Getting in the Swing of Summer

So school has been out for a week and a half now, which of course, seems more like a month with all the craziness that is the first week of summer;)  Since school got out in time for Memorial Day, we spent the holiday weekend getting some family property open and ready for the summer season. (think clearing fallen trees, fixing the roof, setting up the trailer, ect ;)   And of course, along with the work, we still had plenty of time to play!!!

The kids love going for rides in the side by sides.   We went exploring for new trails on Saturday morning and had a blast.   Oh, and if you are wondering why my boys are filthy . . . They think it is fun to ride close behind us to see just how covered in dust they can get.    I think they did a pretty successful job ;)

And once we had the mountain property ready, it was time to focus on our own home.  We are planning to put in some raised vegetable garden's this year in the backyard so that meant we needed dirt, and lots of it.  After one load by hand, we decided to rent this little tractor ;)  I even managed to figure out how to dig with it after a bit (well, sort of ;)

And speaking of gardens, I had to share these beautiful blooms that finally opened up this last week.   I don't have much of a green thumb, so I am grateful every year when these still decide to bloom even with my poor care of them.   So pretty!!!   So ya, to sum up the last week, it has been lots of dirt and sun and we sure loved it!!!

But today start's Summer Band, Reading programs, and some actual Summer Routine.  Which means, I might get a little more time to sneak away and sew on a regular basis.   But I am happy to say, that even with all the fun craziness that was last week, I did manage to finish my Curiosities Quilt Top and it is ready to be quilted ;)  Can't wait to share this finish!!!

And, since my twin sister is due to have her newest little arrival in August, I figured I better pull back out my Mini Rings quilt, that I keep managing to procrastinate.    Every time I pull this out I remember how fun these curves are to sew ;)   I am hoping to make some serious progress on this.

But I am teaching at the Panguitch Quilt Walk on Thursday and Friday, so I best get the progress done early in the week, right ;)     I can't wait for my classes, they are all full and I am so super excited to get to teach again!!!!   I will try and remember to take lots of pictures and share all the fun when I get back ;)

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Jelly Roll Railway Quilt

Today I am so excited to share my newest quilt finish, Jelly Roll Railway.  And I just have to say, I am so loving those bold solids!!!    I just love a classic black and white quilt, and throwing in a red background, well that is just all the more fun :)

  

It's no secret that I love the Shortcut Quilt Patterns that the Fat Quarter Shop makes up for pre-cuts ;)  So when I was asked by them if I wanted to quilt along with their newest shortcut quilt made for Jelly Rolls, I was so super excited and of course, all over it!!!

I knew right away that this quilt would be perfect as an Alma Mater quilt.  I know I have said it before, but I am so glad my Alma Mater's colors are Red, White, and Black!!!  I just love getting to make quilts in this awesome color combo.   I played with the placement of the Red, White, and Black in just about every color combination layout there could be, and in the end, liked this one best :)

And I am so glad this quilt had a big border.  I love how it lets the design float and adds to the 3D effect.  Sometimes when I look at it those stripes are floating right off the background.   And I strayed from the pattern layout just a bit by alternating the corner blocks on the pieced strips.  I love how it gives the look of quarter triangle blocks in black and white.  So fun!!!

When it came time to quilt, I went with a favorite all over design of echoed paisley's.   This is so super fun and fast, and I love the extra movement it gives the quilt.  I made up this Free Motion Quilting Video Tutorial on how I do this design a while back, just in case you want to give it a try ;)

I finished it with a solid black binding and I love the way it just sets off the design.   And now it is all done and I can just add a little SUU logo applique (This is how I do my complex logo applique's ;)   and then it will be all set for homecoming and just perfect for someone to take to the game!!!  At 60" x 76" it really is just the perfect size for a stadium quilt.

