Monday, October 31, 2022

October Sew Sampler!!

Well here we are at the last day of October, and that means it's time to share my new  Sew Sampler box!!!   Which for me, is so way more exciting than Halloween!!!    The theme of this month's box is Everything Is Coming Up Roses and it is just with some rosy delight :)  So let's check out this amazing Sew Sampler Goodness!!  

I was thrilled to find a gorgeous Junior Jelly Roll  of Country Rose by Lella Boutique.   I have already made the Bloomers Quilt, as well as a second version of my Aurora Quilt from Fast & Fun Lap Quilts using this line.   It is just gorgeous!!  And, paired with the Polka Dot Black Background, amazing!!!  I so want to make the exclusive Star pattern with the same black background, I know it will be just stunning!! 


And the notions that  Fat Quarter Shop sent along this month are just great!!!! This new Riley Blake Binding Holder is just super great for keeping your bindings nice and neat.   And the Mini Soak Sampler Pack will be great for washing those super special quilts.   And of course, the Needle Twister will be super cool for my hand piecing friends ;)  


And since it is now October, and we are over half way through the Bliss Quilt Along I just don't see myself catching up.  So I decided, I think I am going to wait until it is all done, see the final layout, and then probably just get the   Bliss Quilt Along kit featuring Stitched Fabrics by Joanna Figueroa so I can make it as a nice long term project :)  


And just fyi, the Sew Sampler box Subscription now has openings!!!  So there is no wait list, and you can sign up and get a new box next month.  So fun!!!   This truly is my favorite Subscription and I just love when it arrives each month and I get to enjoy all of the quilty goodness in each aqua box!!! 

Hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!!!


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Friday, October 28, 2022

Aurora - Fast & Fun Lap Quilts

 It's Week 4 of my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book Tour and today I am sharing a second version of the Aurora quilt! It's always fun to see how different a quilt can look by changing things up the fabrics, and wouldn't you know, Vanessa was my guest blogger this week, and she is also the fabric designer of this second version, to fun!!!    


 And doesn't it look just stunning in a dark background!!!  For this version of Aurora, I was really trying to highlight how much using a dark background can change up the look of the quilt.   Isn't it just incredible how the chain and the star centers just pop.   I love it so much!!!!    Using a dark background can really make your colors so vibrant, it is a great way to make the fabric stand out :)


This version of Aurora was made using Country Rose fabrics by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics.   This is the same fabric I used to make the Bloomers Quilt, and I loved it then, and I love it all the more with a dark background.   All the quilts in Fast and Fun Lap Quilts are made with 1 Layer Cake/10" Stacker and a background fabric.  And like I said, Country Rose was the perfect Layer Cake to just pop on this black polka dot background.  It is just so happy making ;)   The quilt finishes at 68" x 68".  

Since I custom quilted all the quilts in the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts  I thought it would be fun to do all over designs for these second versions.   For this Aurora quilt, I quilted all over swirls and paisleys.   These are two of my favorite designs to quilt all over, and I just love all the yummy added texture it gives the quilt.   And when doing an all over using a black background, with pretty print colors, I recommend a nice soft grey thread.  It will blend into the black, but not stand out as much on the prints :) 


And that is another Aurora quilt, the third lap quilt in my new Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book !  You can find the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book in your local or online quilt shops,  C&T Publishing, or if you would like a personalized signed copy, you can order from my Etsy shop.  And if you make your own Aurora quilt, I would love to see it!!  You can share your quilts with me on social media using hashtag #happyquiltingwithmc and #fastandfunlapquilts and tag me @happyquiltingmc or you can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.   


Thanks so much for popping in for another Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book day of fun.    And if you haven't had a chance to enter Vanessa's Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Giveaway for a beautiful Christmas Eve Layer Cake that you can use to make your own gorgeous Christmas Version of Aurora, be sure and pop on over and enter.  

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day! 

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Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Aurora - Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book Tour

 It's Week 4 of my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book Tour and today I am sharing the Aurora quilt! This quilt is made up of two blocks, that area actually pieced with the same units.  I love how you can create two totally different blocks with the same pieces, so cool!!!   Oh, and I always love adding a "chain" in one of my quilts from a book (see the reason here) and this chain is subtle, but it is the perfect finish for this Aurora quilt.  


