No School Monday Equaled Lots of Sewing!!!

The kids were out of school on Monday, and after a crazy weekend runaround, we were ecstatic to realize we had absolutely nothing planned for Monday, insert huge sigh of relief :)  And you can imagine my excitement when my daughter asked if she could work on her quilt since we had no plans.   Absolutely!!!!  We made a Pajama day of it, and sewed to our hearts content ;) 

Jessica learned a lot and got a whole lot of practice pinning and pressing to get nice seams.  It was so fun to see her grow more confident with both as the day moved on!!!   By the end of our sewing session, she only had a few seams left :)   She decided she wanted a break so she moved on to picking out her border and binding fabric.  She found fabrics she likes, but not she can't decide which to use for which???  Mint border and Purple binding or Purple border and Mint Binding.  Decisions, Decisions ;) 

It was so much fun to sew with Jessi!!!  And a bonus is that as she gets more confident she is also getting quite independent, which means I could work on some projects as well, right by her side ;)    Which meant Tuffet Time!!!   (see my previous posts here and here)    I managed to get it covered and the button added to the top :)   Isn't it just so cute!!!   All I have to do now is paint the legs and cover the bottom.

And speaking of the bottom, I wish I could have gotten a picture of us trying to get that button added through these little holes in the bottom but  there wasn't a spare hand for picture taking ;) .  It was a little tricky, and for sure a two man job, but after a few tries, we figured it out ;)  We learned it was best to get two huge upholstery needles and while Jessi pushed down on the foam that was sitting on the counter top with half of it hanging over the edge, I threaded a needle up through each bottom hole at the same time. Then while Jessi continued to hold down the foam, I threaded the strings that we had attached to the button beforehand, and then pushed them both back down through the same holes.  The key was to keep the tuffet flat enough so that the upholstery needles never left the top side of the wood base of the hole in the wood. (otherwise the needle gets lost in the foam ;)     Hopefully that makes sense if you are planning on working on your own tuffet :)
    And one last helpful hint, I wish I would have back stitched at the beginning and ending of my piecing.  When I went to pull it over the Tuffet, the seams started to pop a little.  I was super careful, and then stapled it down like crazy so I didn't have to worry about it coming apart, but I think a little back stitching would have made it a little more stable ;)    Things to remember for my next Tuffet Kit!!

Once I had my Tuffet covered, I didn't want to stop the PJ Sew Fest to run to the store for paint, so I moved on to picking out some fabric for more projects ;)   Always fun right!!!!   The Clementine Quilt Along  hosted by Fat Quarter Shop just released the Fabric Requirements on Monday.  They have Quilt Kits if you want your fabrics to be just like the originals, but I decided to use my stash and in the end, I choose a bundle of Farmers Daughter by Lella Boutique for Moda ;)   I sorted my Fat Quarters into 6 stacks of 4, with each stack having a black, pink, tan, and yellow print.  So now I can just grab a stack each month and I am ready to make the blocks ;)  The first blocks are coming out later this month and I am so excited to start sewing them!!!

And finally, I decided, at totally the last minute, to add another new project ;)  I am teaching my Pave the Way design at the Cedar Quilt Retreat next week.  I have been working on the pattern (which I will release soon)  to add size options and thought it would be fun to make another sample in a new size for class (ya, like in a week, we will see if I get it done or not ;)    I decided on the lap size which needs 9 Fat Quarters, and I instantly thought of my Tula Pink Spirit Animals bundle that I got in my Sew Sampler box a few months ago!!!  It had 8 Fat Quarters so I grabbed another Tula FQ I had in my stash, which of course, still matches great, love that about Tula!!!

I pressed all my Fat Quarters and cut them up, and then got to the yardage and was stumped.  I can't decide. . .  do I do a dark grey background, (which is very similar to my original Pave the Way)  or do I step totally outside my comfort zone, and try a black background (which I have never tried before)  ???     What do you think . . .Grey or Black????

And that was our Holiday Sewing and it was of so much fun!!!  How about you???  Did you get some extra sewing in on this Long Weekend???  What are you working on????

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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 Peach Blossom Dreaming of Spring Fat Quarter Collection from Four Peaches Fabric  is . . .   Number #113. Congrats Fribble!!!   I have emailed you :)      

      

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop .    Did you know that Jamie makes a new Lou Lou Bundle every Tuesday . . . this is today's, isn't it just so sweet!!!  Along with hosting the giveaway, Jamie is having a  Fantastic Sale with lots of Christmas Fabrics and Bolt Ends marked way down!!!!  And  she is also offering all Happy Quilting readers  a special discount of  10% off any Lou Lou Bundle  with the code bundleup good until Friday!!!  Oh, so much fun shopping!!!

