Skittles - McCalls Quick Quilts Feature

Today I am excited to share another secret finish from a few month's ago!!!!!     This is called Skittles and I just love it!!!!   I tell you what, there is something about a baby size quilt that you just can't help but love.   They are just so adorable in their little patchwork goodness and you can't help imagine them being wrapped around a sweet little angel ;)

Skittles is featured in McCalls Quick Quilts August/September issue.     It looks a little complex, but it goes together super quick using the simple stitch and flip method.   Meaning it will make for a great little go to baby quilt when you are in a pinch to make up something fast but still super cute!!!

The "O" block was originally published in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 14.  I knew at that point, that I wanted to add an X block to the design and make it a cute hugs and kisses quilt!!!   And the nice thing is, all it takes is a rotation on the same units to make the X block, again, simple and fast ;) 

For my quilt, I used a variety of Blue and Green prints from Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. I just love these fun prints and how they really show off the wonderful variety of colors in each color family!! And they really give it that “all boy” feel.  And of course, if you wanted to go "all girl" you could just swap out the blues and greens for pinks and purples ;)

And Getting stared on your own Skittles quilt is super easy because this Baby Quilt is totally Layer Cake Friendly.  All you need is 36 squares, so just grab a Layer Cake from your stash and you are good to start cutting!!   And of course, you can always do a scrappy version as well and do some stash busting :)

When it came time to quilt Skittles I decided to keep it simple for this baby boy version!!  I quilted a wavy horizontal line all the way across the quilt, and then flipped it 90 degrees on the long arm and repeated the quilting to create a fun wavy crosshatch.  Simple and totally keeping with the "all boy" idea of the quilt ;)

And it made for such a great baby quilt texture.  My goad was to do the lines far enough apart to still keep the snuggly goodness, but close enough together to create a really fun texture.   And I was super happy with how it turned out :)  Snuggly, check, Texture, check :)

And one last thought.   I know I have said it before, but I just love the way they stylize photo's for magazines.   Photography is one of the things I really want to get better at, and so I always love seeing the way they do these shots.   So pretty!!!  I have downloaded a photography craftsy class, now just to make the time to sit and watch it ;)

And that is my Skittles Quilt!!!!   It finishes at 42"x 42" so ya, baby size goodness.     And if you want to see a little more of my Skittles Quilt, you can pop on over to McCalls's Quilting blog to read a special guest blog that I have posted over there ;)   And there just might be a giveaway for my Irish Chain Quilts book as well!!!!   Good Luck ;)

And that's all for today!!!   I hope that you have a very Happy Quilting Day :)

Linking up these finishes to Amanda's and Myra's ;) 

June and July Bee Blocks

Yup, I got behind again with the Bees Knees.   Ahh, something about the summertime that makes the month's just slip by without you noticing ;)  But it sure makes them fun, right!!!   So for June, Stephanie asked us each to make one 100 patch block and three 9 patch blocks.  And even though that is some tiny 1" patchwork, it went together super quick with strip piecing and nesting.   I just loved lining up all of those cute little squares!!!

And then for July, Sinta asked us each to make one of these adorable Camera Blocks from the Snapshots Quilt Along by Fat Quarter Shop a while back.   I had already made this block once for my own Snapshots quilt, and it was just as fun to make it a second time!!!  I love all of these fun picture blocks, and thank heavens for my Alphabitties to keep all of the pieces straight ;)  Makes sewing up the block so much faster!!!

And now I am all caught up!!!  With two weeks to spare before the next block :)   I can't wait for my month to roll around, I already have a plan and can't wait to share it!!!

Hope you are having a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

July Aurifil Designer BOM

The July Aurifil Designer Block of the Month was released a few days ago and I was so excited to try it out because it was trying something new, Reverse Applique!!!   I have done a bit of reverse applique but not a fancy design like this before.    And now your thinking, Hey, that's not reverse applique, more on that later ;)   But for now, let's just say that July's block was all about Orange and  Shruti Dandekar created a super awesome Reverse Applique block.  Isn't that just a gorgeous design!!!

