Snapshots QAL - Puppy Love

It might be Tax Day, but it also happens to be Snapshots QAL  day as well!!!  And that is way more fun ;)   This month's new block is called Puppy Love and it is simply adorable!!!     (I will add the eyes on after quilting, so for now, they are just digitally added ;)

Okay, here comes a huge admission, I am pretty afraid of dogs and yes, I know i'ts silly as most dogs are very friendly and kind but I have been afraid since I was a child.   I really am trying to get over this,  I do have a neighbors dog that I am now used to and I don't freeze any time it comes near.  Seriously, once my sister's dog was at my Mom's house and I didn't know and I opened the door to where it was and no joke, I screamed and was on top of the kitchen counter in 2 seconds flat.  But I would like to think if I found this puppy in a basket so cute and adorable, that we would be friends ;)

So, are you quilting along??  You can download the pattern right here and then don't forget to donate the $5.00 for the pattern to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ;)  This is such an amazing cause and it is so fabulous that Fat Quarter Shop and Moda will be matching our donations!!!  Everyone has been so generous in their donations!!!

This block went together super quick!!  And Kimberly also made putting this block together even easier with this fabulous You Tube video.   I am so just loving these videos ;)  

Be sure to  share all of your Snapshots progress on social media with #fqssnapshots and check out these fabulous bloggers for some Puppy Love inspiration :)  

Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms
Bonnie Olaveson of Cotton Way
Pat Sloan of The Voice of Quilting
Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet

Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting

Thelma Childers of Cupcakes N' Daisies

Pam Viera-McGinnis of Pam Kitty Morning

Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs
Stephanie Kendron of The Modern Sewciety

Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt
Greg Jones of Grey Dogwood Studios
Jessie Fincham of Messy Jesse

Thanks for popping in today ;)  Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day . . . let's have some fun :)

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of $50.00 Gift Certificate to Green Fairy Quilts is . . .   Number #118 . . . Congrats Laura!!   I have emailed you :) 

    

 

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Intrepid Thread!!  Julie has just "remodeled" her fabulous online shop with a new look and a new Pre-Order Page that has all of those can't wait for collections listed for pre-order!!!   And Julie is also giving all Happy Quilting a fantastic coupon code to go check out The Intrepid Thread's New Look!!!.  Use the code HAPPYM15  until Friday at Midnight to get 15% off everything in your cart!!!  (excludes Pre-orders, Gift Certificate, and BOMs)

   

Today's  Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for this stunning Custom Spring Fat Quarter Bundle !!!  Isn't it just so happy, makes me totally smile!!!  That is some wonderful Fat Quarter Goodness there!!!

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 telling me what's putting a Spring in your step today.

 ENTRY 2 - Show your The Intrepid Thread love. You can follow them on Facebook, Bloglovin,  or Instagram.  You can Sign up for The Intrepid Thread Newsletter (right side bar) ,  Follow Their Blog, or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your The Intrepid Thread love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, April 21st when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Barbara's Playing the Scales

This weekend was spent working on some Home Improvement projects and then followed up by taking care of sick kids.  So there was not a stitch of sewing done all weekend.  (Seriously, I am going a little nuts ;)  But, Barbara (my wonderful MIL who lives 2 doors away, for those of you who are new around here) sure did get a lof of stitching done over the weekend and I am so excited to share her gorgeous finish with you.

Barbara came up for a visit last Tuesday saying she needed a quilt for a wedding on Saturday, ya, she is fast!!!  She wanted to use a combination of my Playing the Scales Tutorial and my free PDF  Drifting Pattern .  So we picked out some fun greys, aqua's and a pop of Navy from Barbara's stash and she was off to cutting.  And seriously, I turned around and she had a finish quilt top ;)  And then a day later, it was a finish quilt!!!  And isn't it just fantastic!!!!   Love, Love, Love!!!

And I have to show you the quilting she did!!!  She mixed a "broken glass" straight stitch with a beautiful curly swirl stitch which just totally added to the flowing design of the the quilt!!!  Absolutely gorgeous!!!

  I can't tell you how fun it is to see my patterns and tutorials made up into quilts ;)  If you make your own quilt using any of my patterns or tutorials I would love to see them!!!  You can send me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or add them to my Inspired by Happy Quilting Flickr Group ;)

Thanks so much Mom for sharing this today!!!  Here is hoping we can get everyone feeling better so I can get back to stitching and have something to share soon ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long - Checking In

**  NOTE  - This post is part of a series of posts for the Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long.  If you would like to join (and have a chance to win $100.00 or $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop ) you can find a list of the post links here :)  Here is the schedule:

Schedule, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes

Cutting - Feb 5th

Improvisational Piecing Units
Improvisational Piecing Block
Twists on Tradition Units
Modern Patchwork Block

Appliqued Chains Block - Assembling

Appliqued Chains Block - Stitching

Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky

Parade and Grand Prizes - April 23th

Alright everyone, just checking in today!!!  We have 2 weeks left before the Parade and Grand Prizes are awarded!!  And we have a great showing of quilt tops so far, but I know there are more of you quilting along with me ;)  You still have lots of time to be entered into that Grand Prize Linky !!! 

So pull out those blocks and get them stitched up and then link on up!!!  But don't stop there, quilt and bind them so you can have them in the parade ;)  I already have 3 parade entries and they are fantastic, can't wait to share them, but we need more ;)   Let's make this parade last and last ;)  

I am putting my quilt on the long-arm this weekend.  I have had a lot of folks ask me about quilting.  And I have offered these few suggestions:

1 - If you want to keep it simple - You can't ever go wrong with an all over design. Meandering, loops, swirls, you name it, it will be fun and fast ;)  

2 - If you want to do a more custom look - I recommend doing an all over traveling stitch in the background, something that is easy to fill in some of those skinny gaps like a traveling meandering or loops.  Then, pick a different stitch for each of your 3 blocks.  I plan to echo my Petal Blocks, do Arches in my Square Blocks, and Ribbon Candy in my X blocks.  Just to give you an idea ;)  But have fun with it, the sky is the limit ;)

And just in case you are a little lost, you can see these video's on basting, quilting, and binding to help you finish up your quilt!!!

And if you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com

Have a Happy Quilting Day and I can't wait to see your finished quilts!!!!

Just Around the Corner

Yippee!!  Look what came in the mail yesterday . . . my Spring Market Badge!!!  Eeekk, I am so excited.  Market is always a blast, but this Market I get to share My Book and I can't wait.  I have so many plans in the works to get ready for my schoolhouse and 3 book signings, which I will share times and places as it gets closer.  I know it is still a little more than a month away, but you know how these things go, it's pretty much Just Around the Corner.   I can't wait!!!

And that means I best get back down to my sewing room.  Because this new project is for Market and needs to get done before "Just Around the Corner" gets here ;)  This is Postcards for Santa by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs and oh my I am in love!!!!  It is already a favorite Christmas Line and quickly pushing for the spot of all time favorite Christmas line.  Fabulous!!!   And yes, that is actually Sparkle Gold in there, so elegant!!!   Can't wait to share more ;)

I hope you are having a Happy Quilting Day!!!