted that Josie and I did stop for a lunch break somewhere in there.  And my oh my, Josie made a lot of perler bead creations.  Every time I went to the ironing board to press, there was another one waiting to be ironed ;)   Anyhow,  Now the rows are all done and I think I am going to add a border to finish it off and make it a little larger ;)


And that is it for me today ;)  Thank you so much for stopping in today and every day ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking up this finish to Sarah's and Amanda's ;)
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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Some more Row Along Progress :)

I am excited for how much more Moda Row Along  progress I have to share since the last time I posted.  It has been a crazy busy week, but I love that I have all of these cut out so I can squeeze in a little sewing here and there and still see progress, even if it is only in 15 minute increments.

 I finished up my Bloom Row designed by Karla Eisenach of Sweewater.   Aren't those little petals just so adorable!!!  I actually really enjoyed stitching them all done and just admiring how cute they were ;)



And I also started and finished another row.  This one is called Garland Knot by Brenda Riddle but instead of the Garland she has in the design, I added a little appliqued Merry Christmas.  This is going to be the focal row of the quilt and I am so excited!!!  I just love appliqued letters ;)  And that patchwork is 1" finished, so cute and little ;)



And I got a decent start on the Double Star Row as well.  I decided to use my favorite no-waste flying geese method instead of the one in the book.  It  only took a second to reconfigure the math and before you know it I was sewing away.  Just a little bit of cutting and pressing and I will have a flock ;)



I am having so much fun with this!!!  It really is the perfect little project to crank out a step or two in a row when you can squeeze in a minute in the sewing room ;)  So excited to see it all come together ;)

Oh, and if you want Row Along as well, you can find all the details here ;)

I hope you have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day . . .  let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of the custom Canyon Bundle  from Kimberly's Fabric Stash  is . . .   Number # 242. . . Congrats Elizabeth!!!   I have emailed you :) 
      

      


  
And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.   Fat Quarter Shop is amazing and they never cease to amaze me with everything they have going on at their shop!!!     And are you quilting along with them on their new Crossroads Quilt Along that benefits the March of Dimes??  Yesterday was the first block release day so there is lots of time to join in ;)



And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving a highly anticipated Vintage Picnic Jelly Roll by Bonnie and Camille for Moda to one lucky winner!!!!  Oh, I just love this line!!!  The colors and the prints are just amazing!!!



You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me what is your favorite food to take to a picnic?

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYou Tube or at their Blog.  You can Sign up for their Newsletter which will ensure you catch all of their amazing sales, or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Fat Quarter Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, February 23rd , when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
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