Be Fruitful - HQM Quilt 21

It is Week 21 of the Happy Quilting Marathon and exhaustion almost got the best of me today.   I quilted this yesterday and just needed to add the binding, but after fighting a cold all week, I ended up with a migraine today.   And let me tell you, it is hard to bind when you can not see the needle on the machine, tee hee hee.   I am sure in real marathon's, people feel way worse with only 5 miles to go, so I figured I best suck it up, and not trip so close to the end.   And I pushed through and here is Be Fruitful just in the nick of time!!!   

And let me tell you, I am so happy it is done because this is one of my "older" waiting around to be quilted quilts ;)  I actually made the plan for this quilt back in 2019 using the Be Fruitful block from the Goodness Grows Sampler.  I finished the quilt top in April of 2020 and planned to get it quilted right away.  Well . . . two years later and it's done!!! And isn't it just so happy :)  

I used the scraps from my Goodness Grows Sampler to make this Be Fruitful quilt.   And I just love all of Corey Yoder's fabrics and this Sugarcreek line was sure a cute one!!  To make the quilt, I simple made 16 blocks, and then sashing's with stitch and flip cornerstones.   The blocks are 15" finished and the sashings were 3" finished so the quilt ended up being 75" x 75" so it is a great picnic size quilt ;)  

And as I said, I wasn't feeling great (colds are no fun) when I quilted this, so I went for a nice and fast finish with all over loose feathers.   I just love how fun these are to quilt, I just flow all over the quilt with my little arched feathers :)  And you guessed it, 402 for the win on thread choice ;)  

And now this Be Fruitful Quilt is finally all finished and ready to be gifted.  I think this is another one that would make a  lovely wedding or graduation gift.  It's so nice to be getting a stack of these done so I am set for weddings and graduations for a little while now ;)   I can't believe how many of these were just waiting to be quilted, but this one was totally worth the wait!!! 

And that is Quilt #21 - All the Trimmings ;)  21 Down and only 5 more quilts to go in the Happy Quilting Marathon :)   Next week I have hopes to start earlier in the week and not leave it until the very last second, no way can I not finish now :)  

And that is it for today, thanks for popping in to share this finish with me!!! 

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

Introducing Fast & Fun Lap Quilts!!!

 It's here, I am so excited!!!  My advanced copies of my new book, Fast & Fun Lap Quilts arrived on my doorstep last evening ;)  I was so excited I just tore the box open!!!  It suddenly becomes real when you can actually hold the book in your hands.  

So, let me share how Fast & Fun Lap Quilts came to be.   I had so much fun writting Charming Baby Quilts (my previous book that is all about using 5" Squares to make Baby Quilts), that I figured it needed an "Older Sibling".   So I set out designing lots of lovely Lap Quilts all made with 10" squares.  And I was quickly surprised with how much you can get from 1 Layer Cake.   So that became the theme to run with, and I just love how it all came together.   So, as you can probably guess, each of the 9 quilts in Fast & Fun Lap Quilts are made with 1 Layer Cake and a background fabric.  So fun!!! 

And here is the Martingale , my Publishers, description of the book.  I just love that they take my meandering words and make them sound so great, thanks my friends ;)   

Start with Squares...end with success!
Transform 10" squares into quilts that are fun to make, yet have an intriguing, complex look. Perfect for beginners and advanced stitchers alike, each of the nine projects includes pointers on making the most out of your fabrics, helpful techniques for block construction, and other tips for success.
Lap quilts make ideal gifts for special occasions, and they're a great way to show someone you care about them. No matter if you make cozy quilts for gifts or to keep on your couch, they're great for snuggling! Grab your stacks of 10" squares (or visit your local quilt shop to stock up), and start stitching fast and fun quilts that you're sure to love.

Fast & Fun Lap Quilts releases October 3, so there isn't to much longer to wait for them to be in your local quilt shops.    But like I said, I actually got some advanced copies and have listed them in my Etsy Shop, so you can get them pre-release, so cool!!!   And of course, I will personalize and autograph them, and leave you with one of my sewing mantra's :)   Oh, and I know, shipping cost stink, so I gave you a little discount on the price of the book :)  

I will be sharing lots more about Fast & Fun Lap Quilts leading up to October 3rd, and  have a fun Book Tour planned for it's official release followed by another Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Surprise for the new year :)  I just can't wait!!!  

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

  It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!! Let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the $25.00 Gift Certificate from Thousands of Bolts is Number #89  . . . Congrats valerieandquilts!  I have messaged you :)  

       

   

  

                     

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Olie and Evie.  Rhonda's shop is so fun and full of so much amazing quilting goodness!!!!  Of course, there is the amazing fabric shop we all know and love along with longarm quilting, gift certificates, preorders, and an awesome Clearance Sale!!   Also,  Select precuts, notions, books and patterns, yardage and 108" backings are discounted 10%.  In addition, Olie & Evie is now offering flat rate shipping of $9.00 on orders!!!