Here is the introduction I wrote about Aurora in the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book.  "I absolutly love designing Star blocks!  Truly, they are my go-to bread and butter of designing.  In Aurora, I added a pieced frame to a basic Ohio Star to create an amazing block.  Then a simple change n fabric placement and orientation made a wonderful new second block that forms a chain across the quilt top.  The two blocks combine to make a stunning quilt."


When writing this book, I tried to give you all of the tips and trick that I would share if I were teaching a quilting class.  This is my favorite tip from the Aurora quilt.  It is the same as the "pin trick" that I share here, and it a total game changer in lining up lots of points.  My pinwheels have never looked so great :)   And this quilt has lots and lots of points, and they come out so perfect with this little trick ;)  


Aurora was made using Beautiful Day fabrics by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics.  All the quilts in Fast and Fun Lap Quilts are made with 1 Layer Cake/10" Stacker and a background fabric.  You will use 33 of the 10" squares for this quilt, and the Plan Ahead tip will help you divide your fabrics, so you know exactly where each fabric will go in your quilt and can plan accordingly.  This quilt finishes at 68" x 68", making it a great square lap size.  

I had so much fun custom quilting each of the quilts in Fast & Fun Lap Quilts .  For this Aurora quilt, I quilted swirls in the background, and then straight lines and pebbles in the blocks.  I left the center stars unquilted so they pop :)   And you know, it's my favorite 402 So Fine thread that I used to blend perfectly into the white background and all of the prints.   I just love how it all came together. 


And that is Aurora quilt, the fourth lap quilt in my new Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book !  You can find the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book in your local or online quilt shops,  C&T Publishing, or if you would like a personalized signed copy, you can order from my Etsy shop.  And if you make your own Aurora quilt, I would love to see it!!  You can share your quilts with me on social media using hashtag #happyquiltingwithmc and #fastandfunlapquilts and tag me @happyquiltingmc or you can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.   


And speaking of making an Aurora Quilt, my good friend, Vanessa Goertzen has mocked up Aurora using her new Christmas Eve fabrics that will come out in May of next year!!!   Isn't that just so amazing!!!!  This design looks so amazing in Christmas and this has totally been added to my "to make" list.  You can see all the details at Vanessa's blog , Lella Boutique .


And while you are visiting Vanessa at Lella Boutique, be sure to enter her giveaway.  Christmas Eve isn't out until May of 2023, but Vanessa scored one Christmas Eve Layer Cake to giveaway!!  How awesome is that!!!  You can enter the giveaway at her blog.  

And that is it for today, thanks for popping in for Week 4 of the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book!

I am just so happy to share this Aurora quilt and be sure to pop back in on Friday when I will share a second version of the quilt (and it just so happens to be made with more of Vanessa's fabrics, so fun :)  

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!
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Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

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

First, we are going to announce the winners of last week's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the Pumpkins & Blossoms Layer Cake from Lou Lou's Fabric Shop is . . . #482   . . . Congrats to  sunnymorningdesigns!!!  I have messaged 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 did you know they have a 24 Hour Flash Sale  and Precuts of the Week!!   You can also save big on the Basics of the Month!!!!     This month All Confetti Cotton Basics  by Riley Blake are on sale!!   Also, All June Tailor Products are on sale for the Notion, and all  It's Sew Emma Patterns are on sale for the Pattern.   Save 20% off of all of them for the whole month of October!!  So great ;)  



In Celebration of the release of my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book , for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway, Fat Quarter Shop is giving away this stunning Slow Stroll Layer Cake by Fancy That Design House for Moda!!!   This is the fabric I used to make this Nature Walk quilt, and this Cascading quilt, and this  baby Swirling Leaves quilt . . . Ya, I just love it!!! 


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 if you could take a Stroll anywhere in the world, where would it be??? 

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterestYou 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, November 1st, 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!!!
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Monday, October 24, 2022

Precious - Songbird Serenade Fabric Tour

 I absolutely adore Poppie Cotton Fabric by my good friends Jina and Lori and so I was super happy to whip up some cuteness for their Songbook Serenade Fabric Tour ;)    And a fabric that was so soft and precious needed an equally precious quilt design . . . so here is Precious and Too Precious!!!! 


 I really do love working with Poppie Cotton's!!!  The fabric is wonderful and the whimsical prints and soft colors in this Songbook Serenade line are just so beautiful!!!   I decided right away to pull the dark teal out to make a binding so that all of the super soft pinks, greens, blues, and yellows will just be soft and pretty on the Country Confetti Basic Background.   


