Playing with Petals

So remember last week when I said I cut out a bunch of applique for a new Daisy Chain quilt . . . well, what I didn't share then, was that I actually cut out quite a lot of extra applique.  Which took some extra time, and while I was cutting I kept telling myself how silly it was . . .   But I just couldn't decide how I wanted to colors to layout in the flowers.   And ya know, sometimes you just have to  play around with different layouts until you find the one you like ;)  

So . . . .I cut extra applique petals to give me lots of options.  And I am so glad I did, because I hadn't even thought of the layout I ended up with :)  The extra 20 minutes of cutting was totally worth it and now I have  these leftovers that will make up 4 more flowers . . . and I am sure I will find something fun to use them on ;)

I played around with lots of different layouts.  I started with the petals and centers in the same colors, then mixed them up, and I had the prints in the petals the same, and then mixed them up (and of course, I didn't think to save those pictures that I discarded as not quite there yet, sorry)  and eventually came across this layout which was the perfect combination of controlled scrappy that I didn't even know I was going for in the first place ;)  I love it!!! 

So last night I adhered all of the applique shapes in place and stacked them up all ready to be stitched this morning ;)

And wouldn't you know it, I just happened to get a lovely package of Aurifil Threads in the mail yesterday.  They are for another secret project I am working on . . . but I have a feeling they are going to work just perfect for some serious secure stitching today!!!   I am planning on using a blanket stitch for these and can;t wait to get going.  I love secure stitching applique, I find it so incredibly relaxing and I love seeing how it makes the applique pop!!

Time to get my stitching on ;)  

Oh, and if you are new to the wonderful world of applique and are wondering how to get started with it, you can check out my Applique Basics Video here ;)  I promise, you are going to love it!!!

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 fantastic Jingle Layer Cake from Shabby Fabrics . . . . . .   Number #308. . . Congrats Diana @ Red Delicious Life.!!   I have emailed you :)     

 

  

   

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by The Scarlet Thread Quilt Co.  Along with hosting the giveaway, Julie is offering a special deal for all my readers.  Take $5.00 of your $25.00 or more purchase with the coupon code GRATEFUL !!!!!  The code will last until next Terrific Tuesday ;) 

And the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for a beautiful Charm Pack of  Wool & Needle III Flannels by Primitive Gatherings for Moda.  This is absolutely perfect for some fall project making and they are so soft!!!  

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 telling me what is your favorite thing to sew using flannels :)  
 I made this quilt using Wool & Needle Flannel II and just might be starting a new one using this awesome Wool and Flannel III line.  It is so soft and wonderful to work with!!!!!

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. love.   You can follow them on   Facebook, Instagram, or Favorite their Shop.  Or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Scarlet Thread Quilt Co. Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, November 17th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Aloha

Aloha!!  This last week my sweetheart had a conference in beautiful Kauai Hawaii, and so I got to go along for the ride and it was absolutely beautiful!!!

My plan was to work on write some patterns in the morning while he was in conference, but that quickly went out the window in exchange for sitting on the lanai and reading some great books!!  I mean can you blame me with a view like this.

We had such a wonderful time!!!  We enjoyed the beach and the waves, and we also got in two amazing (although they kicked my butt)  hikes!!  But the views made it totally worth it!!!

I lost track of how many times I just sat and watched and listened to the waves.  They are mesmerizing!!!  I absolutely love all the shades of greens and blues in the ocean.  Just amazing!!  I think I might have to put all my pics into so palette builders, so pretty :)

And like all good things, it must come to end. Although coming home to 5 wonderful children that were so excited to see us (and what we brought them ;)  sure makes it a whole lot easier to leave.

It was a wonderful little getaway and I just loved spending it with my absolute best friend in the whole world!!

And now, I am itching to get back into my sewing room.  Unpack, laundry, and then I am there ;)

Cozy Cottage Tote

It's the Cozy Cottage Calendar Celebration this week and I am so excited to be a part of it!!!!   I turned my little cozy cottage's into this adorable tote!!  It is going to be just perfect for retreats!!

The cozy Cottage block is so much fun to make and goes together so quickly!!  The pattern for it is in the 2016 Calendar and has multiple size options and designs for pillows, wall hangings, and such.

I used Pie Making Day by Brenda Ratliff to make make my little cottages.  I love how bright and happy they are ;)   Wouldn't it be fn to live in such happy little cottages :)

And of course, the little lady wanted to model the cozy tote :)   I think I am going to have to borrow it from her now when I want to use it :)

Oh, and I was trying to harness my inner Lori Holt by taking pictures of this tote with  Barbara's beautiful antique treadle machine.  They just seemed to go together ;)   

Be sure and check out the Cozy Cottage Calendar!!!   It has so many beautiful pictures that will make an adorable addition to your sewing space this next year ;)   And then you can make up your own Cozy Cottages as well :)    And be sure to pop on over to the Celebration to see all of the amazing Cozy Cottage Creations!!  They are so fun!!!

Thanks for popping in today :)

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

Linking this finish up to Sarah's and Amanda's ;)

Cutting, Cutting, and some more Cutting :)

In January of 2016, I have the wonderful opportunity to do a trunk show of the quilts from Irish Chain Quilts as part of the Quilt St. George Retreat!!!!  I can not wait as I love to share these quilts.  However, I realized a bit ago that I have a bit of problem as several of the quilts from Irish Chain Quilts are on a Shop Hop that has become so popular it is booked out way past January.  Meaning several of the quilts won't be home to show . . . .So  . . .  I am working on some remakes!!!  And it is so much fun to get to be making some of these again!!!!  This last weekend I spent Cutting, Cutting, and then Cutting some more for 3 new Irish Chain Quilts!!!

The first to be cut up was some of the cool toned leftover's I had from my Tucker Prairie Fat Eighth Bundle by One Canoe Two.  I just love these beautiful prints and paired off with that beautiful Navy Grunge it is going to make a stunning Breaking Up quilt!!!

Then it was time for some cutting with scissors instead of a rotary cutter.  And it was a lot of cutting but oh so much fun as I added in some favorite movies while cutting, ie. Pride and Prejudice, North and South, and Jane Eyre ;)   I used a beautiful layer cake of Flutter by Amanda Herring that I picked up at my first market!!!  It think it is going to make the prettiest Daisy Chain baby quilt!!!  I just love the oranges, reds, and blues together!!!

And finally, I grabbed all of my bits and pieces of different "whitish" solids and a beautiful bundle of Peppered Cottons that I picked up at this last Spring Market Sample Spree and got to cutting!!!   Don't you just love those beautiful trim leftover.  And yes, I love cool tones together, they are just so calming and happy making!!

And that huge stack of squares will be turned into a Bitty Bits quilt . . . only I will be doing the opposite layout this time, ie . . . the chain of triangles will be in the whites and the background will be in all the beautiful colors!!!  I can't wait to see it done so ya, I might have to start on this one first ;)

So now that all of that cutting is done . . . it is time to get sewing!!! 

Linking up these new WIP's to Lee's ;)