Just Keep Quilting :)

Before I get into today's post, I want to say a huge Thank You to all of the kind words you all sent on my See Squared quilt I posted last Friday!!!   I just can't say how much all of your sweet comments mean to me.  They so made my day and just left me smiling ear to ear over this quilt.  I found out over the weekend that See Squared was not a finalist in the Challenge, but like I said before, I am so okay with that, and am just so happy with the finish and again, am so grateful for all your sweet words about it :)

So onto the weekend!!!   I spent a good part of this weekend, quilting and then quilting some more!!!  Remember those fun metallic pops from Zen Chic's Modern Luster Background I shared back here,  well, that quilt top got finished up and was the first to go on the Long Arm this weekend :)  I opted for some fun open center swirls like I did on this quilt.   This is the second time I used this twist on the swirl and I am just loving it!!!  And now all I have to do is get the binding on this quilt and I will be sharing the finish this Friday!!!  

Next, the Joel Dewberry Florabelle quilt went on the Long Arm.   I was just so happy with how the blocks from here went together in such a pretty quilt top that I decided to do some of my favorite feathered swirls for the quilting which I just thought would add to the beautiful prints!!!  These are always fun to quilt and I love the wonderful movement they give the quilt :)  Again, time to bind this one and I will be sharing it at the first of October and it is going to come with a Tutorial as well!!!

And finally, I squeaked in one last quilt ;)  Remember my Baby Petal Pop from National Sew a Jelly Roll day . . . It's all quilted and I am so super excited!!!   I kept the quilting pretty small on this one and am just so loving all of the wonderful texture it gives the background :)  I used all of my favorites to fill in the background and then I even tried some feathers (which still make me a little nervous) in the Petals.   Eeekk, so fun, I really need to get this one bound fast because I can't wait to share it all finished ;)

So ya, it was a ton of quilting this weekend and the funny thing is . . . that was only half of the quilt tops that I was hoping to get done.  (Ya, it was probably a little unrealistic to think I could quilt 6 tops in a weekend ;)   I still have my second National Jelly Roll Day quilt top, the Jelly Roll Slice to quilt up.   I think I want to quilt an all over curl, but haven't for sure decided on that yet ;)

And then there is the Chuckles quilt top that I finished back here.   I decided on a cute simple wave design that I think will be so adorable with the fishes.

And finally, remember that Square Dance pattern that I decided to do at the end of National Sew a Jelly Roll Day  . . . well, I took the fabrics with me this week to Layton Utah where I was teaching at the Utah Quilt Guild Retreat, and when I wasn't teaching, I was sewing away in my room.   And yippee, I managed to finish the quilt top.  So one more to be quilted right ;)

Luckily, all three of these are baby size so they should go pretty quick once I get them on the Long Arm :)   So here's hoping lots of finishes to share soon!!!  I best get back to quilting :)

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

See Squared

So remember when I shared the (extremely late) start to my Bella Challenge Quilt over here . . . Well today I am so super excited to share my finished Bella Challenge Quilt with all of its tiny piecing goodness.  It's called See Squared and I just love it!!!!   Oh, and since it happens to be Bloggers Quilt Festival as well, and I haven't missed a BQF in years, I am sharing it over there too ;)

See Squared was such a wonderfully fun quilt to make!!!  Everyone working on the challenge was given the parameters of using the same 12 colors of Bella Solids to create their quilt from.  I was immediately reminded or Legos and Rubik's cubes from my childhood when I saw these colors and set out to create something that was inspired by both.   The idea evolved into squares made of squares creating a fun, individual, pix-elated look for each of the 45 squares in to quilt top.

To achieve this look in a super speedy kind of way, since I waited so long to start my quilt, I opted for some serious strip piecing.   I cut my fat quarters into strips ranging from 1" to 2 1/2" varying the sizes by 1/4" and then sewed them up into groups of similar sizes.

Then, once they were all pressed, I sub-cut them into small strips the same width as their unfinished strip.  So ya, lots and lots of strips of tiny squares.

Then I sewed each of the sub-cut small strips into a super long strip ready to start piecing the blocks with.   I just loved seeing the strips laid out like this.   It so reminded me of large Lego stacks I used to make for hours playing with the color patterns ;)

To make the blocks, I simply used the strips of squares and pieced them in a log cabin layout around some white squares, alternating the size squares I used in each layer of the block.     Once all the blocks were made (an audiobook and a half later)  I added some white sashing and then trimmed each block 12 1/2" square ready to be sewn into the quilt top.  

I love that using a variety of sized center squares and patchwork squares made each block unique.  It adds so much visual variety while still having the structure of a square made of squares which makes my accountant brain happy :)   This was one of my favorite finished blocks just because the color graduation ended up being so cool, totally by coincidence of course ;)

And this is my all time favorite block, mostly because it is just lots and lots of super tiny piecing.   Each of those squares measure 1/2" finished and there are 4 layers.  And you know how I just love tiny piecing.   So cute!!!

When it came time to quilt this, I decided to stick with the ideas of tiny squares and quilt a 1/2" square grid across the entire quilt.   And I just love it!!!  I quilted all of the horizontal lines using the channel locks on the long arm, and then reloaded the quilt the opposite direction and quilted all of the vertical lines.  And yes, I got a whole lot of step in to quilt this one :)  But I am just so happy with how much it adds to the squared concept of the quilt.  Yippee!!!

