Snapshots QAL - Kindred Kitchen

I might be at Market , but it also happens to be Snapshots QAL  day so of course, it's time for a new block and this month's is so cute!!!   May's block is called Kindred Kitchen and it is simply adorable!!!

My grandmother on my Father's side actually had an apron that was pretty similar to this one, with the ruffles on the side and everything ;)  I always loved when she would pull it out of the drawer when we came for a visit because it meant she was going to bake something yummy!!!  

So have you joined in the Snapshot Block fun yet??  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!!!  This industry is so amazing and it has touched my heart to see so many people willing to reach out and help!

This block was a little trickier with all of those apron ruffles, but no worries.   Kimberly made putting this block together  easier with this fabulous You Tube video that walks you through it step by step!!!   These videos are just so great ;)  

Be sure to  share all of your Snapshots progress on social media with #fqssnapshots and check out these fabulous bloggers for some Kindred Kitchen 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 Weekend!!!  I will be back next week with lots of Market fun!!

To Market . . . Where I will Be :)

Well as of this post, we are officially on our way!!!   Our flight leaves this afternoon from Vegas, but we might just be stopping by the Superior Threads Warehouse on the way to stock up ;)    I am so, so, so excited (and a little bit nervous).   I can't wait to see what the response to Irish Chain Quilts will be!!!    And if you are going to be at Market, there is where you can find me!!

Also, Be sure to grab a pin from me at any of these places above.  I am looking forward to some Market Pin trading.  So fun!!!   I think I might be getting  a few kisses on the cheek ;)

I don't have the internet on my phone because I still don't have a smart phone (I know, so need to get with the times) so I don't think there will be lots of posting while I am gone, but I will for sure share lots when I get back.   Oh, and just in case you have ever wondered what 15 quilts (and 5 of them queen sized) look like stuffed in 2 suitcases . . . wonder no more ;)  One weights 47 lbs and the other 37lbs,   But hey, they are all in and that is all that matters ;)

See ya on the other side of Market  ;)

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 The 100 Blocks Magazine and Happy Quilting Patterns is . . .   Number #256 . . . Congrats Tinliz!!   I have emailed you :) 

    

 

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.   Fat Quarter Shop has everything you could ever want!!!   Their Winter Wonderland book has just arrived!!  I got my copy in the mail and it is fabulous!!  And have you been following along with Farm Girl Friday's as part of the Farm Girl Vintage book release. So fun!!! And speaking of books, my book just arrived at Fat Quarter Shop too!!  So fun!!!

  

And for today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway you are in for a big surprise in honor of a Market Celebration!!!!   Fat Quarter Shop is letting you Pick A Bundle!!!!   That is right, the winner will get to choose any Fat Quarter Bundle that Fat Quarter Shop has in stock!!  Oh my, oh my, how will you ever decide!!!!   What fun the winner will have this week!!!  

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 that tells me what one thing you want to see from Quilt Market this week!!  (I will be trying to remember to take lots of pictures ;)  

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Fat Quarter Shop love.   You can follow them on   Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, You 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, May 19th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Winner and Weekend Sewing

Thank you so much to everyone who entered my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day!!!  It was so fun to hear all about your Irish Chain experiences ;)   And now . . .  It is time to pick a winner of the irish Chain Quilts Prize Pack!!!

And the lucky winner is #902!!  Congratulations to Michele!!!  I have emailed you :)  

And on the weekend note . . . I did a lot of piecing and even got to some quilting ;)   I started off doing some Free Motion Quilting on my home machine for my "bitty bits mini's"   I always love getting back to quilting on my home machine.  I don't do it as often with the long arm now, but it is always fun every once and a while to do a quick little quilt on my home machine.   I love how quickly the motion comes back each time ;)  I quilted some echoed paisley's in Fantastico Superior Threads.   Doesn't that beautiful variegated thread just look awesome on the back!!!   

Then I switched it up from Free Motion to Straight Line quilting ;)   This was my first time doing matchstick quilting with multiple colors and I am absolutely in love with the outcome ;)  I started by stitching 10-15 lines in each color randomly placed and then, it was time to go back and fill in all of the gaps with a beautiful blending filler.    So fun!!!

I can't wait to share more of both of these projects!!!  And the best news, these projects also mark the completion of my Market Prep!!!!   All I have to do now is pack and I am ready to go!!  So excited!!!

I hope you had a super wonderful weekend as well!!!  Did you get any sewing or quilting in???

Hang Time In Hazel

Well, I managed to finish up my Hazel quilt yesterday and so it is ready to be shared today.   So here she is . . . Hang Time in Hazel!!!

When I received this beautiful bundle of Hazel fabric from Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew, I instantly knew I had to play with it.  So I grabbed my sketch book and started flipping through it to see if I had any designs that would fit this beautiful bundle.   And I came across my sketch of Hang Time and remembered that while I designed and created the free pattern for for Hang Time last December, I never actually made the quilt . . . and Wham!!  Perfect fit!!!

I had so much fun making this quilt up.  The pattern is super easy and goes together super fast.   I love how the big blocks really feature these beautiful prints in the line!!!  And all that crisp beautiful white really makes the prints pop!!

When it came time to quilt Hang Time I varied a little bit from my norm.   You see, the first time I met Allison Harris was at the Sewing Summit back in 2011 where she was teaching a free motion quilting class.   I loved that class and learned so much.  The first thing she taught the class was how to stitch simple meandering.   So . . . I decided that Hang Time just needed to be a memory of that first meeting and class and what better way to tie that memory in that stitching some simple meandering.

I had forgotten how fun meandering is to stitch!!  It is just so freeing and care-free.   I kept it less dense than I normally quilt as well as I plan to do a lot of snuggling up with this quilt and wanted it to be super soft.   I normally would have used my favorite 402 So Fine Thread with that crisp white but can you believe I am completely out!!  I plan on stopping at the Superior Threads Warehouse on my way to the airport for Market.   So in it's place I used 401 So Fine Thread instead, which looks great also!!

I have to say, it is so fun to finally see this design put into a quilt and I really think Hazel was just the perfect match for Hang Time.  I can't wait to curl up with a good book with this one!!!  (although, that will probably have to wait until after market ;)

 And I had to share this fun little bit of Hang Time's design inspiration.   When I mentioned earlier that this was in my sketchbook . . . well, it went in there last summer at swimming lessons.  I took it along with me figuring I had an hour to doodle.  My Sister In Law came and sat in front of me wearing this shirt and I saw a quilt design :)   I played with it for a bit trying to turn it into blocks instead of repeat and that is how Hang Time came to be.  My Sister-In Law was wearing this shirt last week and I snapped a quick picture to add it to this post.  So fun!!!

I hope you love Hang Time in Hazel as much as I do ;)   And just in case you missed the earlier links . . . The free Hang Time Pattern can be found right here and if you make it I would love to see it.  You can add it to my Flickr Group or email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.    And if you want to make it in Hazel, you will have to be a bit patient.  It will be arriving at stores in September ;)  But trust me, it is well worth the wait ;)

And one more quick note before I sign off,  I got home last night to find several boxes on the front porch!!!   I actually tore the first one open before even bringing it inside.  Irish Chain Quilts has arrived!!!!!  Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.   Yup another Cloud 9 day over here ;)   I will be working on signing and mailing all of the pre-ordered copies this weekend,   So watch your mailboxes next week!!!

Thanks for popping in today and have  a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking this finish up to Sarah's and Amanda's and Quilt Story :)