Makin It Cute with Smitten for Mittens!!!

Oh my goodness, the dynamite duo of Me and My Sister Designs and It's Sew Emma have done it again!!!  You might recall back here when I Made it Cute with Hearts and Butterflies . . . well this time, they have got us all  Smitten for Mittens!!!!

When this lovely duo asked if I wanted to whip up a Smitten for Mittens Project I was all over it and I knew right away, that I wanted to make up scarves, because what goes better with mittens than scarves ;) 

But, I should correct myself, I wanted the kids to make scarves ;)  I hope that this would be a great project that some of the older ones could tackle, and boy was it so much fun for them!!!

 They started by surging a long strip to make the fleece and turning it right side out. (look at her using Grandma's serger like a pro, so proud of her!!)

Then a quick stitch across the two ends to hold it together and then some clipping to make a fringe and in no time flat, we had scarves.   Now it was time to Make Em Cute!!!

The fantastic plastic templates make them so easy to trace, especially for the kids!  We traced the designs on sheets of felt.

Then cut, cut, cut.   I have to admit, it was hard for me to not take over and help them with the cutting.  They don't cut the straightest lines, but I reigned in my need for perfection and reminded myself this was about them making them, not about the scarves looking perfect ;)

We then used craft spray (the same kind you can use for basting) and sprayed the back of the felt cut-outs.  It was funny to  me that I actually had to explain to the kids why they had to spray in a box :)

And then, they  just stuck the sprayed pieces on to the edges of the scarf and continued layering until all the pieces were in place.   So cute!!!

And then, of course, they had to model them for a bit!!!

I think they quite enjoy their new Smitten for Mittens scarves, don't you ;)

They wanted to pretend it was cold, I think they just look kind of sad, tee hee hee.

These were such a fun project for the kids to do.  The kids made both scarves start to finish in under an hour with very little assistance needed from mom and grandma.  They are just so excited that they made them all on their own!!! And now,  I can't believe I am saying this, but I want it to snow again so I can have them wear them outside!!!!

So be sure to pop on over to the Jolly Jabber and check out all about Makin It Cute with Smitten with Mittens.  Now you and the whole family can be uber cute when the snow flies again. 

Dot Dot Dash

I am so excited to get to share with you a new quilt finish today.  I called it Dot Dot Dash and if you can't tell, the name and the design was inspired by morse code.

Dot Dot Dash was made for the May/June Issue of Fons and Porter's Quilting Quickly.  And you can bet that even with all of those little pieces, this quilt goes together super fast.  Strip piecing really speeds  up the piecing process.  It really is oh so fun to make!!  Fons and Porter also has the pattern available digitally for those that prefer digital patterns over magazines.  

  

I used the absolutely gorgeous Mimosa Collection by Another Point of View for Windham Fabrics.  I absolutely love the fun bright colors and wonderful prints of this line!!!  It really was the perfect fabric to make this design really pop!!!   And using the grey's for the scrappy binding, so cute!!!

When it came time to quilt Dot Dot Dash, I tried something new and had so much fun with it.  Since this quilt is all about morse code, I wanted the quilting to look like "radio waves"  I started with one super wavy line and then just stared repeating it with a pretty loose organic echo.   It was so cool to watch how the loose echo turned into a wave that actually moved across the quilt.   It was so fun to quilt and I had the benefit of getting in another mile or so walking back and forth!!  It was exactly the look I was hoping for and I am for sure going to have quilt like this again sometime!!!

Doesn't the picture from the magazine just make you want to curl up on that couch with a good book??  Dot Dot Dash finishes at 60" x 72" so it makes it the perfect size to do just that!!  I hope you love it as much as I do and want to make one of your own.   And if you do, I would love to see it!!!  You can add it to my Flickr Group or email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com :)

Oh, and if you are planning on making your own Dot Dot Dash, Fons and Porter has made it even quicker and easier for you with this super fun video tutorial ;)    And when you get the blocks made and go to assemble it the quilt top, you don't have to follow my exact layout, I was just mixing it up.  So feel free to do the same and make yours your own individual morse code message ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I just love being able to share these finishes that I have had to keep secret for a while ;)  It makes it like I just finished them all over again :)

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


Linking Dot Dot Dash up to Sarah's and Amanda's ;)

Just In Time

Well it's the last day of the month and I am mailing out my bee blocks.  I sure wish I could get myself back in the habit of doing these early, but hey, at least they are still going out this month, right ;)

All right, first up, is Kim's Scrappy Crossroads Block by Lori Holt for the Bees Knees Block. Technically this was March's block for the group but the fabric arrived later in the month so we were given a little extra time, (which I stretched a little ;) I love all of the adorable 30's prints!!  I have made the Scrappy Crossroads Block a few times now and love making each an every time.  It really is a super fun block to make!!  I think one of these for me might be my next "Leader and Ender" project :)

Next up, Nedra from our fun Bees Knees group asked us to make this fun custom block she designed using beautiful solids and Kafe Fasset prints.  I have to say, it was awfully nice to be able to sew this one up super fast ;)

And finally, Colby from the Beejeebers Bee asked us to make some fun Bullseye Improv Curves blocks in fun bright solids.  The video tutorial here really made it easy to make these, although I started with a 12" square instead of a 10" square to give myself lots of wiggle room.  I am not the best at making my curves line up :)  These went together super fast and were lots of fun to sew.

And those are this month's blocks off in the mail.  Yippee!!!

And one more quick note before I sign off.   There is another little Just In Time thing you might want to do.  My good friend Brooke of Go, Create, Inspire is doing her May Newsletter on little ol me ;)   So if you want to read a super fun article she has put together be sure and pop on over to Go Create Inspire to sign up for her newsletter.  The newsletter mails tomorrow so you need to sign up today, yup, another Just In Time ;)   

Now I am just hoping I can get everything I need to do for Market Just In Time ;)  Wish me luck ;)

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 Feed Company Jelly Roll from Shabby Fabrics is . . .   Number #113 . . . Congrats Vanessa!!   I have emailed you :) 

    

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Bear Creek Quilting Company.  Along with sponsoring the giveaway, Bear Creek Quilting Company has marked down all of their MODA  Fat Quarter Bundles 25% Off!!!  No coupon necessary :)  

And today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for a gorgeous Special Release Winter's Song Jelly Roll as well as the coordinating Pattern Book, Grand Portage!!!    I just love Christmas Fabrics and these are gorgeous !!!!

  

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 one last thing do you want to get done in April ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Bear Creek Quilting Company love.   You can follow them on  Pinterest, Facebook, 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 Bear Creek Quilting Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, May 5th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Pin Trading Excitement!!!

So rumor has it that there is going to be a lot of pin trading at Spring Market this year similar to what was done at Quilt Con.  I am so very excited!!  I loved seeing all of the cute buttons everyone made for Quilt Con and was sad I wasn't there to "collect them all".   So ya, I totally jumped on board when I heard that the pin fun was catching on for Spring Market.  And look what showed up in the mail this weekend!!!

Oh my goodness, I can't get over how cute these are!!!   Aren't they just like a super fun representation of Irish Chain Quilts!!!  The wonderful folks at Martingale helped me with the phrasing and designing and I just love them!!!    Bring on the Pin Trading Fun!!!

And now, I best get back to some other Market Preparations.  I can't believe how fast it is creeping up.  Where did April go???  Does anyone else feel like the month just flew by??