And of course, with a 1/2" grid, the texture is just amazing!!!!   I really does make you See Squared ;)  Just so much fun!!!

Oh,and I can't forget to share the back of the quilt!!!  I had some leftover strips from all of that tiny square piecing and decided it would be perfect to add a fun little element to the back of the quilt.   So, here it is.   A little pop of color to keep the back just as fun as the front.

And that is my See Squared quilt!!!  I am so glad that I decided to make this up, even if it was at the last minute.  It was so much fun to push myself out of my creative comfort zone with these super bold Bella solids and with this bold design.   I don't have any expectations for the challenge itself, but I am just so happy I quilted along as I am just thrilled with the finish and how much it pushed me to think and work in a new creative way.

And thank you so much for popping in today and sharing this See Squared finish with me ;)  I just love having this amazing place to be able to share my creative quilt journey with each of you!!!

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

Linking up this finish to Bloggers Quilt Festival, Amanda's, Sarah's, and Myra's :)

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 Sundrops Jolly Bar as well as a LuLu Lane Charm Pack from Fat Quarter Shop  is . . .   Number # 236. . . Congrats thatfabricfeeling.com!!!   I have emailed you :)        

 

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Olie and Evie.  Rhonda has just launced her brand new site!!!!  The new site combines the fabric shop we all know and love along with longarm quilting, a customer gallery of quilts, gift certificates, preorders, and a destash page!!  New lines have arrived including Moda's Sample Spree and it has all been listed.  Rhonda is also now offering fabric cut in 1/4 yards and be sure to check out the fun feature when you purchase items which will total the amount of yardage you purchased and provide the cost.  And as a special treat, Rhonda is offering 10% off orders this week with the coupon code WELCOME.  So be sure to pop on over and check it out!!!

And Rhonda's has a fantastic Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!!       Olie and Evie  is giving one lucky winner a $25.00 Gift Certificate to use in her new shop!!!    So awesome, now you can choose just what you want!!!

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's New with you ;) 

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Olie and Evie love.   You can follow them on  Facebook, Instagram  or Pinterest or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Olie and Evie Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday,  September 26th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Getting Jelly!!!

So Saturday was National Sew A Jelly Roll Day   (I love that Moda makes up fun stuff like this!!) and boy did I get Jelly with it!!!  I had so much fun participating in Project Jelly Roll and am pretty excited about how much I was able to get done!!!   Remember the strips I had all cut out and ready to make a baby version of my Petal Pop quilt . . . Well, I got the entire quilt top made up and I am so just loving it!!!   The pinks and blacks from Lella Botiques Farmers Daughter fabric line are just perfect together and really make this pattern pop!!!

And once I had it all sewn together, I sat back and realized I still had all of the yellow, tan, white and a few more black strips left from that same jelly roll.   So I popped on over to Fat Quarter Shop's Jelly Roll Shortcut Quilts (because they really are so fun and fast!!) and decided on the Jelly Roll Slice.   It was just perfect for using up all of my leftover strips.  And just a bit of cutting, strip piecing, and pressing later, I had a second quilt top finished.   So fun!!!

And I was having so much fun getting Jelly with it, I didn't want to stop.  But my kids wanted to eat dinner so I guess I had to stop, right ;)   Well, sort of, tee hee hee.   As soon as dinner was fixed, I managed to run back downstairs and plan one last Jelly Roll quilt.  I made this Square Dance quilt a while back and am working on making it into a pattern with size options.  The baby size would be perfect for my SIL new little guy expected next year and it is totally Jelly Roll Friendly!!!  Good thing I saved this Road15 Jelly Roll by Sweetwater, it's going to be perfect :)   Now the Project Jelly Roll can keep on keeping on!!!  

If you want to see more of my Project Jelly Roll day you can pop on over to my Instagram feed to see lots more pictures that go through some of the process of making these quilt tops :)   

Thanks for popping in here today and every day!!!

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting (and maybe even get a little Jelly with it) Day!!!

Patchwork Quilt Along - Grandmother's Choice Block

It's  time for the ninth set of  Patchwork Quilt Along Blocks hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop!!!! And I just have to say, I am getting so excited to be able to start putting these blocks into a quilt layout in the next few months!!!!   Their tiny patchwork is just so fun and is going to look awesome all together ;)  Today's Patchwork Quilt Along blocks are the Grandmother's Choice Blocks and they are just so cute!!!  

I just love the "border" in each block.  It reminds me of a crimped edge tart cutter and that just makes me smile because it makes me want to make some tarts :)  And I am still just loving the Desert Bloom fabrics by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda that I choose to use.   I just love how each block really reads a specific color so that it can show off all of that tiny piecing.  

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 goal has been reached and now it is fun to see just how much we can raise!!!  

And don't forget to check out the super cute  You Tube video that walks you through making the block (this one is a little trickier with those corners to this video helps :)  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 Grandmother's Choice Block eye candy :)    I just love seeing everyone's blocks in happy little stacks!!!

*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)

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!!!!   This tiny patchwork is so addicting, you will be caught up in no time at all!!!

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!