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for some shopping goodness!!  Lou Lou's Fabric Shop is offering one lucky reader a $25.00 Gift Certificate perfect to use on anything in the store, including the awesome Lou Lou Bundle pictured above!!!!

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 if you are currently "Bundled Up" in your neck of the woods???  (It's cold here but still not a lot of snow, le sigh :)  

 ENTRY 2 - Lets show Lou Lou's Fabric Shop some Love!!!!   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.  Or you can follow their blog or  visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Lou Lou's Fabric Shop Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, January 23rd  when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Spelling Bee Saturday - G thru L

It's another  Spelling Bee Saturday  and this week is another one of those catch-up weeks.  Not that I haven't been keeping up with sewing the blocks, amazingly I have.  I just haven't been around the last few Saturday's to post my progess.  So here they are all in a row, the Letters G, H, I, J, K, and L :)

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 I am having so much fun with these and I can't believe this already puts us almost half way through the alphabet!!! Wow, how time flies :)  Next week I think we have some more picture blocks, which are just to cute ;)  Are you sewing along . . . if not, and you are interested, you can grab a copy of  the  Spelling Bee Book  by Lori Holt and join in this alphabet goodness ;)  

Happy Quilting!!!

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Make a Wish Patchwork Quilt Finish!!!

I am so excited to share this finish!!!!  Every month last year, I shared six adorably cute blocks from the Patchwork Quilt Along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop.   And today, only 12 days into the year I might add, I am sharing my finished Patchwork Quilt Along quilt!!!!   When I was trying to decide what to name it, I went back to the wonderful cause it sponsored as I figured it would be a great reminder.  So without further ado, here is my Make A Wish Patchwork Quilt!!!

Eeekk!!!  I can not even begin to say how much I love this finish!!!  Those patchwork blocks all finish at 5" and they are just to cute for words!!!  I had so much fun quilting along all year long, and to see all of that come together, well I am just grinning from ear to ear ;)  I mean, how can you not smile at all of those little 1" patchwork goodness with all of it's perfect little points.   So fun!!!

I used Sherri and Chelsi's Desert Bloom fabric for Moda for this quilt and it was just the perfect choice!!!  I absolutely love how their fabrics read as one color as it really lets this tiny patchwork stand out in each and every single block!!!!   And when you get close, you still get to see all of the wonderful little detail in the fabric, just perfect!!!  And you know I just love how happy and bright the colors are as well!!

When it came time to quilt it, I really wanted to do something to again, make that tiny little patchwork stand out.  So after debating for a bit, I decided some simple patchwork quilting might do just that ;)      I did simple 1" lines in both horizontal and vertical to make a grid. I was a little nervous to start, as I was afraid the quilting might "cut up" the patchwork.  But it actually just emphasized the patchwork already there.   And I just love it!!!  It really was what I was hoping it would do ;)

And for the border, I did some favorite all over swirls ;)  I just love the little bit of added movement it gives and it is always a fast and fun way to finish the quilt ;)   And of course, I am just loving all of the wonderful texture, so pretty!!!

And that is my finished Make a Wish Patchwork Quilt!!!!   And I am just so, so, so happy with it ;)  It finishes at 58" x 64" so it will make a wonderful lap quilt :)  And I am going to keep with my little tradition of donating the annual Fat Quarter Shop Charity Quilt to a charity that is near and dear to me, the Festival of Trees that supports Primary Children's Hospital ;)  Look at that, it is January and I already have my quilt for December finished!!!

Thank you so much to Fat Quarter Shop for this wonderful Quilt Along!!!  It was so much fun to participate in and to support such an amazing cause!!!!   And if you want to quilt along this year, you are just in time.  The Clementine Quilt Along  that supports St. Jude's Children's Hospital will be starting on the 15th of this month with the Fabric Requirements being posted and then the first block being posted on the 25th ;)  I am so excited, I just love these quilts that are super fun to make, and for a great cause!!!  

Thanks for popping in today and sharing this Make a Wish Patchwork Quilt finish with me!!!  I am just so grateful to have this space to share my love of quilting with each of you ;)   I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!

Lining this finish to Amanda's, and Sarah's ;)

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So Many Starts!!!