And speaking of that background . . . this is Precious.  It was the original quilt design that I choose to make with these beautiful Songbook Serenade fabrics.   I love a good "chain" quilt, and adding precious little hearts into the chain, well, it's just adorable. This quilt is made up with Charm Packs so it goes together super quick.    I can't get over how soft and pretty this quilt turned out.   But my good friends at Poppie Cotton's were kind enough to send me a Fat Quarter Bundle, and since this quilt only needs Charm Packs, I had quite a lot of fabric left over . . . 


So I decided to whip up a second version of the Precious Quilt, only this time using the prints as a scrappy background.   I absolutely love scrappy quilts, and this was a fun way to play on the "low volume background" with some soft but not quite low volumes.  I paired it with Lead Grunge so the chain would really pop!!   And wouldn't you know, it gives a totally different look.   Soft and pretty turns into fun and adorable, and I just love it :)   So now the Precious quilt is transformed into Too Precious :)  


And I have plans to share free PDF Patterns of both Precious and Too Precious, just as soon as I can get them quilted and bound.  (I have been teaching for the last 3 weeks and I just didn't have time to get to the long arm ;)  So be sure to follow along, I am hoping to have them done by the end of this week or early next week :)  




And that is my Precious and Too Precious quilt tops in beautiful Poppie Cotton's.   I hope you love them both as  much as I do, and maybe have some plans of making your own Precious and Too Precious quilts soon!!!   And if you want to make yours just like mine,  here is where you can find Poppie Cottons in your area.


Thank you so much to Jina and Lori for allowing me to play with these fantastic Poppie Cottons fabrics!!!   And for more  Songbook Serenade  fabric fun, be sure to Hop over to the Poppie Cottons blog  to check out more blogger goodies from this wonderful fabric blog tour :)




Thanks for popping in today and every day.  I am just so grateful to have this space to share my love of quilting!!!

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


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Friday, October 21, 2022

Diamond Dash - Fast & Fun Lap Quilts

  It's Week 3 of my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book Tour and today I am sharing a second version of the Diamond Dash quilt! It's always fun to see how different a quilt can look by changing things up the fabrics.    


 For this version of Diamond Dash, I decided on a monochromatic theme.  My goal with this version was to show how fun it can be to choose one color in all it's hues along with white, and make a stunning statement quilt.   And I even used a Chambray in Denim for the background.  I love all of the added texture it gives to the quilt, and it really makes it feel like a great picnic quilt as it has a little more weight to it ;) 


This version of Diamond Dash was made using Nantucket Summer fabrics by Camille for Moda Fabrics.  All the quilts in Fast and Fun Lap Quilts are made with 1 Layer Cake/10" Stacker and a background fabric.  Nantucket Summer was the perfect print for an monochromatic look as it has so many different shades of blue..  I just love how it turned out!  And of course, the scrappy binding is the perfect finish.   The quilt finishes at 64 1/2" x 64 1/2".  

Since I custom quilted all the quilts in the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts  I thought it would be fun to do all over designs for these second versions.   For this Diamond Dash quilt, I quilted all over loose feathers.   This design is perfect for this quilt as it really plays nice in the negative space.   And the funny thing is, I quilted this the day after getting back from the quilting cruise, and let me tell you, when your body still feels like it is on a ship and you try to long arm, you are rocking and rolling all over the place :)



And that is another Diamond Dash quilt, the third lap quilt in my new Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book !  You can find the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book in your local or online quilt shops,  C&T Publishing, or if you would like a personalized signed copy, you can order from my Etsy shop.  And if you make your own Keystone Corner quilt, I would love to see it!!  You can share your quilts with me on social media using hashtag #happyquiltingwithmc and #fastandfunlapquilts and tag me @happyquiltingmc or you can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.   



Thanks so much for popping in for another Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book day of fun.    And if you haven't had a chance to enter Amy's Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Giveaway for some beautiful Blue Jean fabric that you can use to make your own monochromatic Diamond Dash Quilt, be sure and pop on over and enter.  



I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day! 

