Machine Quilting With Style Blog Hop!!!

Today is my day to share a quilt from Christa Watson's new book Machine Quilting With Style and I am so very excited!!!   The quilt I choose to share is called Ripples and oh yes, it is log cabin fun!!!

This quilt is made by making lots and lots of wonderfully wonky log cabin blocks which means busting some serious scraps, Yippee!!  Just as I was getting ready to start making these, I realized that my plate was pretty full, like overflowing :)  So, I had a little chat with Barbara, who loves log cabin quilts, and she agreed to let me pass the baton onto her. (yes, she is the best!!) Barbara quickly got busting my grey, blue, and green scrap bin and I just love this shot of all that trimming goodness ;)

When Barbara finished all of the blocks, we got together for a little layout fun.  We started with the original Ripples Layout from the book, then mixed the green and blues as shown below.  After staring at that for a bit, we decided to play some more.

After about an hour of arranging and rearranging blocks, we finally decided on this layout :)  I love a block that is so versatile that you can create lots of new looks with it!!!  So I think Barbara's version is going to be called Droplets instead of Ripples, I figure it is still keeping it in the water, right ;)

I absolutely love that Christa included such a fun scrappy quilt in her book.  The scrappy nature is what immediately drew me to this quilt.   Seriously, scrappy goodness is the best and I am so happy to report that my blues, greens, and greys are not longer overflowing!!  :)   Don't you just love how those blues and green just pop!!!

When it came time to quilt, Barbara and I played with a few options.  We really wanted to make the blues and greens stand out even more with the quilting.  So to do that,  Barbara quilted my favorite swirls in the background with lots of dense quilting, and then in the blue and green strips, she did a simple wavy line on the seams, really making them stand out all the more ;)  Isn't it so fun!!!

And look at all that yummy quilting texture!!!   Just makes me want to snuggle up with a good book!! And I love that Christa's book gives you so much guidance on the quilting of these quilts!!  You are going to find lots of quilting tips and tricks like this in her book!!

I just love getting down on eye level and looking at this quilt on an angle.  Just awesome!!  This quilt is now happily living on my in-laws master bed and it just makes me smile every time I happen to pass by.  

And that's Barbara's absolutely gorgeous Ripples / Droplets quilt!!!  Be sure and pop over to Christa's today to see all about the making of the original Ripples ;)  And a huge thank you to Christa for having me as a part of her awesome book release!!  And a huge thank you to Barbara for helping me out in a pinch, I have the best MIL in the whole world!!

This Blog Hop is super full of lots of amazing eye Candy!!!  So be sure to Pop on over to Christa's here and get the full schedule.  You aren't going to want to miss a minute and there just might be some awesome prizes being given away,  I'm just sayin ;)  And you can find Christa's awesome book wherever quilting books are sold, including Amazon, where they will be back in stock again in 2 days.  They already sold out once!!!  

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

Linking up Barbara's finished Droplets quilt to Amanda's and Sarah's :) 

Back to School Party with Quilty Pleasures

A few months ago I was asked by the lovely ladies at Quiltmaker if I would like to design a quilt for their annual Back to School Party!!  And you know I just love designing quilts, so of course, I said yes.    And guess what, this is the week!!!!

All this week Quiltmaker has been sharing a broken down, step by step tutorial for this quilt I designed.   Quiltmaker calls it Village Square, and it is such a fun quilt to put together!!!

There is lots of beautiful eye candy of those sharing their already completed quilts!!!  You can see the start of the Party right here!!!!!!   And if you want to see each of the individual posts, you can go right here!!!

I hope you will follow along with Quilty Pleasures each day to see all of the Back to School Party with Village Square fun!!!  Oh, and did I mention there are lots of giveaways along the way ;)

And you can share all of your progress online with #qmbacktoschool15!!  I can't wait to see all of your awesome quilts!!!

And I want to sign off with a huge thank you to Quiltmaker!!  This was so much fun and I was honored to be chosen to design your Back to School Quilt!!!

Snapshots QAL - Quilty Cat

I can't believe how fast September is flying by.  I didn't even realize that the 15th had already crept up, so I am a day late today with the Snapshots QAL , but better late than never right ;)    This month's new block is called Quilty Cat and it is just cute!!!     (I will add the eyes on after quilting, so for now, they are just digitally added ;)

And here comes my second huge admission.  Remember how I admitted I was afraid of dogs back on the puppy love block, well, I am afraid of cats as well.   I know, crazy right.  Everyone is a dog or a cat person.   But ya, I am totally afraid of both.  I can't tell you how often my children let me know how unfair it is that they can't have a cat or a dog, but what ya gonna do.  My neighbors have a cat that I am starting to get used to, so they are still holding out hope ;) 

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. They have raised over $30,000 and still going!!!

This block went together super quick!!  And Kimberly also made putting this block together even easier with this fabulous You Tube video.   Seriously, these videos are just so fantastic ;)  

Be sure to  share all of your Snapshots progress on social media with #fqssnapshots and check out these fabulous bloggers for some Quilty Cat 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 Fat Eighth Bundle of Meadowbloom from  Ollie and Evie  is . . . . . .   Number #207 . . . Congrats Vicki H!!   I have emailed you :)     

  

    

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Intrepid Thread.  Julie carries an amazing variety of fabrics in her shop!!!  She always has amazing bundles that will blow you away.  And to really be blown away, be sure and check out her fabulous Sale Section for some great deals you won't want to miss!!! 

   

Today's  Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for this oh so adorable and brand new Enchanted Bundle for Dear Stella!! Oh the cuteness of those deer and foxes, just such a fun new line!! Someone is going to be super lucky 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 telling me what is your favorite woodland creature??

 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, September 22nd when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Brian Head to Zion!!!!

This weekend, I participated in the Red Rock Relay.  It is a 187 mile relay race from Brian Head, UT to Zion. Our team consisted my husband, all but one of his siblings, their spouses, the two oldest grandchildren and me ;) 

We each ran 3 legs in the race, and I ran about 12 1/2 miles of that 187 miles.   Our total teams time was just under 29 hours,  which is averaging a little less than  9 1/2 minute miles.   And no, I can not run even close to that fast :)  Thank heaves for my awesome team who totally averaged out my miles and times! I married into a family of amazing runners!!!

I experienced a whole gamut of emotions during the race.  I went from fun and bouncy, to heat exhaustion  and throwing up,  and then back around to the complete joy and elation of having a good run and finishing it up the way I wanted to.   This was my first time ever doing any kind of race like this.  And it was a crazy physical and emotional rollercoaster for sure.

 But I can stand back now and be so grateful that I accomplished this!!   I have already been asked if I would do it again, and I can say, With this family, absolutely!!!

 I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing family!!!  They encouraged me along every step of the way and made this such a fun and wonderful experience and a memory that I will always cherish. Thank you Corry's!!!!!