Thankful TNT Thursday!!

So I thought today, being Thanksgiving here in the States and all, that we would change things up just a bit :)  If you have something new you have tried and have blogged about it, please go right ahead and link it up.  But if you would like, you can also add a list of things you are thankful for to your post.   Or, if you just want to right a post about the things you are thankful for that would be great and then go right ahead and link that up as well :)

So, this week I tried something totally new to me.  I was in a bit of a rut and didn't really want to finish up my crib quilt, so I decided to move to another quilt.  I never quilt this way.  I always try to finish what I start before I move on.  (I get worried I won't ever come back to it :)   But I actually found I really enjoyed bouncing around.  I worked on 4 separate projects this week, and even though I didn't get a lot done on one particular project, I found I really liked the variety.  So I think I am going to give bouncing around my WIP a shot for a little while :)

As to my list of things I am grateful for. . . .

I am grateful to be loved by an amazing husband and five wonderful children.
I am grateful to be finished with school and to be living in the home that we want to grow old in.
I am grateful to be a stay at home mom.
I am grateful to be living in a country where freedoms are upheld by the government and by brave men and women.
I am grateful to have been brought up by wonderful parents who taught me the value of right and wrong.
I am grateful to live 2 doors away from the best in-laws anyone could ask for.
I am grateful to have such an amazing creative outlet in quilting that allows me a little time-off each day.
I am grateful to my wonderful readers who leave sweet comments and boost my day.
I am grateful to have made so many wonderful friends through this wonderful online quilting community.


Alright.  I am off to make some pies.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Beebolt Block

In our wonderful Swag bag from the Sewing Summit was a little package from Beebolt.  It contained 9 beautiful spring-ish 3" blocks were to be used to make a 8 1/2" block.  That block will be mailed to Beebolt and then all of them blocks from each Sewing Summit participant will be made into a charity quilt.  You were allowed to use any other fabrics to incorporate with these beautiful prints in making the block.  

I whipped mine up yesterday after having a bit of a lightbulb idea.  I figured, why not try my same concept that I did for the Fat Quarterly block, but reverse it.   So I started with a simple 9 patch.  

Then I slashed and whacked adding in some solid ivory.  So this time the color was in the background and the  neutral was in the intersecting lines.  Fun little change up :)

Then I spun it a bit to give it some wonky goodness and trimmed it down to size.

And here is how it turned out.  I love it!!  I am so looking forward to seeing the quilt that is made up of all this beautiful spring goodness at next year's Sewing Summit.  Which, by the way, has just been announced will be in Salt Lake City on October 11, 12, and 13.  Hope to see you there :)

Just Call Me a Teeny Bopper

Okay, so I haven't been sewing a lot lately.  Why??  Because I have been reading like crazy.   I am one of those crazy people who once they start a book just can't put it down. I have to finish and a lot fall by the wayside in the mean time.  

So I hadn't picked up a book in months.  Then the other day, my husband mentioned that Crossed was coming out in a few days.  So I logged onto my goodreads (which I hadn't been to in months)  page to see the release date.  To my surprise, 3 other books that I had been wanting to read had their release dates come and go while I was on a reading hiatus 

So, to the library I went!!  And now, I am all caught up in my book que and have been thoroughly enjoying the down time curling up with a few good books in front of the fire while watching the snow fall. So what have I been reading???

The second book in the YA Dystopian Matched Trilogy.   Loved it and can't wait for the last installment!!!

The last book in the YA Septimus Heap Series.  This is such a fun series!! Great for anyone who loved Harry Potter.    

The last book in the YA Shiver Series.  Think Twilight but just the werewolves :)  

The second book in the Heroes of Olympus Series.  This is the spin-off series from the Percy Jackson series.  I am half way through this book and I am so loving it!!!

So ya, basically I am hooked on YA Series.  I can't seem to get enough of them.  Just call me a teeny bopper :)

Giveaway Day Sponsored by The Intrepid Thread

The amazing Julie at the Intrepid Thread is sponsoring a wonderful giveaway here at Happy Quilting so let's get right to it!!

How about some stunning Fat Quarters from Khristain A. Howell's new collection The Woodlands??  Aren't they just adorable!!!

So how do you get the chance to win your self some beautiful fabric goodness.  Simple.

Just click on over the The Intrepid Thread store and find your favorite item, then pop back here and leave me a comment of what that favorite item is.  You can just copy and paste the title of the item or copy and paste the link if that makes it easier for you.

I can't wait to see what everyone has fallen in love with.  One entry per person please :)  The Giveaway will be open until Nov 24 and I will announce a winner on the morning of the 25th.  Good Luck and Happy Quilting :)

TNT Thursday gets Wet

So 2 things I tried new.  One "quilty" goodness related.  One absolutely not.

First.  Remember when I showed this pillow a few days ago.  Yup, it is the one that is part of the designer's challenge for Fat Quarterly.  Well this was the first time I had ever tried making an envelope pillowcase.  Crazy huh!!!  It was so super easy.  Now I want to start churning out pillows for every seat in the house.  (Although the WIP list is a little long so maybe I should hold off on that :)  

Second.  On Saturday I competed in a Triathlon.  Now before you go all "Wow, that is amazing" I should clarify.  It was a team triathlon and the sprint distance.  My husband has always wanted to do Triathlon's but swims like a rock.  I swam in high school (some 15 years ago, mind you :) So when he found this little "fun event" he asked if I would swim so he could be part of it.  What could I say.  

About 4 laps into it I was dead and wishing I would have said No Way!!!! (unfortunately 4 times in the pool to "practice" before the event was not anywhere near enough to getting me into shape, who would have guessed that?? :)   But about 4 hours after I was happy we were able to do it together.  My husband absolutely loved it.  And now he has hopes for us each competing our own.  He just has to learn to swim and I just have to learn to get my tush out of bed in the morning to try to get back into somewhat decent shape :)  Wish us luck :)

So what did you try new this week???  Let's see!!!!