Sew Sampler Box from Fat Quarter Shop!!!

Last week I got a wonderful Sew Sampler box in the mail!!!  And I have to say, when I opened the lid and saw how pretty it was all packaged I almost didn't want to tear it open.  And then the curiosity and excitement took over and I totally tore open that beautiful blue paper ;)

And oh my, what wonderful surprises were inside.    This is my first time getting a sampler box and I was wondering what the whole experience would be like.  And I have to say, I loved it!!!!  It was just so fun to pull each little wonderful bit of quilting goodness out of the box and figuring out just how soon I could use it ;)  And it was really nice that the value of the items inside the box was almost double of  the cost of the box so I felt like I was getting everything on a great sale!!!!

A slightly closer look at all of the wonderful contents!!!  Isn't that Strawberry Picking pattern just adorable.  My 4 year old saw it and asked if she could have it, time to add another quilt to the list I guess ;)   And I am so excited to start making the Blocks that go along with the Recipe cards.  I am really getting into having a few sampler quilts to work on among all my other projects and I can't wait to start on this monthly Recipe Block surprise.

And a few other favorite highlights from the box.   I have to say, I just love Me and My Sister Designs fabrics.  They really are just so incredibly happy making always filled with bright colors and fun designs.   I plan to use this little Grow Charm Pack along with my Dot. Dot. Dash Charm Pack I already had in my stash.  Now just to find the right project for these happy charms ;)

And I was over the moon excited to find this super fun Creative Grids Ruler.  I actually ordered one from Fat Quarter Shop a few months ago.  It is the absolute perfect size for marking the back of squares and for cutting apart my HST's.   I was just telling Barbara the other day how much I love this ruler and how handy it is when I get a second one in the box!!!  So fun!!!!   It made a special little gift to Barbara, although now I am thinking I might want to order a back-up one as well.  Love this ruler!!!

And finally, I was so excited about these little thread cutters!!!   I think this was why I loved the box the most.  You know how you have those supplies that you use every day, and they start to wear out but you just keep making them go because you don't want to buy more when you can made do with what you have.  Well, now I have a new pair of thread cutters without having to go through the back and forth of whether or not I should buy them.  So fun!!!

So ya, to sum up, you can pretty much say that I loved The Sew Sampler box!!!   Just fabulous!!!   It was just packed full of wonderful quilty goodness  and there was just the right amount of practical needs and fun splurges in it!!!     I am already looking forward to the 20th of May when next month's box will arrive. Honestly, I am already looking forward to the 20th of every month!!!  It is going to be like Christmas in a box every month!!!!

To find out more about the Sew Sampler box, pop on over to Fat Quarter Shop and check it out. They have lots of frequently asked questions there that you might have if like me, you haven't tried a sampler box before.  

Now I am off to go mark some lines using my favorite little ruler and then I need to decide fabrics for my new monthly Recipe Sampler.  

  

Splendid Sampler Saturday

I was gone last week doing my trunk show at the SLMQG and missed my Splendid Sampler Saturday Post.  So let's get a little caught up today ;)

First up, the Family Stars block designed by Kimberly Jolly of Fat Quarter Shop.  I loved everything about putting this block together!!  The story behind Kimberly's block is so great, it just warmed my heart the whole time I was working on it.  And I just love all of those adorable little stars.  I can never get enough star blocks!!!

And second is Lina's Gift block designed by Pat Sloan.  This was another wonderful story behind the block.  And I have to say, it was awfully nice to make this block that went together in no time flat.  Every once and a while these less complicated ones can be a nice change of pace ;)  So fun!!

And just for fun, Pat did a little post the other day to see how everyone's blocks were coming along.  I hadn't taken a picture of mine all together so this was totally fun to see them all laid out in rainbow order.   Eeekk, makes me so excited to see the whole project come together over the year ;)   That and now I want some skittles ;)

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Saturday ;) 

The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting!!!!

Today I am very excited to share with you The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting by two of my amazing quilting friends, Angela Walters and Christa Watson!!!!

I met Angela at my first Quilt Market when I won a copy of her book and we became fast friends ;)  She was part of my Celebrate Mom's event and shared all about how she maintains her thriving business (did you know she opened a brick and mortar store as well!!)  while still being an amazing mom!  And Angela and I super bonded when there was a little mix-up at a schoolhouse we were participating in and we found found we were it.  Super funny story!!!  Angela is an amazing Long-Arm Quilter, Fabric Designer, Author, Business Owner, Quilter, and above all Friend!!!!

Christa and I met like most of us quilters do, on-line but we really got to know each other when we were able to have lunch before I flew out of Vegas on my way to Market.  We did not stop talking for 3 hours straight.  We got to discuss our first books that we were both working on proposing and it was just fabulous to know I had a friend jumping into the deep end of the pool with me ;)   Later that year  Christa stopped by my home on her way to Sewing Summit, and once again, we chatted non-stop quilting goodness.  And just like Angela, Christa is an amazing Friend, Author, Business Owner, Quilter, and Sit, Down Quilter.  Can you see why they make such a Dynamic Duo!!!

