January Aurifil Designer BOM

I am so excited for the Aurifil Designer Block of the Month and I think the biggest reason is because I just love playing with rainbow blocks!!!   January is all about Blue and I just love Janet Clare's super fun Blue Block!!!  Frame blocks are so great :)

I had so much fun going through my scrap drawer and picking the perfect blues to go together.  It really is a lot of fun to play with the contrast all in one color.   And I used my lovely Aurifil threads for the beautiful blanket stitch around the applique.  I wanted a nice contrast on the applique so I used 50 wt Medium Deft Blue #2783 on the white petals and my go to 50 wt White #2024 on the navy petal.   I love how they just pop!!!

And you might have noticed by now that my center applique is not a cat as in the original pattern.  So ya, I am totally afraid of cats (and dogs for that matter :)   I know, silly right.  I am working on it but the long and the short of it is that they scare me.    So, rather than be reminded of my irrational fear every time I look at this quilt, I decided to change out the center applique.    And wouldn't you know it, I had these awesome Impressions Templates from Fat Quarter Shop's December Sew Sampler box that I have so wanting to try out.    And yup, they were awesome!!!

So that is my Aurifil January Block!!!  You can find the Janet's fantastic pattern for this block right over here and then be sure to pop over here to read Janet's interview.   She is such an amazing designer and it was so fun to get to read all about what inspires her designs!!!  

Looking forward to February where we will be playing with Blue Violet!!!  (I might have already started pulling fabrics I was so excited ;)  

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

MQG Charity Quilt - Graffiti Quilting

I always love to participate in the MQG Charity Quilts.  And as an individual member, I have the opportunity to work with wonderful new quilters each year as we are rounded up in a region.  This year our Mountain West gals decided on wonky stars in alternating scale.  Aren't they just so fun!!!   And guess who got to do the quilting ;)   Yup, little ole me and I figured what would go better with it's wonky improv. goodness than some Graffiti Quilting!!!

This was my first time doing grafatti quilting and so it is fair to say I was a little nervous.  But the only way to learn is just jumping in and doing it right :)  The quilting was a ton of fun, but a challenge as well.   I think the hardest part was changing designs so much.  Each time I would have to stop for a second and decide what I wanted to quilt next.  Thank heavens for some awesome FMQ books in my little library that I could reference when my brain was fried :)

And I quickly realized that grafatti quilting is all about everything touching and "growing" out of the previous design.  This was a bit of a change from  the usual way I quilt all over as I don't tend to cross over of bounce off anything.   But I got the hang of it after a little bit and just love the way the designs transition into each other.

And ya, because of all of that, this thing is quilted like crazy dense ;)   I lost track of how many bobbins I had gone through.  My guess would be somewhere around 20.   So let's just say this quilt will be able to hold up to some serious love :)   

All in all, I am so super happy with the outcome!!!   It was something new, something that forced me out of my comfort zone and stretched me as a quilter.   And I am glad to say that I really feel like I learned a lot and finished up a pretty awesome quilt at the same time.

And once I had all of the background finished, I changed my thread out and quilted up the fun little stars ;)   You can't really see the quilting on the front, so here they are from the back.  Aren't they just so cute!!!

And speaking of the back, how cool is this pieced back!!!  And it really shows off some of the quilting which is pretty fun as well ;)

 And I have to say, my favorite thing about working on these MQG Charity Quilts is seeing how everyone can come together even across long distances.  This was such an awesome collaboration ;)    Everyone in our group, including Theresa, Christi, and Liz made stars and then Alissa pieced the top, Jane pieced the back, I did the quilting, Melanie is adding the binding, and then Naomi is putting on the label and quilt sleeve.  It just warms my heart to see how much love was put into this.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, this fun quilt was named A Galaxy Far, Far Away  :)   Gotta love me some Star Wars!!!

I hope you are having 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  2 yard of  Moda's White on White Snowflake from Kimberly's Fabric Stash is . . . Number #107. . . Congrats Sewgirl!!! I have emailed you :)    

  

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Shabby Fabrics!!   Shabby Fabrics has so many fantastic Kits and Projects and I absolutely love their Laser Cut Kits!!! Shabby Fabrics  also has an amazing  Clearance Section, you are sure to find some amazing deals here :)

And for the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway  Shabby Fabrics is giving one lucky winner  a Kewpie Love Fat Quarter Set!!!!!   How adorable is that, one lucky readers is going to have the perfect collection  to make something adorable for Valentines Day!!!

