Teaching is Terrific!!!

Last Friday I had the wonderful opportunity to teach my Braided Irish Chain quilt pattern to a class at the Gems of the Desert Quilt Show put on by the Dixie Quilt Guild.   I know I say it every time, but I just love teaching!!!  All of the ladies in my class were so much fun and did such a great job!!

We had a smaller class which turned out super nice as everyone had lots and lots of room to spread out and work.  And it never ceases to amazing me how quickly 3 hours flies by.  You feel like you have just started and before you know it, the time is up.   I know that is because the time is filled with lots of quilting, love, and laughter . . . always the best!!!

We had several gals in the class still manage to crank out quite a bit in just 3 hours ;)  I just loved how soft the prints in this quilt are, and the light teal is the perfect background!!!

 And how pretty are these beautiful and bold batiks.  Couldn't have picked better colors for a Gems of the Desert class ;)

 And we were all having so much fun, that we didn't even realize a row was sewn on backwards in this block until we were home later day.  I have been told it has since been unsewn and sewn back on to finish the chain :)  So fun!!!

And how cute is the Braided Irish Chain block in American Jane ;)   And that background fabric had the perfect tone on tone floral that just matched perfectly with the prints.  

Everyone else in class got just about all the blocks done sans the middle one, so ya, lots and lots of progress and oh so much fun!!!   I can't wait for these gals to finish up their Braided Irish Chain Quilts and send me pictures ;)   It is just so great to see their starts in class and then later to get to see it all come together into a beautiful finish.  

Thanks so much to the wonderful lades of the Dixie Quilt Guild for having me, I loved every minute of it!!!  

And thanks to you for popping in today and each day ;)  I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Happy Easter

Happy Sunday and Happy Easter!!!   I spent the day yesterday in the beautiful Red Cliffs of Southern Utah hiking with friends and family.  It was such a wonderful reminder of all the beauty that surrounds us each and every day.  It is often easy to get bogged down with all of the ugly in the world, so is always good to be reminded of  the beauty and peace that is all around us when we choose to look for it.

And I just love Easter because it is all about just that. Beauty, Hope, Love, and Peace.   So I wanted to share this Easter message today, and I hope that no matter where you are from or what you believe, that it truly brings joy and peace on this beautiful Easter Sunday.  

Happy Easter :)

Patchwork Quilt Along - Star And Cross Block

It's the 15th and that means it's time for the Fourth set of  Patchwork Quilt Along Blocks hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop!!!!  Today's Patchwork Quilt Along blocks are the Star and Cross Blocks.  And I just can't get over how much I love this block :)

I really do love how cute and tiny the patchwork is in this particular quilt along.  I mean, those are 1" finished HST's.   How cute is that.  And this entire block is almost made up of nothing but 1" finished pieces, except for he center strip.   That is a lot of adorable tiny patchwork!!!   

If you are quilting along with all of this Patchwork fun,  you can download the block pattern right here and then you can donate $5.00 to the Make a Wish Foundation for your download  ;)  This is such an amazing project and I just love to see how much it helps such an amazing foundation!!

And don't forget to watch the super cute  You Tube video that walks you through making the block and you get to enjoy some  super peppy tunes along the way!!!    

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 Star and Cross 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

If you have any questions about the quilt along, you can pop on over to the Patchwork Quilting Along page and your pretty sure to find the answer there ;)  And if you haven't started yet, there is still plenty of time to join in and quilt along!!!!   You are so going to love all of this amazingly fun tiny patchwork!!!  

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

A Splendid Day!!!

Today is indeed a very Splendid Day because it is the day that has been anticipated by so many for a year :)  Today is the day The Splendid Sampler book has arrived, so exciting!!!  This whole last year I have been sharing Splendid Sampler blocks on Saturday's and it is just so fun that now we have the book!!!

This Splendid Sampler has been such an amazing journey!!!  I was so honored to be able to create a block for this project and it still makes me smile every time I see someone's fun version of my Lots of Love block!!!  And now it is part of this amazing book !

My personal Splendid Sampler is so close to being done, but has been put aside for a few deadline projects ;)   Here are the rows laid out without the sashing.  I have since sewn all the rows together including the extra sashing rows, and pressed them all.  Now I just have to sew the block rows and sashing rows together to make the quilt top.  It is currently hanging over my sewing room door so that I see it every time I walk in, and get more and more excited to squeeze some time in to get the top finished ;)  I can't wait to share it!!!

   It has just been incredible to be a part of the The Splendid Sampler.  It was so great to meet so many new friends in the Sew Sampler Facebook Group and see everyone's quilts come together ;)   And I hear that the group is going to continue together, starting again in just a few weeks!!!  Only this time, they will be assigning a block from The Splendid Sampler book each week ;)  So fun!!!  

And of course, it wouldn't be a Splendid Celebration without a giveaway.  And our friends at Martingale have a huge giveaway!!!!   Pop on over to the Martingale blog for your chance to win some amazing prizes from Martingale, Moda, Aurifil, Schmetz Needles, and Reliable Irons!  So fun !!!!   Good Luck!!!! 

Thanks for popping in today and each day!!
I hope you have a very Happy (and Splendid) Quilting Day!!!

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 winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!   The winner of the Guernsey Fat Quarter Bundle from Green Fairy Quilts is . . . Number #152. . . Congrats Cynthia!!!!! I have emailed you :)    

  

So 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 you can find tons of amazing free tutorials at their You Tube Channel!!! Be sure to check it out!!!!

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop is giving one luck reader a 30's Playtime 2017 Pack Featuring Bella Solids and Aurifil Thread!!  Aren't those colors just prefect for Spring!! Someone is going to have some super solid 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 your favorite Spring Color(s) to dye Easter Eggs  ;) 

 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, April 18th , when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!