Their amazing book, The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting, arrived at my house a few days ago and it has already become a favorite!!!  I have flipped through it again and again and I will tell you why . . .   Because of course, like all quilting books, it shows you lots of amazing quilting eye candy and how to do it, which I just love . . . but then, it takes it so much farther!!!  Let me use an example to show you what I mean.

There are 10 Quilt Designs in the book and each start with an "intro page" that tells you both Angela's and Christa's focus of quilting for that particular quilt design.   I love that this book has both the Long-Arm approach as well as the Sit-Down approach as I love to do both types of machine quilting!!  Then of course, there are some directions on how to make the quilt :)

But then is my favorite part of the book.   Wonderful Advice from Angela and Christa.   For this quilt,  Plumb Lines, Angela focuses on straight line quilting on a long-arm and shares lots of amazing insights on quilting on a long-arm with a ruler.  For someone who is just conquering her fear of rulers, this was amazing!!!  She actually goes over how she holds the ruler.   Just so awesome!!! 

Photography by Brent Kane

And then, Christa shares her advice for quilting her version of Plumb Lines.  Christa focuses on using Modern Quilting stitches other than straight lines.  She shares great advice on how to divide up the quilts so the overall design isn't so intimidating and goes over the sequence of the order she quilts it in to make it easiest on a sit-down machine.  Brilliant!!!

Photography by Brent Kane

And with each new quilt design in the book, Angela and Christa share lots more wonderful advice on not just how to quilt a quilting design, but like it says on the cover, When, Where, Why, and How to Finish Your Quilts!!!   It really is like you are sitting next to Angela or Christa and being able to pick their minds on why they make each quilting decision.  What an amazing recourse and truly it is, The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting!!! 

Photo borrowed from Martingale

Huge congrats to both Angela and Christa on such a fantastic book!!!  Way to go friends!!! 

SLMQG Trunk Show

Last weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild and share my little Trunk Show ;)  I was super excited to find that their meetings were held at Handi Quilter!!  There was a giant room just full of Long-Arms.  So fun!!!  I shared my trunk show and had such a wonderful time!!! Everyone was just so sweet with their kind words.  I just love the opportunity to share my love for quilting!!

I was super excited to get to share some of my quilts that had just arrived back from their shop hop.  Especially End of the Rainbow, it really is my favorite from the book, and I just love seeing all of those wonderful scraps, each one has its own story of another quilt.  So fun!!!

And I was so very appreciative of Barbie, who helped hold up the quilts.  Barbie is an amazing Quilter!!!   You can see her beautiful work at her blog.

And after we finished up with the Irish Chain Quilts, I thought it would be fun to share some of my more Modern Quilts, since I was at a MQG meeting ;)   Part of those included my two newest finishes and patterns, the Moroccan Lullaby Quilt.

And Barbara's Corkscrew Quilt!!!   I just can't get over how much I love this rainbow of goodness!!!  (and this pattern is still on sale for 1 more day, just saying ;)

 You can see lots more pictures of the Trunk Show at the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild Facebook Page here.   I am so grateful to the SLMQG for having me.  It was oh so much fun!!!!  

And one more picture to share before signing off today.   Before my Trunk Show, the memebers of the SLMQG did a fun show and tell.  You can see all of their amazing projects at the Facebook Page as well,  but I was especially happy over this particular share.  JoAnne took my "In Your Neighborhood" class at the Panguitch Quilt Walk 2 summers ago and she brought up her finished quilt top to share with me.  Isn't it just stunning!!!!   It is so fun to get to see the finish when I only got to see a few blocks in class.   Thanks so much JoAnne for sharing this!!!

If you have a quilt from a pattern or a tutorial of mine I would love to see it!!!  You can email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com :)

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

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 Sherbert Grunge Basics Fat Quarter Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop   is . . .   Number #457 . . . Congrats Diana@Red Delicious Life!!!   I have emailed you :)    

  

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co.  Along with the giveaway Julie is giving all Happy Quilting readers a special on shipping.  Use the coupon HAPPYTUESDAY for free shipping on all orders over $25.00.   And starting May 1, all shipping will be flat fee $5.95 with lots more free shipping days, so be sure to follow along in your entries below to know when they are coming!! 

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. is giving away an absolutely fantastic Half Yard Bundle of Chipper Sorbet  by Tula Pink for Free Spirit Fabrics to one lucky winner!!!!  I know the Tula Troop in all of us is jumping up and down right about now!!!  

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 if you are more Chipper in the Morning or the Evening??  (Me, it's all about the Morning ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. love.   You can follow them on   Facebook, Instagram, or Favorite their Shop.  Or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, April 26th , when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!