I love a New Year because with it comes a lot of New Project Starts!!!   I like to use December to finish things up, and I try not to start new things over the Holidays, but that means come January, I have a "mostly" clear plate that I tend to fill up super fast ;)  And this year, January has brought several new project starts!!!

And it begins with a new Leader and Ender project.  My Leader and Ender project from last year is now at the stage of the blocks needing to be sewn together, so it was totally time for a new start.  And I decided on my Scraptastic Stars Pattern that I made last year for the Aurifil Block of the Month ;)   I am going to use 2 1/2"squares instead of 2" squares so that the blocks finish at 16" and plan on making 16 blocks.  Now just to sort my squares into some more hues of each color so I can make 16 piles and then they will go by my machine ready for sewing some Leader and Ender goodness :) 

Next up is a Tutorial Project, and this particular tutorial will feature at the Moda Bake Shop next month and I am so excited for it!!!  I am using V and C's new Ombre Confetti line and it is just so fun.  I have always wanted to play with Vanessa's Ombre fabrics, and am super excited about the design I came up with as I think it really plays nice with the Ombre goodness.  And of course, I like to make my bindings first, and just look how fun it is in that rainbow!!!

And then, of course, I have a little Secret Sewing Project ;)  I won't be able to share more of this particular project for some time, but I am just loving how it comes together.  I am using Lella Boutique's new Nest line that comes out in March and it is just so pretty!!!   And as you can see from that stack, this quilt is all about Strips!!!

And finally, I have a Class Project :)  And the cool thing is, this is actually a Class that I am going to be taking!!!!  I know right, I never have time to take a class at retreats, but I managed to squeeze one in this February when I teach at the Quilty Friends Retreat at Bryce Canyon ;)   I am taking the Petite Point class that uses French General's awesome pattern of Pineapple blocks on Hexagon centers.  So fun!!!   When I was thinking about fabrics, I realized that my Pink and Red scrap bins were overflowing, so that is what I am using.  It is going to be a super all girl baby quilt when it is done ;)  I have the centers and setting triangles cut, now it is time to cut a whole ton of  small strips!!

And those are my new project starts for January,  Well those are the quilt ones I guess, I did start my Tuffet as well, and all of this is why I haven't finished it yet, tee hee hee ;)  So what about you . . . Do you like to start new projects at the start of the year???

I am off to work on these now :)  Hope you 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  Love You Fat Quarter Bundle from Green Fairy Quilts  is . . .   Number #225 . Congrats Shannan Sabby!!!   I have emailed you :)      

      

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by  Four Peaches Fabric .    Did you know that Wendy has Featured Products every day with amazing deals!!!  And her Peach Blossom handpicked fat quarter collections are just so fantastic!!!  You are so going to want to pop on over and check these out!!!   

And Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway just happens to be for Wendy's newest Peach Blossom Collection, so cute!!  Four Peaches Fabric is giving one lucky reader a Dreaming of Spring Fat Quarter Collection :)  Such a pretty selection of fabrics and has me indeed wishing for Spring!!!! 

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 if you name your sewing machine, and if so, what you named it :)  (Mine are Abby, Aurora, and Bernadette )

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Four Peaches Fabric Love!!!!   You can Sign Up for their Newsletter.    You can follow them on  Facebook 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 Four Peaches Fabric Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, January 16th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

A Tuffet Start

So remember how I got myself a little last minute Christmas Present back here, well over the weekend I took it out of the box and got started on it!!!  I was a little nervous to start this project wondering what I got myself into, but like most new things, you just need to start!!!  Once I got the Tuffet Kit out of the box and read through the instructions, I was all kinds of excited to get going on it ;)

The first few steps have you cover the foam and base with some batting and staple it down and then trim it up all nice.  I found the staple gun and just started following the directions, which I was so happy were very detailed and easy to follow :)  In a bit I had a covered foam circle and I have to say,  I am pretty excited as mine looks a lot like the one in the picture from the instructions ;)  Always a good sign!!

Next up, I got to make the pieced cover.  And this is where I felt totally in my comfort zone again, gotta love some tiny strip piecing ;)  It was so hard to choose which fabric to use, but in the end I went with my Sweet Orchard Rollie Pollie :)  The prints are nice and small, and the colors are perfect for the quilt house and that is where I plan to keep this as a giant pin cushion on the sewing machine table ;)  So cute!!!

Now, I need to make these strips into a tube and then gather the ends to make it nice and round.  But before I get to that, I am trying to decide what colors to paint the cute little knobs that serve as the legs and what fabric to use for the center button.  I am leaning towards red legs with the red polka dot center.  What do you think???  Go with the red on both, or change it up with another color???

