Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day . . . let's have some fun :)  And sorry it is coming a little late today  . .  . I was teaching my sister-in-law applique!!!  So fun!!!  So let's get to it . . .

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of the SummerFest Charm Pack  and a Bella Solids White Charm Pack from  Ollie and Evie   is . . .   Number #91 . . . Congrats Erin Marie!!!   I have emailed you :)    

    

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.   Fat Quarter Shop has everything you could ever want and then some!!!   They always have amazing deals and amazing tutorials.  Have you checked out their You Tube Channel yet??  Daily awesome eye candy!!!!

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop has a super adorable Fat Eighth Bundle of Summerfest by April Rosenthal for Moda!!!!  I have sewn with this line for Market last year and let me tell you, it is fantastic!!!  So bright, happy, and all around summer goodness!!!

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 are you looking forward to doing the most this summer??  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, You 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, May 10th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Quilt Along???

Hello all.  So, if you have been around here for any time . . .you know that I love to do Quilt-A-Longs, and it has essentially become an annual thing.  Last year, we did the Irish Chain Twist Quilt- A-long to co-inside with my Irish Chain Quilts book release, and while I wanted to repeat that timing this year, Spring got a little busy and this month is going to be no different with Market fast approaching.

So what do you say to a Summer Quilt-Along??  (or would you rather wait until Fall??)  Both are totally doable.  If we did Summer, we would go slower than we normally do so that if you are on vacation for a week or whatever you will still have time to get your weekly assignment done . . . I am thinking maybe Bi-weekly assignments.   What do you think??

Also, I have a few sketches and some basic plans in the works . . .but I want to make sure I include what you want to do???  So is there any particular skill that you want to learn in this Quilt Along??    Do you want to see a particular design concept, ie . . .I always love stars ;)   Do you want to do a block quilt, or a medallion quilt, or maybe some random layouts??

Here's your chance . . . What do you want to get out of this years annual Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long???

Splendid Sampler Saturday!!

Time for another Splendid Sampler Saturday Post!!!  It really is so much fun to work on these fun rainbow blocks each week.  I keep thinking to myself, "Piece the Rainbow" (yes, I still want skittles as well ;)

First up, the Sweet Candy block designed by Kris Thurgood. This was another one of those fun blocks that go together in a snap.   Just two HST's and then you are sewing together a 9 patch.  Loved it, and of course, I loved that I got to sew with Purple on this one ;)

And second is the Goose on the Loose block designed by Amy Smart.  And once again, I got a chance to practice my paper piecing.  I was happy to say that this one came together a little quicker than the last paper piecing block, and I only had to make one little fix where I cut my fabric to short ;)  And Amy's inspiration behind this block just made me smile, such a cute story ;)

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Saturday ;) 

Bee Block Time!!

Sad to say, I got a little behind on my bee blocks for the gals at the Bees Knees.  Only a month, but still, I don't like getting behind.  So it was time to get all caught up.   The main reason I got behind was because I was super nervous about putting together this Flowering Snowball Block for Cali.  I have done a lot of Improv curves in the past but never a precisely pieced curve.

And I am so happy to say that all of that improv practice must have paid off because these blocks went together very nice, lined up on the edges, and don't have any big bubbles!!!  Yippee!!!!  I can't tell you how excited I am about this!!  Isn't it just so fun to feel like you are confident in a new technique and can add it to your tool belt!!   Time to add a Drunkards Path quilt to the list :)

So that was last month's block, and this month, Shari asked us to make her some Sunny Skies blocks!!!  I just love the Mama Said Sew fabric she sent us!!  It has always been one of my favorite lines.   I mean, how can you not love a line that is all things quilty!!!

And I have to admit, it was pretty nice to have these two blocks that went together nice and quick!!!  It is always fun to be able to whip out some patchwork and I love all the points!!!

So now with just a few days left of April, I am all ready for May :)    And speaking of being ready for things, we have had plenty of April Showers and I am ready for some May flowers!!  Here is hoping ;)

I am off to do some major chain piecing ;)  I hope whatever you have planned that you will have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Simply Sweet Trick Or Treat Bags - a Tutorial

This morning I am excited to share another fun Riley Blake Design Team tutorial with you all!!!!    And even though it is April, it's a Halloween tutorial!!!!  Here they are, the super cute and super easy Simply Sweet Trick or Treat Bags!!!

