Improv Table Runners

I am so excited to have these fun Improv Table Runners all finished and ready to be used on my table,  I guess I just need to wait for fall now :)  I finished the bindings  on New Years Eve so technically, these are some of my last finishes of 2016!!  Yippee :)

These table runners were a result of the scraps from cutting out another project.  You can see my process of making them in this blog post ;)  These were so much fun to make.  I don't often just start stitching without an end plan, but it was a really great exercise in just seeing where it goes and a whole lot of fun, once I got myself to stop worrying about what it would turn out like in the end.

The fabrics are Desert Bloom by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda and I just love the wonderful fall colors and prints!!!  They just warm you up inside, and considering I took these pictures in -3 degrees outside, I could seriously use the warming up ;)

I quilted these with some simple matchstick straight-ish lines.   This was the first time I tried matchstick quilting on the long arm and I just loved it!!!   It was so fast and so, so, much fun.  And I just love the wonderful yummy texture it adds to the tops ;)

 And then I finished them off with a nice navy binding that I thinks frames them just perfectly ;)   These were a lot of fun to make and made me realize I need to do more Improv without a plan projects.  They really are just wonderful to see where the scraps just take you and I am so happy with how they turned out ;)

Now I just have to wait about 10 months to use them ;)  I guess I will just say I am super prepared for Fall 2017!!!

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

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

Its going to be Stars for my Selvages :)

Thank you so much to everyone that left wonderful suggestions on what to do with all of my selvages ;)  I loved all of the suggestions, and now have a lot more Selvage quilt to make ;)  But for this very first one, I decided to go with one of my personal favorites ;)   Stars!!!

I did a little test run of making HST with selvage blocks and they worked out just fantastic!!   So, I am moving forward with this plan. My selvages are all sorted by color but I decided to only use the selvages that truly read one particular color.  (Which means I have a bag of multi color selvages for another project, Yippee!!!)   And of course, I decided that it should be a ginormous king size quilt, so I might run out of selvages before I get done, but that's all good too.  Then it can just be one of those super fun long term projects ;)  

  I am hoping to cut out the grey background and foundations for the selvages pieces today or tomorrow so then I will be all set to just throw in a bit of selvage piecing here and there ;)  Oh, and a few of you mentioned the other day that you hadn't sewn or saved selvages before.  So I was thinking maybe a tutorial was needed.  Would you like a tutorial on these Simple Scrappy Selvage Stars??   Maybe two,  A Basic Sewing with Selvages Tutorials followed by a Selvage Star one??  What would be easiest and most convenient??

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 Complete Cute Sewing Tin Set from Fat Quarter Shop is . . . Number #91. . . Congrats PegP!!! I have emailed you :)    

  

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Green Fairy Quilts.  Green Fairy Quilts is your home for pre-cut goodness and they always have amazing sales going on every weekend on a selected pre-cut or notion!!!  You will want to be sure and sign up for their newsletter so you won't miss these awesome deals!!!

And today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for this super fun  Texas Trail Fat Quarter Bundle by Sara Khammash for Moda!!  One lucky winner is going to take a piece of the lone star state home with them ;)  

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 State (or Country if you are international) you call home! 

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Green Fairy Quilts love.   You can follow them on Bloglovin, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram.  You can Sign up for their Newsletter so you those 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 Green Fairy Quilt Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, January 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!!!

Sorting Selvages

So as I attempted to stuff a few more selvages in my little scrap selvage drawers this morning and had a fun little thought process.  Here is how it went.
 First, I came to the conclusion that the drawers were are already stuffed to the brim.  Second, I asked myself "why I was still saving these", and answered myself that "they are to make that Selvage Quilt Someday".  And then Third, it was like that little bolt of lightening hit my brain and said "Why Not Today!!!".   It's a New Year and what better time to start one of those "squeak a little in here and there" project than the New Year.   So I pulled the Selvages Drawers out of the scrap drawer bins. . .

And I started sorting!!!  I haven't picked a pattern yet, but I do know that I want to make my selvage quilt in some kind of rainbow layout, so I am sorting the selvages by color.     I have a few designs that I like, but want to look around a bit and be sure there is't a great selvage design I am missing.  So if you know of one, just give me a shout out in the comments.   

EEEkkk, this is just so fun!!!    I have been saving selvages for 4 years now and I just am tickled pink that they are finally being pulled out of the drawer.  This is going to be my no deadline, work on it here and throughout  2017 project and I just couldn't be more excited for it!!!  By the end of 2017 I will have a selvage quilt!!!!  There, put it in words, goal made!!!  

So now, back to more Sorting ;)  

Wrapping Up 2016 and Looking Forward to 2017!!!

I have to say, this is one of my favorite posts to write each year.  I just love being able to take a step back and look over everything that the past year has brought. And then stop and think about what I am hoping to do in the next year.     So as I close up 2016 here at Happy Quilting let's take a quick look of what's been going on around here this past year.

45 Quilts 

 (including quite a few secret ones that I can't show yet :)

4 Mini's

10 Projects

And Countless Blocks including:
 Bee Blocks, Splendid Sampler Blocks, and Sew Sampler Blocks

And there's  Happy Quilting 2016, all rounded up in 4 little pictures :)  Wow, this year sure has been packed with a whole lot of quilting fun!!!   And I have to say, it is just so fun to see it all together in once place ;)   You can see more details about all of the quilts in my Quilt Archive Tab at the top of the page including links to any tutorials ;)

As I look back on this year, I am just so incredible grateful for this little space to share my passion.  I was asked by a dear friend earlier in this year if I still love this all or if it was starting to feel to much like work.   And It made me stop and pause, and realize how incredibly lucky I was to be able to say I do indeed still love it all!!!   Sure, there are some crazy days in there, but all in all, I am just so grateful each day that I found such an amazing industry to be a part of and that I get to share it each and every day with all of you ;)

And now, It's time to look forward to 2017!!!

Each year, I hang a little print off in my sewing room that serves as a daily reminder of what I want to accomplish creatively in the year ;)

The print off for 2017 will read the same as 2016:)  I found these goals to be super helpful in 2016 and still have some room to work on them so they are sticking around for another year.

1 -  Pass It On
2 -  Watch The Time
3 -  Plan With Purpose
4 -  Mommy First

And again, these probably only make sense to me but there are so many thoughts tied up in each of those little statements.   They will  be wonderful reminders to me each and every day and I look forward to them  guiding me in my 2017 Creative Journey!!

And One Last Thought Before I Wrap This Up . . . I just can't say it enough . . . Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!  There are just not words to say how grateful I am for your daily comments and emails and simple words of encouragement.  They mean the world to me.   Truly, it would not be Happy to be be Quilting without all of you.  The personal interaction is what adds that Happy factor so Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!

So so long 2016 and here is Looking Forward to 2017!!!!!  May it be another year filled with lots, and lots, and lots of  Happy Quilting!!!!!!