And that is my Jelly Roll Railway quilt :)   And if you happen to have a Jelly Roll lying around that you want to make into your own Jelly Roll Railway quilt.  And be sure to watch the You Tube Video Kimberly made that has some great tidbits on how to get this quilt to come out just perfect ;)    And there is lots more Jelly Roll Railway inspiration from some of my blogger friends over at the Fat Quarter Shop !!  It is so fun to see what changing up the fabric does to give a quilt a whole new look ;)

And I have had several people ask how to make this quilt in this exact layout of red/black/and white so here I figured rather than typing it again and again in emails, I will just add the info here ;)

You are still making just 1 set layout of the block. 

Here is how much you need of each of the three fabrics :)

Red - 2 3/4 Yards

          8 Strips 6 5/8 x WOF   - 53"

          7 Strips 5 1/2 x WOF   - 38 1/2"  (Border)

White - 1 1/4Yards

           12 Strips 2 1/2 X WOF - 30"

             3 Strips 3 3/4" X WOF - 11 1/4"

Black - 2 Yards

            12 Strips 2 1/2 X WOF - 30"

             3 Strips 3 3/4" X WOF - 11 1/4"

             8 Strips 2 1/2" x WOF - 20"  (Binding)

Here is what you need to cut from each Fabric:

Your Fabric A Strips (24) 2 1/2" strips should be cut from Black and White

               . . . (12) White 2 1/2" x WOF Strips and (12) Black 2 1/2" x WOF Strips

Your Fabric B squares   (48) 6 5/8" squares should all be cut from Red

Your Fabric C Squares (48) 3 3/4" squares should be cut from Black and White

                    . . . (24) White 3 3/4" squares and (24) Black 3 3/4" squares

Your Fabric D Strips (7) 5 1/2" x WOF Strips should be cut from Red

Your Fabric E Strips (8) 2 1/2" x WOF Strips should be cut from Black

Then the piecing is just like the pattern .  Just be sure in the Block Assembly to Strip Piece 2 White and 2 Black Strips together in alternating order of Black, White, Black White.   Make Six Sets and sub-cut as directed.

When laying out your blocks, piece 2 Red B Triangles, 1 Black C Triangle, and 1 White C Triangle as shown in  the below block diagram.

Then when piecing your Quilt Top, be sure and  alternate your blocks as shown in the below Quilt Diagram paying close attention to the black and white triangles.  They should alternate.   Finally add your border ;)

I hope that helps everyone who wanted to make this quilt in the same fabrics and layout that I did ;)  If you have any other questions, just let me know :)

             

And that's all for today ;)  Thanks for popping in to share my newest quilt finish ;)     

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Bella Skill Builder - Half Square Triangle

Can you believe it is June 1st!!!  The kids are out of school, the house is a crazy mess, and we are enjoying the summer fun :)   And June 1st also means month 5 of the  Bella Skill Builder !!  I can't believe this makes blocks 9 and 10 playing along with the Fat Quarter Shop and Sherri McConnell!!!!   Before you know it, we will be putting the quilt top together ;)   And this month's blocks were super fast because they are Half Square Triangles :)  My block building Bread and Butter!!!

For this month's tone on tone blocks I choose some greens and pinks.   I think it is the summer on my mind, because this color pick totally had me craving some watermelon ;)      For the large version of the block I used Bella Kiwi and Emerald.  And for the large version of the block I used Bella Peony and Magenta.  Seriously, how can you look at those colors and not want watermelon!!  

The tutorial for these blocks have you use the Triangles on a Roll papers, but I only had them in one size, so I just decided to do regular old Half Square Triangles.   But the nice thing was that I stacked my fabrics on top of each other when I cut them out, so they were already paired and ready to be sewn without having to match them up.  I went right from the cutting mat to the machine ;)  

And of course, because I cut my squares 1" larger than my finished size, I had to do a bit of trimming.   Which I love, because it makes for perfect HST's every time ;)   And ever since discovered the Matilda's Own Rotating Cutting mat  (I saw Kimberly using it on a video tutorial a while back and just had to get one!!!)  paired with my HST Bloc-Loc Rulers, well, trimming isn't so bad at all.  I just turn on a good book and spin my way to perfect HST blocks in no time :)  