  

It really is such a gorgeous design!!!  I just love all of the detail in it, especially the little tendril hooks, so delicate!!!  And I just love how it pops on the orange background.  And speaking of that orange background, that is what led to my block not being Reverse Applique.

Here is where we keep things real.  This was my first attempt at the block.  I was doing the reverse applique and got to this point and realized that I wanted to switch the orange and the white placement because I wanted to block to read Orange and not White with a little bit of orange.   So I cut two more squares and was ready to start over and realized that I just wasn't digging all of that cutting.  It wasn't so much the time it took to cut out the reverse applique, rather it was just driving me nuts that no matter how hard I tried, I wasn't able to cut out the inside of that applique and still have it look straight and even.  I just felt like this was such a pretty design and I wasn't doing it justice with my not so straight edges.  So ya, my need for "even" got the better of me and I switched to regular fusible applique.    

I know, I whimped out, but I have to say, I really like the finished look with the beautiful blanket stitch that just frames up that gorgeous design so nicely. (so for my own sanity, I am glad I whimped out ;)    I used my Aurifil 2235 Orange thread for that blanket stitch (which I was also happy to switch out from the original block as I was kicking myself during all that cutting that I didn't stitch in the contrasting orange thread)  and I just love how it makes that gorgeous design just pop right off of that beautiful orange background.  So fun!!!

So that is my Aurifil July Block!!!  You can find Shruti's fantastic pattern for this block right over here and then be sure to pop over here to read Shruti's  interview.     And if you make your own Reverse Applique Block (or regular applique if you follow my lead) , be sure and enter a picture of it at Pat's blog ;)  Every entry  is eligible to win a Large Aurifil Thread Kit!!!!!  

So excited to see this rainbow of blocks come together!!!  Can't wait for next month's block ;)  

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day so let's have some fun :)

But first, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of the Berry Merry Fat Eighth Bundle by Basic Grey from Green Fairy Quilts is . . .   Number # 287. . . Congrats Mary W Quilts!!!   I have emailed you :)        

  

And 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 right now, they are hosting a giveaway for a Special Edition Cotton + Steel Bernina!!!!!  So be sure and pop on over here to enter that giveaway as well, you just might be the lucky winner to take home a Bernina!!!!

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Fat Quarter Shop has a Scrappy Project Planner by Lori Holt for one lucky winner!!!! I absolutely love my Scrappy Project Planner, it is just fantastic for helping you keep everything you are working on straight :)

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 what scrappy project you are working on.  (I am working on a leader/ender postage stamp quilt :)   

 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, July 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!!!

Patchwork Quilt Along - Propeller Block

It's the 15th and that means it's time for the seventh set of  Patchwork Quilt Along Blocks hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop!!!!  Wow, I am getting quite the stack of Patchwork Blocks, so fun!!!   Today's Patchwork Quilt Along blocks are the Propeller Blocks and I just think they are so awesome!!!  

Son't they look like they are just ready to take off.   Propeller was the perfect name for these fun blocks that combine a basic nine patch and some fun HST's.  And since these have some 2" finished units, they go together a little quicker than some of the other blocks we have made.  I really had a lot of fun making these blocks and am excited to add them to the Patchwork Pile!!

So if you are quilting along you can download the block pattern right here and then you can pop on over to donate $5.00 to the Make a Wish Foundation for your download  ;)  The $10,000 Goal has been reached which is so exciting, now everything from here on out is icing on the cake!!!

And don't forget to check out the super cute  You Tube video that walks you through making the block (pressing is key on this one!!!)  and you even get to listen to 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 Propeller Block eye candy :)    I just love seeing all of the different fabrics everyone is using!!!

*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, you can still join in and quilt along!!!!   Tiny patchwork is so much fun!!!

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!