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 shop!!!    So awesome, someone is going to get a wonderful shopping spree for some end of the year fun :)  

You have two entry chances here on the blog, 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 When are you most Productive??

 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, August 30th, when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

You can also pop over to my Instagram and/or Facebook to enter there as well :)  

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Vintage Windmill - HQM Quilt 20

 It is Week 20 of the Happy Quilting Marathon and I can't believe we have made it this far!!!   Just wow!!!   Today's quilt top is actually one of the three that inspired the Marathon idea and is called Vintage Windmill and the pattern is by Krista Moser and I just love, love, love it!!!  

I mean, stars and rainbows . . . does it get any better than that!!!! For this quilt I used V & Co. Ombre Fairy Dust and I just love how perfectly it worked for this pattern.  I cut a strip from the top and bottom of each fat quarter and it made for the perfect bright/light in each star. And of course, putting them in yummy rainbow order just adds to the ombre effect ;)  

I took this class at the Quilty Friends Winter Retreat in Feb, so I am happy to say that this one isn't even a year old!!  Yippee, a newer Marathon finish!!! .   The Vintage Windmill pattern finishes at 63" x 68" and makes a great lap size quilt.   I actually added an extra block in each row and an extra row, so my quilt finishes at 78" x 85".  I just couldn't decide which ombre's not to use, so I just used them all in the extra blocks, easy fix!!!   (p.s. yes, I know, I put the triangles at the bottom of the quilt in backwards, but they didn't bother me that much so I just left them, I just wanted to get it done ;)  

When it came time to quilt it, I took two favorites and combined them together.  Echoed swirls combined with echoed paisleys, and they just are so fun and happy and curvy together.  I just love how they dance over the quilt and add such a happy texture.      And random note on the picture, sorry it is a little crooked, I got sap on my hands taking the picture above, and was trying to get this last picture without getting sap on the quilt, such is the way things go sometimes ;)  

And now this Vintage Windmill in Ombre Goodness is all set to be gifted.  Not sure who will be receiving it yet, but I think it will make a lovely wedding or graduation gift, don't you ;)  It just makes me so happy, who knows, maybe this one will just stay home and be a fun curl up on the couch quilt, I do love me some rainbow and star goodness!!! 

And that is Quilt #20 - All the Trimmings ;)  20 Down and only 6 more quilts to go in the Happy Quilting Marathon :)   We are getting so close, I just can't wait!!! 

And that is it for today, thanks for popping in to share this finish with me!!! 

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

Flying In Squares Quilt and Free PDF Pattern!!!

 Today, I am thrilled to be sharing this new Flying In Squares quilt as well as a Free PDF Pattern for it!!! This quilt features the Daisy Fields by Bev McCullough. The design mixes Flying Geese and Squares to make two fun blocks from one 10" Stacker that come together in an adorable picnic quilt!!!

Flying In Squares is made entirely of 10" squares plus a few sashing strips!!! So just grab your favorite 10" stackers or Layer Cake and with very minimal cutting, you are all set and ready to sew!!! And I just love the beautiful colors and happy prints of this Daisy Fields line!!! How cute are all of those little bees, and if you look close, you will even see a little metallic sparkly, so great!!!

Flying In Squares is made using a No-Waste Flying Geese method and the Flying Geese finish at a whopping 4" x 8", so ya, these are some big Geese :) It makes putting this quilt together super fun and fast!!! You have once basic Building Block, and the rest are sashing and square squares. You alternate the layouts of your units to make 2 blocks, one square made with geese and one square made with squares . . . hence, Flying In Squares :) There is an original tutorial for this quilt here, but I changed the size and layout to make the quilt a nice picnic size and to use up all of the layer cake!!!

And this design allows you to really give the quilt a fun scrappy look, even though you just used one 10" Stacker!!!! And you really use up that 10" stacker to make this Picnic Size 80" x 80" quilt. And as I mentioned, there is a free PDF Download of this pattern, so you can make your own!!! To get the FREE PDF Flying In Squares Pattern Download, just click here and download it ;)

When it came time to quilt mine, I decided on an all over wavy feather. I just love how it adds so much curvy goodness to all of those sharp piecing lines. And the texture is so yummy, lots of quilting, but still super soft in all of the petals :)

And that is my Flying In Squares quilt!!! I hope you have enjoyed this post. Oh, and if you make your own Flying In Squares quilts, I would love to see them! You can share your quilts with me on social media using hashtags  #happyquiltingwithmc and #rileyblakedesigns and tagging @happyquiltingmc or email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com. I can't wait to see your Flying In Squares Quilts!!

Thank you so much for popping in today and each and every day. If you have any questions at all on making your own Flying in Squares quilt, don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com

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