I'm Teaching!!

I am so excited to share that I will be teaching at the Small Town Quilt Show in a Big Town Way!!!!  This is a fabulous retreat put together by Natalia and Kathleen and my do they have some amazing stuff planned!!   The Retreat is being held at the beautiful Zermatt Resort and there are trunk show, workshops, lectures, a quilt contest and so much fun to be had!!!

Do you see who the national teachers are . . . Becky Goldsmith, Sandy Klop, Lori Holt and Joanna Figueroa!!!  Can I tell you how honored I am to be in such company, (and intimidated :)  I am so looking forward to June!!!

To date, the national teachers classes are listed.  There is lots more to be added and I am so looking forward to seeing all of the amazing things this retreat has to offer.  You can follow along with all of the coming soon updates at the  retreat website here  :)   Registration will open in October.  So exciting!!!  So, will I see you there????

Bee's Gone Christmas

Once again, it is the very end of the month and I am finishing my bee blocks.  But hey, they are still going out on time, I just seem to keep migrating to the last minute on them :)  This month's bee blocks were so much fun because they were a la Christmas.  Really, what is more fun than stitching away cheery Christmas fabric while listening to Christmas music :)  It just makes you smile.

The first is this Wonky Star block for Sinta.  I was so excited to make this block because I have always loved the pattern, Starry Eyed by Angela from Fussy Cut for the Moda Bake Shop and wanted to try it out, but never made the time.  I have never tried making a wonky star before and now I have, and it was so much fun!!

Lindsay asked us to make some super quick and super fun 16 patch blocks.  Isn't it fun how something so basic can be so exciting when put together in a super scrappy layout.  I can't wait to see this quilt top come together ;)  So fun!!

And, I even have a head start on next month's Bee blocks as it is my month for Bees Knees and I already made my block so I could make a little tutorial. You can find the tutorial here.  I just love how this block turned out.  I can't wait to see all of the improv greatness that comes in my mail box this month :)  Yippee Skippee!!

And that is it for September Bee Blocks,  Maybe next month I won't procrastinate finishing them until the end of the month, but only time will tell :)

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking up to Amanda's and Sarah's:)

Paper Pieced Improv Trees & O Christmas Trees Tutorials

So remember the Improv Tree blocks that I am having my bee mates make up for me in the month of October, well I whipped up a trial one yesterday and I just love how it turned out.  So fun!!!  Since I wanted to have a little "tutorial" for my bee mates to follow I took some pictures along the way :)  Note, these are not the way these blocks are being made in Modern Tree Quilt-A-Long.  These are made with a paper pieced pattern and are a completely different size.  Just FYI, I don't want anyone to get confused that is doing the Quilt-A-Long :)


BLOCK TUTORIAL

So to make one 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" finished block you will need the following:
(1) Paper Pieced Pattern that can be printed from here
(1) 7" x 9 3/4" rectangle from background fabric cut in half diagonally.  (Note - if you are not using a solid, you will need to make 2 squares and cut them in opposite directions diagonally, this will make enough triangles for 2 blocks.)
(1) 2" x 3" brown rectangle to be used for tree trunks
(2) 3" x 5" background fabric rectangles
Scraps, any size but it is helpful to have some strip ones.

Start with making the trunk.  Sew the (2) 3 " x 5" background rectangles onto either side of the brown rectangles using a 1/4" seam.  Press towards the brown.  Set aside.

Now, grab your scraps.  Improv piecing is fun because there are really no rules, just use a straight edge and a 1/4" seam each time you sew and you are good to go.  Start by sewing 2 scraps together, I put mine one an angle to give me a little scrappier start.  From those 2 pieces, cut one straight edge.  This is where you will add the next piece.

After you have added the next piece, cut another straight edge.  Add another piece to your newly created straight edge.

Continue this process, cutting straight edges and adding new pieces.  As you move out and your straight edges get larger, you might find you need to sew 2 scraps together first and then add them to your improv piece as shown.

Keep slashing and adding until you have created a shape large enough to cover the center portion of your paper pieced pattern with at least a 1/4" overhang.  Once yours is this big, you are ready to start paper piecing.  (Oh, and don't throw away those scraps you keep cutting off, they make great starts for your next tree :)

**So I am no expert on paper piecing, but this block is pretty basic, so I am just giving a really brief explanation on how I paper piece this particular block.  But feel free to just skip to the bottom if you already know how to paper piece.

Place your paper pieced pattern with right side down.  Place your improv piece onto the back of the paper pieced pattern making sure that it overlaps the drawn lines 1/4".  (I hold it up to the light to check :)  Now, place your background triangle onto the improv triangle overlapping the seam by 1/4".  (I never know how people tell if it is overlapping when you can see anymore because of the other layer of fabric, so the way I do this is by sticking 2 pins from the paper pieced side directly through the drawn line, those are the circle marks.  I align my triangle along the edge of the pins, pull out the pins, and then slide the triangle 1/4" over. Super technical, I know :)  Pin all three layers in place.

