The Big Book of Strip Quilts

Yesterday a package from Martingale arrived and I was super excited to see that it was The Big Book of Strip Quilts!!!  I got word a little bit ago that one of my quilts from Irish Chain Quilts was going to be in this awesome compilation book, and it was so fun to flip through the book and find that it is my An Irish Braid quilt that made it into The Big Book of Strip Quilts.

And you can imagine my surprise and glee when I opened the cover and found that no only was An Irish Braid in the book, but it is the Title Page!!!!   Oh my goodness!!!  I squealed out loud.  Then I realized it was also the watermark on the Cover Page!!!   Double Squeal!!!   Then I had a moment of  panic.  Why, because well, this is the first quilt I ever quilted on a long arm, and the quilting in this picture shows up big time, and let's just say, I have learned a lot since this first quilt ;)   But my husband calmed me down and reminded me that it wouldn't be here if it didn't show well.  (Just promise me you won't look to closely at the quilting ;)

So ya, all in all, pretty amazing day when this arrived!!!!   The Big Book of Strip Quilts is chuck full with 60 Beautiful quilts made by so many amazing and talented quilters!!  And they are all done with strip piecing, so you know that means they go together fast and are a whole lot of fun!!!   For sure an awesome book to have for burning through those stacks of Jelly Rolls (don't tell me I am the only one hoarding these and other pre-cuts :) or Scrappy Strips.

And to celebrate it's release, Martingale is giving away a copy of the The Big Book of Strip Quilts to one lucky winner!!!   Be sure to pop on over to their Post to see lots more on this awesome book and  enter the giveaway ;)   Good Luck!!! 

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 30's Playtime 2017 Pack Featuring Bella Solids and Aurifil Thread from Fat Quarter Shop is . . . Number #119. . . Congrats Gene Black!!!!! I have emailed you :)    

  

So on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Shabby Fabrics!!   Along with hosting the giveaway, Shabby Fabrics is giving all of my readers a coupon code for 10% off their entire order!!!   Just use the code HAPPYQUILTING10 at checkout and save.  Thanks Shabby Fabrics ;)    The code will be valid until 04/25 and can not be combined with any other offers or coupons.

And for today's  Terrific Tuesday Giveaway, Shabby Fabrics is giving one very lucky winner a gorgeous Guernsey Layer Cake by Brenda Riddle for Moda!!!   These prints are just so soft and absolutely beautiful, they will make such a pretty quilt!!   

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 telling me what flowers you like to grow in your yard. 

 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, April 25th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

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!!