And then it's just sewing the HST's into blocks!!! I love the layout that Sherri chose for the blocks :)   They just looks so nice and clean!!   These are 4" x 4" finished half square triangles so I cut my squares at 5".  And I did have one extra HST as they make 2 at a time and I needed 9, but you can always use an orphan HST ;)   

And again, I stuck with the same layout for the smaller version of the block.  Since that is how I did last's month's blocks and all the ones before I think I am pretty locked in at this point ;)   And again, I just love the crisp clean look.    And it's kind of funny that they almost look like little watermelon slices all lined up ;)

And that is the Half Square Triangle block, the Fifth set of blocks in the Bella Skill Builder!!!!  Be sure to download  the free pattern and watch YouTube video.  And also pop on over to the  Fat Quarter Shop's blog, Jolly Jabber  for lots more Half Square Triangle details and wonderful Half Square Triangle eye candy from lots more blogger friends ;)   All of the patterns from previous month's are available so it's never to late to start sewing along with the Bella Skill Builder fun!!! 

I'm off to do some quilting so I can share a finished quilt tomorrow ;)  

Have a Happy 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 Fat Quarter Set as well as 2 Yards of your choice of Sweet Dreams from Shabby Fabrics is . . . Number #241. . . Congrats Rosemary B!!!!! I have emailed you :)    

 

So on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co.  Julie has a fantastic new shop with lots of amazing fabric goodness!!!  And, she always has amazing prices (including the awesome Clearance Selection) that make it so fun to fill up a cart ;) 

And the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for a $25.00 Gift Certificate to The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co.  Yup, we all love a good little shopping spree in a brand new store!!!  Isn't it fun to get to pick out your favorites ;)

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 Candy Bar??  (I just finished a Milky Way Simply Caramel, so yummy!!!)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. love.   You can follow them on   Facebook,  or Sign up for their Newsletter (just scroll down a bit) .  Or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, June 6th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Time to makes some Quilt Sandwiches :)

So I might have mentioned that in the last little bit I was doing some secret sewing.  Well, I finished up all that last week and looked around my sewing room to realize that I was now only working on only 1 new project.  So I grabbed my stacks of blocks that have been waiting patiently to be finished before  I could be tempted to cut out something new ;)  So in the last few days I  finished up 3 quilt tops and pieced 3 quilt backs, yippee!!!  I would say it is time to make some quilt sandwiches and start humming away on the long arm ;)

Thank you so much to everyone on Instagram for your help picking a sashing for my Sew Sampler Recipe Card quilt!!!  I am so excited with how this turned out with the Moda Chambray Sashing, it just gives it the perfect summer picnic feel.    And you might remember back here  where I said I would have to set them aside for about a month . . . well it turned out closer to 2, but now the quilt top is done and I decided on a happy bright yellow backing to give it that extra bit of sunshine happiness.  Can't wait to get this one finished up, and I already know how I want to quilt it, so it will probably get done first ;)  

I also finished up my Mosiac Quilt top and backing this week.  I cut this quilt out clear back in February  and finished the blocks at about the same times as I finished the blocks above.   To finish this one I opted for a simple white sashing that really makes all of those happy blues and green's pop :)   Then for the backing, I choose a fun lime print from my stash, and then added a navy stripe to the pieced backing just for that bit of contrast.   So fun!!!

And finally, I am so super excited that I can say that I finished piecing my Splendid Sampler Quilt top!!!!   (Well, it actually still has to be pressed, but close enough right ;)    And I am love, love, loving it!!!!   This thing is a huge King Size quilt so I  knew I was going to be doing some serious piecing for the backing.   So I pulled out my stash of Grunge fabrics.   I had some bits and pieces left from other projects, and wouldn't you know, it was just the perfect amount to piece together a rainbow grunge backing!!  I totally squealed when I finished sewing it together.  So fun!!!!

And now if you are thinking, why don't you open all these quilt tops and back's up and show us . . . Sorry about that.   I know, such a tease right.   It's just that I want to keep the "big reveals" for when they are all quilted and bound and pretty!!!!   But I promise . . . soon ;)  Time to get quilting!!!!

I hope you have a very Happy Quilting Weekend ;)