Just Quilting Away

Don't you just love that time between Christmas and New Years . . . you know, where you not quite sure what day it is and what your supposed to be doing ;)  Well, this year, I am filling this week with quilting, quilting, and then some more quilting!!!   (and of course, there is some playing with the kids thrown in there too, I mean, I can't completely ignore them when they are out of school ;)   But truly, I had a pile of 7 tops and I just couldn't go into the New Year with that many "to be quilted" projects.

So I started with the small ones first ;)  I knocked out my two improv table runners in no time at all.  I just love matchstick quilting but had always done it on my home machine.   Well, I decided it was time to try the long arm and I was so happy I did.  It was so, so, so fast!!!  I did it free hand and not all the liens are perfectly straight and a few cross over the line next to it, but I was totally okay with it as it just adds to the fun improv feel of them ;)

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Next up, was my Crossroads Quilt Along quilt.  I really wanted to get this quilt done this year as it was this years quilt along and if I don't get them done in the same year they tend to sit awhile (ie, my Star Surround is still not quilted)  But I have been procrastinating it as I was a little stumped on how to quilt this.  I have been thinking custom quilting but when I got it loaded on the frames I realized what I really wanted to stand out was all of the tiny piecing that I did in the blocks and I was worried if I quilted them all super custom, that you would see the quilting more than the piecing.  So I decided to just do an all over curly q design to let the piecing shine. (and it helped that I wanted to get it done before the end of the year, all overs are super speedy :)   But I am so glad I did because I just love how it kept the quilt looking so soft.   

And finally, I put my Plume quilt on the frame yesterday . . .  And you know how I love swirls ;)   I quilted a variety of sizes, trying to play with the scale of my swirls and had to show a picture of the back because I just love how this red thread pops on the black and white background.  Isn't that just so fun!!!

And now I can't decide if I want to keep quilting today or put on some bindings ;)  Either way, it is going to be fun for sure ;)

So what are you up to this week??  I hope you are finding lots of quilting time as well ;)


Oh, and  before I sign off . . .

Happy 16th Anniversary Jacob!!!! 

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 Colette Fat Quarter Bundle from The Intrepid Thread is . . . Number #258. . . Congrats AmyScrapSpot!!! 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 did you know they have a 24 Hour Flash Sale every day with 2 Flash Sales on Tuesdays!!  You will find some amazing deals there ;)

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving away this totally adorable Complete Cute Sewing Tin Set by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet to one lucky winner!!!  And they even come with adorable matching cards and envelopes.   How perfect are these for sorting all of your notions in your sewing space!!!

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 one Sewing Goal you have planned for 2017.

 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, Jan 3rd , when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

December Sew Sampler!!!

So remember when I said, "Next month's Sew Sampler Box should be arriving right before Christmas.  I am telling myself that I am going to put it under the tree as a special surprise" in my November Sew Sampler post . . . Well, I didn't quite make it to Christmas to open my box, (I know, I just had to open it ;) . . .  but I did wait to share it, just in case you were putting it under your tree ;)  And I have to say, December's  Sew Sampler box was an awesome early Christmas Present!!!!

I mean, how cute is this Half Roll Up by Darlene Zimmerman and the perfect new Aurifil 80 wt threads to go with it.  I am so looking forward to trying out that new thread, it is so fine and I can't wait to just see it disappear on my applique ;)
 

And I am so super excited for these new Impressions Quilting Templates.  I love orange peel applique and how fun is the Round Robin pattern using the templates.   When I saw these arrive I immediately thought of this quilt I made a while back and how helpful these templates would have been.  Now I am wanting to make it again!!!

And last but not least . . .  the monthly sampler block.   I am just so loving these sampler blocks and I am just freaking out seeing them all come together!!!

I am so looking forward to see what 2017  Sew Sampler Box will bring.  These are just so much fun in their amazing quilting goodness!!!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and maybe getting to sneak in some Happy Quilting today!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Each year, my Husband writes a Christmas letter that we send to our family and friends.  As you readers are all my friends, I wanted to share it with you as well.   Here's our 2016 ;)

Dear Family and Friends

            We have now been in Cedar for over 5 years and feel like we should be planning some kind of move or change.  Our older children who have memories of Indiana are starting to see those memories fade.  Their memories of living in Salt Lake, Pikeville, and Yakima have long since faded.  I continue to enjoy working in my family practice clinic alongside my brother as we care for my father’s former patients (with some new patients as well).  I really enjoy my non work time and fill it with running, watching or reading sports, tinkering on and playing on the snowmobiles and atv’s and  of course, hanging out with the family.   

            Melissa keeps herself busy with all things quilting.  She enjoys teaching her patterns at various quilting conferences throughout the year.  I lost track of the number of quilts she has finished this year but I know it is a lot.  When she is not sewing in the basement on her sewing machine (still the best gift I have ever given her) she can be found next door quilting on my mother’s long arm machine.  She has also very much enjoyed her church calling in the young women and attended Girls Camp for the first time in 20 years.

            Spencer (a few weeks short of 14) tries to keep himself busy with school, piano, french horn, scouts, theater, and church.  He has recently been working on his eagle project, which we hope will be finished over the next month.  He keeps us on our toes with his need to have “discussions” over every parental request but luckily we still seem to have some of the correct answers.  When Spencer isn’t busy outside the house, you are guaranteed to find him curled up with a favorite book as he still loves to read.

