CTR = 2 More Cuts

 So yesterday morning this happened :)  CTR stands for Carpal Tunnel Release.  The surgery went fantastic and a huge thanks to Dr. Allen and his team for taking such great care of me!!!  So what does this mean . .  .  Well thanks to the wonderful world of medicine, it meant 2 cuts on my wrist and hand and then a little scope surgery, and now, 3 weeks of no Rotary Cutting or Long Arming ;)   So ya,  remember on Wednesday when I shared that I cut out 4 projects . . . well, there was some motivation behind that ;)

And while I can't rotary cut or Long Arm . . . there was no mention of no sewing :)  And I already tried and can sew with barely moving my right hand, I just move my whole arm instead of my wrist to guide the fabric through ;)       I can  use my finger tips a little this morning so that was happy news as I can now type this post (albeit very slowly :)    But of course, I will need to take it easy to allow everything to heal properly.  Basically, the kinder I am on my hand, the quicker I can get back to normal!!

And getting back to normal would be great.   Things were getting a little to painful there and after dropping a third glass of milk in a week when my hands go numb . . . well, it was time to get this taken care of.   Here is hoping the right wrist heals quickly because the left will be soon to follow ;)

So if things slow down just a bit over the next few weeks you will know that I have decided CTR is standing for Choose The Right and letting my hand heal :)    

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

P.S. I can't even remember this picture being taken after surgery, but it cracks me up how totally out of it I look ;)  Gotta love anesthesia!! 

Cutting and then some more Cutting ;)

So the last few days have been spent doing a whole lot of cutting!!!   Want to see all of the pretty fabrics I have been playing with and what I have planned for this month . . .

First up, some scraps from a new project I have planned using these gorgeous prints from Ava Rose, Deena Rutter's newest line for Riley Blake Designs that will release in March ;)  And this new project will be coming in the way of a new tutorial, just sayin!!!    I am so super excited and am already just loving playing with these gorgeous teals, blues, and corals, so pretty!!!

Next up (and this cutting probably took the longest) some lovely strings that went on for days in beautiful blues and greens.   These strings are 1 1/2" wide and will be for a little secret sewing ;)   I had so much fun digging through my stash drawers and chopping off a little strip of every print in my blue and green drawer.   Now I figure, as they are all so skinny, I think I am going to starch them all . . . that might not be quite as fun ;)

When I  finished up with my strings, it was time to cut up some paper piecing to make a Cake . . . well a Cake Mix that is :)   This is a  fun, new  paper piecing product from Miss Rosies Quilt Co. aka Moda Rosie and she talks all about them over at the Moda Cutting Table.  And you should totally watch the video, it is so fun!!!   I can't wait to share what I am whipping up with these :)

And finally, a quick project that I decided on last minute because I just couldn't bear to fold up fabric that was already ironed ;)   You see, last month I did a little secret sewing using beautiful blues and greens from Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis.   I was using 28 Fat Quarters and had a good Fat Eighth left of each and so I didn't want to throw them in the scrap drawer and was debating folding them back into a nice little bundle.  Then I through, why not just cut out a quilt!!!    I decided on the Mosaic pattern from Fat Quarter Style by It's Sew Emma.    It used up just about every bit of fabric I had left just perfectly and it will be quick and easy to sew together and make a beautiful new bedspread for one of the boys.   

So ya, a prime example of why my "to make" list just keeps growing ;)    And of course, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

So now . . . I think it is time to start sewing!!!

Have you cut up any new projects to start recently . . .tell me about them in the comments ;)  

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!    Let's have some fun!!!

But  before we get to today's giveaways . . . First,  we need to announce the winners from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!   The winner of the Rustic Elegance Fat Quarter Bundle from Lou Lou's Fabric Shop  is . . . Number #307. . . Congrats Vicki H !!! I have emailed you :)    

  

And we also need to pick a winner of the Splendid Sampler Celebration!!!   The winner of the Irish Chain Quilts and a rainbow goodness fabric surprise from me  is . . . Number #292. . . Congrats Nancy !!! I have emailed you :)  

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fabric Please!   And today is a super special day for Rita as Fabric Please! is celebrating it's 2nd birthday!!!   Help them celebrate with an extra birthday surprise in your order (so fun!!!) and Free Shipping in Canada and the USA by using the code SHIPFREE!!!  So be sure to pop on over and help them Celebrate!!!

And Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for some adorable fabric goodness!!! Fabric Please!  is offering one lucky reader a totally adorable set of  Farm Fun Mini Fat Quarter Bundle with Panel :)  I mean, how cute are those adorable stuffed farm animals with their cute little babies in the pouch!!!   So fun!!!

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 farm animal :)

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fabric Please! Love!!!!   You can Sign Up for their Newsletter (on the right hand side :)  You can follow them on  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.  Or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Fabric Please! Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, February 28th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

February Aurifil Designer BOM

The February Aurifil Designer Block of the Month was released a few days ago and I had so much fun sewing it up this morning!!!   February is all about Blue-Purple and  Maureen Cracknell's super adorable Dutch Treat block  has me hoping for spring soon :)  Isn't it just so fantastic!!

I had such a good time really digging through my scrap drawer to find the perfect blue-purples ;)   It is such a fun color because it really does look blue sometimes and other times it looks more purple.   So fun!!!  And I love how well the prints play with that fun white/grey background.   Sometimes even it reads a little blue-purple in the right light.  

This block went together fast.  I truly think I spent more time looking for and cutting up the right fabrics than actually piecing the blocks, not that I am complaining about that, it is always fun to look through pretty fabric scraps!!  I am debating adding some stitching in that gorgeous Aurifil 1200 Blue Violet .   It is just such a perfect match, I just need to decide what to stitch ;)  

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

I am so looking forward to March because it is my month and I can't wait to share my block!!!  

Have a Happy Quilting Saturday!!!

Patchwork Quilt Along - Diamond Panes Block

It's the 15th and that means it's time for the second set of  Patchwork Quilt Along Blocks hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop!!!!  Today's Patchwork Quilt Along blocks are the Diamond Panes Blocks and they are just so fun!!!

You can totally see where they get their name from, and seeing them next to each other makes me want to make an entire quilt with them.  I just love how it creates that secondary diamond in the backgrounds as the blocks come together ;)  

If you are quilting along with all of this Patchwork fun,  you can download the block pattern right here and be sure to donate $5.00  to the Make a Wish Foundation for your download  ;)  I am blown away by how much has already been raised, Quilters are the best!!!   

And don't forget to watch the super cute  You Tube video that walks you through making the block with some super peppy tunes!!!   

And be sure to share all of your Patchwork progress on social media with #patchworkquiltalong and pop over to all of the fabulous bloggers who are quilting along for some Diamond Panes block eye candy :)  

*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

And if you have any questions, you can pop on over to the Patchwork Quilting Along page and your pretty sure to find your answer ;)  And weve just started, so if you haven't started yet, today is a great day to start quilting along!!!! 

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!