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Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Diamond Dash - Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book Tour

It's Week 3 of my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book Tour and today I am sharing the Diamond Dash quilt! Can you tell where it got it's name from??  Some diamonds added to a Churn Dash, pretty clever, tee hee hee.  These blocks are whipped up with some basic piecing, some half square triangles and some stitch and flip corners.  And I just love all of the negative space and the way the two different blocks float in it.    Just so fun :)




Here is the introduction I wrote about Diamond Dash in the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Book.  "I love adding a twist to traditional quilt blocks to make them a little more modern.  Here, I stated with the classic Churn Dash block and created some diamond fun in the center.  After designing that block, I knew a complementary block would echo the diamond center and produce a secondary pattern.  Diamond Dash is fun and fast, a great quilt for anyone."


When writing this book, I tried to give you all of the tips and trick that I would share if I were teaching a quilting class.  This is my favorite tip from the Diamond Dash quilt.  I absolutely love nesting seams, and nesting an angled seam, just incredible!!  If you have never had the chance to sew a nested angle seam, sew this quilt, just so you can try it out.  I just love how perfectly they go together, just so great!!!   



Diamond Dash was made using Seashore Drive fabrics by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda Fabrics.  All the quilts in Fast and Fun Lap Quilts are made with 1 Layer Cake/10" Stacker and a background fabric.  You will use 38 of the 10" squares for this quilt, and the Plan Ahead tip will help you divide your fabrics, so you know which are for the churn dash blocks and which are for the diamond blocks.  This quilt finishes at 64 1/2" x 64 1/2", making it a great square lap size.  

I had so much fun custom quilting each of the quilts in Fast & Fun Lap Quilts .  For this Diamond Dash quilt, I quilted curly q's in the background, and then echoed arches in the diamond blocks and ribbon candy in the churn dash blocks.  Again, I used my favorite 402 So Fine thread to blend perfectly into the white background and all of the prints.   I just love how the echoed arches make the center of the diamond block look like petals :)  




And that is Diamond Dash, the third lap quilt in my new Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book !  You can find the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book in your local or online quilt shops,  C&T Publishing, or if you would like a personalized signed copy, you can order from my Etsy shop.  And if you make your own Diamond Dash quilt, I would love to see it!!  You can share your quilts with me on social media using hashtag #happyquiltingwithmc and #fastandfunlapquilts and tag me @happyquiltingmc or you can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.   




And speaking of making a Diamond Dash Quilt, my good friend, Amy Smart has mocked up Diamond Dash using her new Portsmouth fabrics that will come out in Feb of next year!!!   Isn't that just so great!!!!  I love the nautical vibe it gives the quilt. And Amy has done a dark background version as well, that you will so want to check out at her blog, Diary of a Quilter .





And while you are visiting Amy at Diary of a Quilter, be sure to enter her giveaway.  Portsmouth isn't available yet, but Amy has a Blue Jean 10" Stacker that will look just as amazing in this Diamond Dash pattern!!!  So fun!!!



And that is it for today, thanks for popping in for Week 3 of the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book!

I am just so happy to share this Diamond Dash quilt and be sure to pop back in on Friday when I will share a second version of the quilt :)  

I hope you all have a very Happy Quilting Day!


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Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day :)

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

First, we are going to announce the winners of the two week's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway today!!  
The winners of the Fast & Fun Lap Quilts Books are  #221  and # 114  . . . .Congrats to quiltbaker and    Lisa Marie !!!  I have messaged you both :)
       
    





The winner of the Daffodils and Dragonflies Layer Cake from Green Fairy Quilts is . . . #97   . . . Congrats to  sewducki2018!!!  I have messaged 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 . . . there are so many to choose from and they are all just stunning!!!  Isn't this new Late October bundle, just so festive!!!  Along with hosting the giveaway, Jamie is having a  Fantastic Sale  on Halloween Fabrics with with lots of amazing discounts!!!! And don't forget to pop over to Lou Lou's Fabric Shop each day for the Daily Deal!!! I love something new on sale each and every day, it's so fun to see what shows up :)  



 In Celebration of the release of my Fast & Fun Lap Quilts book , for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway, Lou Lou's Fabric Shop will be giving one lucky reader a beautiful  Pumpkins & Blossoms Layer Cake by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda.  Just so pretty, which Layer Cake Lap Quilt would you want to make with these beautiful fabrics!!!!  
 



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 tell me your favorite Fall activity to do with friends and/or family?? 

 ENTRY 2 - Lets show Lou Lou's Fabric Shop some Love!!!!   You can follow them on   FacebookTwitterPinterest, 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, October 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!!!
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