Sew on the paper side of your sandwich directly on the drawn line.  It is best to shorten your stitch lengthen so that the paper will come away easy when needed.

Fold the paper back at the seam and trim the excess fabric 1/4" away from the seam.

Press the background fabric out.  It should cover the paper on both edges.

Repeat the process for the other side of the block.

Now just trim along the edge of the paper all excess fabric.  Note - Do not trim on the line around the edge of the pattern, that is the finished lined, the extra space is your seam allowance.  The paper edge marks the edge of the block so you will only trim fabric.

And now you have an adorable tree top block.  All you need to do now is add the trunk.  Place the trunk piece onto the bottom of the improv block with right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam along the edge.  I liked to press mine open so it lays nice and flat.

And you are done, one adorable 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" finished improv tree block.  I can't wait to see all of these come in and turn them into an adorable quilt.  I like them so much, I might even make a few extras for some matching pillows.  So cute!!

QUILT TUTORIAL

Now, if you have so much fun making 1 block, and you want to make it into an entire O Christmas Trees quilt (see more here) that finishes at 63" x 74" than here is what you will need.

Assorted Christmas Fabric for the trees
                - You can use Scraps, A Layer Cake, or A Fat Eighth Bundle
1/6 a yard Brown Solid for tree trunks
3 5/8 yards of Background Fabric
4 yards of Backing Fabric
5/8 yard of Binding Fabric  (I used scraps from my Fat Eighth Bundle)

CUTTING
From your Brown Solid cut (22) 2" x 3" rectangles
From your Background Fabric cut:
     (4) 11" x 26 3/4" rectangles
     (2) 11" x 21 1/2" rectangles
     (2) 11" x 16 1/4" rectangles
     (2) 11" x 11" rectangles
     (2) 5 3/4" x 11" rectangles
     (44) 3" x 5" rectangles
     (22)  7" x 9 3/4" rectangles cut in half diagonally.  (Note - if you are not using a solid, you will need to  cut half of the rectangles in opposite directions diagonally, this will make a triangle for each side of the tree.)


MAKING THE BLOCKS
Once your cutting is all done, refer to the block tutorial above to make 22 Improv Tree Paper Pieced Blocks.

ASSEMBLING THE QUILT

Layout your 22 blocks and the background setting rectangles as show below.  You will be using a 1/4" seam to piece the quilt top.

Sew each of the rows together.  Press the seams between blocks open and the seams between the setting rectangles towards those rectangles.

Sew the rows together into a quilt top.  I like to do this by first sewing the rows into groups of 2's and pressing the seams open.  Then I sew the groups of 2 rows into 2 halves and press, and then finish the final seam in the middle and press.

And you have a beautiful 63" x 74" O Christmas Tree quilt top!!  Now you just need to Baste It, Quilt It, and Bind it :)  I know, that is a lot of work in one little sentence.  If you are new to quilting you can check out these Finishing Up Videos I created that go over the basics of Basting, Quilting, and Binding ;)

And now your done!!!  I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and are excited to make your O Christmas Tree lap sized quilt :)  If you do make your own, I would love to see it!!  You can add it to my Flickr Group here, email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc ;)

Have a Happy (and Merry) Quilting Day!!!

Trying the Locks

I am back on the long arm again today doing some straight line quilting.  I am quilting straight lines all the way across the quilt in random intervals.  I am almost done with the horizontal lines then I will need to unload the quilt and put it on in the other direction so I can turn it into a cross hatch design :)

These are the little guys that are making this super straight line quilting possible.  Channel Locks.  They keep the long arm from moving up and down.  It just goes back and forth.  There is a bit of a learning curve to keeping the puckers out (same as there is on a home machine when using your walking foot) but it sure beats using a ruler :)

This makes me wonder how many other amazing long arm tools are out there??

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Modern Trees

So have you seen the new Quilt-A-Long that Christa from Christa Quilts is hosting.  It is called Modern Trees and it is such a fun pattern.  This is the particular variation that I love :)  I just think those scrappy improv trees are so fun!!!  Christa does such a great job with her Quilt-A-Long's and has wonderful step by step instructions along the way.   Pop on over and check out all the details ;)

Now sadly, I don't have time to join this particular Quilt-A-Long.  But I really want to have this quilt for Christmas, so I decided to call on the help of my trusty Bee Mates from the Bees Knees group :)   My plan is to add 2more rows, one of 6 tress and then one more row with just one tree to represent the trunk :)  Yippee Skippee!!!  October is my month and the timing could not be more perfect.  I whipped out my Blitzen fat eighth pack that I have been saving for just such an occasion and got to cutting.  Oh, I just love these prints, I am so excited!!!

I cut some white and brown for the background and trees and got them all bagged up.  Now I just need to print off the paper pieced pattern I made (I didn't want everyone to have to buy the ruler for just 2 trees) and address some envelopes and they will be ready to pop in the mail.

That's my goal for the day ;)  I am just so excited about this project.  Each tree that comes back will be it's own special design and I just can't wait to see them all come together ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!