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 a favorite hobby/leisure activity other than quilting/sewing :)

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Shabby Fabrics love. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Pinterest, or Instagram.  You can Sign up for the Shabby Fabrics Newsletter (top right hand corner) or Follow their Blog,  or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Shabby Fabric Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, January 24th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Patchwork Quilt Along - Souvenir of Friendship Block

It's the 15th and that means it is the start of the Patchwork Quilt Along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop!!!!  Today I am so excited to share the first set of  Patchwork Quilt Along blocks.  These first set of blocks are called the Souvenir of Friendship Blocks and they are just so much fun to piece in all of their tiny goodness!!!!

I just love the way these blocks are a plus inside a plus.   And when I said tiny I wasn't kidding.  All of the blocks in this Patchwork Quilt Along will finish at 5".   EEEkkk, so cute!!!   There will be 72 blocks total in the quilt and we will be making them up 6 each month.  

So if you are joining in the Patchwork fun,  you can download the block pattern right here and it is requested for each pattern you download to donate $5.00  to the Make a Wish Foundation  ;)  This QAL is raising funds for this amazing organization that grants wishes to children faced with life threatening medical conditions.  What a wonderful way for us all to make a difference in a special child's life!!   And Fat Quarter Shop and Moda will match up to $20,000 of the donations raised.  So let's help them reach that goal ;)  

This year I am doing something a little different and not using the same fabrics as the Fat Quarter Shop's original quilt.   I decided to use Desert Bloom by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda and I just love how those happy colors just pop!!   If you are quilting along and want to use the original Bonnie and Camille Basics you can find a Quilt Along Kit right over here, or if you want to pick a different fabric like me, you just need (2) Jolly Bars or (1) Layer Cake cut in half and then some background fabric and borders.    

And like always, Fat Quarter Shop has made up a super fun little  You Tube video that walks you through making the block step by step!!!   

Be sure to share all of your Patchwork progress on social media with #patchworkquiltalong and check out these fabulous bloggers who are quilting along for some Souvenir of Friendship block inspiration :)  

*Bonnie of Cotton Way (@bonniecottonway)

*Camille of Thimble Blossoms (@thimbleblossoms)

Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl (@jedicraftgirl)

Amy of Diary of a Quilter (@diaryofaquilter)

Andy of A Bright Corner (@abrightcorner)

Debbie of Happy Little Cottage (@happylittlecottage1)

Greg of Grey Dogwood Studio (@greydogwoodstudio)

Heidi of Buttons and Butterflies (@buttonsandbutterflies)

Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)  (that's me :) 

Melissa of Oh How Sweet (@ohhowsweet)

Pat Sloan of PatSloan.com (@quilterpatsloan)

Renee of Sewn with Grace (@sewnwithgrace)

Sedef of Down Grapevine Lane (@downgrapevinelane)

Sherri of A Quilting Life (@aquiltinglife)

Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)

Taunja of Carried Away Quilting (@taunjalynn)

Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset (@emilyannskloset)

Carrie Nelson/Miss Rosie of Moda Cutting Table

So that is the first block in the Patchwork Quilt Along!!!!   I will continue to share a new set of blocks on the 15th of each month.  So fun!!!  So what do you say, wan't to come Patchwork Quilting Along??  You are going to have so much fun!!!

Thanks for popping in today ;)  Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Jelly Roll Twist

So do you remember when I  started a new Shortcut Quilt last month, Well I  am super excited to get to share the finish today!!!   This is Jelly Roll Twist and I had so much fun making it.  I just love the Shortcut Quilts because they are so fast!!  I actually had it all finished sans the binding in December.

I used a combination of Sweetwater's First Crush fabric line and Sandy Gervais' new #love line.  Don't they play so perfectly together!!   I just love all of those happy hearts and flowers in beautiful bold red, black, and white :)

And I varied from the fabric layout in the pattern a bit.  I opted to  just do the squares and strips totally random and I have to say, I just love it!!!   Don't you just love getting that "looks like super scrappy" look when really it is just a basic block rotated.   So fun!!!

When it came time to quilt it, I decided on a simple all over echoed paisley design.  This is such a fun and fast filler and I love all of the happy curves.  I have a video tutorial for this free motion design over here if you want to see how I do it ;)   It was hard to decide what color to quilt in as regardless what I choose it was going to pop on some fabrics and blend with others.  In the end, I went with red :)  

And that is my Jelly Roll Twist quilt!!!   And it is ready just in time for Valentines day!!!   I have never made a Valentines quilt before and I am excited to have this draped over the couch ready to snuggle up in front of the fire place with the special people in my life ;)

Oh, and if you want to make your own Jelly Roll quilt, you can pop over to the Jolly Jabber and get the free pattern as well as check out the video tutorial for making it ;)  You are going to have a blast with this one, so fast and fun!!!

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Weekend!!!