            Jessi (11) moved from elementary to middle school as she entered 6^th grade this year and has absolutely loved the transition.   She is enjoying playing the flute in the band and improving her piano skills and loves to play Softball.  She spends most of her free time running around the neighborhood with a great group of friends.  Occasionally they decide to spend an afternoon at our house which is always a treat.  And she can’t wait to join Mom in Young Women’s next year and is counting down the days until Girls Camp.

            Kristian (10) is a happy 4^th grader at South Elementary.  We are a few weeks away from his favorite activity of the year when he starts wrestling.  I’m not sure what he sees in the sport, but so long as he likes it we will continue to support him in it.  He also started piano since the last letter and is progressing well, even though it is a bit of a   love/hate relationship.  Hates it the day after lessons, loves it by the day before his lessons. 

            Kamryn (7) is in second grade and is loving school.  She is catching up in her reading and we are so proud of all the hard work she has put in this year.    She gained a new friend next door as a new family moved in.  As our back yards connect the two of them (with Josie in tow) spend ample time running back and forth between our houses and filling the air with shrieks of laughter and lots of joy.

            Jocelyn (5) is enjoying her few hours of preschool 4 days a week.  She is so happy to finally being going to school like all of her siblings.  When my day off falls on a Friday we enjoy having Josie and Daddy’s day of fun.   This often includes lunch with Mom but Josie gets to pick the place.  And we are looking forward to getting some snow so we can get back out on the snowmobiles together. 

We hope this letter finds you all well and wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Love The Corry’s

And I wanted to leave this morning with one final note . . . This year my children's big gift from Santa was tickets to go see the Piano Guys in concert in February when they come to Cedar City.   They are so excited!!!!   There excitement this morning reminded me of this video they made a few years back. It always brings peace and happiness to my heart and I wanted to share it with you.  It is my hope that regardless of where we are from, or what religion we practice, that the Spirit of this beautiful Christmas Season has filled our homes and each of our families hearts!! 

Merry Christmas!!

Summer Solstice Finished!!! (in winter ;)

Yippee, Hooray, and Whoopee!!!!!  I am so excited to be sharing my Finished Summer Solstice Quilt today!!!!   And I even managed to get it done before Christmas :)

Just in case you are new friend, this Summer Solstice quilt is the Quilt Along that I hosted this past summer.  Each of the posts for the Quilt-A-Long will always be on my blog.  You can follow these links to walk you through each step week-by-week on how to make your own Summer Solstice Quilt , just in case you want to make your own.

Teaser Post
Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement

Cutting

 Flying Geese

Half Square Triangles

Drunkard Path

Building Blocks
 Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky

 Summer Solstice Parade and Grand Prize Winners

There were so many amazing folks quilting along with me and it was so fun to see all of your gorgeous finishes, and I am just so happy to finally be adding mine to the finished group!!!

This was such a fun quilt to piece!!!  I love making giant blocks because they just pop!!!   And I know it sounds a little crazy, but I really did love putting together all of those curved pieces.  The first few were a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it, they are pretty fun.  (at least, I think they are pretty fun ;)

This quilt is for my little brother and his wife, and even though I won't be able to deliver it for Christmas (they live in SL) I can say that I finished it in time for Christmas, and hey, that counts for something right ;)   My SIL  picked the fabrics, followed the progress of the qal while I was piecing, and then got super excited when I posted on instagram that it was on the long arm ;)   And now, these pics can be a few days early Christmas present.  Yippee!!!!  

When it came time to quilt, I had lots and lots of fun with lots and lots of custom quilting!!!   For the background I quilted small swirls in the sashing, echoed paisleys in the corners of the block, pebbles in the corners of the star, and a giant swirl in the center of the star.   Isn't that just so super yummy!!!

And then on the prints, I quilted wavy lines on the star so they would look like "rays", echoed scallops on the star border, and echoed arches on the corner points.   With all that small quilting in the background, I wanted to do something a little simpler on the prints so I just played with changing the basic lines and I love how it makes the prints pop all the more ;)

And then on the border, I swallowed my fear of feathers and went for it!!!   And I have to say, I am so excited with how it turned out!!!  I am still totally learning feathers, (I practiced  when my little ones wanted me to join them in sidewalk chalk fun this this summer )  but doing a giant one around the entire border really cemented it in.   They are not perfect by any means, but that is what practice is for, right :)

It took a while to do all of that yummy custom quilting, especially as this quilt is a monster King size :)  But it was so totally worth it.  It just adds so much yummy textures and all of the different quilting motifs just help to emphasize the fun quilt design.  So fun!!!!

And just in case you are wondering, I was totally laughing the whole time I was taking pictures at the fact that it was Snowing while I photographed a Summer Solstice quilt.   Too funny!!!

And that is my finished Summer Solstice Quilt Along Quilt!!!   And I am so, so, so happy with the finish!!!   Thanks again to everyone that quilted along with me, as that is what makes this quilt so special.  Even while writting this, I keep thinking of everyone that pieced along with me all summer and how much fun that was.  So thank you so very much!!!!

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend with a Merry Christmas thrown in there as well!!

Linking up to Amanda's, Sarah's, and Myra's ;)