I think this Ghouls and Goodies line by Doodlebug Designs has to be the sweetest Halloween fabric I have ever seen!!!  I mean, look at those cute little witches, Frankenstein, vampire, ghosts and skeletons!!   And they even glow in the dark, so fun!!!   The second I saw that adorable panel I just knew I had to make something out it,  but I wanted it to be fast and simple for everyone because I know Halloween is that holiday that always tends to sneak up on you and you are so busy making a costume, who has time to spend on the bag ;)

So enter the  Simply Sweet Trick or Treat Bags!!!  They are about 11" square and so they are the perfect size for trick or treating.  And don't you just love the jumbo ric-rac handles!!!   I think they totally crank up the cuteness factor!!!  You can make 4 bags from 1 panel, and they really go together in a flash.  Trust me, you are going to want to make them for all your little loved ones ;)  

So let's get to making a Simply Sweet Trick or Treat Bag!!!

You will need:

1 Multi Glow in the Dark Ghouls Panel (1 yard)

1 Yard of Lining Fabric.  I used the Ghouls Main Glow in the Dark in both Purple and Orange

1 Yard of Jumbo Ric-Rac for each bag you want to make.

                 (Remember, you can make 4 bags from 1 panel and 1 yard of Lining Fabric).

Got your materials all gathered, let's get started!!!  

Begin by cutting out a 3 x 3 grid piece from your panel.  It will measure 11 1/2" high x 12" wide.  Be sure to cut right on the line between the squares in the panel.  You will need to cut 2 panels for each bag that you want to make up to 4 per panel.

Place two panel pieces with right sides together aligning the raw edges and being sure the squares in the two panels align.  You can pin if you like or just align as you stitch.   Sew a 1/4" seam around the two sides and the bottom of the panels, pivoting at the corners.  Be sure and backstitch at the beginning and ending of your seam to secure the stitching.  Repeat for however many bags you want to make and set them aside.

Now, we are ready to make the lining.  Cut (2) 12" wide x 11 1/2" high rectangles from your lining fabric.  Repeat to cut two rectangles for each of the bags you want to make.

Place two lining rectangles with right sides together aligning the raw edges.    You can pin if you like or just align as you stitch.   Sew a 1/4" seam around the two sides and the bottom of the panels, pivoting at the corners and leaving a 4-5" opening at the bottom of the bag to later turn the bag right side out.  Be sure and backstitch at the beginning and ending of your seams, both at the sides of your lining and the bottom.     Repeat for however many bags you want to make and set them aside.

Now, grab your jumbo ric-ric and cut it in half to make (2) 18" long pieces.  Once again, have 2 pieces for each bag you want to make.   So now you have an outer bag, a lining, and handles and you are ready to put it all together!!!  I will give the directions for one bag, but if you are making multiples, just repeat each step for however many bags you are making ;)

Start by flipping the bag right side out and pressing it nice and flat.  I find the easiest way to do this is to sort of pull the fabric back at the seam and then roll it into place so the seam lies nice and flat.

Repeat this along both sides and the bottom of the bag for each bag you are making.

Now, place the raw edges of your Ric-Ric handles along the top edge of the bag.  I just use the line of the panel to align with the ric-rac.  Pin the handle in place, and double check that the handle isn't twisted.  Repeat for the other side of the bag, pinning the second handle in place, taking care that it isn't twisted and that it directly alings with the handles on the front side of the bag.

Almost there!!! Insert the pinned bag into the lining so that right sides are together.  Align the raw edges of the lining and the bag and pin around the top.  I like to nest the two side seams first and pin those in place.  Then I move around the top of the bag, pinning the center first, and then putting a second pin in by each of the handles.

And now, simply stitch a 1/4" seam around the pinned top edge.  Once again, be sure and backstitch a bit at the beginning and the end to secure everything in place.

Pull the bag through the hole that was left in the bottom or the lining.  Just shimmy it out a little at a time.  I like to then put my lining back into the bag and press the sides and the bottom flat once again, just to keep it nice and tidy :)

Finally, pull the lining back out of your bag slightly and fold under the opening 1/4" so there is no longer a raw edge.  You don't need to pin it, I just did that so you could see it folded under ;)

And then stitch the opening closed.  You can do this by hand, or do like I did and just stitch 1/8" from the edge to close it up.  Either way works ;)

Now once again, insert your lining into your bag and give a final press around the top of your bag so that it lies nice and flat.   And just like that, you are done and have the cutest and easiest to make, Simply Sweet Trick or Treat Bag!!!

And now these little Ghouls can't wait to go collect some Goodies.   I might have promised them a few or taking this picture, guess that will have to hold them over until Halloween ;)

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial ;)  If you make your own Simply Sweet Trick or Treat Bags I would love to see them!!!  You can email me a picture to happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to my flickr group here or post it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc  ;)  I am sure your little ones will love them every bit as much as mine do!!

Wishing you all a very Happy Quilting Day!!