And even though I am only a few steps in, I am so loving where this is headed and I can't wait to finish it up.  I am just having so much fun with this!!!!   Pretty sure this won't be my last Tuffet Kit that I pull out of a box.   Maybe this will just have to become an annual Christmas Present for myself, can you imagine all of those adorable Tuffets!!!

So what did you work on this weekend??  Let me know if the comments ;)

And I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting kind of Day!!!

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I Think She's Got the Quilting Bug!!!

So remember when I shared how I was helping the amazing Young Women in my church to make Charming Totes . . .Well one of those amazing Young Women is my daughter.  This is her with her Charming Tote (which there happens to be a tutorial for right over here ;)  Jessica (shes 12 yrs old)  has done some sewing and piecing before, but only when I have asked if she wanted to make something or with her grandma, and even then, we needed to kind of stay on her to finish her project.   But I think this experience of making this little Tote might have been just the right project for the Quilting Bug to bite her ;)

As soon as school ended for the Christmas Break she asked if she could finish up the quilt that she had been working on for a friend for the last 2 years.   She added the borders, pressed it all, made a backing and then promptly asked if she could quilt it on the long arm.  

And let me tell you, this girl is a natural on the long arm!!!  She wasn't scared one bit.   I helped her load the quilt and gave her a few suggestions on how she might light to quilt it, and she was off.   I was able to work on my own project as she quilted away and  only came and get me to help her change the bobbin or roll the quilt, which she had down by the end of the quilt ;)  Ya, totally a proud moment for this mama!!!

And the best thing was, she absolutely loved it.  Every time I checked on her she was grinning from ear to ear, excited with what she was doing ;)  Yippee!!!  And I was so glad she wasn't scared, because she picked yellow thread, which blended great in the border, but made a super fun pop in the squares.   And she just rocked it!!!

She quilted loops and stars in the border, and alternated between wavy criss cross lines on an angel and wavy criss cross lines perpendicular on the squares.  I helped her with the name at the bottom, but besides that, she did all the quilting on her own.  And just look at all that awesome texture!!!  I know I am a bit bias, but I think she did amazing :)  What a beautiful and fun finish!!!   And of course, her friend just loved the quilt and it made for a wonderful Christmas Present ;)

And then the day after Christmas, Jessica asked if she could start another project!!!!   The quilting mom in me was so excited, I dropped everything I was doing and ran her down to the quilt room to decide on a project before she could change her mind ;)   She opted for the Neverland fabric that I had and wanted to do another simple patchwork with a border, but she wanted a whole lot more squares.   So I helped her with some cutting and gave her a little bit of instruction  (mostly, it's just like piecing the tote but on a larger scale) and she was on her way.

She laid out the patchwork and played for a few days with the placement.  Then when she got it just the way she liked she collected it all back into rows and started sewing.  She has already sewn up the first 6 rows ;)   And she is doing it completely independently!!!   I am so impressed with how she has just taken off with this!!  She is keeping her project neat and organize (so glad I bought the Good Measure Clothespins Set at Black Friday,  they are perfect for her to keep her rows stacked and together :)   so there is room for us both to sew together and that is a dream come true!!! 

I can see sharing a lot of Jessi's finishes this year because that girl is totally "jump into the deep end of the pool" excited about quilting!!!!  Best Day Ever!!!!   

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 $25.00 Gift Card from Lou Lou's Fabric Shop  is . . .   Number #107. . Congrats Nancy A!!!   I have emailed you :)      

  

      

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Green Fairy Quilts.  Green Fairy Quilts is your home for pre-cut goodness and they always have amazing sales going on every weekend on a selected pre-cut or notion!!!  And did you know that Green Fairy Quilts has a Deal of The Day!!!   Be sure to check those out for some major quilting savings!!!

And today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is filled with love!!! A Love You Fat Quarter Bundle by Sandy Gervais!! How perfect is that for some Valentines Day sewing to get your ready for next month!!!   And I just love the all of the adorable hearts packed into these super fun 21 Fat Quarters!!!

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 how late you stayed up to ring in the New Year.  (I only made it to 10, tee hee hee :)    

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Green Fairy Quilts love.   You can Sign up for their Newsletter which I highly recommend as it will ensure you catch all of their amazing sales!!  You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook,  or you can visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Green Fairy Quilt Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, Jan 8th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!